Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/12/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi, Steve - I think there are two things going on here, in terms of the acceptance and admiration of the artist with the sketch pad, versus the artist with the camera. First, the sketch pad is less obviously intrusive: someone who is sketching you from across the dinner table, or living room, can hold the pad in her lap, or flat on the table, and quietly sketch; someone photographing you must hold up the camera, and point it at you - or she may even move close to you, sticking the camera 'in your face.' As to the question of why photos are undervalued...I believe they are undervalued for the simple reason that "anyone" can take a "good" photograph. Point the camera. Push the button. Kodak spent an enormous amount of money convincing the public that anyone could be a photographer. And the vast majority of people are unable to tell the difference between a family snap shot and a good photograph. As to digital - I don't think that will devalue photography any further, any more than the advent of the Polaroid has devalued it further..... B. D. - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Steve Barbour Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 3:34 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: RE: [Leica] What Makes a good Picture? BD... Your accurate point raises for me the question... why are photos so often undervalued, and beyond this... what will be the impact of the digital camera image on this devaluation. I have a concern that the value of a fine photograph may be further undermined by the attractiveness of the digital process, whereby you can shoot away and immediately discard the vast majority of the images. Perhaps unfair, but an valid analogy nonetheless... is the vision of the blind person swinging a butterfly net. If you swing it long enough.... you get the idea. Seems to me it can seriously devalue the process, even for the photgrapher....Steve >The drawing comparison doesn't quite work, Martin - People tend to be >intrigued, captivated, etc., by someone who can do a life-like >sketch...But they often tend to be annoyed by someone who photographs >them at a time when they don't expect to be photographed. > - -- - -- 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