Peter Lik Shooting 645Z

Ryan Tischer · 10-22-2014, 05:45 PM

I was just perusing new images on Peter Lik's website and noticed that he has new work shot with the Pentax 645Z. Say what you will about him, but as far as commercial success he's one of the more successful landscape photographers. I know he used to shoot large format film and then saw he had switched to Phase One. Well, some of his new work is with the Z.

Personally, I think much of his work is over processed (and overstated), but given his commercial success and access to any camera system he would want it does say something for Pentax.

skierd · 10-22-2014, 06:13 PM

I went to one of his galleries last weekend (in the Venetian in Las Vegas) and I'll say the images are quite impressive when viewed full scale in person vs their underwhelming presence online. BIG, colorful, usually bold images that are visually appealing to the masses. Some were mediocre, some were better, some were excellent. Makes me wish I had access to a 6x12 or 6x17 field camera and to play with my Yashica 124 to do some big enlargements. For his work, the easy use features of the 645z plus weather sealing on the body and lense makes a LOT of sense.

**DAKS** · 10-22-2014, 06:33 PM

That's very interesting.
He certainly has a good commercial model.
I saw Pele's Whisper when it was first released. (look under "volcanoes" on his web site.) Impressive in person. It conveys a lot of energy.

I also saw a photo of Peter taking the photo. I don't think it was easy being in the right place at the right time.

Hufseking · 10-22-2014, 08:28 PM

I like his photos, but agree that some are better than others. Believe that they look better in "real life", sometimes difficult for a photo to "pop" online.

Also seems like Lik have good marketing skills, and know how to sell his photos.
Many good landscape photographers out there who struggle with getting their work known.

(A bit funny in a weird way, lik means corpse in Norwegian, so it was a bit strange to type in the address to his website, Peter Lik USA - Fine Art Photographer and Luxury Photography)

p38arover · 10-22-2014, 09:33 PM

Thanks for the links. I'd never heard of him but, having now seen his website, I'd like to see his images in an exhibition.

tuco · 10-23-2014, 09:11 AM

Big, bold and over the top colors sell to the general public. But they typically don't make it in National Geographic or museums. And so many think that this style is the apex of photography too

GarethC7 · 10-23-2014, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by tuco

Big, bold and over the top colors sell to the general public. But they typically don't make it in National Geographic or museums. And so many think that this style is the apex of photography too

Actually they all looked perfect when I put on my sunglasses. His tagline "when Velvia just isn't enough"

Silent Street · 10-23-2014, 02:47 PM

Peter Lik's large scale Ilfochrome Classic pano prints (produced in Adelaide, South Australia by ChromaColour) coming off Velvia and generally satisfactory in terms of technical metrics and composition, were occasionally hit and miss, often resufacing again much later with a complete digital makeover. The proverbial "silk purse with a sow's ear", if you will. But his big pano prints did set a precedent here in Australia for others to follow, and Ken Duncan is another photographer working along the same hyper-enriched and emboldened palette, albeit with the addition of tedious religious overtures on each and every print.

Except for a Linhof pano camera, Lik's equipment was always acquired on a novated lease, never purchased outright. That way he upgraded (as if that is ever necessary) at term-end.

texandrews · 10-24-2014, 06:25 AM

His work is a superb example of the difference between stuff that sells and sells and stuff that .....well, is only going to be appreciated by a narrower market---if then! Look, some of his images truly are arresting. And in a media saturated world that's something that helps set them apart, along with very savvy business sense and what appears to be a good deal of hard work and commitment. He's got stones.

But he's no Eliot Porter....but then Porter (and his brother, Fairfield) are excellent examples of slow burn, where subtlety and quiet are everything. The difficulty here is that one wonders if nowadays such artists would even be appreciated in high art circles, if they were newcomers.

Ours is not an age of subtleties....

robertchow999 · 10-24-2014, 08:16 AM

We've all been guilty of punching up our images.

desertscape · 10-24-2014, 10:09 AM

Here in the States, Lik had his own TV show, sponsored by the Weather Channel. That didn't hurt his business at all. He is quite the character. He's the Steve Irwin of the photo world, in that he is ultra enthusiastic. I've got to respect any landscape photographer that has made the kind of money he has.

2351HD · 10-24-2014, 12:11 PM

When it comes to earnings from his images I think you will find that he is in a group of one. Very wealthy man, but very hard working like all successful people.

**Pål Jensen** · 10-24-2014, 02:25 PM

He needs to work more on composition....

hsteeves · 10-24-2014, 07:29 PM

after having perused some of those Vegas galleries, I came to the conclusion my Saturation slider was not being used enough. And it wasn't just there but some of the Utah galleries as well.

Ken R · 10-27-2014, 07:28 PM

It's widely known that Peter Lik has a team that does EXTENSIVE retouching on a lot of his images. Nothing wrong with that, it's part of the product.

Yes some images are impossible to make because he has moved the landscape a bit in post to suit him.

But most are the real deal and his work is consistently very very good.

Rodney Lough Jr. is more old school in that he does most if not all the work himself and is quite true to reality. He makes some absolutely stunning prints that take scrutiny even with a microscope. Also a must see gallery if you are in the area of one.

10-22-2014, 05:45 PM	#1
Ryan Tischer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Photos: Albums Posts: 458	Peter Lik Shooting 645Z I was just perusing new images on Peter Lik's website and noticed that he has new work shot with the Pentax 645Z. Say what you will about him, but as far as commercial success he's one of the more successful landscape photographers. I know he used to shoot large format film and then saw he had switched to Phase One. Well, some of his new work is with the Z. Personally, I think much of his work is over processed (and overstated), but given his commercial success and access to any camera system he would want it does say something for Pentax.

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10-22-2014, 06:13 PM	#2
skierd Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Fairbanks, AK Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,472	I went to one of his galleries last weekend (in the Venetian in Las Vegas) and I'll say the images are quite impressive when viewed full scale in person vs their underwhelming presence online. BIG, colorful, usually bold images that are visually appealing to the masses. Some were mediocre, some were better, some were excellent. Makes me wish I had access to a 6x12 or 6x17 field camera and to play with my Yashica 124 to do some big enlargements. For his work, the easy use features of the 645z plus weather sealing on the body and lense makes a LOT of sense.

10-22-2014, 06:33 PM	#3
DAKS Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: McLean, VA Photos: Gallery Posts: 97	That's very interesting. He certainly has a good commercial model. I saw Pele's Whisper when it was first released. (look under "volcanoes" on his web site.) Impressive in person. It conveys a lot of energy. I also saw a photo of Peter taking the photo. I don't think it was easy being in the right place at the right time.

10-22-2014, 08:28 PM	#4
Hufseking New Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Romsdal Posts: 24	I like his photos, but agree that some are better than others. Believe that they look better in "real life", sometimes difficult for a photo to "pop" online. Also seems like Lik have good marketing skills, and know how to sell his photos. Many good landscape photographers out there who struggle with getting their work known. (A bit funny in a weird way, lik means corpse in Norwegian, so it was a bit strange to type in the address to his website, Peter Lik USA - Fine Art Photographer and Luxury Photography)

10-22-2014, 09:33 PM	#5
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	Thanks for the links. I'd never heard of him but, having now seen his website, I'd like to see his images in an exhibition.

10-23-2014, 09:11 AM	#6
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,026	Big, bold and over the top colors sell to the general public. But they typically don't make it in National Geographic or museums. And so many think that this style is the apex of photography too

10-23-2014, 09:22 AM	#7
GarethC7 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 139	Originally posted by tuco Big, bold and over the top colors sell to the general public. But they typically don't make it in National Geographic or museums. And so many think that this style is the apex of photography too Actually they all looked perfect when I put on my sunglasses. His tagline "when Velvia just isn't enough"

10-23-2014, 02:47 PM	#8
Silent Street Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Castlemaine, Victoria, AUS Photos: Albums Posts: 1,151	Peter Lik's large scale Ilfochrome Classic pano prints (produced in Adelaide, South Australia by ChromaColour) coming off Velvia and generally satisfactory in terms of technical metrics and composition, were occasionally hit and miss, often resufacing again much later with a complete digital makeover. The proverbial "silk purse with a sow's ear", if you will. But his big pano prints did set a precedent here in Australia for others to follow, and Ken Duncan is another photographer working along the same hyper-enriched and emboldened palette, albeit with the addition of tedious religious overtures on each and every print. Except for a Linhof pano camera, Lik's equipment was always acquired on a novated lease, never purchased outright. That way he upgraded (as if that is ever necessary) at term-end.

10-24-2014, 06:25 AM	#9
texandrews Moderator Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Baltimore Photos: Albums Posts: 3,390	His work is a superb example of the difference between stuff that sells and sells and stuff that .....well, is only going to be appreciated by a narrower market---if then! Look, some of his images truly are arresting. And in a media saturated world that's something that helps set them apart, along with very savvy business sense and what appears to be a good deal of hard work and commitment. He's got stones. But he's no Eliot Porter....but then Porter (and his brother, Fairfield) are excellent examples of slow burn, where subtlety and quiet are everything. The difficulty here is that one wonders if nowadays such artists would even be appreciated in high art circles, if they were newcomers. Ours is not an age of subtleties....

10-24-2014, 08:16 AM	#10
robertchow999 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 117	We've all been guilty of punching up our images.

10-24-2014, 10:09 AM	#11
desertscape Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,272	Here in the States, Lik had his own TV show, sponsored by the Weather Channel. That didn't hurt his business at all. He is quite the character. He's the Steve Irwin of the photo world, in that he is ultra enthusiastic. I've got to respect any landscape photographer that has made the kind of money he has.

10-24-2014, 12:11 PM	#12
2351HD Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 750	When it comes to earnings from his images I think you will find that he is in a group of one. Very wealthy man, but very hard working like all successful people.

10-24-2014, 02:25 PM	#13
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	He needs to work more on composition....

10-24-2014, 07:29 PM	#14
hsteeves Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 256	after having perused some of those Vegas galleries, I came to the conclusion my Saturation slider was not being used enough. And it wasn't just there but some of the Utah galleries as well.

10-27-2014, 07:28 PM	#15
Ken R Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 48	It's widely known that Peter Lik has a team that does EXTENSIVE retouching on a lot of his images. Nothing wrong with that, it's part of the product. Yes some images are impossible to make because he has moved the landscape a bit in post to suit him. But most are the real deal and his work is consistently very very good. Rodney Lough Jr. is more old school in that he does most if not all the work himself and is quite true to reality. He makes some absolutely stunning prints that take scrutiny even with a microscope. Also a must see gallery if you are in the area of one.