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I have been looking at some of John Sexton`s work on the Kodak website which also provides some technical details of the Camera, lens and f/stop used and some of the exposure times are fairly long. Even the 75mm and 90mm lenses are stopped down to around f/32. Take a look.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professi ... imgCount=6&

Keith Tapscott wrote:I have been looking at some of John Sexton`s work on the Kodak website which also provides some technical details of the Camera, lens and f/stop used and some of the exposure times are fairly long. Even the 75mm and 90mm lenses are stopped down to around f/32. Take a look.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professi ... imgCount=6&

I have his most recent book - I have never seen any of his prints in the flesh. Some lovely pictures, though a bit too manipulated for my taste.

Justin wrote: I have his most recent book - I have never seen any of his prints in the flesh. Some lovely pictures, though a bit too manipulated for my taste.

I don`t have any of his books although I do know of John Sexton`s B&W photographs. I was just curious of why such a small aperture with a 75mm lens (f/32) when f/11-f/16 would probably have given sufficient depth of field?

Keith, assuming you mean "Geologic Conundrum, Banff" or "Bell Tower, Late Afternoon" then there is quite a depth to these images and stopping down to only f11 or f16 would not give sufficient depth of field.

With "The Arena, Slickhorn Gulch, Utah" some back tilt was used to help bring the fore-ground into sharpness.

I use a 75mm lens on my 6x17 and always try to stop down to at least f22 to get as much DOF as I can.

Using 5x4 and 10x8 you always need to stop down well usually one stop less than the minimum aperture is ideal, assuming of course that you want maximum sharpness throughout the image.

Ian

IanG wrote:Keith, assuming you mean "Geologic Conundrum, Banff" or "Bell Tower, Late Afternoon" then there is quite a depth to these images and stopping down to only f11 or f16 would not give sufficient depth of field.

With "The Arena, Slickhorn Gulch, Utah" some back tilt was used to help bring the fore-ground into sharpness.

I use a 75mm lens on my 6x17 and always try to stop down to at least f22 to get as much DOF as I can.

Using 5x4 and 10x8 you always need to stop down well usually one stop less than the minimum aperture is ideal, assuming of course that you want maximum sharpness throughout the image.

Ian

Ian, yes, those are the images that you have named and explained. My comments are not of any criticism of John`s choice of f/stop, but to find out if equally good depth of field could have been achieved without stopping down quite as much. I definitely need to attend a workshop at some time in the future to see how the `experienced LF users` work.
Yes I do like optimum sharpness through out the range when photographing landscapes whether scenic views or abstract views.

Keith, I realised your comments weren't a criticism of Sexton's images.

My comment about maximum sharpness was because there are instances where it might be beneficial to have a background slightly out of focus.

One of the major problems with LF work is ensuring good sharpness throughout an image, and its much easier if you use the smallest practical aperture.

You find it worth having a look at John Blakemore's book Black & White Photography.

Ian

IanG wrote:Keith, I realised your comments weren't a criticism of Sexton's images.

You find it worth having a look at John Blakemore's book Black & White Photography.

Ian

I have the book by John Blakemore and did a workshop with him in 2000. He didn`t bring a Camera, just a portfolio of his prints and some of his 4x5 negatives. With hindsight, I would have liked to have asked him more about the use of his MPP Camera.

Justin wrote:

Keith Tapscott wrote:I have been looking at some of John Sexton`s work on the Kodak website which also provides some technical details of the Camera, lens and f/stop used and some of the exposure times are fairly long. Even the 75mm and 90mm lenses are stopped down to around f/32. Take a look.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professi ... imgCount=6&

I have his most recent book - I have never seen any of his prints in the flesh. Some lovely pictures, though a bit too manipulated for my taste.

Which picture do you think is too manipulated - they look fairly straight to me

Tim