[Leica] Why we photograph, artists who photograph, and HCB -goldenmean

[walt at waltjohnson.com (Walt Johnson)]

Hey Jeffery:

Lets put it behind us. You are certainly a valuable asset to the LUG and 
I enjoy looking at your work and reading many of your posts. I'm going 
to up my medication and refrain from responding in a manner which could 
cause misunderstandings. Except, of course, for the two assholes on the 
list. Other than that, I'm Mr. Mellow. Even picked up some Bergger and 
some Foma to run tests on. One very expensive, one cheap. Hell,I 
wouldn't mind looking a bit like Henri myself except I still have my 
hair. :-P

Very Sincerely,
Walt


Jeffery Smith wrote:

>I never said that he had a secret formula. I never really thought much about
>his images until I watched his documentary and he said that he relied very
>highly on geometry. After looking at his work again, I immediately saw what
>he was talking about. I guess I get tired of posting something only to have
>it mutated into an imbecilic statement that is then sent out as something I
>said. When I mentioned using older, European films and some of my older
>lenses, suddenly I'm quoted as saying that I can be just like Capa or HCB by
>going to the camera store. When I mention that HCB's documentary
>demonstrates his use of geometry, something I hadn't noticed before, I'm
>quoted as saying that if I use angles, I'll be just like HCB. I don't mind
>taking heat when I say something imbecilic, but I'd prefer that it come out
>of my mouth, not someone waiting to blindside me in front of a huge
>audience. Having to defend myself until a thread dies out is just too much
>work these days. When I see something like yesterday's crap, my first
>impluse is to just say F**K Y*U, but there's nothing noble in that response
>either.
>
>Jeffery Smith
>New Orleans, LA
>http://www.400tx.com
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org
>[mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of B. D.
>Colen
>Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 6:51 AM
>To: Leica Users Group
>Subject: Re: [Leica] Why we photograph, artists who photograph, and HCB
>-goldenmean
>
>
>What the hell, Jeffery - I'd suggest that I'm probably in the top - I'll be 
>really conservative - 5 percent of people on this list who have attempted 
>to start discussions about photography. Perhaps you'll recall 'why we 
>photograph?' Hello? 
>But yes, I do consider it pretty silly to look for the secret formula in a 
>artists work - although if you'l get one of those chill pills Walt's always 
>providing me, you may recall that I said I found your line drawing quite 
>intriguing. But no amount of line drawing or other art school/art critic 
>theorizing is going to produce the Henri-Bresson Code, and get us all into 
>the MOMA. :-)
>___
>Sent with SnapperMail
>www.snappermail.com
>
>...... Original Message .......
>On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 22:48:30 -0400 Walt Johnson <walt@waltjohnson.com> 
>wrote:
>"You are absolutely right.
>"
>"Walt
>"
>"Jeffery Smith wrote:
>"
>">I apologize for yaking about art without being an art critic, and I didn't
>">imply that anyone who divided a frame into thirds etc. was a little Henri.
>">BD made it clear that he thought my initial observations about the
>">documentary were laughable. I stand corrected. But your condenscending
>">sarcasm is over the edge, I think. 
>">
>">Jeffery Smith
>">New Orleans, LA
>">http://www.400tx.com
>">
>">
>">
>">
>">-----Original Message-----
>">From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org
>">[mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Walt
>">Johnson
>">Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 9:18 PM
>">To: Leica Users Group
>">Subject: Re: [Leica] Why we photograph, artists who photograph,and HCB
>">-goldenmean "> "> ">I'm all for aesthetics but that has little or nothing
>to do with 
>">"formulas". If it were as easy as dividing the frame up into 3rds or 5 
>">ninths or whatever, then we could all be little Henris .     :-P
>">
>">Besides, it is better to let your work do the talking for you.....Yaking 
>">about art is for art critics and dabblers, making it is for us Leica 
>">guys. (and girls) :-*
>">
>">Walt
>">
>">p.s I've never divided up your 9th ward photos into math formulas but 
>">think they are very good anyway.
>">
>">Jeffery Smith wrote:
>">
>">  
>">
>">>This is what happens when one tries to talk about photography on the 
>">>LUG. Okay, let's talk gear! How about 'dem Olympus lenses!!! ">>
>">>Jeffery Smith ">>New Orleans, LA ">>http://www.400tx.com ">>
>">>-----Original Message-----
>">>From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org
>">>[mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of 
>">>Walt Johnson
>">>Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 7:52 PM
>">>To: Leica Users Group
>">>Subject: Re: [Leica] Why we photograph, artists who photograph,and HCB 
>">>-goldenmean
>">>
>">>
>">>No. No, No..I'm  familiar with all the non sequiturs...Show me a
>">>photograph.... >:o >:o >:o :-P One you've taken which debunks Henri's 
>">>secrets.
>">>
>">>Jeffery Smith wrote:
>">>
>">> 
>">>
>">>    
>
>
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>