Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/06/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I think it fair to say that the best photographic work, in any genre, has always depended primarily on the heart, mind, vision and tenacity of the photographer. Choice of equipment, films, sensors, lenses, filters, etc is tangentially interesting at best. It is however natural, in photography and cinematography, to ask, "how did they achieve that look?" It is also common among musicians to discuss their instruments. In music and photography and cinematography the tools do provide tonality, nuance, etc. I worked with a cinematographer on a commercial 30 years ago whose "look depended on" (in his own words) "my lens and filter set." He travelled with a case of 4 or 5 Zeiss and Angenieux lenses which he knew inside and out. "everything else I can rent when I get there" he said. Obviously he also had technique to go with his lenses. He knew the correct angles, lighting, dolly and panning speeds, accurate follow focus, etc. Yet, he considered his lenses a major part of his "look." As a young art director - i didn't know how he brought it all together I only knew that i sold the client on "his look." And he delivered that look professionally - then took his lenses from the set. Regards, George Lottermoser george at imagist.com http://www.imagist.com http://www.imagist.com/blog http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist On Jun 1, 2009, at 3:11 PM, wildlightphoto at earthlink.net wrote: > Steve Barbour wrote: > >> >> ... the question hinges on the meaning of "truly great photo" ... >> >> by that I mean "undeniably truly great".... of course, based on >> content, the magic moment, the significance... >> > > And who is determining 'greatness'. IMHO 'greatness' is sufficiently > subjective that a universal definition is very elusive at best. Is > 'Moonrise' great? Is a photo of the PM sliding down a bannister > great? Is > a photo of a naked girl running from a napalm attack great? Is > McCurry's > photo of an afghan girl great? If I had to choose between these > and my > family snapshots I know what choice I'd make. > >> What is limiting? Is it our cameras, or is it our brains and eyes? > > Or how we interact with our tools and subjects? > > Doug Herr > http://www.wildlightphoto.com > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > mail2web.com - Microsoft? Exchange solutions from a leading provider - > http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information