About Tom Cuccio
My goal is to capture nature as it exists today. Shooting large-format 8x10 film isn’t just photography—it’s an obsession, a test of patience, and an adventure that demands everything from me.
This process is slow, expensive, and unforgiving. Every frame I expose costs upwards of $100 between film, development, and high-resolution drum scans. There’s no rapid-fire burst mode, no instant feedback, no second chances. Just one sheet, one moment, and a bit of faith that everything—light, focus, composition, and timing—aligns.
It starts with hauling a 40-pound camera, a massive tripod, and a bag full of film holders into the wild. Setting up takes time. The wind can shift, the light can change, the scene can disappear before I’m even ready. And yet, when I finally click the shutter, there’s a feeling like no other—knowing I’ve captured something truly unique, with no way to see the results until the film is developed days or even weeks later.
That’s the magic. The risk and reward. The anticipation of peeling back a developed sheet of film to see what nature gave me. Some frames turn out better than I ever imagined. Others? Not so much. But that’s what keeps me coming back—the pursuit of perfection in a process that will never be perfect.
"Photography is my lifelong passion and a way to express myself. Capturing the beauty of the world and sharing it with others is a fundamental part of who I am. Through my images, I hope to bring people along on my journeys to some of the most awe-inspiring places on Earth."
From an early age, I was drawn to understanding how things worked—taking them apart and putting them back together. Photography was no different. After completing my first black-and-white film class in high school, I built my own darkroom in my parents’ basement, developing film and prints by hand.
In a digital world that moves faster than ever, I choose to slow down. Large-format photography forces me to be deliberate, to think through every shot, to accept the unknown. My work isn’t just about landscapes—it’s about the patterns, the textures, the fleeting moments that only film can capture.
Each print I create is the result of intentional choices, physical effort, and relentless dedication to this craft. This is photography at its purest—a blend of discipline, artistry, and sheer determination.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Equipment
I currently works with only film cameras, both in color and black and white to capture landscapes. Pursing my passion in film photography I use the 8x10 Chamonix Alpinist view camera and Fuji GX617 medium format camera (panoramic).
8x10 Photography
The 8x10 Chamonix Alpinist View Camera is currently my main camera in use.
Panoramic
I currently use the Fuji GX617 camera, 90mm, and 180mm lens to capture panoramic landscape images. I also use Fuji Velvia and Provia slide film which is known for its sharpness and vivid colors in landscape photography.
"I love the idea of shooting on film, since the instant gratitude that you get from shooting digitally does not exist. The crispness and rich color your retrieve from film far exceeds most digital files. As my passion for photography continues to grow I find myself shooting with film more and more. "