Re: [Leica] gigabit continued

[Dean Chance <mreyebal@pacbell.net>]

on 11/12/00 8:24 PM, Robert Appleby at robert.appleby@tin.it wrote:

>>>>> 
> Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 07:35:47 -0500
> From: "Dan Honemann" <ddh@home.com>
> Subject: RE: [Leica] Gigabit continued
> Message-ID: <NBBBIDNIGLFOKNLJCPLHOEOPELAA.ddh@home.com>
> References: 
> 
> I wouldn't argue that "what was good enough for Cartier-Bresson should be
> good enough for us (technically speaking)."  I _would_ say that I would be
> extremely happy (ecstatic) if I could get my prints to look (again,
> technically) as good as HCB's!  To go beyond that would be incredible.
> 
> But is that possible once we introduce the artistic/creative side of the
> equation?  In other words, can one achieve the resolution--even with Leica
> lenses and gigabit film--you speak of here while shooting handheld candids
> on the street?
> 
> Perhaps if the film can be pushed enough to allow for 1/1000 sec shutter
> speeds @f5.6, it may be.
> 
> In any event, the film sounds exciting.
> 
> Thanks,
> Dan
> <<<<
> 
> I remember looking at some HCB prints in the print room at the V&A in
> London many years ago. Incredible place, you just go upstairs and order up
> from the stacks anything you'd care to see - Siskind, HCB, Harry Callahan,
> whatever.
> I was amazed at the time how very _bad_ the print quality was. Muddy greys,
> poor focus on the baseboard. Now they may well have been workprints that H
> threw out, or his printer, rather. But nonetheless, I was very
> disappointed. And his printing as such has never got me going very much.
> But I don't think that part of the chain was very important to him. He
> seems to have been more interested in the snap than the print.
> At that time I was a complete admirer of the Big H. And still am, to a
> lesser degree.
> Rob.
> Among the V&A's collection were several pictures of trees in a wood - not
> at all what I would have expected from HCB.
HCB is quoted as saying that he "loathes darkroom work" and I do not know
that he has ever made any of his own prints. (Maybe a few.) I have also
heard that many his negative are tough to print. He never used a light
meter. Somewhere I have a quote of him saying "the darkroom people - they
are the real artists." I'll look up and post.

dean chance