In Todd Korol's most recent YouTube video, he steps back to document Allan King, an Ultra Large Format film photographer, and his lifelong passion for capturing the Canadian Rockies through ultra-large-format black-and-white photography. His practice blends historical photographic processes with modern artistic vision, aiming to preserve both the natural beauty of the mountains and the timeless craft of analog photography.
Allan King started his photography in the early 1970s, using 35mm film, like most photographers of that era. Inspired by a Time Magazine article featuring Ansel Adams and his 8x10 large-format work, Allan started to pursue large-format photography to experience the unmatched depth, presence, and tonal richness. Over time, he advanced to a 12x20-inch camera and platinum printing, combining historical techniques with modern artistry to produce images that feel immersive and timeless. Preferring black and white for its abstraction and control, he develops and prints each photograph by hand, using vintage lenses, pyro developers, and silver gelatine papers to achieve continuous tonal detail. His work aims to preserve the beauty of the Rockies while celebrating the craft and individuality of analog photography in an increasingly digital world.
