Plate: Markus Hofst While many choose to focus on the fast-moving world of modern photography, Markus Hofst His passion for photography began around 2008, well past film's heyday, while photographing billiards games, a challenge that soon turned into far more than a casual hobby.
After learning the ropes, Hofst
Plate: Markus Hofst
With his Mamiya 645E in hand, Hofstportraits of people on the streets, which sparked a general love of portrait photography. Another turning point came when he had a friend let him try a 4x5 Linhof Master Technika. The large-format camera sparked a new interest for him.
However, Hofstphotographer Ian Ruhter making massive collodion wet plates and fell in love. "I tried to learn that by myself on 4x5 plates, and I failed so badly for many months. I only made black plates, so that was very frustrating," he said. But he didn't give up. He picked up a book by Quinn Jacobson and started making his own chemicals, eventually figuring out the process. Hofst
These days, Hofst
He explained that he is a very independent person and loves to work with his hands, which is part of why he's so drawn to the old analog processes. It is stressful trying to get everything right for a successful print, but Hofst careful and extra good because the stress is here. It's the same in the darkroom. "
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Hofstaid that means you have to really figure out the individual before starting to take the photograph.
Plate: Markus Hofst
Hofsttype of connection. The longer exposure times also lend themselves to unique results for portraiture. "I get to capture something different with the process because you have to sit still for two to three seconds," he explained. "You cannot fake good energy if you're not in a good mood for three seconds. So you get a different kind of personality, a real personality. "
"If you want really great portraits, take at least 30 minutes per person. "
Looking at Hofst
Plate: Markus Hofst
Of course, every person is different. Each individual will require a slightly different technique to get them comfortable in front of the lens. One method he likes to use is to have the subject close their eyes and only open them when they are ready. Then, when the eyes open, he takes the photograph. It gives the subject time to collect their thoughts and relax before he creates the image.
When asked whether he plans to explore other historical processes, Hofster handle such situations.
That doesn't mean Hofstphy itself. After staring at it for those few years, he finally decided to put it to use. In a recent video and blog post, Hofst
Hofsts appear. Because of that, he'll dodge and burn in Photoshop to get the digital version closer to the original. These days, he also shares videos of his plates to provide a better view of how they look in real life.
A preview of "The White Rabbit," an image included in his storytelling-based portrait series.
Plate: Markus Hofst
As his practice continues to evolve, HofstInstagram or his YouTube channel, and you can sign up for his newsletter to stay up to date on his Inspired series.
. dpreview.com2025-11-5 16:44
