Medium Format Masters - Your Favorites

[JDW22]

This morning I gave some thought to whom I consider to be fine art photographers that use medium format analog cameras as their primary creative tool. Since I am somewhat of a 6x6 devote, I immediately thought of Michael Kenna and Josef Hoflehner. Nick Brandt's work with his Pentax 67II is also inspiring. While they are well known contemporary artists, there are also some lesser known individuals who's work I truly admire. For example, Austin Granger splits his photography between medium and large format film cameras. The work he produces with his Fuji GF670 is truly amazing - https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/sets/72157633483469003/.

I know Ansel Adams used medium format cameras on occasion; however, I would argue that large format was his platform of choice.

Who are your medium format masters (historic, contemporary, unknown)?

I look forward to your comments and becoming acquainted with the art that currently eludes me.

Jeff

 

[MDR]

Werner Bischof swiss photojournalist who used a Rolleiflex for 90% of his work I prefer him to HCB
Robert Doisneau french photographer who used a Rolleiflex for 90% of his work and another photographer I prefer to HCB
Herb Ritts one of the last great fashion, celeb and nude photographers used a Mamiya RZ 67 with a 150mm lens for 99% of his work
Fritz Henle also know as Mister Rollei started out as photojournalist and later became more of a portrait photographer
Bill Brandt although he started out with LF he later mainly used a Hasselblad
Erich Salomon german photojournalist who was pretty much the first to use MF cameras for serious photojournalism, he was killed in Auschwitz in 1943
Tommy Oshima often uses mf cameras and is quiet good https://www.flickr.com/photos/tommyoshima/sets/
Mario Giacomelli used Kobell Press 6x8 camera for most of his work
Vo An Ninh a vietnamese photojournalist who used a Zeiss Super Ikonta for most of his work

 

[rpsawin]

Michael Kenna is on top of my list.


Best regards,

Bob
CEO CFO EIEIO, Ret.

 

[flash26c]

Brett Weston with his Rollei SL66

 

[David Brown]

Brett Weston with his Rollei SL66

+1 (and his RB67)

Keith Carter
Bill Schwab
Nicole Boenig-McGrade
Suzanne Revy

 

[DannL.]

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/8b/b0/5d/8bb05d22e32c6b52bd2fdcf65a74da14.jpg

& Brett of course.

 

[analoguey]

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/8b/b0/5d/8bb05d22e32c6b52bd2fdcf65a74da14.jpg

Is it me, or does the RZ look quite "compact" there?

 

[DannL.]

Is it me, or does the RZ look quite "compact" there?

No. I'ld say that's an optical illusion. I understand Annie is 6 ft. tall, which may make the camera look small.

 

[benjiboy]

Don't forget Richard Avedon, Lillian Bassman, David Bailey, Rankin, Diane Arbus, Margaret Bourke-White.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Mary-Ellen Mark is/was also a medium format shooter, IIRC. Sebastiao Salgado is another one- although he's more famous for shooting Leicas, and more recently switching to digital.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I found József Pataki through APUG https://www.flickr.com/photos/90016941@N04

 

[Lanline]

Toby Old, Mary Ellen Mark, Chris Faust

 

[dpurdy]

Is there a Master Photographer who wouldn't be a master if he used medium format? Medium format cameras are easy to master. Are there master photographers who have only used medium format? I doubt it. Even Michael Kenna started with 35mm. Are there master photographers who use medium format that wouldn't be master photographers in any other format? Larger formats present a challenge but it is just a learning curve like anything else... and someone to help haul the gear perhaps.
Dennis

 

[Sirius Glass]

Dorothea Lange ==> Hasselblad

 

[bdial]

Imogen Cunningham, though my favorite photo associated with her is by Judy Dater

http://americansuburbx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/judy-dater-imogen-cunningham-and-twinka.jpg

 

[gphoto120]

Rolfe Horn

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

The Rolleiflex is Avedon's favorite camera.

 

[chip j]

Who the hell used a Mamiya TLR apart from Paul Strand (I have said system with 6 lenses)

 

[Chrismat]

Jerry Uelsmann. A lot of his negs are from a Rolleflex, but he does use other medium format cameras.

 

[aRolleiBrujo]

any users of that terrific Pentacon Six TL xD

 

[Slixtiesix]

Yes Kenna, and Barry Thornton when it comes to landscape. We also had a thread named "Any great medium format photographers" some time ago, were the names of a lot of famous MF photographers were collected.

 

[aRolleiBrujo]

Yes Kenna, and Barry Thornton when it comes to landscape. We also had a thread named "Any great medium format photographers" some time ago, were the names of a lot of famous MF photographers were collected.

cool! Thanks for letting me! Next up, to finally start a new batch of 120, most likely it'll be another of those excellent Ilford
20140923_215709 by a.rodriguezpix, on Flickr

 

[tnabbott]

The interesting question is which contemporary still uses medium format.

 

[mexipike]

Who the hell used a Mamiya TLR apart from Paul Strand (I have said system with 6 lenses)

I'm pretty sure Diane Arbus did and was one of the first pros to do so.

 

[andrew.roos]

I believe Pentti Sammallahti uses MF extensively, although not exclusively. He still shoots film and I wholeheartedly recommend his retrospective "Here Far Away" - it's one of the most beautiful monographs in my collection; both the images and the production quality of the book itself.

Sebastiao Salgado used a Pentax 645 for many of the photographs in his books Africa and Genesis (having used 135 for previous publications). I believe he now uses a hybrid process.