Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/07/07

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Photo whores {was Life magazine}
From: Mark <mark@steinberg.net>
Date: Tue, 07 Jul 1998 19:53:48 -0700

Eric Welch wrote:
> 
> At 12:17 PM 7/7/98 -0400, you wrote:
> 
> >Eric, it does not sound like the photographing is the tough part.  It sounds
> >like the peripheral issues can be tough.  I guess it is with most
> >professions.
> 
> No, only non-pros think that. Making great pictures good enough for
> publication is very, very difficult for all but a few at the very top of
> the business. Even they have to work at it.

LOL !!! hands up the number of people on this list who think taking great
photos is easy !!! point and shoot isn't it ?? my gandmother could do it...

....all this stemmed from a discussion about how awful Life has become,
and it is awful (i agree) and further, i would say that a vast amount of
professional photography that is published, and portraits too, are also
awful. they are simply chronic, with less to offer of interest than a
simple sunset. it's one thing to be in the right place at the right time, 
but quite another to take a great photograph.

the proximity of "a great photograph" is pretty much equidistant to
professionals and amateurs alike. all too often we mistake being in
the right place for "professionalism".

how many photographers were at wimbledon ? how many truly great photographs
were taken ? i'll wager two or three....given the number of actual shots
taken my granny probably *could* do better !! :-)

mark