Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/04/24

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Subject: Re: [Leica] OT - National Geographic film usage
From: Johnny Deadman <lists@johnbrownlow.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 15:02:45 -0400

I've never understood how it's somehow immoral to shoot a lot.

Whatever it takes.

I love the way people convince themselves that 'if only' they had 
20,000 rolls of film and a Nat Geo expense account they too wouldd be 
able to get great shots.

How do you think them NG snappers got the film and the expense account 
in the first place?

They shot great shots.

If you had the skill and the determination, you too could get the 20k 
rolls and the expense account.

Fortunately with the advent of digital the who hit-rate argument seems 
to be fading away.

No-one is particularly interested if you shoot 10 or 100 or 1000 frames 
on a CF card.

As for the whole skill thing, weeeelll...

If you're shooting pack shots in a studio, or LF architectural stuff, 
then you better be able to get every shot lookin' damn fine.

If you're shooting portraits, or landscape stuff, well, you get cut a 
little more slack.

If you're shooting docco, then we cut you yet more slack. It takes time 
and film.

If you're Garry Winogrand or Robert Frank or HCB, who cares how much 
you shoot? Your method is high-risk, that's the whole point.

Over the weekend I made approx 1500 exposures. What's that, the 
equivalent of ~50 rolls of 35mm? So far, only one good picture.

	http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/wip/360easter/1000px/source/krazykidz.html

Was it worth it? You bet.

Could I have made that picture without exposing the other 1443 frames 
(this is a composite)?

No.

- --
John Brownlow

http://www.pinkheadedbug.com
http://www.unintended-consequences.com

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