Comments | christophedumas: Why do I still shoot film?

christophedumas

Why do I still shoot film?

Dec 15, 2008 20:22

Well, I'll let you be the judge. I'm posting two pictures of the same subject, shrunk to a reasonable "web" resolution, which should remove the massive size advantage of the 4x5" large format film version. One is shot with my Nikon D80, the other with my Cambo SCII-R large format monorail, with 2 year-old expired Fuji Velvia 50 sheet film ( Read more... )

Comments 6

thinking... katyzore1 December 16 2008, 15:52:54 UTC

What do we think in reference to what? I like both. My preference would the first one because I love the rich green of the pines. Plus the moss on the rocks on the left side and the fallen leaves in the middle right pop more. It is a darker photo and the water doesn't look as clear (it has a more green- grey hue where as the other has a grey- purple but that maybe just my computer screen). Also in being darker the rock texture smooths out more making the picture less busy and putting the focus back on the water's movement.

But that is just my opinion.

Re: thinking... katyzore1 December 16 2008, 15:54:27 UTC

the other picture does have more detail to it though and is more clear.

Re: thinking... christophedumas December 16 2008, 16:10:57 UTC

You were breaking my heart there with your first post, but then again, color balance and shadow/highlight levels and all of that can be endlessly tweaked and adjusted in Photoshop. I could easily have made the 2nd version look much like the 1st in that sense. I still like the 2nd one better, it looks more natural, and matches my own memory of the scene as I stood there photographing it that day.

With your second post though, you've hit the nail on the head. The second one is indeed a lot more detailed and clear. Even with both shunk way down to a mere 604 pixels tall, it's obvious (to me at least) which was shot on large format. The clarity just pops out even at that small size, where it should in theory have no inherent advantage.

Color can be changed to your liking all you want in Photoshop. As for detail and clarity, however, it's either there or it's not. That the advantages with 4x5" film show up even in small scans of the file, well that says everything really.

Re: thinking... katyzore1 December 16 2008, 16:27:28 UTC

Ooooh! I didn't mean to! It was just artist preference to the first. Just like you said- You can adjust the second one with photoshop all that you want to. The detail allows room for modification if you wish. The first one you really can't adjust it that much.

Thread 5

briannotdumas December 17 2008, 01:11:58 UTC

I already knew which shot was which, and which Chris preferred... and I knew just from the comment count that someone must have praised the first image and sparked a discussion. :)