Re[2]: [Leica] 90/2.0

[Peterson_Art@hq.navsea.navy.mil]

     Tony,
     
     You say you "hope [you] will become a great photographer," but that 
     you are "still in the stage that [you] take photos because the scene 
     'moves' [you, and you]...hardly think about the theme before [you] 
     press the shutter."  And you ask whether "a great photographer would 
     always have a theme in his/her photos...Or...just REALIZE the theme 
     after they develop the photos?"
     
     I'd suggest that you NOT worry about any themes when you are taking 
     photographs.  Thinking consciously about themes can be detrimental to 
     the work of even those who may have the time for it (e.g., writers or 
     painters).  But as a photographer "carry[ing] cameras...everyday and 
     tak[ing] lots of photos," you don't have that kind of time---if you're 
     thinking about themes, you're probably missing "decisive moments."  An 
     artist is a manipulator of a medium (whether words in a novel, paint 
     on a canvas, notes in a symphony, or image in a photograph), nothing 
     more, but also nothing less---that's what he's dedicated to.  If you 
     take photos because the scene moves you, you're probably on the right 
     track.  If you still "hardly find one photo that [you] really like," 
     maybe you need to go from taking pictures simply because the "scene" 
     itself moves you, to taking them because the image you preview in the 
     viewfinder moves you (but I don't know and am just guessing from what 
     you said).  Yet in any case, just take the pictures you like, and let 
     the themes fall where they may.  Figuring out themes is the business 
     of those people who are looking at photographs, not those taking them.
     
     Art Peterson
     

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: [Leica] 90/2.0
Author:  leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us at Internet
Date:    3/1/98 12:11 AM
> 
> Thank you for your comments, Tony.  I chose this shot because of the duck. 
> I had six or seven very similar shots, but this was the only one where the 
> duck had his foot up.  Salina wasn't feeding the duck.  The duck was just 
> hanging around hoping she would drop some of the beans she is cleaning.
> Your feeling that she is lonely is very perceptive.  Salina is a beautiful, 
> graceful girl, but the whole right side of her face is disfigured by a
> horrible birth defect.  She has a loving family but no hope of ever
> marrying and having a family of her own.  I had the feeling that she is 
> very lonely.  Thanks for seeing what I tried to communicate.  Tina
> 
     
Hello Tina,
     
I am happy that I could feel what you were trying to say.  I hope I
will become a great photographer too.  I don't want anyone to say I am a 
great photographer becuase I use M equipment.
     
For a great photographer, the lighting, sharpness, background...seems less 
important.  The moment and content are more critical.
     
I am still in the stage that I take photos because the scene "moves" me. 
I hardly think about the theme before I press the shutter release.  Even
though I carry cameras (GR1 and M3 or M6) to school everyday and take lots 
of photos, but I hardly find one photo that I really like.  I guess the 
skill is not there yet.  Do you think a great photographer would always 
have a theme in his/her photos.  Or many just REALIZE the theme after
they develop the photos?
     
BTW, I feel sorry to hear Salina's story.  Sometimes the story behind the 
photo is more interesting than itself.  Only the photographer knows them 
all.  I have another question for you.  What do you think about Salgado's 
photos (Workers)?  Do you think he was trying to help those poors when he 
took those photos?  Or you think he was using those poors to make him more 
famous?  You can email me privately for your comments. 
stchang@novice.uwaterloo.ca
     
Regards,
Tony Chang