Re: [Leica] Nathan's PAW 48: A stroll around Seville

[Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca>]

Nathan Wajsman said
Subject: Re: [Leica] Nathan's PAW 48: A stroll around Seville
> Hi Ted,
> > Thanks for your comments, I always appreciate the time you take and of
course
> and praise from you is really a compliment! Now to some of the
specifics:<<<

 > > First, a side street to Calle Betis in the old part of Seville, called
> > > Triana:  > http://www.wajsmanphoto.com/2003_48.jpg

ted said:
> > The balance in this picture is quite interesting as most elements are in
odd
> > numbers whichever direction the eye goes. But for me one very
interesting
> > point is........ the camera is held straight!!! ;-) In this situation
with
> > so many verticals it would be a shame not to have the camera as close to
> > perfect as possible, even hand held. Any tilting the slightest bit and
the
> > feel of the picture would screw-up.

Nathan responded:
> CONFESSION: this is a picture where I really took the time to think about
the
> composition, and I knew that it had to be absolutely straight-on. In the
end I
> succeeded in holding it straight vertically, although there is a slight
sideways
> tilt in the original slide. I corrected it with a 1-degree "rotate canvas"
in
> Photoshop--this is kosher for me, as it corresponds exactly to moving the
easel
> around on the enlarger base in the good old days of wet printing.<<<

ted saaid:
I never have any problem with this kind of PS correction, quite normal
actually. And anyone thinking other wise is a fool and never had much time
in a wet darkroom.

ted said:
> >  The person walking in against
> > the sign direction was the "lucky factor" ;-) we all need. :-)

Nathan responded:
> This is the kind of "luck" you plan for and wait for...<<<

ted said:
Spoken like a true Cartier-Bresson! ;-) But the most important thing is, to
"see the situation first" and appreciate the potential. Which you did very
well.

> >  > A lady cleans her balcony on Calle Niebla, along which I walk in the
> > > morning on the way to my office: >
> > http://www.wajsmanphoto.com/2003_48alt1.jpg

ted said:
> > The unfortunate element here is it's "a little bulls eye" with the
sweeper
> > almost dead centre.  But shooting people, one doesn't have the luxury of
> > "non moving peeling paint" and the photographer usually gut reacts to
the
> > scene and shoots by instinct. It's still has a nice feel.

Nathan responded:
> CONFESSION 2: You are right, she is too centered. This is a cropped image.
In
> the original, she is better placed, off-center, but when I looked at the
scan, I
> decided to crop it because there was too much junk along the sides.<<<

ted said:
Ok we all do thngs like that and I bet a few weeks from now you'll look at
the original and leave it as is. ;-) And actually feel good about it without
the cropping.;-)

 > > > A side wall of a church in the neighbourhood called La Macarena:
> > > http://www.wajsmanphoto.com/2003_48alt3.jpg

ted said:
> > Bingo!!! You win the prize on this....almost. :-( However.... yeah here
> > comes the nit-picking! ;-)
> >
> > And I bet you know exactly what it is considering the million dollar
> > potential of this situation, "If only a split second " and the lady
wasn't
> > looking at you would be 100% perfect. And even if she's not looking
directly
> > at you it appears she is and that turn of the head takes the perfect
edge
> > off a perfect photograph. Like it's only 99.9999% perfect.
> >
> > It maybe nit picking on my part but that's life in the hard and fast
lane of
> > photography. It's still a damn fine picture though! :-) And a very good
eye
> > to see and re-act immediately.

Nathan responded:
> Fast lane indeed. Whereas with the main picture I had to wait for quite a
while
> for a passer-by, in this spot there were many people walking by, and I
wanted an
> isolated person or family. The light was fading fast, so this was the best
that
> I could get in the circumstances.

ted said:
Sometimes we have to go with what's the best for the moment certainly when
things, "light, time etc" are a controlling factor in waiting and winning or
losing altogether.

In this location there's so much potential for a "great photograph" I'd
return and work it for all its worth. You know where the location is and
approximate time of first picture so it makes it a piece of cake to return
and ......... wait for a few more shots with varying people
situations!...... It's too good a location not to work it to death.

So on that note the LUG crew await your ..... "A side wall of a church 2,
the sequel!" ;-)
ted











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