[Leica] Re: Why Do I Take Pictures, etc.

[firkin at balhpl01.ncable.net.au (firkin)]

Certainly not too long or boring: Its great to hear the crystalization of 
thoughts. 

When Helen I were to go to Europe 2 months ago, I agonized (as usual) about 
what to take, but this time it was not because of the wealth of images I 
expected to find, but rather the paucity. I ruled out colour: Europe I 
decided is grey and dull :-) and I knew that I would have trouble taking 
people: after all, they all look like me, overweight poorly dressed 
westerners. Here in Australia, you can walk the streets of most cities and 
towns and never see anyone outside a car (plenty of them), unless its an 
"event". I'm sure visitors from Asia wonder if anyone lives here at all. I 
expected Europe to be the same. I was right: most of the people images are 
of people just walking to another indoor appointment. Little if anything 
(other than street theatre and tourism) happens on the streets. So what 
would I take. 

Well we tend to focus on things we don't have at home, and therefore, in 
Europe that means "old" man made things. So I have taken lots of buildings, 
bridges, statues, art works etc. The only real "living" images are of 
Graffiti. Slowly the images are coming together and I will present some here 
when I finally begin scanning (I don't want to scan before printing for fear 
of scratches and dust). I have tried to take something of the people and the 
place, but I find it harder in "western" environments, where it all seems so 
"ordinary", but there is beauty in the detail, and that's what I spent the 4 
weeks looking for. 

Enough ranting, back to work 

Cheers 

Jim Christie writes: 

> Filix Lspez de Maturana wrote: 
> 
>>> I am hoping to stimulate a bit more discussion on this topic: why do 
>>> you take the images, what do you do with them, how big do you print, 
>>> how do you print, why do you print etc
> 
> I have been following this thread for a number of days now and find the
> answers very interesting and I finally challenged myself to put my own
> thoughts in writing. Here they are: 
> 
> I enjoy the challenge and experience of trying to make a picture that
> pleases me. To please me, I want the picture to have beauty and balance. I
> take mostly landscapes and I love blue skies and puffy clouds and colorful
> foregrounds. I also like taking flower pictures that show the beauty and
> grace of them (I just wish mine were as good as SonnyC's). I strive to
> create a picture that I think would merit hanging on my wall or maybe even
> being displayed in a magazine or winning a contest. (I've not tried for a
> magazine yet, but I have won contests.) I also like to go on photography
> workshops and trips, with my buddies from Reed's Camera in Walnut Creek. In
> fact, we are going on a Leica/Germany tour in September and I am really
> looking forward to this. I also enjoy vacation and family and friend
> pictures at gatherings of all types. I take these for my own record of the
> trip or event and then get a real kick out of my family and friends seeing
> them and wanting copies. I also like to give my photographs (all types) as
> gifts. My family and friends really seem to appreciate them. 
> 
> I have used an Epson printer for a number of years and currently use the 
> new
> R1800. I'm very pleased with the service and quality of the machine. I'm
> still trying to perfect the color calibration between my monitor and the
> output - I'm very close, but not yet 100% exact (if that is possible). I
> print for various reasons. If I'm working on a project, I usually print 
> 8x10
> to put in a portfolio. If it is a vacation or family event, I usually 
> create
> an 8x10 contact sheet and put 8 to 12 pictures on a sheet and then build a
> portfolio of pictures and other material from the event. If the print (from
> any source) is for hanging, I usually print 11x14. 
> 
> Hope this wasn't too long or boring, but it helped me to put my thoughts in
> order. - Jim Christie 
> 
>  
> 
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Alastair Firkin
www.afirkin.com
www.familyofman2.com