Freqent Ask Questions

26.08.2024

How do you describe your photographic theme focus ?

I describe my photographic focus as "Urban Photography". By this, I mean subjects where the presence of people is seen or felt even if they are not visible. This definition of "Urban Photography" is significantly broader compared to the much more well-known "Street Photography," which nowadays is equated with the depiction of people.

Wide-Angle.de became Frank-Titze.art ?

In 2022 and after more than 20 years, it became clear, that I need to split between my work as artist and my gallery work to come. My artist work will be reachable in future under Frank-Titze.art and my gallery work under wide-angle.de & wide-angle.gallery.

Picture Titles ?

I assign titles to the pictures, whereby those are to 99.x% in English. Why 'only' English? I choose English as being the lowest common denominator for the global world. But there are German translations / hints of the titles on the info pages.

Photography is expensive, how do you reduce costs ?

What reduce the costs (per Bild): Use digital cameras instead analog. [High] Buy digital cameras more at end of sale time. [Medium] Buy used lenses. [High] My lenses are in average from the 1980s, means 40 years old. Avoid analog cameras and lenses being not hyped. [Medium] My cameras and lenses are in average from the 1980s, so 40 years old. Buy cheap analog film. Including Bulk 35mm / Type 135 film. [Medium-High] Develop and scan yourself analog film. [High] Buy in general smart == In bulk, observe the market, etc. [High]

Analog or digital, what do you use ?

Until 2012, most of my pictures were made analog. Since then exclusively digital until 2022. In 2023, I restarted in addition to digital with analog photography. Digital is much faster and controllable. The Polaroid* of the 21st century. There are also pictures being made possible only with digital. On other hand are there techniques and their results which can be done only analog - not considering 'fakes'.

Which format du you use ?

While I already used medium and large format in the 1990s (aside of Polaroid*), were the very most pictures shot with 24x36 mm, type 135 film. With the upcoming of digital cameras and phones smaller formats got added while I use primary still 24x36 mm or full format cameras. In 2023, I (re-) started of medium and large photography, perparing also for ultra large format (ULF) photography.

Why do you use digital cameras from 2012 (Nikon* D800) and 2014 (Nikon* D810) ?

There are two primary answers for this: The 36 MP of these cameras replace(d) nicely the 24x36 mm of type 135 film. The progress on the sensors on same sensor size since those days were not such revoltionary to justify a newer camera. But this to my use of cameras only. While Autofocus is not a key feature to me, start the mirrorless to change the world overall due to multiple new options on top. The Nikon* D810 is the latest Nikon camera being supported by a Photoshop* buy version.

Why do you not use digital mirrorless cameras, but DSLRs ?

Midterm will mirrorless cameras replace those with mirror offering several advantage. But: Mirrorless lenses do not support any 24x36 mm, type 135 film camera. While modern lenses are often optical superior to "analog" lenses, so are those often not in size and mechanical quality. Costs.

Why do you use Nikon* cameras for the 24x36 mm of type digital full frame / 135 film format ?

There are two primary answers for this: The Nikon* FE2 was my first camera bought in 1985. To be noted that I was considering the Fuji* Fujica AX-5, but from technical aspect side (e.g. the Nikon shutter was faster) and from the 'feeling' side I choose finaly the much more expensive FE2. Looking back was this a good choice due to the much bigger eco system, and the posibilities to use manual lenses with the DSLRs. With my inventory of Nikon* lenses was it a logical step to go also with Nikon* when I "went" to digital.

Why do you use Fuji* GX680 and Zenza Bronica* GS-1 cameras for the medium format ?

That is a more complex story: The Fuji* GX680 is simply the queen of medium format single-lens reflex cameras due to it's (6x8 film) size and flexible and modern constuction. Further more it is (used) relativ cheap available, very likely due to it's size and weight. The Zenza Bronica* GS-1* is the logical outdoor alternative to the Fuji* GX680 (and others) because it is much more handy offering still 6x7 size in a single-lens reflex system with exchangable backs. At moment I use just the Bronica* GS-1* really.

Why do you use Toyo* 45G cameras for the large format ?

There are there primary answers for this: Hier gibt es diese wesentliche Antworten: Having bought a Linhof* Technika* 9x12 already in the 90s, I made at that time the mistake to buy an too early version with old base board and film holders. Both limits the camera a lot. But despite of that, I revived the Technika* and used it again as rangfinder camera. She offers the options of a studio camera compared to any field camera. She offers cost effective (used) purchase from many sources. She offers a 158x158 mm large lens board, and (with adapter) the use of modern and widely used Linhof*/Wista* compatible boards.

How do you carry the heavy cameras like the Toyo* 45G or the Fuji* GX680 and the needed tripods ?

Outside of car, I use two hand carts. First and bigger one selfbuild, das Zweite recycled/up-cycled from somebody who wanted to dump it. Ausserhalb des Austos verwende ich zwei Handwagen. Das Erste und Grö&szlog;ere selbstgebaut, das Zweite recycled/up-cycled von jemanden der es entsorgen wollte.

Are you a pro ?

No. I'm in the best sense an amateur, but tax registered. So I'm not allowed to make pictures on request for money. I only shoot what I'm interested in and what I like.

Shooting events ? You have no pictures from such on the site.

I'm not an event, party, or wedding photographer. The typical expectations for such areas are quite narrow, what easily can destroy the fun. But when the the 'client' doesn't see this as such, very interesting pictured could come out. For pictures of events, the right questions must be clarified as well.

Can you be booked ?

Yes and no. I don't make photos for money out of many reasons incl. but not limited due to tax reasons. Last not least also to stay independent and not being required to make pictures I don't like. But you can ask me if I'm interested to make pictures of something or someone.

Do you provide posters, wallpapers or post cards for free use?

Yes. See for these at: Downloads The photos on this web site are resolution reduced or watermarked. All photos are copyright restricted. See for this: Copyright

Do you participate at competitions ?

No. I see currently no sense in participation in one of the endless number of competitions. And especially to produce for them. In the 80s I participated in the great "Deutscher Jugendfotopreis". See CV / Lebenslauf. This competition was a complete different story because it had and have a different approach than the most of today's competitions. Nevertheless do I participate at local events.

Du you have role models ?

Yes. There are photographers and pictures which have influenced me or still do.

How did you learn to make photos ?

I'm an autodidact. Viewing of good pictures help - not for copying, but for getting inspirations and ideas what is possible.

Since when did you make photos ?

Since 1983. Interestingly is that I started to do Super-8 movies at same time.

How did you learn to process photos ?

Through some reading and nowadays through some viewing of videos. But primary by using the tools.

Which camera should I buy ?

On this question a lot of detail questions must be asked to come to answers. Or you take that camera you understand and feel well, becaue there is not such as 'The Camera'.

Do you offer trainings or seminars ?

No, that is not my focus.

How accurate are the exposure dates ?

The exposure dates of digital pictures should be as correct as the camera was set to correct date/time. For analogen pictures were the exposure dates only roughly or not at all documented. Due to that are those (and unfortunately often a wrong) rough date.

Will you show more of older analog pictures ?

Yes, there is a plan to show more of these. In fact I scanned already very most of my analog pictures (slides/negatives) in 2021. I will release more and more of those over the time.

Will you do new analog pictures ?

Yes, there is an update and short and long term plans for this (Status July 2024). In 2020-23 I invested in analog medium and large format cameras to be used in future. I use a Bronica* GS-1, a light 6x7 camera for 6x6 and 24x69 (with custom back). Somewhen I will also it with 6x7. I use a Toyo* Toyo-View 45G, a 4x5 inch/9x12cm inch camera, as well as my Frankenstein ZERO and a Linhof* Technika* camera. I started to use also a Fuji* GX680 II, being the maybe ultimate, but also heavy mediumformat camera. Long term: I'm in the middle of use of an Toyo* Toyo-View 45G front standard for ultra large photography (camera) - see Frankenstein ALPHA und BETA.

When analog photography, why medium format, large format or bigger ?

Medium format: The reasoning for the larger film format, compared to the 24x36 mm Type 135 film, is for me in being a sweet spot for wall art when considering grain, resolution and tonal range. For this purpose, Type 135 film appears often to "rough". Large format and Ultra Large Format (ULF): The reasoning for the even larger film formats, compared to the 24x36 mm Type 135 film, gives, in for me in being in the further reduced grain, resolution and tonal range. On top these formats offer camera movements and limited depth of field.

Is analog photography not expensive ?

Yes and No: First we need to define what is expensive. This is to some big extend relative and subjective. Let's take as reference a todays advanced camera from Nikon* (or Canon*, Sony*, Fuji* or ...) and add the cost of lenses and HW & SW. Yes: Analog requires film, chemicals, lab equipment and its space and last not least storage space. When doing also analog printing on top: More chemicals, paper, lab equipment and space. Finally also a HW & SW scanning system for the digital world is needed. Time. Analog photography is, over the entire process, much more time-consuming than digital. No: In 2024, used analog cameras cost overall just a fraction of those of digital cameras and their modern lenses. Because: a) there is a lot of used equipment on the market, while there many areas without any new production. b) there are still niche area where the used equipment is incredible cheap. However there are also areas where the used equipment reaches "new price" levels. With the more time-consuming analog process, especially for large and ultra-large format photography (ULF), the number of pictures shot per hour, day, week... is much lower compared to digital. Yes and No - Larger formats: Medium, large and ultra large format (ULF) cameras and lenses had always a higher base prices point than those for 24x36 mm, type 135 film. All of this said, this is primary true for black and white photography only, as color has become incredibly expensive. In summary, analog photography is not cheap when shooting a lot of pictures. However, if you shoot selective, you will end up in the cost ballpark of the advanced camera mentioned above when looking over a few years.

Hybrid Analog-Digital Workflow ?

Shooting pictures analog, scanning those and doing the prints digital will be the default hybrid workflow.

Hybrid Digital-Analog Workflow ?

I have currently no plans to do such, but why not ? (Status April 2023)

What's the meaning of the different exposure-, developing-, etc. data?

I split & list the different picture creation steps as: Exposure, which can be Analog A or Digital D Developing, which can be Analog A or empty "---" Enlarging, which can be Analog A or empty "---" Scanning, which can be Analog A or empty "---" Processing, which can be Digital D or empty "---" A digital picture has only Exposure and Processing data [D---D]. An analog picture, presented online, has in contrast always additional Developing and Scanning data [AA-DD]. In case an analog picture, presented online, was also enlarged, it has in addtion enlarging data [AA-DD]. In case an analog picture was "pure analog" processedcreated, it is listed as [AAAD-]. More variants are thinkable like the analog enlarging, etc. of digital pictures as digital negatives [DAAD-].