Devin Coldewey is a Seattle-based writer and photographer. He wrote for the TechCrunch network since 2007. Some posts, it would like you to read: the perils of externalization of knowledge | Generation I | Surveillant society | Select two | Frame war | Custom manifest | Our great sin his personal ????-coldewey.cc. ? Read More
Mitchell Feinberg – a photographer who specializes in beautiful shooting very expensive things. Cars, luxury watches, that sort of thing. He shoots at 8 x 10 film that expensive enough that you'll usually need to get it right the first time. Therefore, he shoots test shots at the moment 8 x 10 Polaroid film, make sure the exposure and focus right. At $ 15 a pop, 7 or 8 shots in test photo and dwindling supplies of Polaroid film itself (although it is impossible to draft seeks to tinker with it), it became apparent Feinberg that he could not continue to do things this way.
In such a way that he did? No, he doesn't buy worksheet or Hasselblad. He decided that he would Commission the world's large color digital back. After some haggling and the assurance that Yes it was serious, the prototype was together in 2010 and its production unit delivered in early 2011.
He calls his Maxback. This is totally 8 × 10; to compare the best digital back, Hasselblad and CFV-50, 36.7 x 49.1 mm. Feinberg said that the largest available backs about 4.5 x6cm. Here is a comparison to show you how it corresponds with the Maxback:
Yes, quite a difference. Interesting bit is that the Maxback not intended for the production of many pixels. In fact this entire huge sensor only produces 16-bit, 10-megapixel images. This 10-megapixel image quality, of course, because of the quality of the lens and pixel size, but still not large enough for high-precision printing posters, magazines and so on.
It takes a few shots with a digital back (which he equipped with his large-format installation exactly), then just switch it out for the film 8 × 10, when he is satisfied.
The cost was ... and I explain: "Feinberg, development and production of two backs (I like to have spare) was equal to the cost of a good size House – pre-accident housing". We therefore speak of half a million dollars is likely.
The point is that he spent $ 50,000 on Polaroids every year. He hoped that it will pay for itself and now, design and testing is done, the costs to manufacture more must be "in the low six figures." so it can be accelerated to break even by selling a couple of other large format photographers with money to throw around.
I wonder if expensive, solution to this problem and the result is impressive to say the least. If you have a minute, check out some of the shots Feinberg — can recognize multiple, but there are some beauties in there I have not seen, especially in Esquire wristwatches.
I love that word too.
[via PetaPixel]
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