Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/06/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The idea of really large photograph was in response to the one criticism that photographs could not dominate a wall such as modern art lovers deemed necessary. Gallery owners felt this would have to be overcome if photography was to be seen as a serious, lucrative art medium. The initial problem with large prints was that while they could be made to look great from afar, up close they failed. Adams worked on this issue quite a bit. This would be in contrast to say a Pollack which dominates from afar and is great to view up close. With photo montage, photography could be made wall dominating and interesting up close but the subject was lost. The super large images like Jeff Wall for example are able to dominate a wall and are interesting up-close. This is due to a combination of subject and technology coming together. The theory is that the large images remove the relationship of the photographer to the subject so that the photograph is now only in a relationship with the viewer as is the case with the modern masterpieces. The technology now has the ability to hold the fine detail so up-close the images still seem rich and beautifull. At 03:29 PM 6/2/2009, you wrote: >George, at 12x18 it is stunning in several forms. I may try the limit of my >3800 soon. We shall talk when I'm home. >I do also subscribe to the view that larger prints are meant to be >viewedfrom further way and with the basics in place there is little to limit >the print size if that's appropriate for your end purpose. >Steve's viewpoints are perfectly valid of course, but for me street >reportage is by means the only reason for superb Leica glass > >2009/6/3 George Lottermoser <imagist3 at mac.com> > > > Traditionally - perhaps. > > > > If you saw Geoff's recent print shared in the print exchange > > you may think differently about the M8 as a landscape tool. > > > > I'm not sure how large a print he could take it to. > > But at 8x10 it looks like a contact print from an 8x10 negative. > > > > Stunning really. > > > > Regards, > > George Lottermoser > > george at imagist.com > > http://www.imagist.com > > http://www.imagist.com/blog > > http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist > > > > > > > > > > > > On Jun 2, 2009, at 12:16 PM, Steve Barbour wrote: > > > > this is a terribly interesting discussion Geoff, and the points you > >> mention, really get me thinking further about something I already deeply > >> believe, > >> > >> the quest for technical excellence above spontaneity and content would > >> certainly force me to consider large format, super large negatives, or > >> whatever :-) , as well as a tripod... > >> > >> striving for that level of pure technical excellence, would not have me > >> using a hand held camera with a cropped sensor, designed for quick and > >> discrete street shooting, capturing spontaneity... > >> > >> as I see it, these are two quite different goals, the accomplishment of > >> each one being very difficult, and the where withall to do each, at > >> cross > >> purposes... > >> > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > >-- >Cheers >Geoff >'Life's not B&W, except at both ends' >http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/gh/ >http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information Chris Saganich MS, CPH Senior Physicist, Office of Health Physics Weill Medical College of Cornell University New York Presbyterian Hospital chs2018 at med.cornell.edu http://intranet.med.cornell.edu/research/health_phys/ Ph. 212.746.6964 Fax. 212.746.4800 Office A-0049