I think HCB is an exception, he had to talk about gear, for one reason: By making such compelling images with a 35mm camera (any 35mm camera), he single-handedly changed the world of photographic equipment for ever. That was the \'30s (or \'40s?), and for anyone to use anything smaller than a 4X5 for serious photographic work was inconceivable. At that time, medium format was called \"miniature format\"! It was a revolution and HCB had to explain it. Much like when Alex Majoli showed up in Congo and Iraq in 2004 to shoot war for Magnum with a digital point and shoot, leaving his M6 at home: http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-6468-7844
They said he was crazy then, but he still won NPPA\'s P/J of the year award for the photos he took with that camera (no VF, 1.8\" screen, max ISO400, shutter lag, 512MB card): http://www.nppa.org/competitions/best_of_still_photojournalism/2004/winners/still/index.cfm?category=MPY&place=1st&image=1
Anyway I think we\'re saying the same thing Andre, that there\'s a lot to be learned about how these guys actually used these cameras and I think its not being discussed enough, not in this thread anyway.
Its a shame though because HCB talked in length about hugely important issues, like the definition of art photography, which at the time was not even considered an art in its own right, but only a substitute of painting (and still is in many people\'s minds). Or the importance of making the photo based on what is interesting and then trying to sell it, rather than letting the demand define what is interesting. And still, out of all his writings, the only thing that appears in most discussions is that he had a Leica ... But it is a gear forum after all so fair enough I guess.
I think HCB is an exception, he had to talk about gear, for one reason: By making such compelling images with a 35mm camera (any 35mm camera), he single-handedly changed the world of photographic equipment for ever. That was the \'30s (or \'40s?), and for anyone to use anything smaller than a 4X5 for serious photographic work was inconceivable. At that time, medium format was called \"miniature format\"! It was a revolution and HCB had to explain it. Much like when Alex Majoli showed up in Congo and Iraq in 2004 to shoot war for Magnum with a digital point and shoot, leaving his M6 at home: http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-6468-7844
They said he was crazy then, but he still won NPPA\'s P/J of the year award for the photos he took with that camera (no VF, 1.8\" screen, max ISO400, shutter lag, 512MB card): http://www.nppa.org/competitions/best_of_still_photojournalism/2004/winners/still/index.cfm?category=MPY&place=1st&image=1
Anyway I think we\'re saying the same thing Mr Ovredal, that there\'s a lot to be learned about how these guys actually used these cameras and I think its not being discussed enough, not in this thread anyway.
Its a shame though because HCB talked in length about hugely important issues, like the definition of art photography, which at the time was not even considered an art in its own right, but only a substitute of painting (and still is in many people\'s minds). Or the importance of making the photo based on what is interesting and then trying to sell it, rather than letting the demand define what is interesting. And still, out of all his writings, the only thing that appears in most discussions is that he had a Leica ... But it is a gear forum after all so fair enough I guess.
Jul 01, 2009 at 07:02 PM
Previous versions of Spyro P.'s message #7256749 « M8/Leica People I'm Thinking About Switching »
(joking)