Re: How not to waste a day

[Donal Philby <donalphilby@earthlink.net>]

Carl Socolow wrote:
> Speaking of "war stories" I'll at least share a bit of my background
> when I first started working for a daily newspaper in the early 80s.
> Most of the guys there had been raised on Crown and Speed Graphics. We
> younger guys came in with our winders and a bevy of lenses. I was soon
> told that all you need is a 50mm lens and one sheet of film. If you want
> a wider shot, step back and a tighter shot move closer. And that if you
> took your time and waited till the right instant you would have the best
> picture.

Of course, this assumes that you can identify instantly when the peak
moment will be, and that none better will follow.  Which of course is
impossible.  The beauty of 35mm for documentary/news work, and even for
corporate work with people and set ups is that you can keep working a
situation.  Like a writer always takes more notes that will be used in a
story, so a photographer must explore.  If you only get one stab at a
moving situation, I think most photographers would go for the safe,
especially if on assignment.

> 
> By the way, I recall reading somewhere that Contact Press photographer
> Dave Burnett primarily uses a 50mm lens for most of his work. If you
> take the time to learn it you will truly be amazed at what it can do.\

One of my favorite (Leica) photographers is Ken Heyman.  In looking
through a book such as the World's Family, I am struck by the diversity
of focal lengths he uses for what are mostly simple (seeming) snaps of
human behavior.  The oposite approach to David Burnett.

Personally, I see in many different focal lengths.  It would be a lot
more economical to see in fewer!!

Donal Philby
San Diego