Which film camera would let me take these kind of photos

tobykeller · Mar 12, 2021

Hello,

I'm very sorry if this question sounds stupid as I don't have much knowledge in this matter. I was looking at Philip di Corcias stunning images and I was wondering which film camera would give me grain-free, sharp, a bit glowy images like these :

Thank you in advance!

shutterlight · Mar 12, 2021

PLDC has used a variety of cameras. What I think you overlook is his expertise with lighting, both in a technical sense and a more intuitive one, honed though decades of experience. More than the cameras, that's what I think you should focus on and learn more about.

removedacct1 · Mar 12, 2021

This is not a "which camera" issue, its a "how did he light this" issue.

mehguy · Mar 12, 2021

The lens choice and film stock has more influence on the picture than the camera itself. The camera has very little influence on the qualities of a final picture.

awty · Mar 12, 2021

Film photography basically breaks down to 50% photographer 30% film materials, lighting etc, 20% lens and 10% camera.

So any camera you can mount a good lens and load similar look film will do. The rest requires a hell of a lot of understanding and work.

reddesert · Mar 12, 2021

I agree that what you're probably responding to in these pictures is the lighting and (IMO) the balance of artificial lighting between main subject and background, which is distinctive and requires specific control. Especially when, as in several of these pictures, the background is behind glass. I recommend reading some resources on lighting. One that is freely available and has a lot of in-depth content is the Strobist blog. The Strobist has a particular set of techniques, which are not necessarily what PLOC is doing, but you can start looking through the blog for examples of pictures you like and then see how they were set up.

4season · Mar 12, 2021

What you are seeing is the product of careful planning and lighting. While he doesn't discuss cameras, diCorcia discusses the making of some of his works:

mshchem · Mar 12, 2021

Gregory Crewdson he did a lot of massive lighting, a lot outdoors, 8x10 film. I can't imagine trying to do what Crewdson was doing on film 20+ years ago without Polaroid, 20 assistants, etc. The scale of his work is stunning.
di Corcia's work is amazing. Planning has got to be key. Even with all the digital technology, still comes down to being able manage light and having the stamina to get it done.

Ko.Fe. · Mar 12, 2021

Nothing to do with film and format at all. Those are vibrant, some are sexy, would be even with mobile phone
Bimbo is a bimbo, booze buddies are no matter which format, media is in use.

Third one looks like digital exposure with decent camera, BTW.

SchwinnParamount · Mar 12, 2021

awty said:
Film photography basically breaks down to 50% photographer 30% film materials, lighting etc, 20% lens and 10% camera.

So any camera you can mount a good lens and load similar look film will do. The rest requires a hell of a lot of understanding and work.

What he said... and

mehguy said:
The lens choice and film stock has more influence on the picture than the camera itself. The camera has very little influence on the qualities of a final picture.

what he said.

Also, if black&white film that you develop for yourself, then you have some control via your choice of chemicals and process.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Mar 12, 2021

As the other have mentioned, he has a very high level of skill with lighting, and lighting is the name of the game. When you look at a Rembrandt or a Vermeer or a Caravaggio, you are seeing the way forms are sculpted with light. He's very good at this. If you want to learn, get a decent d!g!tal camera and use it like a Polaroid. When you get what you like, shoot it on film. You'll learn quickly.

DonW · Mar 12, 2021

Any pro film camera. It's the lighting and use of colour that makes the photographs. It takes skill not buying gear.

RalphLambrecht · Mar 13, 2021

tobykeller said:
Hello,

I'm very sorry if this question sounds stupid as I don't have much knowledge in this matter. I was looking at Philip di Corcias stunning images and I was wondering which film camera would give me grain-free, sharp, a bit glowy images like these :

Thank you in advance!

any camerawill do.

foc · Mar 13, 2021

ParkerSmithPhoto said:
As the other have mentioned, he has a very high level of skill with lighting, and lighting is the name of the game. When you look at a Rembrandt or a Vermeer or a Caravaggio, you are seeing the way forms are sculpted with light. He's very good at this. If you want to learn, get a decent d!g!tal camera and use it like a Polaroid. When you get what you like, shoot it on film. You'll learn quickly.

+1
The word photography comes from Greek origin, "drawing with light"

In cinematography, the director of photography is sometimes called lighting cameraman ("the person who designs and supervises the lighting of scenes to be filmed")

narsuitus · Mar 13, 2021

awty said:
Film photography basically breaks down to 50% photographer 30% film materials, lighting etc, 20% lens and 10% camera.

Does this intentionally total 110% ?

peter k. · Mar 13, 2021

narsuitus said:
Does this intentionally total 110% ?

yes, as there is luck also involved

Tel · Mar 13, 2021

And inflation. It was 100% in 1990 percentage points.

Arthurwg · Mar 13, 2021

Ko.Fe. said:
Nothing to do with film and format at all. Those are vibrant, some are sexy, would be even with mobile phone
Bimbo is a bimbo, booze buddies are no matter which format, media is in use.

Err... Bimbo?

PLDC has the ability to make his pictures look very casual, but they are not casually made. He had great training and worked hard at his craft. I would like to know what film he used.

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 13, 2021

What DonW said.

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 13, 2021

Arthurwg said:
Err... Bimbo?

PLDC has the ability to make his pictures look very casual, but they are not casually made. He had great training and worked hard at his craft. I would like to know what film he used.

Bimbo means someone who has no money in Japanese. In Canada it once was a TV show birthday clown...

NB23 · Mar 13, 2021

I’m 99.99% sure it’s a Minolta X-9.

Pieter12 · Mar 13, 2021

NB23 said:
I’m 99.99% sure it’s a Minolta X-9.

.01% says no. He shoots with strobes and sets his lighting with Polaroids (or at least used to when it was readily available and relatively instant). For his "Hustlers" series, he shot with a Linhof 6x9. The series he did with a remote camera and strobe set on scaffolding in Times Square was probably 35mm, but I don't think the Minolta X-9 is motorized.

awty · Mar 13, 2021

narsuitus said:
Does this intentionally total 110% ?

You need the full %110 commitment to do in film.

radiant · Mar 13, 2021

I think the example photos look digital. There isn't any "film" vibe?

mehguy · Mar 13, 2021

vedostuu said:
I think the example photos look digital. There isn't any "film" vibe?

I was thinking the same thing. I think the OP would be better suited using a DSLR.

Which film camera would let me take these kind of photos

tobykeller

shutterlight

removedacct1

mehguy

awty

reddesert

4season

mshchem

Ko.Fe.

SchwinnParamount

ParkerSmithPhoto

DonW

RalphLambrecht

foc

narsuitus

peter k.

Tel

Arthurwg

Andrew O'Neill

Moderator

Andrew O'Neill

Moderator

NB23

Pieter12

awty

radiant

mehguy

Which film camera would let me take these kind of photos

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