cshimokita
[Photo Forum Moderator]
10714
"Photography has not changed since its origin
except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." — Henri Cartier-Bresson... maybe... I think he got tired of all the questions about his kit ; )
Cartier-Bresson (1908 – 2004) is remembered for using a Leica rangefinder & 50mm combination... Arthur Fellig (1899 – 1968), cigar in mouth, used a 4×5 Speed Graphic preset to f/16 @ 1/200 with flashbulbs, zone focused at ten feet.
Today whenever men gather and talk about whatever it is they talk about when not taking photos, the topic often turns to the matter of size and heft.[2]
My Local Camera Shop
"We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true." — Robert Wilensky (1951 – 2013). If you frequent the photo-blogs, and read the comments, you quickly realize that there is no emperor's cup regarding equipment... maybe HCB had a valid point.
I did a quick 5WH analysis of the impact that technology had on photography... you can do your own study... the boiling down is fun, but IMHO when you really get to the nub, equipment is not even on my short list (as follows)...
01) Who and what are we photographing, and why?
02) How are we photographing these things, and why?
03) Who are we photographing for?
That's not to say that equipment doesn't matter (ツ)
Thanks for reading,
Casey
__________
[Note 1]: With a nod to Lewis Bush @ "Witness"
the online magazine of "World Press Photo"
[Note 2]: Canon Developers Interview
- EF400mm f/2.8L IS USM
- 3,850g for Ver. II
- 2,840g for Ver. III
- approximately 1,010g (26.2%) reduction
- EF600mm f/4L IS USM
- 3,920g for Ver. II
- 3,050g for Ver. III
- approximately 870g (22.3%) reduction
"Photography has not changed since its origin
except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important. " — Henri Cartier-Bresson... maybe... I think he got tired of all the questions about his kit ; ) Cartier-Bresson (1908 – 2004) is remembered for using a Leica rangefinder & 50mm combina...
Who are we photographing for?
I think thats probably the most important one for me. Let me extend the argument....who do we buy watches for? Same thing. Great post, C.
Baron... I suppose if I got into it a little deeper...
I would have to consider different aspects of photography... and as you pointed out, the 'nub' is often relevant in a wider context. In photography there's the decisive moment and then there's the exhibition of the results. For example I understand that p...
"...size and heft." "...equipment."
I'm sorry; my mind's in the gutter. But aren't these things always what men talk about in the final analysis? Perhaps the most devoted photographer doesn't care what he or she has in hand when shooting. But even here in this Forum many discussions come do...
DruidPadji... I must admit to a little license in my wording ; )
I am one of the first to read equipment reviews, but always recommend they be taken with a grain of salt and wait for a hands-on opportunity... and I spend time window shopping when I could be out taking photographs... "gear talk" can be a common ground.....
Your photograph to start this thread deserves comment, Casey.
Street shots are a favorite, and of course, HCB made his fame with them. Your shot is appropriate, and very well-done.
DruidPadj......
Just my perspective on this...... When i take a photograph, I almost expect others not to like it. I rarely want people in my pictures. There tends to be an element of darkness about my shots. I am not taking them because I want others to like them, but r...
That doesn’t surprise me.
And I myself am neutral about people lnhabiting my shots. Sometimes they seem appropriate. I do like the photos you take of your neighborhood.
DP... thanks for noticing the photo...
Sometimes I just stop in to say hello and ask about his recent photo shoot... staff are great... Casey
For me, photography is fishing (without license and tackle)
I’m catching things I like. With no intention of throwing them back. ...
Mike... there is a quote about taking a photo in order
to see what a photograph of the subject looks like... Some are keepers, and some are learning experiences. For the most part (and I have to take a little care with this aspect of my photo routine) I take photos that I like... sometimes the results are a s...
To begin with, blanket statements about photography are meaningless...
because the motives for photography are as varied as the millions of people taking pictures. There are professional photographers taking picture for themselves AND their clients all way down to amateurs taking pictures for their various reasons. The equip...
Anyone who picks up a camera for the first time... any camera...
is on the start of an extraordinary journey... where they choose to go is not dependent on the choice of equipment, but at some point that choice can and does enhance the individual nature of the trip. Naturally there's a curve involved... part learning, ...
Encore in agreement....
with your observations and statements. I will also reiterate the comment that it ultimately comes down to whom we are photographing for. What is the artistic intention, is there actual merit to it?.... Cheers, Filip
Thank you Filip...
defining and understanding the intended viewer is certain a consideration and part of that is being able to visualize the results and maybe even thinking about a post processing approach all in the instant when one presses the shutter... quite often I vis...
Hmmmm....
Good point, I almost never think of what it is 'I want' in the moment of taking an image, but rather before I even embark on the sojourn. As to selecting only a well curated portion of the total output that goes without saying . Everybody does that, even ...
Filip, here's and example...
In 2016 when I was in Karuizawa I wanted to take a photo of Emiko様 after one of our morning walks... below is that photo... Just as I was about to take the photo Emiko's daughter stuck her head out of the door... since I was intent on a single person port...
A video....
which I just viewed and which I think adds nicely to the content of this thread....
ISO Invariance (aka ISO Less) is actually interesting
Filip... thanks for the video... below is a link to a technical article on the subject. The subject is a little more complicated than the video lets on... so if you're interested follow the link ; ) ISO Invariance Explained If you are going to view / prin...
Some things have changed, some have not..
I have followed the discussion with interest. I agree that there are elements of photography that have not changed, and probably never will: the compositon, the opportunity, the framing, the use of light and texture and many more I am not conversant with....
Thank you for your comment BCL...
There is no doubt about it... the technical innovation in photography and digital photography in particular has been amazing. Earlier today I was reading about how the iPhone ' Depth Control ' allows you to readjust the bokeh effect. I fell in love with t...
