Jeanloup Sieff - photo contrast and lens choice

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I assme that Jeanloup used a Leica 21MM 2.8 for the vast majority of his work...but, can someone explain how the devil he got that terrific tone in his prints? The b&w contrast is absolutely amazing.

I also assume he made liberal use of filters, red for sky, yellow for skin, etc. and I'd be very interested in these details also.

Many thanks.

Ed Seas

-- Ed Seas (edseas2@shore.net), August 23, 2001

Answers

Sieff was known for his use of the 21mm and 28mm M lenses. He probably used the f4 (11102) and f3.4 (111103) Super-Angulons; the f4 was produced from '58-'63, and the f3.4 from '63-'80. He might have used the Elmarit (11134) in his later years, but I can't say for sure. In looking at Sieff's work, I would think that he did use filters, but I have no knowledge of this. Sieff was a meticulous darkroom worker, and made his own prints.

-- David (pagedt@attglobal.net), August 23, 2001.

Never heard of him. Can you give references?

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), August 23, 2001.

Jeanloup Sieff was a French fashion photographer, noted for his black & white work. He has written of going on assignment with just a Leica body and a single lens - the 21mm. Try this link to go to a French website on Jeanloup Sieff:

http://photo.3net.be/galleries/Sieff/expo.html

I hope that it works for you.

-- David (pagedt@attglobal.net), August 23, 2001.


I have his book, (self titled), from Taschen, and I would trade all of my gear for a disposable camera just to have access to the models he shoots. His nudes are better to me than Helmut Newton's, and considering the fact that Newton is usually shooting 6x6 against Sieff"s 35mm, the quality of Sieff's work is even more impressive. I agree with Ed, the amount of information within these shots, from highlights to deep shadows is amazing.

Anyone that feels that only a short telephoto is useful for portraits, should look at the wide-angle environmental shots in this book.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), August 23, 2001.


To anyone not familiar with Sieff's work, I just checked that website posted above, and it is not an accurate representation of the actual printed quality in the book. It would not be fair to dismiss the photographer based on the weak presentation on that site. Many of those shots from the site are in the book, and the difference is beyond night and day. Please try to just look through a book, even if just to browse, to see the tonality that Ed was talking about.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), August 23, 2001.


Newton is usually shooting 6x6 against Sieff"s 35mm, the quality of Sieff's work is even more impressive

Al, if you are looking at books, you may not be making a fair comparison if you are talking technical quality. Books are often not representative of print quality - I have a number of books that have the same photographs in more than one instance, and the quality is quite different. One book I have of Laughlin's work, Ghosts Along the Mississippi, has photographs that look like they were poorly shot with a 35mm camera and badly printed. He shot large format and printed quite well (I have seen his prints.) Some of the same images in Apertures Haunter of Ruins look completely different. Same thing with Fosco Maraini - I have numerous books of his and the same photos can look both excruciatingly poor and exquisitely beautiful, depending on the book.

I have seen signed Newton prints close up and can tell you that they are extremely good.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), August 23, 2001.


Correct Jeff! Two of my favorite photographers are Jeanloup and Ralph Gibson. I've seen originals from both and can attest to the fact that they are suberbly printed, and why upto perhaps 11X14 35mm is an extremely viable format. But having also witnessed Newtons Big Nudes series, prints that are about 5 feet high - WOW!! As much as I love 35mm...........

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), August 24, 2001.

Closing italics, sorry, that was my fault.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), August 24, 2001.

Jeff and Bob,

I 100% agree that looking at true prints is the best experience, (my jaw dropped at my first Ansel Adams show... the photos in the books never came close), but on a hierarchy, the computer screen is way down the line as far as "experiencing" a photographer's work. My comment was not to look at that web site as the definitive representation of Seiff's work. The obvious first choice would be an exhibition of first generation prints, but lacking that option, the book is much better than the display on a terminal.

Regarding Newton, yes I am sure that his prints are of higher quality after a certain enlargement size. I was not clear, but what I meant was that I like Seiff's nudes better based on the style. Many of Newton's models are so over the top as to look like caricatures of women, while Seiff's models look like someone you might actually meet. Maybe it is the wishful thinking in me ;-)

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), August 24, 2001.


Fully agree Al. Twenty years ago I really liked Newton's stuff, cause it was kind of cutting edge at the time. But I personally don't think it has aged well (the style), or maybe I haven't aged well. Like you I feel the Newton women are too made up, too unapproachable and made to look too much like objects (IMO). Sieff, Gibson, Weston, (as well as many others) have all done nudes that are just as erotic as Newton's, yet as you say have a feeling of being real women. I find that this kind of image stands the test of time much better....

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), August 24, 2001.


Jeanloup died recently. Broke my heart. I have his big book. Splendid work.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), August 24, 2001.

Tony: Please tell me the title of "his big book". Thank you.

-- Max Wall (mtwall@earthlink.net), August 24, 2001.

Sieff's 'big book' has been out under a number of titles. Mine is "Time Will Pass Like Rain" . It is a 40 year retrospective of his work and is huge. Literally! It probably weighs close to 10 pounds and is fact usually discounted due to the price that it is known ot have trouble with the spine breaking due to the weight. So if you do purchase one, always view it on a flat surface..........

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), August 24, 2001.

I bought Sieff's book "Jeanloup Sieff 1950-1990" earlier this year and he is among my favourite photographers. The book is a large, superb collection of his work, covering portrait, fashion, nude and landscape subjects and I think it quite a bargain. I recommend it to anyone interested in, or unfamiliar with, Sieff's work.

I'm new to this forum and use an M6 classic and 35 'Cron. Sieff's unique vision, eye for composition and the soul, intimacy and poetry present in in his work are thing I aspire to, but sadly have little hope of emulating!

-- Nick Cooper (nickpcooper@btinternet.com), August 24, 2001.


I have two of his books- a great big one, perfect for the coffee table, is Jeanloup Sieff, 40 Years of Photography. It's less risque than a much thinner volume that I also have, Jeanloup Sieff: Erotic Photography, by Taschen. The former has more commentary, and tracks is photog. by the decades.

All B&W.

I can't say that he is a great documentary or travel photographer, altho' there are a number of such photos in the big book of his. He seems to be very good at lingerie ad, and I certainly wouldn't call it 'glamour photography'... One does get the feeling tho' that he has a certain obsession about this sort of photography, more than others with whom he might be compared.

My $0.02

-- Tse-Sung Wu (tsesung@yahoo.com), August 25, 2001.



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