[Leica] Re: Technical vs. artistic skill

[dnaplasmid at compwrx.com (Aram Langhans)]

> From: "Don Dory" <don.dory@gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Technical vs. artistic skill
> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org>
> Message-ID:
> <9b678e0603241812x7afbc754l6c1ddac1e74f993d@mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Larry,
> The thrust of my comments were that you had to know what the device would 
> do
> before you could get interesting results.  With the automagic cameras you
> have no idea why an image turns out the way it does.  Make the mistakes 
> and
> see what interesting images happen; screw up the exposure and you find out
> about high key and low key.  Accidentally use a slow shutter and discover
> blurs.  Screw up the focus and see what selective focus does.  It all adds
> to the knowledge.

IF you choose to learn.  Unfortunately, most people will not, just as they 
did not with film.  Also, if you are not familiar with the nuts and bolts of 
photography - how exposure works, how f-stop contriubutes to more than just 
exposure by changing depth of field, how shutter speed contriubutes to more 
than just exposure by freezing or not freezing the motion....  Plenty of 
film P&S cameras would give well exposed, focused crap, just like the 
digitals.  Those people who would have taken the time to learn from their 
film P&S cameras will continue to learn from their digital cameras.  Most 
people will just look at the funny composition on their well exposed, well 
focused picture of Aunt Gertie and just smile and be happy they have a photo 
to remember the moment by, tree growing out her head and all.

It is harder to learn from an all auto camera if you do not know what the 
camera is doing, and w/o a nuts and bolts knowledge, a trial and error 
approach would be very frustrating indeed.  If you don't know the blur came 
from a slow shutter speed because you have no idea what that speed was (yes, 
EXIF, but I don't know to may people witn P&S who know EXIF exists) how can 
you learn to repeat the effect if you like it?

Aram

>
> Don
> don.dory@gmail.com
>