Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/08/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>I think SEEING is the important thing. This is the most critical factor in >photography, distinguishing good photographers from bad. Most people cannot >see. (!) I mean really see behind things, humans, and events. See symbols. >It isn't enough to recognize the superficial reality. If you don't see what >is behind, and try to understand how and why it is so, you won't be able to >express an interesting point of view. It will be impossible to feel your >intentions. If you don't have any intention, or if it is impossible to >recognize your idea, the image is empty, dead, without interest. To be able to see into a situation and record the event is a tallent many take years to develope and some never do. A friend, who is an accomplished photographer, called this "Seeing Beyond". W Eugene Smith, Salgado (sp) and many of the great documentiarians have had this ability, and this is the reason their photography has the impact it has. >When you realize that cameras, lenses, brands, and all the rest are quite >relative, even those cameras which often are referred to as >"wunderplastik", may become relevant. The condescending attitude to cameras >less glorious than Leicas that we often see in these columns, is rather >inappropriate. Look in the Life book "Faces" at a photo of George Bush Joe Markette of UPI (now he is with AP) shot while Bush was swimming in the ocean. Joe took this photo using his wife's Nikon P&S as he swam with the President. One great example of using a system that fits your needs, he used it because it was water proof. Harrison McClary hmphoto@delphi.com http://people.delphi.com/hmphoto