Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/11/30

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Subject: [Leica] PESO: Carver
From: steve.barbour at gmail.com (Steve Barbour)
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:51:50 -0800
References: <017901ca7200$b5307a20$1f916e60$@net> <CC189DDD3E52420EBD64B115FEF54D7A@syneticfeba505> <018401ca720b$22930e70$67b92b50$@net> <EFD449A6E63A4B6CB8684B469DCBE57F@syneticfeba505> <018501ca7211$b49ba470$1dd2ed50$@net>

On Nov 30, 2009, at 3:06 PM, Jim Shulman wrote:

> Maybe that's where I differ in approach.
> 
> One reason that I adore using RF cameras is the ability to see life on
> parade.  When I consider a subject such as the wood carver, I might spend
> several minutes observing him through the viewfinder.  When I feel right, I
> push the shutter button.
> 
> On those occasions when I've shot multiple images of the same subject, I've
> found that my initial instinct of the best shot was almost always right. It
> is also almost always the first picture!  When it isn't the first picture,
> it's usually one when I've moved in closer.

and even closer...?

I hope sometimes Jim you get down lower too...

I think that would have been worth another shot...

(I am finding that 75% of my photos are taken from below the subject, and I 
don't crawl around on my knees)


Steve



>  Years ago I remember reading
> about some photographer who said that if your pictures aren't good enough,
> you're not close enough.  He was right, so far as my stuff's concerned.  
> 
> I usually only like wider angle lenses when I'm shooting a "ballet" of
> activity--with many things happening within a frame.  Sometimes a 50 
> doesn't
> allow enough flexibility.  However, this year I've fallen in love again 
> with
> the basics: my M3, Summilux 50 (gad, what a lens!), and b/w film.
> 
> On most days I wind up with about ten really nice shots per 36-exposure 
> roll
> (or at least shots that I'd like to share with others).  In fact, I have a
> backlog of about 300 images from the past year (which is why my PESOs are
> more like PADs!)  A single event will yield quite a few decent shots.
> 
> The other day I photographed a friend's three year old son, during the
> intermission of a Thanksgiving dinner production (we were both a little
> bored).  I only shot seven images; two were screwed-up exposures, one was 
> of
> a wall (misfire), but all the others were keepers (at least acc'd to the
> parents.)
> 
> In the case of the wood carver I was far more interested in the complete
> scene--the hat, the tent, the carving, the boots and the way the light was
> slanting into the enclosure. When I had the shot I wanted, I was 
> satisfied. 
> 
> About the only portrait session this year that didn't work involved an old
> friend and his wife.  The pictures all showed him smiling--but missing 
> about
> eight teeth on his upper jaw!  After the implants go in next year we should
> be fine <g>.
> 
> Jim
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net at leica-users.org
> [mailto:lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
> tedgrant at shaw.ca
> Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 5:49 PM
> To: Leica Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Leica] PESO: Carver
> 
> Jim Shulman offered
> Subject: Re: [Leica] PESO: Carver
> 
> 
>> Easy for you digital guys to say <g>.
>> For a film devotee, it was one shot and done.  Sometimes two if I screw up
>> focus or exposure.<<<<<,
> 
> Oh no no don't say that as I shrivel and die! Particularly when you have 
> such an incredible subject sitting there not going anywhere!!! That's part 
> of the reason he makes for a great subject... "HE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" 
> We
> 
> are going to have a discussion behind the wood shed on this one young man! 
> :-( :-)
> 
> Film or digital, Jim I'd have sat there for an hour, if not more, clicking 
> at every little motivating moment of the scene. However I must say with 
> film
> 
> all the dang darkroom work would've been a big pain in the butt along with 
> cutting the film, sleeving, contact printing, editing for selection. Back 
> into darkroom for print making.
> 
> Right there is reason alone to go digital! :-)
> 
> When I lived the life of a film photographer I never let the amount of 
> film 
> deter me from shooting everything that I felt in my heart or soul!  Yeah 
> it 
> got dangerously low in rolls at times, but I always kept a couple of extra 
> rolls in other pockets as a kind of insurance.
> 
> Of course now I've gone digital it's a living piece of cake with a couple 
> of
> 
> cards, a spare battery and one can blow their brains out snapping away! :-)
> 
> So back to this incredible carving subject? Man you can't just shoot one 
> or 
> two frames when you have such great picture potential before you. 
> Obviously 
> from your answer it would be... "Yes you can shoot just one" :-( :-(
> 
> So let's say the next time you run into something like this you will make 
> a 
> major effort to shoot more than one, maybe two or go whole hog and shoot 
> it 
> to the last possible interesting story telling photograph you can possibly 
> squeeze out of it! Like man, everyday you find some of the most 
> interesting 
> characters for your photos it's quite amazing. And yes many wouldn't give 
> you two seconds of extra time for more pictures.
> 
> But a situation like this complete with such a visual character to go with 
> it. Hell if you run out of film I've got some film lying around in the 
> cupboards here I'll mail to you. But you have to shoot more! OK so we have 
> a
> 
> deal? Right?:-)
> 
> cheers,
> Dr. ted :-)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net at leica-users.org
>> [mailto:lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
>> tedgrant at shaw.ca
>> Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 5:13 PM
>> To: Leica Users Group
>> Subject: Re: [Leica] PESO: Carver
>> 
>> Jim Shulman showed:
>> Subject: [Leica] PESO: Carver
>>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/focusit/carver+sm.jpg.html
>> 
>> Hi Jim,
>> What a great subject character to photograph! I'm sure you must have 
>> pumped
>> a few dozen images of him covering all the aspects of doing his carving,
>> hat, face, his hands at his age must be incredible to shoot after all the
>> years of carving.
>> 
>> And the face for expressions? Must be dozens of images. Like you could 
>> just
>> sit back with maybe 90 or an f4 80-200 zoom and blow yer brains out as his
>> expressions changed. :-) And as the light changed on the scene. Endless
>> photo options!
>> 
>> Please tell me you did work him for every picture possibility possible? 
>> You
>> did , didn't you? I knew you would! Good on you!
>> cheers,
>> Dr. ted :-)
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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> 
> 
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Replies: Reply from tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca) ([Leica] PESO: Carver)
In reply to: Message from jshul at comcast.net (Jim Shulman) ([Leica] PESO: Carver)
Message from tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca) ([Leica] PESO: Carver)
Message from jshul at comcast.net (Jim Shulman) ([Leica] PESO: Carver)
Message from tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca) ([Leica] PESO: Carver)
Message from jshul at comcast.net (Jim Shulman) ([Leica] PESO: Carver)