Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/09/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I agree with all of your points including the 'so on' I also agree with many (not all) of his points for any of us who held a place of respect and significant income due to some combination of skill and tools everything has changed change generally comes with a cost some resent change some embrace change I do miss the drawing board and ruling pens focusing the grain on the easel and print appearing in the tray but most of all I miss being a big fish in a tiny pool of highly skilled craftsmen rather than a small fish in an ocean of digital aficionados ; ~ ) Fond regards, George george@imagist.com http://www.imagist.com http://www.imagist.com/blog http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist On Sep 19, 2008, at 2:48 PM, Nathan Wajsman wrote: > Sorry to disagree completely... > > Thanks to digital technology, I am able to look at incredibly > moving pictures made by a doctor in Arizona... > Thanks to digital technology, I can see places I would never see > otherwise... > Thanks to digital technology, I can share my own work with a > worldwide audience... > > and so on. > > Yes, conditions for professional photographers have changed. As > they have for auto workers, for college professors, for just about > anyone who works for a living. > > But I sure would not want to go back 20 years. > > Nathan > > Nathan Wajsman > Alicante, Spain > http://www.frozenlight.eu > http://www.greatpix.eu > http://www.nathanfoto.com > > Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0 > PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws > Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog > > > > On Sep 17, 2008, at 7:26 PM, Steve Barbour wrote: > >> 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 > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information