[Leica] peter turnley's workshop in Cuba, march 2015

[Steve Barbour]

> On Mar 25, 2015, at 8:47 PM, Leo Wesson <leowesson at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> From my experience with Peter he said that you shouldn't quit a scene until
> you were done and then don't be afraid to go back to it to rework it.
> Peter's big takeaway for me was learning to anticipate what was going to
> happen next and be ready to shoot it when the moment and elements were
> right.

prediction and anticipation of human behavior surely...

> He was a quick and brutal editor; yes or no.

very true….


>  No maybes or sort ofs
> of save by cropping.
> 
> He discussed UV filters.  Said take them off.  Was of the opinion that
> unless you were shooting in a dangerous situation the coatings on modern
> lenses were capable of handling any normal abuse.
> He said to take off lenshoods.  He felt that they made the camera look
> imposing and again, felt that modern lenses didn't really need them.
> He even discussed lens caps.  Said to leave them in a drawer at home.


never came up, never discussed, but he would likely feel just the way you describe Leo


know him?  workshop with him?  where?


hope this helps


Steve





> 
> Leo Wesson
> Photographer/Videographer
> 817.733.9157
> www.leowesson.com
> 
> On Wed, Mar 25, 2015 at 8:11 PM, Steve Barbour <steve.barbour at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> 
>>> On Mar 25, 2015, at 5:52 PM, Robert Baron <robertbaron1 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Thanks, Steve, I'm really glad you and Tara posted this. It is very
>>> educational even for those of us who wait….
>> 
>> a pleasure for us, we sent a copy to him…..
>>> 
>>> Was there any (or much) discussion of the concept of working all angles
>> of
>>> a scene / photograph / portrait, or did he urge shooting a few frames  -
>>> taking your best shot, as it were - and moving on?
>> 
>> can say little, he said little or nothing, from our observation of him, I
>> could see that he shot what drew his eye in the first place, then he moved
>> on. He took us to places that he felt would generate opportunity,  but
>> remained in constant movement, not shooting but always looking for the next
>> shot.
>>> 
>>> Did he talk about quantity of shutter pushes?
>> 
>> no
>>> 
>>> Should I assume there was no mention of UV filters?  ;-)
>> 
>> none
>> 
>> 
>> thank you,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Steve
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> 
>>> --Bob
>>> 
>>> On Wed, Mar 25, 2015 at 7:45 PM, Steve Barbour <steve.barbour at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> making images…some thoughts transmitted by Peter Turnley during his
>>>> workshop in Cuba…  March 2015
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 1. produce the flavor of (the people and fabric of ) Cuba as it is now.
>>>> 
>>>> 2. color or bw, one or the other. Tara used color, I used only bw, and
>> was
>>>> the only one
>>>> 
>>>> 3. consistency of focal length, prefer one, get to know it well.
>>>> 
>>>> 4. horizontal format encouraged, a few vertical frames but watch content
>>>> 
>>>> 5. formatting, keep them all in the same, standard ratio
>>>> 
>>>> 6. do not have pieces of the primary focus of the composition cut off,
>>>> e.g.feet etc(see # 12 below)
>>>> 
>>>> 7. do not shoot cliches or standard stuff, things that may be seen
>> anywhere
>>>> 
>>>> 8. compositition and content is key...it’s all about the feelings
>> generated
>>>> 
>>>> 9. ditch the long lens, and the zoom too, shoot 50mm, 35mm, or wider
>> lens
>>>> 
>>>> 10. move, be aggressive, go for the shot..."move like a butterfly, sting
>>>> like a bee”
>>>> 
>>>> 11. writer’s don’t talk about their word processors, they talk about
>>>> their         writing,  photographers don’t need to talk about their
>>>> equipment either….talk about the art and what it evokes
>>>> 
>>>> 12. watch the edges, especially when photographing people, if you are
>>>> making an image of dancers, cutting off a foot is a critical error.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> We stayed at the top Havana hotel, which was very comfortable, quiet and
>>>> excellent. Food overall was excellent and abundant, but one must know
>> how,
>>>> where to eat in a foreign country, as poor food was easily available.
>>>> 
>>>> The workshop was intensive, ie very hard work. Students numbered 16,
>> plus
>>>> Peter Turnley, two other young, excellent photographers, also a bus
>> driver
>>>> and a guide who knew the people, the geogrpaphy, history, and the social
>>>> makeup of the people, who spoke excellent English. The experience was
>>>> joyful, even thrilling at times.
>>>> Speaking for Tara and I...  we learned a lot, agreed with some of the
>>>> above, practiced it all...  benefited from it, found it productive. It
>> was
>>>> an experience with benefits that will last a lifetime. We may do another
>>>> similar workshop with him one day in Paris.
>>>> 
>>>> In this world of rapid changes, even in this country where time has
>> stood
>>>> still for 50 years, change is inevitable, and it could be rapid, now
>> that
>>>> the political landscape recently changed. What will happen of course is
>>>> unclear, it may be good and bad…  How it will influence the Cuba we see
>> now
>>>> is anyone’s guess…so if you want to see Cuba as it is now, go now.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Steve and Tara
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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> 
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