[Leica] technology changes...

[kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)]

from another (computer) list...

relevant, a very good summary I think, but many here have heard it,  
have lived it, and many have to deal with it now...

Steve

**************
> Well Shawn,
>
> I beg to differ. Life is not as simple as people wish it to be, I'm  
> afraid....
>
> Without beating my own drum, I would say that I'm probably in a  
> better position to comment on this than many, having been a working  
> professional photographer for 22 years now...
>
> I've lived and worked through the demise of film and the advent of  
> digital, and I can honestly say with my hand on my heart that I  
> never used to waste so much 'down-time' as I do now having to keep  
> abreast and paying for technology that at the end of the day does  
> the same thing that it did 22 years ago...that is make photographs.
>
> OH - I can now wizz them across the planet in zilch time. Big Deal.  
> That doesn't help my bottom line. It just adds more stress to my  
> work day. Clients do not want to pay for this. They expect it in  
> with the package these days....They want me not only to drive to the  
> location (300 mile trip) shoot the photos, but also develop them and  
> "ping" them over to the US or wherever before I go to bed. Its  
> totally pants. When I shoot, I simply don't sleep...which makes me  
> ill....which creates more stress blah de blah...But I digress...
>
> When I started professional photography in 1986 I saved my money and  
> invested in a medium format system that served me well for many  
> years - I still have it and it still works now and takes beautiful  
> photographs. Clients used to be happy to pay for the film and  
> processing. Job Done.
>
> I also have a Nikon D3 (and had D2x and D100 and .....get the  
> picture - pardon the pun) and with each camera purchase comes a raft  
> of disappointments as the latest camera body doesn't work well with  
> last years lens...Take for example the D3...Nikons current flagship  
> model...It doesn't even work properly with the current 70-200 f2.8  
> VR lens - Yes, I grant you it works sort of...as long as you are  
> prepared to live with massive vingretting...the whole digitisation  
> of the industry is quite shocking. So when Photokina is launched  
> next week (yet another commercial merry-go-round), I'll be having to  
> keep an eye out to replace another $2,500 lens....The one I'm  
> replacing is only 2 years old !!
>
> And no Shawn...this didn't use to happen with film. I know. Because  
> I remember. You bought a Hasslebald lens...it would last decades.
>
> The reality for photographers is that we are having to waste all our  
> time and effort "learning" new ways to make the same wheel, rather  
> than creating challenging and creative imagrey. Digital Technology  
> has been a complete disaster for independant photography, as sole  
> traders like myself simply do not have enough hours in the day to do  
> and learn all the technology.
>
> But somehow we have to. But don't tell me its "always been like  
> this" Because that's simply an inaccurate statement. It has never  
> been like this before ! Technology is simply undermining and  
> blocking true creativity and real life observation skills. And no  
> amount of pixel counting and special effects in Photoshop will  
> change this, or make the person using the computer a better  
> photographer.
>
> I would also add that in my experience Computer Technology has  
> undermined what photography is about..people look at my images these  
> days and "assume" they were done in Photoshop ! Even the documentary  
> images - this destroys the very essense of what I stand for.
>
> Because of Technology - Photography is no longer 'trusted' to  
> represent anything more than a glint in someones eye, and has been  
> ruthlessly commodotised. I've even had "serious" discussions with  
> clients telling me I should charge for my photos by the MB - and not  
> by any aesthetic principle...
>
> Its all very insulting to be honest...
>
> Best wishes,
> David
>
>
> David Townend Photography
>
> http://www.davidtownend.com
>
>
>
>
> On 17 Sep 2008, at 16:27, Shawn King wrote:
>
>>
>> Photographers (and others) have *always* gone through this,  
>> computers or
>> not, digital or not.
>>
>> The technology of almost everything moves forward those who rely on  
>> that
>> technology for whatever reasons move forward with it - or they get  
>> left
>> behind.
>> -- 
>> Shawn King
>> Host/Executive Producer
>> Your Mac Life
>> http://www.yourmaclifeshow.com
>>
>
>