SECONDARY RESEARCH- Michael Levin

Michael Levin Research 
Michael Levin was born in 1967 in Winnipeg. He was originally a restaurant owner and only got into photography at age of 35. He is known for his long exposure photographs. He is inspired by the work of Edward Burtynsky and Ute Barth. Levin doesn't plan his shoots or plan any locations. He believes photos just happen no preparation goes into them, he just takes less common roads. There is no symbolism in his work he just does what he wants to do.
He mainly uses film cameras such as the Kodak t-max and then he later moved on to using the Hasselblad H4D. He produces 4x5 negatives. He scans the negatives into the computer using a imacon hi res, so that he can use the negatives in photoshop. However, he feels limited by using this.
Levin would use an epson 11880 to print his photos in a standard size. He also uses a epson 9900 for larger prints.
Michael Levin mainly uses black and white negatives images. It wasn't until late that he has moved on to using colour photos where he travelled around France, Germany and Japan in order to develop and experiment using colour.
This is one of Levin's photos. He uses a medium format camera and then edits it digitally by scanning the negative into the computer to use photoshop. This photo is a long exposure photo which he uses a slow shutter speed to create a misty effect for the water. He uses this effect a lot with his photos. I personally prefer the shutter to be a bit faster then what Levin uses because I think it has a better appearance when there is lines of movement in the photo. This photo was a twenty minute exposure because it was beginning to get dark so he decided to use a twenty minute metering in order to expose the film properly. I like how the majority of Levin's photos use such a slow shutter speed that it makes the subjects a focal point. It draws the attention of the viewer to, in this case the hand coming out of the water. It creates a mysterious feel as the water is so smooth without the shadow the hand appears to be flouting.
This is another image of Levin's where he uses a very similar technique to the photo above. He uses a slow shutter speed of probably around twenty minutes long. I like how detailed the coast erosion defences are. I like how you can see the damage the sea has done to the bottom of the posts and the difference between the dry and wet area of the post. I like how the post slowly begin to get closer together, the further the posts get away from the photographer. He creates this photo using the Hasselblad medium format camera. He also uses the negatives to scan them into the computers to be able to edit them. He combines the traditional methods with more modern methods. I like Michael Levin's contrast in his photos. Its mainly in the items which Levin decides to use as the subject of his images. As without these objects his photos would be very boring, with the smoothness of the sky and the water.
I will use this to create a similar effect as Michael Levin I could use a neutral density filter on the end of the camera lens to be able to use a slower shutter speed as it will reduce the amount of light that enters the lens. I could also use the multiple exposure mode on the camera it will take up to nine photos and then combine them together itself. Another method that could be used it to take multiple photos in the style of a time-lapse video I can then combine them digitally using photoshop to create a long exposure style photo. However, I think the method I will use is a DSLR camera and a Neutral density filter as this is the most similar method to the one Levin uses apart from him using a film camera. I feel I will be able to capture more detail using a digital camera and I will have more control over the camera compared to a film camera. I also think I will be able to rectify any mistakes there and then using a digital camera as being able to see the image helps improve the next image. If I was to use a film camera I will have to wait until the films processed and developed to see the images meaning it is a more time consuming process to using a DSRL camera.

http://www.bwvision.com/michael-levin-photographer-interview/
https://cristallgallery.com/artists/michael-levin/michael-levin-bio/
http://www.thefstopmag.com/?p=711
https://www.michaellevin.ca/statement
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/m.levin

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