[Largeformat] Re: Anyone awake ?

[yonder@cruzio.com (S J Hoisington)]

From: yonder@cruzio.com (S J  Hoisington)

Vic -
Do you know the work of Stephen Johnson? In 1997 he was working with a
$20,000 Dicomed 4x5 digital camera. He would preview in the field with a
Macintosh PowerBook 540c. He was not doing any trick manipulations, just
pure 4x5 clean as a whistle, all color correct image making. The only
difference, he uses a digital camera. I mention him to support your idea
that digital and large format imaging need not be opposed to each other. I
imagine he has altered his equipment since I read this article (Digital
Photography, by Kate Broughton, America West, Feb. 1997 - yes, it's an
airline mag) where he was mentioned. His most recent work at the time was
"With a New Eye: The Digital National Parks Project." I know he has at
least one book in print, although I don't recall the title and it isn't
mentioned in the article. His name might be in the title...

Bill gave in info about prints. Do you want prints or film to print from?
In 1994 it cost me $40 to get a digtal file output to a 4x5 neg. I have no
idea how much it would cost now as I use other cameras and methods at this
time. Not a family fortune unless you have hundreds to produce. Most labs
can accept many formats. It's best to talk with someone from the individual
lab and ask what format they prefer (if indeed they have a preference).
Other considerations are the storage/transport device. With all that is
blossoming in the digital world, you can even send digital info over the
phone lines and not need to send a disk of some sort.

And as for mural sized images - that's actually a format I have used to
present my art images. The prints have been in a number of shows and have
always been recieved well. I think it's a great method to get the attention
of your viewer - lets them almost enter the image. I also work in contact
sheet size to draw the viewer into an intimate relationship with the image.
Best of luck in you endeavors - sj

>From: Vic Culver <vic@exis.net>
>
>Well, I'm afraid what I'm working on would offend the 'largeformat'
>sensibilities of some on the list, so I keep it kinda to myself.  I guess
>most of you guys on here are professional photographers, in one way or
>another, and I can't match your work ethic -- I'm motivated in spurts and
>starts.  But what I'm working on is digitizing negatives/prints and etc.
>Not necessarily for major modification, but for general clean-up, etc.  I
>have raised the 'digital issue' a time or two, but no takers.  Yes, there
>are probably digital processing listservers out there, too, but they
>wouldn't have the 'esthetic' of the large format devotee.  I'll stick here,
>I guess.  I'll read whatever you guys talk about, and learn something here
>and there as I go along.  I will be working toward getting some images on a
>web page -- I think that is necessary for credibility.  If you don't have a
>NAME (Hi! Bill D.), you have to show what you got!  Somebody said they were
>blowing 6 x 7 frames up to stadium size prints (+/---), and while I suppose
>that is possible, I can't imagine WHY, outside of some commercial purpose,
>but you probably wouldn't call that ART! You CAN do art for commercial
>purposes, but they break your heart (usually) in the doing and re-doing and
>etc.
>
>There, that should be enough to tick off somebody and draw fire!  I'd
>seriously like to know how somebody could get from the computer back to
>prints without blowing the family fortune!  WOULD somebody recommend a lab
>that will accept digital stuff (what format) and how does it work?  Regards
>to all.  I really do respect the individual opinions here, and I wouldn't
>rain on anybody's parade on purpose.  Lets COMMUNICATE.  Vic