Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/11/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 11/6/01 9:57:19 AM, leica@davidmorton.org writes: >I know one person on this list bought a Nikon D1 when they came out and >has > >generated enough revenue with it since to relegate it to a spare and get >a > >D1X. > > > >-- > >David Morton > >dmorton@journalist.co.uk I was flipping channels on the TV yesterday and caught part of an Oprah show dedicated to photography. (I didn't see the beginning of the show so I can't for sure say what the title was...probably "Touching one's inner spirit through the light of the lens...") ANYWAY, one thing I thought particularly interesting was this man (and no, I don't recall his name) who was part of the Photo Corps that covered the Clinton White House. He had taken/seen the infamous shot of monica lewinsky hugging the pres at some public gathering and upon seeing that clip remembered her face. He then told his assistant to go through his old shots to find the face...and sure enough after 5,000 transperencies, his assistant had found an earlier shot of Monica hugging the president at a previous public event (no cigars in evidence though). The man's point was that he was part of a larger press group that has almost completely moved to shooting with digital cameras....and yet, because the shots of the president shaking hands and hugging well wishers at one of many public gatherings wouldn't initially be considered "newsworthy" it was likely that those "unimportant" shots were lost because they were erased to make room on one's HD, memory card and the like. In essence, digital gives one immediacy and in some ways because of the immediacy lends itself to quick disposal and editing. This is highly efficient and in todays quickening industrial, technological world where everything new is old again, it makes a lot of business sense. But this man pointed out that in the context of the show which was honoring famous shots of 9/11, Vietnam, Gorden Parks, and documentary traditions, that a great deal of history may be lost whereas before, simply because of old technology it's still available. I don't think this discounts the merits of digital. I just think like with the implementation of any technology (such as genetic engineering, nuclear energy, combustion engine, clocks) it gives some of us pause as to see what kind of ripples it makes in the pond. Respectfully, Kim - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html