Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/09/14

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Subject: Re: [Leica] quiet cameras in cathedrals?
From: Bill Satterfield <cwsat@cyberhighway.net>
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 08:39:18 -0500
References: <4.2.0.58.20000914091827.009897f0@pop1.nf.sympatico.ca>

Our IQ is obviously much lower than yours as well as our sensitivity level. Is
there anything we can to correct this ?

Greg Locke wrote:

> As a working photojournalist and anthropologist there is one thing that
> always amazes me about a lot of the people who post to this list and the
> comments they make about photography.
>
> Never have I met a group of people who have such an enthusiasm for
> photography, yet have so little understanding of its origins, history and
> true value as a cultural and social communication tool.
>
> Sure, some of you are paranoid or have serious hate for the Press, News
> Media and documentary photography but that is no reason to be ignorant of
> the power of photography.
>
> While photography of nature and family gatherings are a fine application of
> photography, true calling is that of a social tool.
>
> A tool to document the human condition, our cultures and society. A tool of
> EDUCATION!
> To educate is to break down ignorance.
>
> Maybe when we stop worrying about tech charts and what kind of paint is on
> our Leicas we can do some reading about the work of Lewis Hine and Brassai.
> Their photography, because of their choice of subject matter and REASON for
> photographing have a far greater value then many of the "artists" that get
> a lot of hero worship on this list.
>
> How about we approach photography from the point of view of the subject
> matter and WHY we make pictures instead of starting with the camera.
>
> When I photograph some religious ceremony in Bosnia, Rwanda, Haiti.... or
> Newfoundland, I document a primary tenet of a peoples culture. When those
> pictures are shown to people in isolated and insular western cultures they
> LEARN something and, hopefully, gain an understanding of a culture they
> have never had contact with and, most likely, have some misguided views.
>
> I hate to tell you but "this" ain't about flowers, trees and sunsets.
>
> Greg Locke                         St. John's, Newfoundland
> locke@straylight.ca              http://www.straylight.ca/locke
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Touched By Fire: doctors without borders in a third world crisis.
> http://www.straylight.ca/touchedbyfire.htm
> ISBN#0-7710-5305-3 McClelland & Stewart

In reply to: Message from Greg Locke <locke@straylight.ca> (RE: [Leica] quiet cameras in cathedrals?)