Ultra Large Format

__NOTOC__Ultra Large Format (ULF) photography refers to photography using cameras producing negatives larger than 8x10" (20x25cm).

The ULF photography 'movement' has known a revival in the last few years, and is still expanding, along with film photography which, despite the very large market share of digital photography, still has many practitioners.

Origins

In the 19th century and early 20th century, photographic materials were not sensitive enough to light to allow for enlarging. All prints were contact prints, which meant a large negative was needed if one wanted a large picture. This can only be achieved by using a large camera.

Advantages

*The sheer size of the negative allows for very precise detail reproduction.
*Large negatives can be used to make contact prints, which is a method used with many alternative photographic processes.
*Images produced have a presence that is difficult to obtain through any other means - mostly the quality of a contact print instead of enlargement

Trade-Offs

*Very heavy and costly cameras
*Costly lenses with image coverage for large film sizes
*Film holders are custom built by fine wood workers - very costly
*High cost of film - most films must be special cut
*Cumbersome manipulation, which slows down the photographic process significantly
*Absence of international standards for film holders beyond 11" x 14" (30cm x 40cm) - this is rarely an issue as film holders are custom built to match cameras.
*Note that 14" x 17" - the size of X-Ray and MRI films - is indeed an international standard.

External links

* [http://www.mamutphoto.com Mamut Photo] , a website talking about Ultra-Large format photography
* [http://www.apug.org APUG.ORG] , an international community of like minded individuals devoted to traditional (non-digital) photographic processes. Site contains many discussion forums including an Ultra Large Format Forum.
* [http://www.fotostudio-arton.blogspot.com Fotostudio-Arton] , an experimental digital large format camera.
* [http://www.1827.eu/Welcome.html Going Ultra] , the chronicle of a journey into contemporary ULF photography.
* [http://www.1827.eu/In_the_Land_of_Giants.html In The Land Of Giants] , an article on three modern lenses typically used in ULF Photography.