Medium format and street photography are two terms that turn me giddy, so any combination of the two is warmly welcome. Though this is taking the medium format part a bit further than most have!
If I had to pinpoint moments in my career that I have been completely in love with photography while shooting, I've been lucky enough that I can name a few. One which makes that elite group of shoots, rather strangely, wasn't a "shoot" at all. I was simply roaming around Tokyo, at night, with a medium format camera. I have a couple of ideas as to why I enjoyed that so much, starting with the camera and lens combination and ending with the spectacular lights of such a vibrant city, but there was an intangible quality that I will forever seek to replicate.
Medium format cameras can work well when it comes to street photography — particularly in low light — due to the amount of light that can hit the larger surface area of the sensor, but for me, the "look" was what hooked me. I've been an avid follower of street photography for many years, so the blend of two of my favorite elements of photography is unsurprisingly attractive. In this video, however, Sails Chong takes my dream blend further than I have, and by some distance. Chong sets about the streets of Hong Kong (I think it's Hong Kong — I'm not certain and I can't find that information anywhere) with the Phase One XF IQ4 150MP. This titan is usually reserved almost exclusively for studio work, so it's great to see one out in the wild. I hope he had it insured though, as the camera system retails for around $52,000!
Its in shanghai actually
..I deleted my comment after posting because I believe it was too nitpicky on second thought.
Using the XF in that light require real skill, it is not a light camera and the focusing would likely be manual. (not used mine in low light) It is amazing how the full 645 frame (not the GFX sub size) sensor performs so well at such hi ISO. The Image quality is outstanding, But that's what Phase One are all about..
Very wide assortment of most interesting places and things. The color is fabulous and the subject matter was wide and varied for some beautiful photos and something new and awesome. Congratulations !
Why? The biggest format selling in Japan is 4/3. With AI you can make any size image and not have to buy a cray computer to process huge files. MF is probably on the way out. You can't run a camera company with a few studio photographers who want old technology huge files from the camera. Time moves on.
'Ya know, I'm lovin' his work. His Instagram and Facebook pages don't do his images justice, like with his "Silk Road" series below. They look better on Youtube, if you can believe it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8HwlEeqEaI