[Leica] portrait of a friend

[philippe.orlent at pandora.be (Philippe Orlent)]

Thanks Ted,

In all honesty, I was quite aware of the facts you pointed out in your
reply, but, reading all the posts on the LUG since one month, I wanted to
tease a bit and get a (yet another ;)) debate going.

You've covered a few very interesting issues I'd like (very humbly and only
for the purpose of talking about "classical photography" vs.
"today's-(possible) evolutions-in-modern-photography" to comment on.

It will take me some time to get all what is slumbering in my head
concerning this down on  paper, but I will not withold you the topics. Hey,
maybe this will turn out to be a manifest or a form of an essay that will
cover more than what you have posted. I hope you do not consider this as
inappropriate.

If I'd wrongly use some vocabulary/terminology/spelling/grammar, this is due
to the fact that English is not my mother tongue (nor is French or German,
but I speak both rather fluently, too. It's a typical Belgian thing, but
that is a whole other story). I hope you forgive me for that.

Topics:
1) about portraits where something "grows out of the head", a flagpole for
instance.
2) about not looking in the camera and facial expression
3) about the ultimate photo
4) about emotions and using them when selecting photos
5) about intuition, pre- and post rationizing
6) about vignetting
7) about color and cast
8) about grain
9) about do's and don?ts
10) about tradition vs technology
11) about analog and/vs digital
12) about the importance of "m?tier"
13) about fun and playing in photography
14) about experimenting
15) about reproduction, interpretation, creation and art
16) about the importance of being not too earnest.

If you have other suggestions, feel free to add.

Sincerely,
Philippe

P.S. I really appreciate the comments people give: most of the time, I learn
a lot of it, and if not, it makes me think about it. Which for me, is what
photography and other art forms are about: using all you know and learn to
create new things. 

---

> From: Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca>
> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org>
> Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 08:29:32 -0700
> To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] portrait of a friend
> 
> Philippe Orlent showed and asked for comment." Subject: [Leica] portrait of
> a friend
>> it's a bit classic, but I like it:
>>> http://www.leica-gallery.net/phorlent/image-64498.html
>> 
>> Comments as always very appreciated.<<<<<
> 
> Bonjour Philppe,
> When a fellow photog asks for comment and that the comments will be very
> appreciated please remember this while you read my comments. Thank you.
> 
> There was potential here, however even with a pleasant smile it is lost
> completely due to the flag pole growing perfectly right out of the centre of
> the subjects skull!
> 
> This is so obvious it's surprising you missed it when shooting, however an
> easy thing to do as many of us have done so in the past. And most likely
> will do so again at some time in the future.
> 
> But as you prepared the shot for the screen the flag pole is it's so obvious
> at that point it should've been relegated to "OOPS! Damn!" And filed in your
> favourite photos of friends box ......... but not for others to see the flag
> pole mistake.
> 
> It's also being a tough hearted editor of one's work, the most difficult of
> all things for any photographer. Pro or amateur. We tend to allow our
> emotions of the moment dictate what we think is good or bad at the time of
> exposure.
> 
> There had to be a moment where this subject looked up, or was looking up
> before or after this head down shot was made. It would've given a better
> facial angle. It's the timing of the moment to shoot that's missed as you're
> either "too early or too late," take your pick.
> 
> I trust this is the kind of response you appreciate, as it's given to assist
> you in tightening up the timing aspect and hard nose editing required to
> show only your best photographs.
> 
> When I let my emotions begin to dictate my choice of photograph, my
> assistant pulls me up short by asking a simple question..... "Is this
> picture one of your all time ten best pictures?"
> 
> If I answer no, obviously she's won immediately and the photograph is
> dumped. Or one can edit by this fashion "If in doubt....... OUT!"  Breaks
> one's heart sometimes! :-)
> ted
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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