Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/04/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]:-) On 4/26/06 3:06 PM, "Walt Johnson" <walt@waltjohnson.com> wrote: > OK, > > I fell off my high horse and am much better. No chill pills, but Ritz > crackers and a RC cola. > > resting peacefully > > Walt > > B. D. Colen wrote: > >> Chill pill, Walt -:-) I am not equating pjs and aid workers - quite the >> opposite. I'm saying that they are not aid workers; they are >> photographers. >> Paid to go and photograph. They may not all be Nachtweys - hell, they're >> NOT >> all Nachtweys or Salgados. But they are doing a job we need done. And I >> think the question of the cost of their cameras is pretty irrelevant, >> except >> perhaps to point out how ludicrously poor their subjects are. >> >> But don't get me wrong, I think the digital M will come in at a price so >> far >> out of wack with current digital camera reality, that it's unlikely to >> show >> up on many necks photographing in Darfur. In fact, my guess is that its >> sale >> will largely be confined to photo enthusiasts with lots of disposable >> income. It will probably be a wonderful camera, but at apx $2 k more than >> a >> full-frame Canon 5D, it makes little sense for someone who has to think >> about where to put their equipment funds. After all, unlike a film M, it >> will not in any way be a camera for a life time, and being a camera for a >> life time is the only thing that makes the price of Leica film equipment >> vaguely rationalizable. >> >> B. D. >> >> >> On 4/26/06 2:38 PM, "Walt Johnson" <walt@waltjohnson.com> wrote: >> >> >> >>> Et tu B.D.? >>> >>> Scientists studying amoebas and photojournalists "concerns" with the >>> downtrodden are certainly not the same. How many decades have we been >>> documenting the same tired old stories? Starving waifs, bloodied bodies, >>> homeless, etc. and for what? Waifs still starve and we have more >>> bloodied bodies to deal with on a day to day basis than Lucifer. We live >>> in the most prosperous country in the world and have streets full of >>> homeless. But never fear, "Wonderlens is here". >>> >>> To equate those running around with cameras dangling and world aid >>> workers is far from accurate. The ink dries, the t.v. channel is >>> switched and it's off to another scene of human suffering for our >>> hero-shooters.. The aid workers, meanwhile, hang tough. Does any of this >>> indicate I'm against covering news events? Of course not. It does strike >>> me as sad that we don't glean more than just superficial information >>> from it all. There is a vast difference between Nachtwey, Salgado and >>> Tina compared with the herd I mentioned in the first post. The are >>> committed, and that is what really makes a difference. My statement "we >>> want to feel your pain" is based upon methods I've seen used in >>> action.Many journalists approach subjects as if they were items on a >>> shelf rather than human beings. If anyone makes a statement about "not >>> one bit of hypocrisy involved" relating to news coverage their judgment >>> is flawed IMHO. >>> >>> Walt >>> >>> >>> B. D. Colen wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>>> Absolutely right, Scott...Photojournalists are not social workers; they >>>> are >>>> not aid workers; they are photojournalists, photographers making image >>>> of >>>> news events and situations around the world. Being a photographer >>>> requires >>>> using cameras. Cameras are expensive, worth more than the annual income >>>> of >>>> many people being photographed. But so what? Would it be better if James >>>> Nachtwey and Sabastian Salgado - and Tina Manley - sold their cameras >>>> and >>>> donated the money to some fund specified by Angelina Jolie, and stopped >>>> providing the world with visual reminders of the awful conditions under >>>> which so many live? I think not. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 4/26/06 1:33 PM, "Scott McLoughlin" <scott@adrenaline.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> This makes it sound like a bad thing. We don't complain when >>>>> the amoeba is studied by the scientist under the microscope. Same >>>>> for the photographer's concern with the downtrodden - it's a good >>>>> thing, and not one bit of hypocricy involved, IMHO. It's insanity >>>>> to truly *want* to feel the pain of the truly suffering. >>>>> >>>>> Scott >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>> , I can see the new Leicas in action. A horde of photojournalists >>>>>>> with 10 or 15 grand hanging around their necks stalking the poor, >>>>>>> downtrodden masses. The oh so concerned looks on their faces while >>>>>>> they mutter, "we want to feel your pain". >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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 >>> >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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