Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/09/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Shared in part. The pro's problem is a lack of recognition of his/talents and expertise hence the issue of getting paid what s/he deserves leading to a race against time to mass produce and keep the accounts balanced. Yet, digital is sometimes wonderful for the amateur. If you manage to forget past approaches such as"a camera for life", or the trend to get "the latest, the fastest, the biggest", etc then on the one tool you use for listening to the radio, watching movies, typing letters, communicating the world over preferably on the LUG, you can also store, edit and print snaps you shoot in incredible numbers, which allows you to have fun, to improve faster, and leave the box to other members of the family at evenings ;-) Glad I can do it for fun to. Phx Steve Barbour wrote: > > On Sep 17, 2008, at 1:01 PM, John Beeching wrote: > >> Dear Steve, >> >> I am so glad I don't work professionally and so am under no need to "go >> digital". I think I'll keep putting film in my M until I pop my clogs! > > > > that's the way I feel, it all sounded so familiar, and sad... > > > glad I can do it for fun, > > Steve > >> >> >> John >> >> 2008/9/17 Steve Barbour <kididdoc@cox.net> >> >>> 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 >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> John Beeching >> http://johnbeeching.com/ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >