Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/04/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thank you Dr. Ted for this Master Class Saludos cordiales Lluis El 07/04/2009, a las 17:29, Ted Grant escribi?: > Subject: Re: [Leica] NEW STUFF : SIGN OF THE TMES. COLOUR OR b&w > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/leicated/ted+grant/ > > > > The Q&A's to your questions and more. :-) > > > > George Lottermoser SAID AND ASKED: > >>> "Certainly a strong graphic > > and thought provoking photograph > > Maybe helpful and informative to let us know the where and when. > > > > TG: 1/ The picture was taken 2 days ago in Victoria Canada. > > > > Steve Barbour ASKED: > >>> "a very nice image... that we all see every day, even during the >>> prior > UPturn.... > > why was it taken ? is it about the color, or, is it about the content? > > as the photographer, it's your call... what point are you trying to > make? > how do you see it? > > > > TG: 2/ It's the content and the wall message. It may not relate > directly to > the financial situation of the day to the two male subjects. But > it's the > over all message and what a viewer "might" relate to the two men. > > > > Jim Nichols OFFERED: > >>> "I find the B&W much more impressive, both as a photo and as a >>> statement. > That's my 2 cents. > > > > TG: 3/ As much as I believe the B&W is the stronger always in this > type of > scene. For some reason I tend a tad toward the colour. Why? I don't > know > it's a sort of gut feeling. I think it's the words on the wall to > the ride > of the frame seem to stand out stronger in colour, that maybe the > influence? > > > > Spencer Cheng OFFERED: > >>> "B&W. Colour, to me, is just a distraction in this case. > > > > TG: 4/ As mentioned above in 3 is the only reason I kind of lean > toward the > colour. However the B&W allows complete concentration of the content. > > > > Douglas Sharp OFFERED: > >>> I must say I prefer the BW version. For me, it brings out the sign >>> more > strongly as a reference to two who "may" have been victims of the > truth > behind it. > > Do I detect a bit of colour dodging in the yellows before conversion > to BW? > > > > TG: 5/ No dodging, I think it's just the smudged wall. > > > > Steve Barbour OFFERED: > >>> I, like you Ted, in all likelihood, will prefer bw...truth is, I'm a > little surprised by your question... > > (and that's no surprise :-) ) maybe you are way ahead of me, and > you want > to consider why anything should be in color... > > > > This does seem to be a very ongoing question...maybe because people > are > shooting RAW, though I think in essence, it ought to be a simple > thing for > the shooter to decide. > > but as to the content, guys on the street like this, a dime a dozen, a > feature of city life even during the best of times, and we don't > know if the > sign, ie education...is a factor in this sad situation, even as now > some > very highly educated people are out of work, on the street... > > > > The sign may have had more relevance and truth actually during good > economic > times, compared to now when education may be less of a causative > factor in > unemployment... > > anyway, good on you, as you've pushed buttons that will have us > thinking and > arguing on several fronts, > > > > TG: 6/ No preference other than my quotation " When you photograph > people in > Colour you photograph their clothes. When you photograph people in > B&W you > photograph their souls!" This also must be tempered with > intelligence. > Simply because doing an assignment in India would be pretty stupid > to only > shoot B&W due to the colours of the country and peoples clothing. > However? > If you were doing a documentary on the slums .... I would shoot all > B&W > without question! > > I think one can read the economic situation or the education > situation in > cost of attending. But the second line is right in the face so true > fo many > people. > > > > Lluis OFFERED: > >>> I understand your comment content two questions, one about what this > photography can be interpreted (the visual mesage), for me you give > a fresh > and at the time dramatic vision of the situation. Many of us was > just shot > the poor men, you have added an ironic message that it minds a lot of > things. Here you are not only showing images, you are giving to the > viewers > a subject to discuss, some that can modify our thoughts about a > situation. > > The second question about color or B&W is only a mater of taste, we > are used > to be more dramatic images in B&W than in color. You know me very > well, but > maybe on this case I'll be for the color, why? because IMO it seprates > better the two plans of action on this photo. > > > > TG: 7/ True about the two men! I believe in most cases the subject > would've > been the two even though we've seen hundreds of similar photos. > However a > moment in the "Art of Observation" the message becomes far more than > the two > on the street! We as photographers must always see the most obvious > moment. > but never forget the important split second to look beyond that > point !!! > > > > Pasvorn OFFERED: > >>> First thing I saw was the sign. Then I started making assumption >>> about > the 2 gents in the middle. > > But when looking at a bigger picture, they looked like they were > engaging in > a good conversation. > > I really like the picture.<<<<< > > > > TG: 8/ Now that's interesting as that's the first thing I saw! Then > the two > men! I know walking along any street a sign such as this is so in > the face > it almost warrents finding something to anchor with it and truning > it into > an interesting picture. Which is the case here. > > > > Nathan OFFERED: > >>> B&W for me as well, Ted. <<<<<<< > > > > TG: 9/ It seems the B&W folks have the lead. And when you look at > two 13X19 > prints side by each the B&W wins hands down! > > > > Philippe OFFERED: > >>> Great contrast and sort of kick in the ... eyes, and mind. > > Thank you Doctor Ted :-) > > > > TG: 10/ It is a a sort of eye opener when you see it on the street > like this > with a possible couple of subjects in the background. > > > > Felix OFFERED: > > <<Nobody may say this image is not pertinet nowadays. Black and > white image > remarks the dramatic aspect of the matter. As everybody already > knows you > are *the master*.<< > > > > TG: 11/ I think it fits the scene of the day. Although the wall > message may > not apply to these two gentlemen in relation to attending or not > attending > university. It still is a strong photo moment. > > > > NOW THE TRUTH OF THE MOMENT! :-) > > This was a test photo for reactions! I did not shoot this! However > to those > offering praise thank you very much. But they will be passed along > to the > shooter! > > > > This photograph was shot by my 18 year old grandson Scott "Wink" > Grant. He > has recently taken a liking to photography without any pushing by me > or his > father, Ted jnr. He has taken to it with roaring success of cross > country > bike action, skate boarding, basketball, people of all kinds. He > shows no > fear of what the light level is. I told him the other day, "Wink > it's a bit > under exposed, too dark! You should've given it more light!" :-( His > response? > > > > "Grandpa I've heard you say a thousand times.. "That if you can see > it , you > can shoot it!" :-) At least he's been listening!! :-) So OK how is > that for > putting it back in yer face? Now we are going to have a few "technical > lessons" shortly. :-) > > > > The photograph in question was shot because. He says, Quote - > unquote! " I > was walking down the street saw the sign and the two guys and thought, > "COOL!" Camera up, click! "Well that's what you always say." Not > a bad > shot considering he's only been playing "photographer" for a couple of > months! > > > > Now with that kind of eye and instinct to observe and shoot without > any > teaching about photography. However since he came out of the womb 18 > years > ago he's been learning by osmosis. > > > > I want to tank you all for your comments and trust no offence taken > at blind > siding you with the effort. > > Cheers, > > ted > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information