Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/01

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Musings on the role of photography
From: "Alan Hull" <hull@vaggeryd.mail.telia.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 11:58:46 +0100

From: Bill Franson 
> Hey Alan,
> Tell us why the images of "the old names of the distant past" are
"for the
> most part second rate"? How are we modern photographers getting
"awesome
> results"? And how different is a Leica M6 from its ancient cousin
except
> for the fact that it has a meter?
- ------------------
Examples are all around us Bill.  I recall my art teacher who used to
get all smug when she was critiqueing a painting with the statement
that the painter had technical mastery but no artistic vision.  Well
what about all those sincere people that had artistic vision but no
technical mastery.  Who couldn't draw a straight line freehand.

Photography and the digital recontruction of the image has freed these
people to express themselves in a way (via photoshop etc) that was not
possible before.  There is an explosion of really stunning images
coming from the advertising and commercial worlds.  Every day, on
posters, brochures etc. I see examples.  It is almost jading.

As for second rate.  That was a remark based on comparison only.  From
a group that prides itself on equipment superiority (boasts about it in
fact), don't you see a little bit of hypocrisy when denying that it can
produce a better image at least technically?   WOW.  That last
statement is going to give the nit-pickers a hard-on.

Happy New Year
Alan Hull