Re: [Leica] National Geographic getting better

["Red Dawn" <reddawn@singnet.com.sg>]

Hi Mark

are u talking about the "War Photographer" DVD on James Natchwey?
Or are u referring to a new DVD of him?

If u're talking about War Photographer, I don't remember anything about
shooting and transmitting on the fly. I think digital predates that DVD if i
am not mistaken. I think the wires u're referring to that came out from his
camera to his backpack is actually part of the Sony micro camera that was
attached to his camera to film his perspective as he shoots. That allows us
to see him work his camera, aperture and shutter settings. Also allows us to
see wat he sees. In a way.

Does anyone know where to get those long rectangular film holders he's
using? Seems like a convenient tool to manage rolls of film.

I believe both the bodies he uses in the video are film bodies. But who
knows? Yeah he seems to be at f4 1/250 most of the time :) It's refreshing
to see that he has customised his camera to autofocus with another button
instead of the usual half press of the shutter release. This allows him to
focus first, then shoot multiple frames without having the auto focus
kicking in again. Very M like. I bet he has his Leica Ms in mind when he did
that :)

but i'm more impressed with the fact his subjects don't seem to mind him
with his loud Canon. He isn't very discreet either, IMHO. Maybe in war, and
in hunger, when everybody is mourning or grieving, nothing really matters.

Earlier this year James came to Singapore for a Time magazine seminar and
I've had the chance to ask him if he prints his digital files in black and
white. Apparently, he has no qualms about doing so for his 1D / 1Ds shots,
as there's no black and white mode. But he wouldn't do so if the shot was
originally shot on color film.

But he implied on several occasions he still prefers film / Tri-X if he has
a choice :) Nice guy, allowed me to shoot him and even gave me his email
address. never tested that though :)

boon hwee

- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Rabiner" <mark@rabinergroup.com>
Subject: Re: [Leica] National Geographic getting better


> ><Snip>
> >
> > Editor sitting safely in office thousands of miles away sipping his
morning
> > coffee says," go left and tighten it up."  There's a big bang, screen
fades
> > to black!  Editor says, "Oops did you step on a mine? Oh sorry!"
> >
> > Sip, sip, "next shooter in."  Digital and directing editor eh?
jeeesh!!!!
> > Now that really is scary!
> >
> > ted
> >
> > --
>
>
> I'm with you Ted but I'd just seen this in this Natchwey DVD that has
> turned my head around in many a way.
> On the other hand Natchwey has rolls and rolls of Tri X, (not T-Max 400)
> casettes to label with a black permanent marker and send off at the end
> of the day.
> He's got two bodies which he exchanges lenses with. It would seem
> obvious one was digital and one was Tri x. But it also appears his
> digital captures get printed in black and white. I'd wondered about if
> this kind of thing was going to happen.
> Have other people seen this DVD on this list?
> He has his Canon's set to M for manual and uses an incident light meter
> to apparently find out which aperture he needs to be shooting 250th of a
> second with.
> It really appeared he was a "250th of a second and be there" kind of guy.
> Very impressive.
> A UV filter with no lens shade I'm not going to argue with.
> One just watches and learns. Does not argue with a master.
>
> I'll say that as much as I'd rather not shoot war's I'd rather not shoot
> famine even more so.
> I'd rather dodge bullets any day than be confronted by this in person.
> I'd not even for one minute consider not seeing this DVD.
> Few would not be rendered very humble by this mans integrity. Show in NY
> and all.

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