[alt-photo] AUUGGHH... Restarting and new decisions... Need advise.

[David M. Young]

Ok all... The basic story here is that I'm taking a bit of a sabbatical from my day job (in high tech) and going to devote much of the next year to various pursuits, most of them photographic.

I haven't photographed much at all in the last 8-10 years... And I hate even to admit that. I shot some 8x10, but mostly 4x5... 80%+ Polaroid type 55 which I dearly love, but also ready-loads (and occasionally film holders, always for the 8x10 and rarely for the 4x5) because while I'm more contemplative than the typical 35mm photographer (and ALWAYS use a tripod) I did like to work lite (and my favorite of 2 4x5s is my Polaroid 110 conversion). I'd process all of the film myself, and had all but abandoned Silver for Platinum printing. I was starting to get into digital negatives so I could standardize on 11x14 prints, but hadn't gotten very far. I did however scan every negative for cataloging and for my website.

Jump ahead to late 2009 and I have the same basic desire for my work, if not wanting to work even a bit lighter (part of the reason for my time off is due to being on disability from almost having lost my right arm and shoulder.. I've still got it, but it doesn't worn near as well as it used to).

So I start thinking.... I prefer ready-loads and Type 55 even more... There ARE no B&W ready-loads available anymore, and until The Impossible Project ( http://www.the-impossible-project.com/) gets Type 55 revived, I'm limited to a very small stash I have in my deep freezer.

My workflow was analog, with a side of digital, but was and will likely move to at least analog-digital-analog. I want to print Pt at 11x14 for the most part so there'll have to be a digital (negative) before the print... Hence the digital step in the workflow.

Maybe it's time for a change.

Is the quality of a good drum scan from a 4x5 negative still so much better than a digital camera when printing negatives at 11x14 as to make it worth hauling film holders or a couple or three Grafmatic holders, a changing bag... And still processing the negatives myself?

Or is it time to consider a Digital Camera-Analog print workflow?

I'm one of those people who can tell an analog print from a digital print... At least anytime I've called it out in a gallery or photography exhibition I haven't been told I'm wrong (I'm usually asked how I knew). From personal experience of my (and other's work) I can't seem to see it in an analog print from a well made digital negative (but all were from scanned negatives).  I don't really know if I'd see it in a digital capture.

If I did move to a digital camera, I'd probably go higher-end... And likely medium format.  Something like a medium format digital solution (Phase One, Hassy, or Leica S2) or a Phase One, Leaf, or Hassy back on an Arca-swiss or other "technical camera" platform (then I don't have to give up movements).  Either way, that would require a significant investment (somewhere in the $13k - $25k range.) I might also consider a Leica M9 and get a couple of those sensuous lenses, which would cut the price down to around $10K or $11K with a couple of lenses, give up some quality due to the smaller sensor (still 35mm Full Frame), but again lose movements for the ultimate in lightness and portability.

AAUUGGHH....
Thoughts???