Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/09/18
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Sep 17, 2008, at 11:39 PM, Philippe AMARD wrote: > Shared in part. > The pro's problem is a lack of recognition of his/talents and > expertise hence the issue of getting paid what s/he deserves leading > to a race against time to mass produce and keep the accounts balanced. > > Yet, digital is sometimes wonderful for the amateur. If you manage > to forget past approaches such as"a camera for life", or the trend > to get "the latest, the fastest, the biggest", etc then on the one > tool you use for listening to the radio, watching movies, typing > letters, communicating the world over preferably on the LUG, you can > also store, edit and print snaps you shoot in incredible numbers, > which allows you to have fun, to improve faster, and leave the box > to other members of the family at evenings ;-) > > Glad I can do it for fun to. and you can use digital or an M3 and film and have a blast, like some pros are doing, when it's all for fun, ie not part of the job.... Steve > > Phx > > Steve Barbour wrote: > >> >> On Sep 17, 2008, at 1:01 PM, John Beeching wrote: >> >>> Dear Steve, >>> >>> I am so glad I don't work professionally and so am under no need >>> to "go >>> digital". I think I'll keep putting film in my M until I pop my >>> clogs! >> >> >> >> that's the way I feel, it all sounded so familiar, and sad... >> >> >> glad I can do it for fun, >> >> Steve >> >>> >>> >>> John >>> >>> 2008/9/17 Steve Barbour <kididdoc@cox.net> >>> >>>> from another (computer) list... >>>> >>>> relevant, a very good summary I think, but many here have heard >>>> it, have >>>> lived it, and many have to deal with it now... >>>> >>>> Steve >>>> >>>> ************** >>>> >>>>> Well Shawn, >>>>> >>>>> I beg to differ. Life is not as simple as people wish it to be, >>>>> I'm >>>>> afraid.... >>>>> >>>>> Without beating my own drum, I would say that I'm probably in a >>>>> better >>>>> position to comment on this than many, having been a working >>>>> professional >>>>> photographer for 22 years now... >>>>> >>>>> I've lived and worked through the demise of film and the advent of >>>>> digital, and I can honestly say with my hand on my heart that I >>>>> never used >>>>> to waste so much 'down-time' as I do now having to keep abreast >>>>> and paying >>>>> for technology that at the end of the day does the same thing >>>>> that it did 22 >>>>> years ago...that is make photographs. >>>>> >>>>> OH - I can now wizz them across the planet in zilch time. Big >>>>> Deal. That >>>>> doesn't help my bottom line. It just adds more stress to my >>>>> work day. >>>>> Clients do not want to pay for this. They expect it in with the >>>>> package >>>>> these days....They want me not only to drive to the location >>>>> (300 mile trip) >>>>> shoot the photos, but also develop them and "ping" them over to >>>>> the US or >>>>> wherever before I go to bed. Its totally pants. When I shoot, I >>>>> simply don't >>>>> sleep...which makes me ill....which creates more stress blah de >>>>> blah...But I >>>>> digress... >>>>> >>>>> When I started professional photography in 1986 I saved my money >>>>> and >>>>> invested in a medium format system that served me well for many >>>>> years - I >>>>> still have it and it still works now and takes beautiful >>>>> photographs. >>>>> Clients used to be happy to pay for the film and processing. >>>>> Job Done. >>>>> >>>>> I also have a Nikon D3 (and had D2x and D100 and .....get the >>>>> picture - >>>>> pardon the pun) and with each camera purchase comes a raft of >>>>> disappointments as the latest camera body doesn't work well >>>>> with last years >>>>> lens...Take for example the D3...Nikons current flagship >>>>> model...It doesn't >>>>> even work properly with the current 70-200 f2.8 VR lens - Yes, >>>>> I grant you >>>>> it works sort of...as long as you are prepared to live with >>>>> massive >>>>> vingretting...the whole digitisation of the industry is quite >>>>> shocking. So >>>>> when Photokina is launched next week (yet another commercial >>>>> merry-go-round), I'll be having to keep an eye out to replace >>>>> another $2,500 >>>>> lens....The one I'm replacing is only 2 years old !! >>>>> >>>>> And no Shawn...this didn't use to happen with film. I know. >>>>> Because I >>>>> remember. You bought a Hasslebald lens...it would last decades. >>>>> >>>>> The reality for photographers is that we are having to waste >>>>> all our time >>>>> and effort "learning" new ways to make the same wheel, rather >>>>> than creating >>>>> challenging and creative imagrey. Digital Technology has been a >>>>> complete >>>>> disaster for independant photography, as sole traders like >>>>> myself simply do >>>>> not have enough hours in the day to do and learn all the >>>>> technology. >>>>> >>>>> But somehow we have to. But don't tell me its "always been like >>>>> this" >>>>> Because that's simply an inaccurate statement. It has never >>>>> been like this >>>>> before ! Technology is simply undermining and blocking true >>>>> creativity and >>>>> real life observation skills. And no amount of pixel counting >>>>> and special >>>>> effects in Photoshop will change this, or make the person using >>>>> the computer >>>>> a better photographer. >>>>> >>>>> I would also add that in my experience Computer Technology has >>>>> undermined >>>>> what photography is about..people look at my images these days >>>>> and "assume" >>>>> they were done in Photoshop ! Even the documentary images - >>>>> this destroys >>>>> the very essense of what I stand for. >>>>> >>>>> Because of Technology - Photography is no longer 'trusted' to >>>>> represent >>>>> anything more than a glint in someones eye, and has been >>>>> ruthlessly >>>>> commodotised. I've even had "serious" discussions with clients >>>>> telling me I >>>>> should charge for my photos by the MB - and not by any aesthetic >>>>> principle... >>>>> >>>>> Its all very insulting to be honest... >>>>> >>>>> Best wishes, >>>>> David >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> David Townend Photography >>>>> >>>>> http://www.davidtownend.com >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 17 Sep 2008, at 16:27, Shawn King wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Photographers (and others) have *always* gone through this, >>>>>> computers or >>>>>> not, digital or not. >>>>>> >>>>>> The technology of almost everything moves forward those who >>>>>> rely on that >>>>>> technology for whatever reasons move forward with it - or they >>>>>> get left >>>>>> behind. >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Shawn King >>>>>> Host/Executive Producer >>>>>> Your Mac Life >>>>>> http://www.yourmaclifeshow.com >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>> information >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> John Beeching >>> http://johnbeeching.com/ >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information