What an awesome film standard, Watch Gene Smith's The Loft

[CameraQuest]

I should have noticed this a few years ago, its an incredibly important project documenting W. Eugene Smith's love of Jazz,
but its arguably much more important showing today's new film photographers what serious silver film analog photography is at its best.
Who else would use up a 250 sheet box of paper to turn out ONE print?

In my opinion The Jazz Loft Project book and the DVD are MUST HAVES if you are serious about B/W film photography.
How good is it? Well, I don't think there is anything better to teach a newbie about serious B/W photography by showing what can be attained.
An added bonus is that RFF's own Bill Pierce is one of the featured speakers.

Notice Gene Smith shot with cameras and lenses that would be viewed as obsolete and mediocre by many of today's self rated review experts,
yet no one today is turning out better images than W. Eugene Smith.

You will find the history of the wonderful Jazz Loft project Jazz Loft the Movie Jazz Loft Book Review

What started out as a wonderful book turned into a wonderful DVD and a wonderful on demand Amazon Prime video (no doubt available via other streaming services as well).

 

[ironhorse]

This is an absolutely wonderful and intriguing movie. Saw it a few years ago when it first came out. So glad that it's available on Amazon. Highly recommended!

 

[Timmyjoe]

Totally agree. Have the Jazz Loft Movie on Apple TV and have watched it numerous times.

Highly recommend.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Guy Pinhas]

Just watched this over the weekend. Great documentary indeed and made me spend my Sunday listening to Monk (solo work) and Hall Overton (whatever I could find). What I also really enjoyed is the subtext of what NYC was and what was possible to do there.

 

[charjohncarter]

I'm almost through the movie, thanks for bringing it to our attention.

 

[pesphoto]

i somehow missed this one, thank for the links

 

[PRJ]

A few years ago there was a podcast about the Jazz Loft and Smith which is probably related to the movie. Fascinating. I think it was through PBS, but I don't recall.

Looked it up-

https://www.wnyc.org/shows/jazz-loft/

 

[Nokton48]

I bought the DVD and I watch it periodically.
Not too long ago in fact. So excellent in all ways.

 

[benlees]

Thanks for heads up; just watched it. I'm not really a big jazz fan, or of W. Eugene Smith for that matter, but what an amazing time! A fine film: somehow able to balance the excitement of the jazz with the deterioration of Smith. Watching the emotion of Smith's son was devastating.

 

[Archiver]

This is wonderful, I've never heard of this documentary until now. Here's a great article I just found.


http://archive.is/P7Zd7


and speaking of his cameras, here's a thread from earlier.


https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83829