[Leica] Bokeh is still nonsense

["Sal DiMarco,Jr." <sdmp007@pressroom.com>]

Luggers,
    In my earlier post, condemning  bokeh, a couple of other luggers took me
to task.
    Well, please allow me to clear up a few misconceptions....
    Frank Flippone stated "Ted and Sal... you are both trained press
photographers. You handle the camera to grab that instant of time that shows
whatever it is you see in the photo.  Focusing on anything but the subject,
and its overall surroundings would cost you your livelihood.  You shoot 35
because it is quick and you can be light on your feet.  Sal even lists many
photographers he has known, all to my knowledge, are working press
shooters."
    Frank where have you been? I don't think Yousuf Karsh or Ralph Gibson
can even remotely be considered "press photographers." The people I named,
are friends, with whom I've seriously discussed photography. The word
"bokeh" NEVER came up. It is a non-subject.
    Secondly, you assume Ted & I do only "Gun & Run" photography. This is
TOTALLY false. Ninety-Five percent of photojournalism is not news event
related. Have you looked beyond the news sections? A lot of today's
photojournalism is in contemplative style, you talk about.
    The two most recent photos I have had published were, a color photo of
National Public Radio's Terry Gross in her broadcast studio. The picture is
in the Sunday New York Times Arts & Leisure Section (12/30/01). It was lit
with a couple of strobes. The second was the cover of USA Weekend.(12/30/01)
I set-up a studio in the home of a baby born on 9/11/01. This again was a
strobe shot, but shot on 120 format.
    These are hardly instant of time photos. Further more, Tomorrow, I will
be in Princeton, finishing an architecture story for the NY Times Weekend
Section. How is this "Gun & Run" photography?
    I have and do change modes, I DO work with 4x5 & 8x10. My Father had a
small studio in Philadelphia. His idea of small format was 4x5! I do know
what it is like to take two days to create one photograph.
    Now, to Doug Herr....
    How are our markets different? People have purchased my photographs to
hang on their walls, I also sold a photo or two for calendar usage.
    What you call bokeh, I call selective focus. Selective focus plays a
part in everyone's work including Ted's and mine. No one is belittling
another person's technique or concern over image properties.
    The final picture is the only thing which is important. No one ever
bought, published or liked a photo because of "great bokeh." Have you ever
heard, "Well the subject stinks but the bokeh is fantastic?" Has anyone read
a review of Sebastiao Salgado's work where the reviewer praises his use of
bokeh? It is a non-subject.
    I can not imagine, Eisie saying to me, "Salvatore, nice bokeh in that
picture you had in last week's magazine."

Happy Snaps,
Sal DiMarco, Jr.
Philadelphia, PA

In the blind to Brother Pierce:
Bill,
    Can you imagine on a Friday night, John saying, "...But Henry you've got
to use this photo. It has great bokeh" ?

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