Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/03/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I only try to think about why I have an apprehension about digital images, even regarding the ones I make. I feel there is something terribly sinister about the entire digital community and this is disconcerting to me. At 01:19 PM 3/11/2008, you wrote: >On Mar 11, 2008, at 9:54 AM, Chris Saganich wrote: > >>When I wake up in the morning I think I'd be happy to own an M8 but >>then I have this problem regarding the proliferation of the digital >>image. My problem is simply that the signal to noise ratio >>regarding digital images is so high I'm generally turned off from >>even looking at images unless I know their coming from a reliable >>source. I figured that an M8 in the hands of the M community would >>improve this situation but I think many have bought into the "get >>more for less" mentality which seems nothing more then another >>scam. As far as I have seen digital has disproportionately >>benefited the consumers of the snapshot rather then artists and >>professionals. Most bread and butter photographers when I have >>seriously asked feel like they were forced into the digital world >>without much benefit to them. Even at the higher end photographers >>are getting screwed. I have friends who have given up standing >>behind the camera because the image processing fetches a higher >>professional service fee, so they work the computers all day and get >>paid more then the photographers. When clients need more images or >>different ones from a particular shoot they go to him, he keeps the >>images and not the photographer. The photographer has become a >>technician and the computer operator has become the artist. My >>neighbor went so far as to start a business renting image processing >>equipment to the computer operators for commercial shoots. All I >>can say is that the $$$ is very good in the processing but not in >>actually using a camera. I see a different future for digital >>cameras where the term "camera" becomes meaningless, technical, and >>not artistic. The "camera" as we we have come to know it is no >>longer intimately tied to image making, rather the evidence suggests >>computer processing is where the images are created so however you >>get the image into a computer is fair play. The camera takes a back >>seat to the computer in this digital world and I don't believe this >>market trajectory will suddenly change, (so why should the camera >>survive?). The term digital camera doesn't even make sense to me >>anymore. The only hope is the continued drive people have for >>serious creative self-expression and self-exploration through images >>for which the computer still remains marginal. I see people doing >>less of this the more digital they become. > >while I agree with what you say Chris...sadly it has a ring of truth... > >I consider your wonderful bw images, which in some ways I connect with >Steve Unsworth's wonderful bw images taken with the M8.... > >it leads me to the conclusion that you are thinking way too much... > >instead of taking photos... > >with an M whatever... > > >Steve > > >> >> >> >> >>At 10:14 AM 3/11/2008, you wrote: >>>The M8 has a more limited audience than Leicas of the past. That >>>must be >>>a challenge for Leica. >>> >>>The M8 makes a lot of sense for someone who will photograph a lot >>>before >>>the warranty expires or before a better alternative comes along. But >>>it's not like a film M that you could justify buying even if you >>>were a >>>weekend photographer. You knew the film M would require little >>>maintenance and probably hold its value over time. A lot of people >>>bought film Ms and hardly used them. And film M's still have value >>>today. >>> >>>Even my 50-year-old plus film M is still a working camera. With a >>>Noct >>>attached and my favorite BW film inside, it is still without peer. I >>>can't duplicate the image quality with software (although maybe >>>someone >>>out there can). >>> >>>Gone, too, it seems is the limited edition market for Leica. I >>>wonder if >>>we'll ever see a limited edition digital M. That would be good news >>>because it would mean digital was reaching maturity. I used to >>>scoff at >>>things like Ostrich skin and Titanium shell on the M6, but deep >>>down I >>>secretly wanted to own one. >>> >>>DaveR >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>_______________________________________________ >>>Leica Users Group. >>>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >>Chris Saganich, MS, Sr. Physicist >>Weill Medical College of Cornell University >>New York Presbyterian Hospital >>chs2018@med.cornell.edu >>http://intranet.med.cornell.edu/research/health_phys/ >>Ph. 212.746.6964 >>Fax. 212.746.4800 >>Office A-0049 >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>Leica Users Group. >>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >Steve > >"I never wanted to be famous" >now available at www.blurb.com > >kididdoc@cox.net > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information Chris Saganich, MS, Sr. Physicist Weill Medical College of Cornell University New York Presbyterian Hospital chs2018@med.cornell.edu http://intranet.med.cornell.edu/research/health_phys/ Ph. 212.746.6964 Fax. 212.746.4800 Office A-0049