Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/12/31

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Subject: RE: [Leica] PAW 52 MEB
From: "Doug Ford" <dford@san.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 10:08:09 -0800

Ted -

I was making fun of the plugs 10 commandments, and their suggestion that
perhaps
one shouldn't post pics of kids. I love kids and subject matter shouldn't be
the issue here, but rather execution ie composition/exposure. The advise to
kneel down while photographing kids I believe is valid, that's how I took
Corri's picture, while on the back end of the ferry from NY to NJ.
I'm sure that the vast majority of (good) photographs of kids are taken from
this general(camera at or lower than subject) perspective, but I would be
interested in seeing quality pics of kids that don't follow this 'rule'.
If any LUG members have any examples.... Post'em if ya got'em

I like Michaels PAW 49. Taken from a slightly above perspective
http://www.goodphotos.com/OneAWk/01wk49a.jpg

Doug

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Ted Grant
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2001 7:43 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] PAW 52 MEB


Doug Ford wrote:
>>> The PLUG's 10 Commandments of Leica Photography
> 1) Thy children are ugly. Do not make us look upon them.
> Michael, rules like these beg disobedience! Good on ya.
>
> The niece - Corri
> http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=455437&size=lg<<<<<<<<

Good morning Mr. Ford,
A very well executed photograph of your niece. Solid composition, exposure
and exactly the right angle! Whether you bent your knees or not!

I might ask what the intent was in your above comment about PLUG rules /
children? Is it not to show ones photographs to learn whether they are good,
bad or ugly and what can be done to improve or find out they are a smashing
good picture?

As in Michael's photograph where the earlier post was intended to point out
to Mike that getting down quickly would've afforded him a much better and
memorable picture.

I take it you're making fun or poo pooing a word of advice to Michael? Also
the above rule and supporting a photograph of the usual adult shooting down
on a child, be the adult parent, grandparent or friend makes no difference
when it comes to the quality of the finished product. If the picture could
be improved by the photographer whomever that might be, bent their knees and
down to execute a smashing good photograph instead of the looking at the top
of the head.

Of course I could be mistaken by your comment and if that is the case please
accept my apology, but surely accept the praise for your  excellent picture.

I'm amazed with the number of pictures shown here looking down on children
creating a meaningless photograph, when if executed correctly would, could
and might create a wonderful heart warming picture instead of the "look I'm
6 feet tall and here's another picture of a kid way down there!"

Time after time it's a photograph of the shooters child and it's spoiled
simply for one reason......... we're looking once again at the top of the
head, or very nearly so. I can't imagine some folks constantly forget the
"one little rule" if you like.  Knees bend, that's why we have them!

Meanwhile you show us how it can be done to make an excellent picture
"whether you bent your knees or not," isn't relevant to the finished
product. It's a wonderful photograph because thought went into it rather
than "look down, click!"

More examples of your quality photograph would be a huge improvement on
"here's another picture of my kid away down there!"  What I don't understand
is why some folks keep doing it, not bending the knees,  when it's such a
simple thing to correct. Trust me if a photographer drops down to their
knees immediately in 99% of the time improve the strength of their
photographs.

And by the way, that's not bad advise when shooting most field sports also.
;-)
ted










Ted Grant Photography Limited
www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "" <dford@san.rr.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2001 12:41 AM
Subject: RE: [Leica] PAW 52 MEB


>
> Doug
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Nathan
> Wajsman
> Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2001 10:08 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] PAW 52 MEB
>
>
> Hi Michael,
>
> The photo is cute, but it suffers from the usual defect of children's
> photographs (I am guilty of this too on occasion), namely that you are
> standing up and looking down on Bethy. You need to get down in the snow
> yourself and be at her level.
>
> Happy New Year to you as well.
>
> Nathan
>
> MEBerube wrote:
>
> > Final "Good Photo a Week" 2001 and final Bad Haiku.
> >
> > http://www.goodphotos.com/1aWk.html
> > My PAW site index.
> >
> > http://www.goodphotos.com/01wk52.html
> > First as well as the last.
> >
> > Comments always welcome. :)
> >
> > Happy New Year,
> > Michael E. Berube
> >
> > --
> > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>
> --
> Nathan Wajsman
> Herrliberg (ZH), Switzerland
>
> e-mail: wajsman@webshuttle.ch
>
> Photo-A-Week: http://www.wajsman.com/indexpaw.htm
> General photo site: http://www.wajsman.com/index.htm
>
>
> --
> To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>
> --
> To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html

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Replies: Reply from Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca> (Re: [Leica] PAW 52 MEB)