My Equipment
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I currently shoot both 35 mm based digital and large format 4x5 systems. My choices for equipment are based in practical application. Both systems work extremely well and complement each other nicely. Neither can replace the other and have their own strengths and weaknesses.
Most of my macro and general photography is done with the Canon 35 mm based digital system. I own a variety of lenses, but by far the most heavily used lens is the 180 mm macro. For whatever reason, the images seen through the viewfinder agree nicely with how I see the world photographically. It is safe to say that well over half of the images seen here with shot with that lens. I also keep two film bodies as backup and to (occasionally) shoot infrared or print film.
In the last two years, I have also shot large format, specifically 4x5. As the state of the art currently exists, digital capture is still behind large format in terms of detail and tonality. For landscape work (its primary use for me) and still lifes, it is simply the best available format in terms of cost, quality and availability. I am currently shooting with the Shen Hao 4x5, a 90 mm f8 Schneider Super Angulon, 150 mm f5.6 Nikkor and a 210 mm f5.6 Nikkor with Velvia 100. Images from this format are beginning to work their way into my show stock and a few of them are here.
Film images are scanned with either the Nikon Coolscan 4000 (for my older 35 stock images) or the Microtek 1800f for scans of the 4x5 images. 4x5 chromes which I need to print beyond 16x20 will be sent to Danny Burk for drum scanning.
Prints are made with the Epson 4000 printer, a high end archival pigment ink system on Premium Ultrasmooth Paper. This is a matte surface that I have found looks best when framed under glass. A glossy paper may look better in hand, but when framed under glass, I have found that glossy and luster papers creates secondary reflections which distract from the print, whereas the ultrasmooth papers does not. All prints, unless otherwise requested, are matted with acid free materials. |