[Leica] Gun Photos

[hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (Geoff Hopkinson)]

Sue, thank you for making a rational and thoughtful post. As demonstrated in
the thread people have very emotive views on firearms, of course. None of
those views pro or against firearms will be changed naturally.
I was a lawful owner and firearms enthusiast and really enjoyed both
competition target shooting and all of the technical aspects of well made
machinery. Exactly as I am now with Leica equipment instead. Everyone is
entitled to their own views.

I don't think that Rob's subject was treated fairly as photographs. It got
lost in the emotions.
A challenge for anyone with pro or con firearm views. Look at Rob's photos
as photos, I mean really look. You do not have to approve or otherwise of
the subject. They are photographs of machinery or tools if you like. There
is no violence or message or even contexts. Different for example to Kyle's
work that was roundly and deservedly praised here. I certainly bought his
book. 
I wouldn't make any comment on the list regarding the designs nor personal
opinion of the four firearms shown. No more than I would comment on politics
or any other divisive issue here.

Taking a cue from George I'll choose to look and comment on what I see as
tool portraits, if you like.
Of the first, the background texture distracts me a little. Some noise
smoothing could reduce that a lot with careful operation. The framing works
well, it would benefit from being sharper and with more 'pop'. I think that
more depth of field would be preferable, as the edges are obviously sharp
lines and ought all to be crisp. I don't mind the reflection on the forward
end of the slide. There's nice modelling of the shapes but the light has
shown the wear and scratches in the finish. Anyone familiar with the design
will know why there are there though.

The third really needs those darks to be darker I think. The very dark grey
has been rendered lighter by exposure adjustment, I guess. Better exposure
treatment of that one in the 4th frame.

Similarly the 5th frame would be better for me darker. There too some
preparation of the firearm would assist. Perhaps the oily areas cleaned up.
Better probably to wipe the whole surface down instead and give it a little
more (and even) sheen. DoF seems good here. Some judicial sharpening would
help a lot. Similarly to the detail shots of the same firearm. The light
modelling is very good for the shapes and planes.

In the last, I would have preferred that there be a little room at the left
edge. The lighting angles work well for modelling the shapes.

I haven't seen a firearms magazine for a number of years, but I do recall a
very high standard of photos by one particular photographer. I think that
his name was Ichiro Nagata. Or similar to that. Maybe worth searching for if
interested.


Cheers
Geoff
http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/e
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/gh/
Pick up your camera and make the best photo you can.

-----Original Message-----
Subject: Re: [Leica] Gun Photos

Funny all the hubbub some portraits of inanimate objects generates.

Full disclosure - I'm from Ohio, grew up shooting, owned a semiautomatic
handgun for a long time that I enjoyed shooting in competitions until I
decided I wasn't into it anymore. I'm kind of "not into guns" these days,
and don't usually see eye to eye with lots of "pro-gun" people's ideologies
(especially my dad's.)

Hmmm, lets put this into context -

Michiel wrote:
I hate guns. I wish they didn't exist.
I just don't understand that somebody is proud of having guns, shoot with
them and advertise that on the internet.
Collecting camera's and  make pictures with them, that I understand.

Substitute the word "guns" with the word "Leicas" and you may get more of a
feel for how people who lawfully enjoy guns think and feel. Maybe kind of
like us, perhaps?

Nice portraits, Rob!

Sue