[Leica] Quality of current photographers knowledge: was: Nikon f5 etc.

[Mike Stoesz <mstoesz@wyoming.com>]

Michael, I agree completely.
I have been involved in photography since the mid-1950's and currently run a
photolab operation in a small university town.  The skills shown by the photography
students finishing the basic photography and photojournalism classes is MINIMAL.
Many apply to me for jobs and most cannot answer simple questions about
photographic theory or control.  Many do not know the difference between Kodachrome
or Kodacolor.  When asked to estimate the correct exposure of a scene by looking at
it out the window, most cannot get within 2 exposure values of the correct
exposure.  They are running on automatic and do not have a clue about how
photography functions.   If I need an employee, I go to the High School and find a
student that has had the HS photography course AND has had the 4-H photography
program training.   These are the kids that know how it works.

Off my soapbox for now,

Best wishes to all, Mike

M.E.Berube - GoodPhotos wrote:

> Simon,
>
> You make a good point. When the situation calls for AF/AEverything and
> there is positively no other way to get the shot otherwise, go for it.
>
> BUT someone here a few days ago, mentioned the dumbing down of Photography
> in the last 20 years. Now, I'm just a kid 33 years of age and have only
> been 'shooting for dollars' about 15 of those years, but I agree that all
> of these 'modern conveniences' made available to practitioners of our Craft
> are dumbing us down over all. As I said above, if you need the AF/AE by all
> means use it, but I think it important to the integrity of the
> professional, that we as photographers know how to function without the
> technologies assistance. (Just as important as knowing how to prepare a 13
> column report for your boss by hand if the PC gets attacked by the next I
> L0VE Y0U virus. To borrow on your example.) We need to have the basics down
> on how to manipulate light using our choices of light source, focal length,
> aperture, shutter speed, film, composition and how these effect the
> exposure onto the film in our light tight boxes. More importantly we need
> to practice these skills regularly in order for them to remain second
> nature for us. If we can have an AF/AE camera for when we need it and still
> maintain our competency of these skills, by all means we are worth every
> penny we can get.
>
> I can't of course speak for all photographers, but personally, I know that
> I am lazy enough that IF I had all of the amenities of these
> poly-carbonate, eye movement focused, gyro-stabilised, 3D Matrix metered,
> technocameras at my disposal, I would shortly come to find that EVERY
> situation required their use, (as most of us have done with now having a
> light meter in our cameras.) Eventually I would no longer be able to create
> photographs without their "assistance." In this respect, I don't think that
> I'm all that much MORE lazy than the average "pro." It is not my intent to
> sound a like a purist snob, (if it works for you, do it) but if I allowed
> myself to rely on one of these cameras to this extent, I would no longer
> consider myself a photographer, I would consider myself simply a camera
> operator.
>
> I recently needed a change from the SLRs that I've always used. I wanted
> the best quality photographic equipment that I could afford and still
> maintain my own skills (that I will likely never perfect though I continue
> to try) so, I started looking. The Leica (back on topic!) marketing wonks
> sold ME when they put into words the philosophy that I've always sought in
> a camera "Technical gadgetry is purposely limited to those features that
> truly contribute towards creating a better picture. With the Leica...it is
> always the photographer who controls the medium and not vice versa." After
> reading that, it was only a matter of saving my pennies.
>
> You might have a wider angle (with greater DOF) and I might even be a bit
> out of focus, but that's the view from my finder. ;-)
>
> Carpe Lumen,
> Michael