RE: [Leica] Shutterbug

["Stuart Phillips" <Stuart.Phillips@umb.edu>]

The only things I like in Shutterbug are Roger Hicks and his wife
Frances Shultz.  As with their books, I find them knowledgeable and
experienced yet also practical.  They are certainly English in the way
they use older equipment, "make do" where other popular authors would
throw a few thousand dollars at a picture.  Their book "Learning To
Light" is an example, showing just how much can be done with simple
lamps from around the house and only the moving on to studio equipment.
Finally, they live by what they preach. Hicks has had published a number
of books about his interests illustrated by him.  A book on Ferraris
comes to mind.

I agree that much of the rest of the content is junk. I now borrow it
from the library.

Stuart Phillips


- -----Original Message-----
From: Irving Greines [mailto:igreines@GMSR.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2002 2:55 PM
To: 'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us'
Subject: [Leica] Shutterbug

I read Sonny's comments.

I am quite familiar with Shutterbug--right up through the present date.
I
agree with Sonny that the magazine does have some qualities that others
find
virtuous, including an advertising emphasis on used Leica gear.
Although
the ads are frequently outdated by the time of publication, they do
provide
names of dealers who carry used Leica equipment.  The magazine also
contains
other information that some might find helpful.  

As for the general quality of the images published in the magazine, I
stand
by my comments.  It continues to by my view that many, many of the
images
published are of "snapshot" quality, not worthy of publication in a
national
magazine.  The current issue contains many images that fit that
description.


As for the so-called "glamour" stuff, I agree that the current issue
spares
us from some of the more unsightly stuff of the past, but one does not
have
to go back too far to find it--you know what I mean, unattractive
models,
sitting on a rock in mundane poses with unattractive lighting. Plastic
images.  In my opinion (once again, I can only express my opinion, not
Sonny's or anyone else's), the magazine would do well if it hired an
editor
with strong photographic sensibilities.  If Sonny and others like the
general flavor and quality of Shutterbug's images, then so be it--each
to
his own.  

I'm puzzled by Sonny's last comment that I somehow need to show him my
images in order to be free to express my opinion about the general
quality
of Shutterbug's photography.  I never knew that one had to be a
photographer
in order to express an opinion about the quality of a photograph.  As
for
me, I am a professional photographer, but I don't have a desire or find
it
necessary to share my photos with Sonny or to have his approval in order
to
express my opinion about the quality of Shutterbug's images.

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