Show Case: Graham Mitchell

Show Case: Graham Mitchell
09 | 2008
Sinar Newsletter International
Sinar Newsletter International 09 | 2008
Show Case: Graham Mitchell
Advertising and fashion photographer
lenses, the lack of resolution and the
Graham Mitchell has given insight
slow flash sync speeds. «One of my
on his work to Sinar
favourite works was let down by a little
International Newsletter:
too much motion blur on a running
Photographer Graham Mitchell tells us
model which is clearly visible on large
about his work: «I mostly create images
prints. This was due to being limited
of people in real environments for
to a flash sync speed of 1/200 on my
advertising, fashion or even private
DSLR at the time. I still look at that
clients. The right location adds a lot
image and wish I could go back in
to the look and feel of an image but
time and re-shoot with the gear I have
it can also make life challenging.
now, but you don't get a second
I have shot in temperatures ranging
chance and that's the point».
from -15°C to +30°C on locations such
Looking for higher quality results, he
as beaches, snow, rock formations,
turned to medium format digital. He
bogs, rivers, busy streets, abandoned
Photographer Graham Mitchell
settled on a Rollei 6008AF with a
Sinar eMotion22 back (which has since
buildings, even from a helicopter.
There is rarely power available so my
my job - it's also a passion. So for
been updated to an eMotion54). «I was
power generator comes everywhere
my own satisfaction I require tools
greatly reassured by the Sinar adapter
with me, as do a couple of Profoto
which can help me achieve the best
system which would allow me to use the
packs and a Macbook.»
image quality possible, whether
same back on various other camera
«When you are miles from civilisation
my clients demand it or not».
platforms if necessary. I was also
and you have five to ten people
Graham started his career using 35mm
impressed with the Rollei 6008 platform
at a shoot depending on you, the
DSLRs but was dissatisfied with the
due to the fast leaf shutters, the
tools have to work. But this isn't just
great optics from Zeiss and Schneider,
Sinar Newsletter International 09 | 2008
Show Case: Graham Mitchell
and the large waist-level finder.
all look and composition, or zoom
Friday which needs to be ready on the
The maximum flash sync speed of
in quickly to view a file at 100% and
Monday. So a fast workflow is impor-
1/1000 with the PQS lenses means
check critical focus. These two views,
tant.As soon as I have finished a shoot,
I have never hit the flash sync speed
and the histogram are all that matter
I can directly import Exposure's native
limit with this new system.»
to me on the shoot and allow me to
DNG files into Adobe Lightroom and
«The first thing which struck me about
pack up at the end of the day knowing
export a web gallery ready for the
the Sinar files was the detail. It wasn't
that the shot is in the bag. Shooting
client to see only an hour or two after
just about the Sinar's 22 megapixels
tethered also means I never have to
the shoot. I like the extra flexibility of
versus a DSLR's 16 megapixels (which
be concerned about running out of
the DNG files and the fact that they
was the most a DSLR could offer at
storage, I never have to worry about
should be supported for a long time.»
the time) but the quality of the Rollei
the Sinar back running out of power (as
lenses and the lack of an anti-aliasing
it sources its power from the Firewire
Graham is based in London
filter on the sensor resulted in a signi-
cable) and it's very easy to perform
and Tallinn.
ficantly more detailed file. The fine
a quick backup to an external disk
Links: http://www.foto-z.com
texture of skin, hair and clothes came
before you even leave the location.»
alive. This is what I was missing! Then
On a typical advertising project,
you start to appreciate other qualities
Graham is given only a few days to
such as the colour, the extra dynamic
scout locations and models, organize
range and the more robust 16-bit files.»
stylists and props and assistants,
Graham always shoots tethered. He
perform the shoot itself and finally
explains: «Using Sinar Exposure I can
retouch the files. «More than once I
view large previews to check the over-
have been given a new project on a