Topic: Genesis (no, not the Prog Rock band.....)

[Late Developer]

Sebastiao Salgado's new exhibition opened recently and, being a fan of his work, Lara and I paid a visit to the Natural History Museum in Kensington:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/temporary-exhibitions/salgado-genesis/index.html

Firstly, it is a big exhibition - well over 100 large prints. Secondly, it's £10 each for adults. Thirdly, I'm struggling to decide whether I really liked as much as I thought I would.

The locations, subject matter and the photography are all absolutely first rate. Everything is composed excellently and pin sharp. It's all in black and white - which might seem a tad strange for an exhibition extolling the wonders of Earth's untouched wildernesses. However.....and this is a biggie for me, I'm not hugely impressed by the post-processing / prints.

Salgado is a legendary Leica user and these photos are clearly made with a 35mm camera as they couldn't be blown up any bigger without the grain becoming a serious issue. But is it grain? Some of the shots are taken in 2004/2005 and my guess is that they will definitely be film images. However, when Leica brought out the M8, I believe he was an early adopter.

The photos from about 2009 onwards, seem - to me - to have that digital look to them. Nothing wrong with that but, getting back to the post processing, this is - in my opinion - a bit heavy-handed. The skies are very dramatic, contrast is extremely high, some of the grainier / noisier photos are (again, in my opinion) lacking in subtlety to the point where the mid-tones have been lost or compromised heavily.

I suspect a lot of the high contrast is driven by a need to shoot fast film / high ISO as a large percentage were hand-held and shot from the deck of a boat. There's a lot more tonality in the "land-based" photos where, I suspect, he was able to use a tripod and a much slower film / ISO setting. Maybe the processing style provides a consistent look to both the film and other photos.

If you're a fan of his work, I doubt you'll be disappointed. I wasn't disappointed as much as a bit surprised that some of the traditional finesse you can see in his earlier work just doesn't seem to be there. Maybe I'm just being over-critical when comparing work that is decades apart.

It's definitely worth the visit, and the money, in my opinion as the photography is peerless. I'd be interested to hear what you think of the post-production / presentation.

[LT]

http://www.dxo.com/uk/photo/filmpack/user_testimonial/sebastiao_salgado

Hmmm.

[charles binns]

I'm thinking of going, so I'll let you know what I think.

[Phil Bebbington]

http://www.dxo.com/uk/photo/filmpack/user_testimonial/sebastiao_salgado

Hmmm.

Indeed, Leon!

[Sandeha Lynch]

A few years back there was talk of him using 6x7 for this project, Mamiya 7 or something.  Whatever.  Nobody turns down free gear.  He's one of few living professionals I can think of as inspiring.

[stevesegz]

mmmm indeed indeed. 
Most disappointed and on reviewing Late's comments from the advertising pics I have seen I was concerned as they look over processed.
I have a couple of his books and the printing is something I really appreciate.

I will probably still pay a visit, but to look at content as opposed to aesthetics.

[Late Developer]

Hi Sandeha,

The aspect ratio / cropping of the shots is definitely more 3:2 and the larger prints (3' x 2' and a bit bigger still) are right on the cusp of where the grain / noise would become very intrusive and obvious.

I might be wrong but I use a Mamiya 7 and most of the the shots at the exhibition just don't look like they've been printed from negatives of remotely that size.

I don't want to be unduly critical and I must stress that the photography and the subject matter are both stunning. My only criticism - and it's purely personal taste, of course - is that the post processing work looks a bit too much like slightly overdone HDR.

[salvo]

Paul, I think you're right re not using the MA7

there was an article a couple of years ago on the French Magazine Photo Reponse (Hors Series no.10) where he explained his move to a high end Canon DSLR, after much testing. As I remember, he wanted something to give him the results of a 6x4.5 medium format, or similar. The photos in the articles were showing some of the process and how the images were cropped to keep the ratio. On the article he mentioned the possibility of moving to inkjet prints but apparently the demand was mainly for silver prints. So he was getting his processed files copied on 4x5" negatives to get darkroom prints
This is a link (in French) to that issue though it doesn't say much
http://www.photofloue.net/2010/06/07/reponses-photo-hs10-pourquoi-le-noir-et-blanc/

I'm actually in London on Thursday, not decided whether going yet, depending on how well organised I'll be

Hi Sandeha,

The aspect ratio / cropping of the shots is definitely more 3:2 and the larger prints (3' x 2' and a bit bigger still) are right on the cusp of where the grain / noise would become very intrusive and obvious.

I might be wrong but I use a Mamiya 7 and most of the the shots at the exhibition just don't look like they've been printed from negatives of remotely that size.

I don't want to be unduly critical and I must stress that the photography and the subject matter are both stunning. My only criticism - and it's purely personal taste, of course - is that the post processing work looks a bit too much like slightly overdone HDR.

[Late Developer]

Hi Salvo.

If you can go, I doubt you'll be disappointed. Here's a further article I've found which states that Genesis started on film but switched to digital......

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/photography/9945900/Sebastiao-Salgado-A-Gods-eye-view-of-the-planet-interview.html

Sebastiao Salgado - Ilford "Master".....

http://www.ilford.com/en/community/ilford-masters/sebastiao-salgado/

[Sandeha Lynch]

I don't know.  I'm only going by what I've read or heard in interviews.  I gather he has also tried Pentax 6x7 and 645.  By the look of the exhibition images online he must still be using the same print shop as for his earlier work - someplace in Paris, I think.  I hope to get there sometime this summer.

[Late Developer]

I don't know.  I'm only going by what I've read or heard in interviews.  I gather he has also tried Pentax 6x7 and 645.  By the look of the exhibition images online he must still be using the same print shop as for his earlier work - someplace in Paris, I think.  I hope to get there sometime this summer.

According to the links I posted, he's now using Canon DSLRs and achieving 'silver halide digital' quality by processing the files through film simulation software. The resultant images are copied onto large format film as a more secure means of long-term archival storage.

[DonkeyDave]

In last months BJP there is an article on this project. He used Pentax 645 in the past and then DSLR with the DXO triX plugin from then on. Even on small reproductions the digital looks different. Not better/worse. Just different. He confesses to machine gun style shooting, so I can understand the switch to dig especially with travel.
Off topic-ish but I've been using alien skin with pretty good results on a M4/3rds camera. When making prints digital can all too soon look over clean or plasticky, a bit of grain holds it together.

[Late Developer]

In last months BJP there is an article on this project. He used Pentax 645 in the past and then DSLR with the DXO triX plugin from then on. Even on small reproductions the digital looks different. Not better/worse. Just different. He confesses to machine gun style shooting, so I can understand the switch to dig especially with travel.
Off topic-ish but I've been using alien skin with pretty good results on a M4/3rds camera. When making prints digital can all too soon look over clean or plasticky, a bit of grain holds it together.

I haven't tried the DxO software but I do have Nik Silver Efex Pro - which does a pretty good job of simulating a film "look" if you choose to apply one of the 25-30 films listed. Most of the time, however, I use it on my film photos to add either (or both) a sepia tint or a vignette - as I haven't found any software that does either task better.

I re-read some of his comments regarding his reasons for "going digital" on this project and a lot of it was, apparently, to avoid film degradation as a result of multiple exposures to baggage handling x-ray machines.

With the digital stuff I shoot with my Nikon D3 and Panasonic Lumix LX7, I don't bother with film simulation hardly at all - and I'm really not sure why Mr Salgado does, other than to blend in with the film work done at the beginning and/or to cover mask digital noise from low-light shooting with his Eos 1D MkIII.

Anyway, long live REAL film........

[sapata]

According to this arcticle from 2009 in a Brazilian newspaper, he's been using digital since 2008 for various reasons but stressing the fact that life for photographer's has became a real nightmare after 9/11. He has once passed through seven security checks with 600 rolls of film even though he had letters from Kodak and the  government, the xray damaged severall rolls. He mentioned as well about the dificulties on finding good chemicals and at some point had to start making his own (?), he also said the film quality isn't the same "the quality I had on 35mm years ago I don't get on medium format now" (?) At the time he was shooting wih a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III.

Apparently he put his Leica kit to sell on ebay at the time for US$ 130.630,00.
http://blog.rostev.com/2009/04/leica-sebastiao-salgado.html

Both arcticle can be seen in this blog and translated if you bother reading...
http://blog.rostev.com/2009/08/sebastiao-salgado-no-digital.html

[Late Developer]

According to this arcticle from 2009 in a Brazilian newspaper, he's been using digital since 2008 for various reasons but stressing the fact that life for photographer's has became a real nightmare after 9/11. He has once passed through seven security checks with 600 rolls of film even though he had letters from Kodak and the  government, the xray damaged severall rolls. He mentioned as well about the dificulties on finding good chemicals and at some point had to start making his own (?), he also said the film quality isn't the same "the quality I had on 35mm years ago I don't get on medium format now" (?) At the time he was shooting wih a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III.

Apparently he put his Leica kit to sell on ebay at the time for US$ 130.630,00.
http://blog.rostev.com/2009/04/leica-sebastiao-salgado.html

Both arcticle can be seen in this blog and translated if you bother reading...
http://blog.rostev.com/2009/08/sebastiao-salgado-no-digital.html

Interesting. Now, bearing in mind that he probably had an entire arsenal of Leica lenses and that Leica weren't too slovenly at producing a very nice "full frame" sensor camera (and have now followed it with the Monochrom), the switch to Canon seems especially noteworthy. Had he stuck with Leica, he could have had the best of both worlds with just one set of lenses.....

As for not getting the same quality out of medium format today that he got out of 35mm years ago......

[Phil Bebbington]

I've always been a fan of his work and I don't have a problem with his use of digital, if that's  what he wants to do. But, I do hate those that make the shift and then spend time justifying it - xray? Whatever. We all deal with it. I guess he is asked, but, the subject gets a little stale and I get bored with it!

A great photographer whatever he shoots with.

I hope to get up and see the exhibition.

[Harvey]

or just buy the book if you have the room

http://www.taschen.com/

with a little linky to a discussion with the man himself in case you need more justification to sell the family jewels!

[Sandeha Lynch]

Ha.  Be lucky if I can stretch to a cup of coffee while at the exhibition !!

[stevesegz]

I've always been a fan of his work and I don't have a problem with his use of digital, if that's  what he wants to do. But, I do hate those that make the shift and then spend time justifying it - xray? Whatever. We all deal with it. I guess he is asked, but, the subject gets a little stale and I get bored with it!

A great photographer whatever he shoots with.

I agree, so why spoil it with a finished print that lacks finesse.

[Greg Bartley]

600 rolls thro 7 check points ? sorry but thats just bad planning , granted its far worse since 9/11 but there are always things that can be done to minimize the exposure and he must have had a budget to do that !
and on digi , while I think it has made us better photographers, I do like the japanese tea ceremony which I guess is why I am at filmwasters ! (plus community)