Mojosan

Chris,

There is indeed a method to photographing such a subject and being able to "see" everything in a pleasing plane. Do you know anyone who does large format photography? A view camera with flexible bellows will allow you to vary the plane of the lens in relation to the film plane. This gives you nearly unlimited control over perspective.

For a relatively modest investment, you can purchase a used view camera to experiment and learn how this works. Plus with large format negs (anywhere from 4in x 5 in to 8"x10") the clarity and enlargment capabilities are unmatched by any other photographic tool. And don't let the digital dogs tell ya any different!

For more info check out A large format photography home page

Phil

Yep, I used to do a lot of photography with a 4x5 field camera. Had a darkroom and three enlargers. My favorite photographer was Ansel Adams and John Sexton who was his student. Of course I only did black and white as that is what I loved. The bellows on such a camera leaves an infinite variety of settings to take pictures of large bonsai displays so that they will be perfect in there perspective in every way. Of course you have to know how to use one and that is quite involved.

As for quality, a good 35mm or especially a 4x5 or 8x10 will kick the ass out of any digital camera any day! Of course the obvious drawback is that film is very expensive and if you get into 8x10......forget it!

~Phil

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Mojosan

I still use 4x5 - I drag it along for landscapes... most of the big Omega enlargers and stuff may just have to go to the dump one of these days... nobody wants em anymore...