Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/02/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The second batch (shot with the Tri-Elmar) was taken on a very bright, cloudless day. The weather man said "cloudy with a thunderstorm at noon", but it was blindingly bright with a thunderstorm at 5:00 pm. I'm having a real problem with blocked up shadows and blown highlights. I'm hoping for some clouds next week. Or I'll plan to get out there late in the afternoon. I sense that Sonny doesn't see "art" in these shots, but that really wasn't my intent. I haven't been looking for clever angles and artistic framing when doing so sacrifices what is in the picture. I really intended this to be what the LUG members asked for...a photographic record of what happened, something for posterity. I never saw the aftermath of hurricane Betty in pictures, so I decided to make this more of a photojournalism gig than an art gig. But I may take a Texas Leica out there when I've finished this project. There probably are some artsy things I could do. Jeffery Smith New Orleans, LA http://www.400tx.com -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Scott McLoughlin Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2006 1:53 AM To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: [Leica] Jeffery PAW - Week 4 - Lower 9th Ward Church I understand the point, but don't be *too* modest. After all, anyone can sacrifice themselves for the cause of some glorious revolution or another, but few often do. Sometimes just being there and mixing up the right ingredients - B&W and technical skills (as Sonny pointed out) being key ones in this case, IMHO - makes for valuable aesthetic contribution to the world. If you're looking for some constuctive criticism, and not just praise, I imagine that a bit more concerted effort with "printing artistry" - whether analog or digital - could spruce up several of the pictures. You commented that many of the shots were taken on gray days, and yes, the place is in fact covered with mud and dust, but some of the pictures have, to me, over "dusty" looking midtones. Perhaps some selective dodging/burning could add some contrast and aesthetic drama that befits the tragic occasion. But I'll generally stick by my original impressions - great stuff ! BTW, LensWork printed some very nice documentary work on a now long gone LA hispanic community some issues ago. Now that I think of it, they also published some wonderful documentary style shots of a man's several trips to Italy over the years. Hmmmm :-) Scott Jeffery Smith wrote: >It's pretty easy to get good shots when 100 square miles of the city >have been under water for 2-4 weeks. ;-) > >Jeffery Smith >New Orleans, LA >http://www.400tx.com > >Sonc said: > >How can I say this without sounding weird? Jeffery is one of my best >friends. We live 250 miles away from each other, but talk to each other >regularly >on the phone, and have gotten together many times. He has been a guest in >my >home, and I hope it happens more. My family and my cats and my dog are >fond >of him. > >That said, the pictures are technically competent as I would expect of >Jeffery. He has captured moments that you who are living in a situation >of >normalcy cannot imagine. The church shot ranks as one of the best I have >seen in >the record of New Orleans. > >I want to tell you though, any of you could pull out your point and >shoot >and achieve this level of documentation on the devastation of that >wonderful >city. Unfortunately, it once were the details that made the picture of New > >Orleans vivid. Today it is the wide shot, and there is no camera that >can do that. If you get a chance, please Google images "Lakeview >Katrina." You'll >see what I mean. > >New Orleans needs help, and if you have any political clout with a >Congressman or a Senator, I urge you to email the church shot to them. >Ask them if >they have visited the Gulf Coast. If they haven't, say "why?" > >Thanks and > > >Regards, >Sonny >http://www.sonc.com >Natchitoches, Louisiana >Oldest continuous settlement in La Louisiane >?galit?, libert?, crawfish > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > -- Pics @ http://www.adrenaline.com/snaps Leica M6TTL, Bessa R, Nikon FM3a, Nikon D70, Rollei AFM35 (Jihad Sigint NSA FBI Patriot Act) _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information