[Leica] the neurosurgeons hands...

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

Steve this is an interesting conversation because all the years I've shot
medical assignments and book projects it's always been B&W without any
comparison colour to b&w until digital. Simply because it's the content and
light creating the form without colour detracting from it. 

 

I've shot colour a few times just to freak lay people out later with the
photograph. A patient with the top of the skull removed and the brain
sitting there all colourful interestingly bloody looking. :-) Then during a
screening of slides this one pops on the screen. I always got.. "WOW, what's
that?" 

Then nonchalantly answer, "oh that's some guys brains!" The moans are
deafening! :-) And you smile quietly in the dark! :-) :-) :-)

 

I've had a neurosurgeon ask me if I had colour film and could I shoot
something for him rather than calling the hospital photo department and wait
for the staff photographer. I always like to be part of the "team" and shot
lots of interesting bits and pieces lay people wouldn't want to see of their
innards and stuff!

But the best part?  It's a wonderful learning experience about the human
body and what doctors/nurses do. Never phased me once no matter what it was.

 

The few times I've had to go into an OR horizontal instead of vertical,
cameras in hand, I've never had any fear of what's going to happen. Because
I've seen so much it's comforting knowing what the surgical team is all
about.

 

Despite my "Real Photographers shoot B&W" motto there are times when the
colour adds more drama to any photograph. Its gut feeling more than anything
else unless the client wants the assignment shot in colour.

After all they're the guys paying the bill.

ted