Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/10/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]My daughter, who bought an R7 earlier this year, is still using square-P mode. Why? Because her dad is a lazy bum! I haven't yet made the time available to begin teaching her the basics of photography. You know... the cobblers children have no shoes. Anyway... she has come to me many times and said "why is only part of my picture in focus?" or "why is the subject so dark?" when I look at your pictures, I don't see these problems. She photographed some smooth rocks (large pebbles - small rocks) in the ocean surf. The water was rushing past, the rocks were shiny, the composition was outstanding. Worthy of a large print. But the front rock and a half were out of focus. I have explained to her that "Program mode" does not allow you to constructively control your depth of field, and it won't automatically compensate for a bright meaningless background. Program mode is great for happy snaps. I worked like hell, for three weeks in Europe, making sure my DOF covered those elements that needed to be sharp. I even carried a tripod over my shoulder for those cases where I dipped into the low shutter speeds, just to carry enough DOF. And this was all with my M camera. Heretic behavior! I'm going to make time for my daughter's photographic well being! Thanks, Jim At 07:27 AM 10/2/98 -0700, you wrote: >Jim Brick wrote: >> >> At 06:05 PM 9/30/98 -0400, you wrote: >> >Jim- >> >15-20,000 dollars worth of camera and lenses- using an N90 mostly, BUT HE >> >SHOOTS EVERYTHING ON PROGRAM! > >> Oh my gawd! Scary thought! What a waste! >> >> But... one of the sales people at K&S does exactly the same thing. > >When I spent time with Antonin Kratochvil we discussed lighting and >perceptions. He has done numerous heavy production lighting setups for >his fashion stuff years ago. But now he uses a simple Nikon FE because >it has automatic exposure and that is all he uses. Says he doesn't want >to get bogged down in technical issues. Content is primary. Yet his >work is dramatic, his sense of light often wonderful, but not "pretty". >Perhaps he is aided by shooting only BW where he has the ability to work >the prints. But whether you shoot program automatic or not, first comes >the ability to see light and make your decisions. I know I'm stating >the obvious, Jim, but I'm still working on my first cup of coffee. > >See > >http://photoarts.com/journal/SABA/ > >to find a number of pix and text from the book. > >http://www.freedomforum.org/international/1998/3/23dream.asp > >For photo of Antonin and text about a presentation. > >donal >-- >Donal Philby >San Diego >www.donalphilby.com > Jim Brick (650) 470-1132 http://www.photoaccess.com