Re: [Leica] Leica and off-camera strobe

[Marc Attinasi <marc@attinasi.org>]

Ted,
Thanks for the anecdote, it is a very good story! Beyond the actual content,
which is substantial, it makes me wish I was that rookie (you) back when I was
younger and I really *really* wanted to pursue a career in photography. And
thanks too for giving me a lot to think about while I'm out shooting, about the
nature of the light and not just the quantity. I appreciate your comments very
much.

Best Regards,
- - marc


Ted Grant wrote:

> Marc Attinasi wrote:
> >>Come on, flash photography is real - let's not get too snobish about our
> 'available light' bias.<<<<<
>
> Marc, mon ami,
> Nothing snobbish at all it's just simple fact. And I'm always trying to
> encourage other Leica users to attempt to work with the light they are
> motivated by.
>
> And of course under the conditions you mention of heavy duty sunlight and
> dark shadows it's photographic common sense one might use flash fill or a
> good sized reflector of some kind.
>
> Or where I can.... I'd move the subject into a soft shadow-lit location and
> not worry about flash. But then to each his own. And as you know, I try to
> keep everything as simple minded as possible, simply because I'm a simple
> photographer! ;-)
>
> >>>> Flash pictures are not real? Gee, I guess we better enlighten all of
> those
> > magazine photogs about how to take pictures :)  > <<<<
>
> This might give some of you an understanding for my aversion to using flash.
>
> When I was a rookie photographer for Weekend magazine, the Photo Editor, a
> previously successful shooter himself, was always on me about light and
> flash before I'd leave on a shoot.
>
> Photo Editor after final briefing: "OK, do you have your flash?" The first
> time he pulled this I near choked to death.
>
> Me in all seriousness, remember I'm the rookie in the presence of the "Photo
> Almighty."   "Yep, new batteries, extra batteries, colour gels, spare
> connector cords and a back-up flash."
>
> And before you could take your next breath he'd growl,
>
> "No guts eh!  Don't you know anything about real light and how to use it?
> Hell if you've got to use that damn flash on everything you shoot, you
> better start taking lessons from the old painters what using light of the
> eye is all about!" Then he'd smile. "It's OK kid, one of these days you'll
> get it right as I see it in what you do now and you don't even know you're
> doing it. Just keep the flash stuff to the minimum and only use it if you
> absolutely have to!"
>
> And I had that routine pulled on me time after time and it was his influence
> that I feel gave me the eye for using the magic of existing light and not to
> be afraid to use it, even where others fear to tread.
>
> This doesn't mean I've never screwed-up, that goes with the territory. But
> what it constantly does, is give my pictures a look of naturalness that many
> others do not achive. And that look has been the hallmark of my photography
> and the reason for many of the assignments over the years.
>
> Life's like that, as some work one way and others another and both are
> correct. So there we go eh? :-)
> ted
>
> Ted Grant Photography Limited
> www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant

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