Create The Old Masters Look With Modern Gear

Using the latest in software, techniques and hardware can provide you with imagery that will rival the masterpieces of nature photography

By Dave Willis, Photography By David Muench

Labels: How-To, Techniques

This Article Features Photo Zoom

Choosing the proper focal length for composition is equally as important as a device for creating perspective. Telephotos flatten a scene while wide-angle lenses add depth. The Masters only had prime lenses so they could be somewhat limited in the choice of focal lengths. Today, zoom lenses give us much more control over framing, perspective and depth of field.

Because they flatten the scene, teles give the viewer a feeling of distance. This aesthetic was preferred by many of the Masters; they would regularly use lenses in excess of 200mm (150mm is approximately a “normal” lens on large-format cameras; upwards of 200mm is considered to be more telephoto).

Wide-angles are great for presenting scale. Getting up and close is sometimes the best way to give your subject the presence it deserves. However, wide-angles can distort objects and skew perspective. Large background objects like tall trees or gargantuan mountains can have a keystone perspective, like the way train tracks look when they converge in the distance (see the illustration below).

Illustration At Left:
1) Tilting the camera upward results in vertical perspective.
2) Keeping the camera level, without using perspective control, captures only the bottom portion of the trees.
3) Shifting the lens upward results in a picture of the entire subject.

From large-format film to modern digital sensors, photography has changed dramatically, but the principles remain the same. Crisp, sharp images with good depth of field combined with remarkable subjects will provide you with timeless photos that can rival the work of the Old Masters.

One of the most important devices at the Masters’ disposal was built into their large-format view cameras. Because the cameras, while looking low-tech, actually featured nearly infinite adjustability, early nature photographers could control the distortion in the frame down to the smallest detail. By adjusting the lens plane and the film plane, photographers could take advantage of the Scheimpflug Principle to get almost infinite depth of field (see the sidebar on page 7). Using view camera adjustments also enabled the Masters to emphasize or deemphasize elements in the foreground and background of the image.

Modern tilt-shift, or perspective-control, lenses, are popular these days, thanks to new releases from Canon and Nikon. They give D-SLR shooters many of the adjustments of the large-format cameras that the Masters employed. As the name implies, these lenses tilt and shift to take advantage of the Scheimpflug Principle and to control perspective in the frame.

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18 Comments

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Jay makes this comment

Tuesday, 09 June 2009

I wonder, is the writer not versed in photography, or is it in many parts, intentionally misleading? I currently use mostly digital, but have used view camera (4x5 & 8x10) various medium formats, etc. The vast majority of my images are now done with DSLR's. A couple examples: DSLR's cannot rival the IQ of large format. A landscape print from a 120 format can be seen to have higher IQ in a print even of 8x10ish size.The histogram is not analogous in use to "the zone system". The histogram is normally used to avoid blow-outs. The zone system is used to place the values where you want them, creatively. I have never posted a comment re a consumer photo mag article before. I understand that your advertising base is now digital. But does all attempt at accuracy have to be abandoned? I have been a reader since the 1980's. No more.
MC makes this comment

Friday, 29 May 2009

There are also tilt shift lenses available for the Sony Alpha mount from Schnieder Optics and I think also at least another Zeiss approved company but forgot the name. ARCA Swiss has the M Line (makes your DSLR into a view camera). Another option, for any camera, is software that does the same thing.
patricia clapp makes this comment

Thursday, 28 May 2009

I think that everyone who made a comment is right in his own way whatever makes us feel fulfilled is the one we use. I am using a digital have used film in the past but prefer digital.
Wayne Edwards makes this comment

Wednesday, 20 May 2009

If I travel from my home town, 500 miles to St. Louis, Mo. I can walk, ride a train drive a car or fly a plane. Either way I get there. If my friends are happy to see me what does it matter how I get there? Same with a piece of art, what does it matter how you get there as long and the viewer is pleased with the result?
Haroon Rashid makes this comment

Monday, 18 May 2009

Hi, Look at the latest issue of SilverShotz fine art photography magazine, it give a good technical explanation of how digital capture and printer prints have a long way to go when it comes to resolution befoe they can begin to compare with film and that includes H3D-50 size sensors
Jack makes this comment

Sunday, 17 May 2009

Why can not a group of photographers adult or otherwise express thier opinions without attacking each other?
S Hurwitz makes this comment

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Over the years I have come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter what instrument [of photography] you use. It's the eye behind it and the brain, I hope. Eve Arnold
s Hurwitz makes this comment

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Over the years I have come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter what instrument [of photography] you use. It's the eye behind it and the brain, I hope. Eve Arnold
S Hurwitz makes this comment

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Over the years I have come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter what instrument [of photography] you use. It's the eye behind it and the brain, I hope. Eve Arnold
Bill makes this comment

Thursday, 14 May 2009

To Roy You don't know me nor how old I am. It is true that the use of a digital camera is much easier than a film camera! If they didn't have digital cameras. A lot of you wouldn't call yourself a Pro. Photographer! Film will always be around and many True pros. are reusing film. You sound threaten Dawg! Live with it!
Roger makes this comment

Thursday, 14 May 2009

If I hear someone state that shooting at F/16 or smaller aperture is bad, I'll puke. I've seen "plenty" of great, sharp photographs taken with these small aperture settings. I think we read what "experts" say then we take it as the truth without trying it ourselves. Although diffraction and lower contrast does occur it's not to the degree most people bemoan it to be. I challenge anyone to actual go and photograph at various apertures. You'll find the hype is not commensurate with the actual results. Bottom Line: Take what you read as a guide but not as the gospel! Lastly, the guy ridiculing digital because it's not film should realize. They're two different mechanisms used to achieve a result. All that matters is the result. People decrying digital need to get over it. I'm sure he's not using a wood-burning stove to heat his home. Advancements in technology are inevitable. If you don't like them, don't use them but don't "hate" on others who do!
Roy makes this comment

Thursday, 14 May 2009

"Bill" sounds like a sour faced old fool who rants on about how his opinion's concerning film vs digital is pure fact and everyone else is wrong. Isn't photography supposed to be fun? Regardless of what type of camera you chose to shoot with? I may not have "formal training" but I do know why i take pictures, because its fun. Roy-
Roy makes this comment

Thursday, 14 May 2009

"Bill" sounds like a sour faced old fool who rants on about how his opinion's concerning film vs digital is pure fact and everyone else is wrong. Isn't photography supposed to be fun? Regardless of what type of camera you chose to shoot with? I may not have "formal training" but I do know why i take pictures, because its fun. Roy-
Bill makes this comment

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

I am going to puke when another Digital Whore (who is pushing digital for some company) put down Film. I still use film and will continue to do so. I have several digital cameras and only use them when someone needs a photo in a hurry. I have a D3 and D700 Nikon and there is no comparsion to my Nikon F4. With film cameras you have to use your brain (I have formal training) with digital you point and shoot.
Jeff makes this comment

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

Suggesting that digital users shoot at apertures in the f/16-f/32 range is generally bad advice (for landscapes, anyway). Not only do you typically not need such a small aperture, but diffraction will rob the image of sharpness and resolution. Large-format shooters needed those tiny apertures because of the much longer focal lengths needed for a given field of view.
cuibel makes this comment

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

"ultimate in sharpness" uh-oh, heave
cuibel makes this comment

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

If i hear someone use the phrase "ultimate control" once more i'm gonna puke.
ofer makes this comment

Friday, 08 May 2009

Classic photograph in the modern resources

How-To

Create The Old Masters Look With Modern Gear

Using the latest in software, techniques and hardware can provide you with imagery that will rival the masterpieces of nature photography

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