Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/09/19

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Subject: [Leica] technology changes...
From: imagist3 at mac.com (Lottermoser George)
Date: Fri Sep 19 13:18:08 2008
References: <F8BB1743-A423-4AF5-A8B1-E3A4F91E5D55@dial.pipex.com> <1A1AFCF8-913D-4D93-8260-50DAC1386014@cox.net> <85D2A46D-D1B9-4106-94F7-ED64DEEDAFC1@frozenlight.eu>

I agree with
all of your points
including the 'so on'
I also agree
with many (not all)
of his points

for any of us
who held a place
of respect and significant income
due to some combination
of skill and tools
everything has changed

change generally
comes with a cost

some resent change
some embrace change

I do miss
the drawing board
and ruling pens
focusing the grain on the easel
and print appearing
in the tray

but most of all
I miss being
a big fish in a tiny pool
of highly skilled craftsmen
rather than
a small fish in an ocean
of digital aficionados
; ~ )

Fond regards,
George

george@imagist.com
http://www.imagist.com
http://www.imagist.com/blog
http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist



On Sep 19, 2008, at 2:48 PM, Nathan Wajsman wrote:

> Sorry to disagree completely...
>
> Thanks to digital technology, I am able to look at incredibly  
> moving pictures made by a doctor in Arizona...
> Thanks to digital technology, I can see places I would never see  
> otherwise...
> Thanks to digital technology, I can share my own work with a  
> worldwide audience...
>
> and so on.
>
> Yes, conditions for professional photographers have changed. As  
> they have for auto workers, for college professors, for just about  
> anyone who works for a living.
>
> But I sure would not want to go back 20 years.
>
> Nathan
>
> Nathan Wajsman
> Alicante, Spain
> http://www.frozenlight.eu
> http://www.greatpix.eu
> http://www.nathanfoto.com
>
> Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
> Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog
>
>
>
> On Sep 17, 2008, at 7:26 PM, Steve Barbour wrote:
>
>> 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
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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Replies: Reply from jbm at jbm.org (Jeff Moore) ([Leica] LUGforms)
Reply from kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour) ([Leica] technology changes...)
In reply to: Message from kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour) ([Leica] technology changes...)
Message from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] technology changes...)