Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/01/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]2011-01-04-15:13:19 Bill Pearce: (on extremely technically-rigorous view-camera shooting) > In my experience, I have found that it takes a very special unusual person > to be able to apply that level of technical regidity in a way that does not > sap the life from art. I've found, many of the times I've ventured out even with just what the view-camera prople would refer to derisively as a "box camera", but toting a good sturdy tripod and such, determined thet I'd take technically-excellent landscapes, that the resultant images were well-exposed and sharp... and just lay there, devoid of life or interest. I think it's partly that it's hard to keep technical rigor from occluding fluidity of vision. (Hard doesn't mean that it's completely impossible or not worthwhile, just that it won't come easily. It'll probably only come when the technical stuff is so well internalized that it happens without having to be the primary thing you're paying attention to.) I think it's also that I'm not intrinsically nearly as interested in landscapey stuff as in people. I was trying to force it, and predictably that failed. So... I mostly cheat by taking pictures of people, because they actually interest me. That's a big advantage. But I still take pictures outside if some aspect of the light or the forms attracts me, because you shouldn't give up on something just because you aren't immediately good at it. You have to do it to get better. Maybe that'll happen with me. -Jeff