Early b/w & bright sun shine photography (was Re:[Leica] Noctilux)

[Alfred Breull <puma@hannover.sgh-net.de>]

Ted, Donal, 

Though pictures taken during overcast days may correspond to early 
European photography, there are very famous examples of b/w shooting 
during bright sun light - coming from your country.

You need to switch to the movies: In the early 40's, specially 
Orson Wells, presented several examples of well-known and very good
photographed, bright b/w sun light movies (i.e. "It's all true"). 

Following later, but unforgotten also, Hollywoods famous "black series".

While Orson Wells movies could be interpreted as sequence of b/w 
photographies, the black series showed clear episodes. But, all are
very good examples of bright sun light b/w photography, which are - most
of the times - composed as fine as HCB's pictures.

Alf

- ---------------------------------------------------------------

At 02:37 31.01.1998 -0500, you wrote:
>Donal wrote:
>
><<<< a summary of lecture I heard by Leica photographer Marc Riboud and one
>of his comments was: "Direct sunlight is the enemy of photography."  
>
>He obviously doesn't have to shoot travel photos and get them accepted
>by a commercial stock agency!!>>>>>>
>
>Donal,
>
>It was one of Riboud's books I was looking at and I just went back and 
>flipped through it to check the lighting conditions. I'm sure he must 
>shoot on every overcast day.  Sure there are some "sunny days" but even
>most of those appear to have heat haze or some softening of direct
>sunlight.
>
>It is the same with HCB in many of his photographs and their is a Canadian,
>Sam Tata who emmigrated from Shanghia many years ago, whose work is very
>similar in one of his books.
>
>Shade and over cast is in!  No shadows to "flashfill" always effective
>lighting, but soft and gentle.
>
>But then the light shines differently (softer) in some areas of the world
>than what we have in North America, where we tend to have a much harsher
>high sun compared to the more northern climes of Europe and Asia.
>
>As far as Marc shooting for travel agencies, I agree he probably would have
>a "tough sell" with his appreciation of "mood overcast light" and not
>brilliant sunshine and sparkling blue waters.:)
>
>The more I think about this overcast light thing, the more interesting the
>prospect of only shooting on overcast moody light days.:) Hell it could
>start a whole new trend and I could only use aspherical lenses wide open
>only and adjusting the shutter speeds for a correct exposure .:)
>
>That would go along with how I try to shoot anyway, "Widest possible
>aperture and highest possible shutter speed." :)
>
>That would make the best use of the Asph. glass, drop backgrounds
>completely to mush and the main subject standing out brilliantly crisp! :)
>
>Hey watch for the new me at your local theatre:) just kidding guys and gals
>
>ted
>
>