Large format photography and young people

No. But other young people, especially other photographers, have come over, interested in what I was doing.
 
I was 28 when I started, if that counts? Otherwise a resounding no. But then again I almost never randomly meet any LF users at all, regardless of age.
 
Hi,

Our local arts centre is actively supporting young people to make analogue images and "zines", documenting their experiences in our town.

The excellent facilitator leading the project is a 35 mm and medium format user.

If she used LF then the young people would gain experience of our format.

This example may be unique to Barnsley and Wakefield (where the lady also works) but I reckon this pattern will be common elsewhere.

Robert
 
I agree with NAS, I'd call below 30 young for large format.
I met someone mid 20's last month and another who was 60, says a late 50 yr old!
 
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I nearly always get asked questions when I use my LF cameras, I even had a lady come up to me and asked me to stop videoing her :rolleyes:
 
Perhaps people need some previous experience of engaging with photography, before they come to LF. So, from iPhone to some kind of digital camera. Then curiosity brings a first experience of film and the new skills needed. That first film experience would usually be with 35mm film. After that, I think most of us will have experienced climbing the ladder of negative size. There might be a bottleneck when the need for a tripod manifests itself. And speaking of process, that has its own path - from the local chemist to the fascinating intricacies discussed on this forum. All this takes time and a degree of financial flexibility too.
All this suggests a certain amount of life lived before the bug strikes.
 
A lot of these youngsters today dont have the attention span for anything techy. Instax is more their choice.
 
Came across a "young" one just near home but its his profession so that's not the same
I think when young many folks go through phases obsessions impulses its normal , it happened to me,
it still does but it takes longer to get through them as you learn to be more selective(run out of things you will try)
There are a lot of distractions these days and many are instant so it does make folks a bit scatty.
 
One of my nieces was shooting LF at 18/19, we met up with @Alan Clark in Goathland, I guess 20/21 years ago. A hilarious night with the director & some of the crew from Heartbeat.

I began using LF at 22 or 23. I have met a few young LF users I sold my Cambo monorail camera to a 19 year old. Young LF users tend to be photography students..

Ian
 
I think is partly due to the type of photography one is exposed to first, and partly the pragmatic issue of the size of LF gear and darkroom items. That's ignoring running costs, of course.

I had a limited chance to use 4x5 in a college photography module (geology course). Most of my fellow students were not sure why the 4x5 monorail even existed. I didn't get to LF myself for another 20 years. By then, 35mm finders were really hard work. I had space and funds to support the equipment.
 
Ian Grant said:
One of my nieces was shooting LF at 18/19, we met up with @Alan Clark in Goathland, I guess 20/21 years ago. A hilarious night with the director & some of the crew from Heartbeat.

I began using LF at 22 or 23. I have met a few young LF users I sold my Cambo monorail camera to a 19 year old. Young LF users tend to be photography students..

Ian
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Ian, I remember your niece. Didn't she carry all the camera gear that was too heavy for you?;)

Alan
 
We have quite a few young 'uns using LF over here in Ireland. Most are involved with Ireland Analogue photography group who regularly meet. Usually with smaller formats for a photo walk in different locations. There was a recent walk in one of the Dublin parks for LF. There must of been upwards of 25 attendees, half with cameras and the other half curious of the workings of LF. There was some interesting images out of the day.
Cheers
Diz
 
Alan Clark said:
Ian, I remember your niece. Didn't she carry all the camera gear that was too heavy for you?;)

Alan
Click to expand...

I think not :D

Don't you remember the Heartbeart Director asking that the f***s that to me, when we walked in, me with my Agfa Ansco 10x8 on a tripod over my shoulder, and a heavy backpack. I said I'll tell you when I've got a pint, 5 or 6 miles tramping over the N Yorls Moors with a 10x8 camera builds a thirst. My niece had my Wista 45DX and her own much lighter backpack.

You sold enough prints to pay for your petrol & beer that night. They were a great bunch of lads.

I did extremely well the following evening.

But back on topic one big issue with LF and younger users if renting they have no space, are often sharing, that's why my niece stopped using LF, and stuck to 35mm.

Ian
 
Ian, I'll never forget the size of that camera! We had agreed to meet up outside the pub, and I didn't know what you looked like. Then I saw someone coming down the street carrying something huge on his back. Was it a bungalow? Or a garden shed? Then I realised that it was a camera, and I knew you must be Ian Grant.
Yes, we had a good night.

Alan
 
I know some LF photographers, and years ago I established a yearly meeting at my home.
But I never met any LF user out in the bush.
I could tell tales about digital users instead - surprisingly I can see them on my focused groundglas, telling me what a wonderful sujet (my sujet) is, then taking hundred snapshots from my sujet. :mad:

The sujet has been worth not becoming angry but staying patient:

Forggensee.JPG
 
This reminds of an excellent episode of Midsomer Murders which should be essential viewing for everyone on this forum. The episode title is: A portrait of innocence. It might be on Youtube. I rewatched it recently with my family via one of the on demand streaming apps. Might have been ITVX, can’t quite remember.
 
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