Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/09/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Sep 17, 2008, at 1:01 PM, John Beeching wrote: > Dear Steve, > > I am so glad I don't work professionally and so am under no need to > "go > digital". I think I'll keep putting film in my M until I pop my > clogs! that's the way I feel, it all sounded so familiar, and sad... glad I can do it for fun, Steve > > > John > > 2008/9/17 Steve Barbour <kididdoc@cox.net> > >> from another (computer) list... >> >> relevant, a very good summary I think, but many here have heard it, >> have >> lived it, and many have to deal with it now... >> >> Steve >> >> ************** >> >>> Well Shawn, >>> >>> I beg to differ. Life is not as simple as people wish it to be, I'm >>> afraid.... >>> >>> Without beating my own drum, I would say that I'm probably in a >>> better >>> position to comment on this than many, having been a working >>> professional >>> photographer for 22 years now... >>> >>> I've lived and worked through the demise of film and the advent of >>> digital, and I can honestly say with my hand on my heart that I >>> never used >>> to waste so much 'down-time' as I do now having to keep abreast >>> and paying >>> for technology that at the end of the day does the same thing that >>> it did 22 >>> years ago...that is make photographs. >>> >>> OH - I can now wizz them across the planet in zilch time. Big >>> Deal. That >>> doesn't help my bottom line. It just adds more stress to my work >>> day. >>> Clients do not want to pay for this. They expect it in with the >>> package >>> these days....They want me not only to drive to the location (300 >>> mile trip) >>> shoot the photos, but also develop them and "ping" them over to >>> the US or >>> wherever before I go to bed. Its totally pants. When I shoot, I >>> simply don't >>> sleep...which makes me ill....which creates more stress blah de >>> blah...But I >>> digress... >>> >>> When I started professional photography in 1986 I saved my money and >>> invested in a medium format system that served me well for many >>> years - I >>> still have it and it still works now and takes beautiful >>> photographs. >>> Clients used to be happy to pay for the film and processing. Job >>> Done. >>> >>> I also have a Nikon D3 (and had D2x and D100 and .....get the >>> picture - >>> pardon the pun) and with each camera purchase comes a raft of >>> disappointments as the latest camera body doesn't work well with >>> last years >>> lens...Take for example the D3...Nikons current flagship >>> model...It doesn't >>> even work properly with the current 70-200 f2.8 VR lens - Yes, I >>> grant you >>> it works sort of...as long as you are prepared to live with massive >>> vingretting...the whole digitisation of the industry is quite >>> shocking. So >>> when Photokina is launched next week (yet another commercial >>> merry-go-round), I'll be having to keep an eye out to replace >>> another $2,500 >>> lens....The one I'm replacing is only 2 years old !! >>> >>> And no Shawn...this didn't use to happen with film. I know. >>> Because I >>> remember. You bought a Hasslebald lens...it would last decades. >>> >>> The reality for photographers is that we are having to waste all >>> our time >>> and effort "learning" new ways to make the same wheel, rather than >>> creating >>> challenging and creative imagrey. Digital Technology has been a >>> complete >>> disaster for independant photography, as sole traders like myself >>> simply do >>> not have enough hours in the day to do and learn all the technology. >>> >>> But somehow we have to. But don't tell me its "always been like >>> this" >>> Because that's simply an inaccurate statement. It has never been >>> like this >>> before ! Technology is simply undermining and blocking true >>> creativity and >>> real life observation skills. And no amount of pixel counting and >>> special >>> effects in Photoshop will change this, or make the person using >>> the computer >>> a better photographer. >>> >>> I would also add that in my experience Computer Technology has >>> undermined >>> what photography is about..people look at my images these days and >>> "assume" >>> they were done in Photoshop ! Even the documentary images - this >>> destroys >>> the very essense of what I stand for. >>> >>> Because of Technology - Photography is no longer 'trusted' to >>> represent >>> anything more than a glint in someones eye, and has been ruthlessly >>> commodotised. I've even had "serious" discussions with clients >>> telling me I >>> should charge for my photos by the MB - and not by any aesthetic >>> principle... >>> >>> Its all very insulting to be honest... >>> >>> Best wishes, >>> David >>> >>> >>> David Townend Photography >>> >>> http://www.davidtownend.com >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 17 Sep 2008, at 16:27, Shawn King wrote: >>> >>> >>>> Photographers (and others) have *always* gone through this, >>>> computers or >>>> not, digital or not. >>>> >>>> The technology of almost everything moves forward those who rely >>>> on that >>>> technology for whatever reasons move forward with it - or they >>>> get left >>>> behind. >>>> -- >>>> Shawn King >>>> Host/Executive Producer >>>> Your Mac Life >>>> http://www.yourmaclifeshow.com >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > > -- > John Beeching > http://johnbeeching.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information