It's Either We Or Them

[MickH]

@Ruben... I just love the idea of it. It's a bit like Itzhak Perlman playing a concert on his Stradivarius (I guess he has one), then playing at home for friends and family on a new, relatively cheap $1000 Yamaha because he likes it.

 

[ully]

I am not sure of the meaning of "infragrati" but those people and their dumb little cameras are probably not as serious about their picture taking as perhaps film photographers are. They are just thinking of capturing a moment of history, not how they do it.
They should be more concerned about what those "high necked" senators and congressmen are going to do to them given what politics has become in the last 30 years.

About your last point of smaller and more features, I think that is just the thrust of technology. Today it was announced that Kodak is closing their last three processing plants in the US. Its just a matter of money, consumers don't have it because it all in the government coffers and they don't care about how its spent as long as they get theirs.

 

[sevo]

It seems to me that the photographer was earning his crust with the "big digital camera", but also grabbed the opportunity to take some personal snapshots for his own benefit. I know it seems odd, but I can't imagine any other reason unless his pro kit had packed in.

Different camera means different attitude, and hence, different results. There are psychological factors involved on either side of the camera.

Sevo

 

[migtex]

People will use whatever they think it fits their needs.
One of my friends ask me an opinion on buying a camera for her to shoot.
"But must be Green or Pink!".... I could not come with an answer for her.... my bad.

I like my Finepix F11 so much that when I saw a new in the Box on a Fuji store for 75 € bought it right away (backup I said to myself, they are not produce anymore...) . Still I do luv the Nikon 35TI as well! Or the Nikon S!
With phones the P&S market will be less and less... so they will make it to move up.

 

[Nh3]

OK... since my methods don't seem to work well, can anyone explain the following to me?

"No I am not refering to the smart crowds, but to all those high throat distinguished senators and poiticians, the same who already started to plan Ceasar's execution and therefore took a seat around their prospected vyctim, they also were pointing their stupid little cameras to Obama at every single moment and were catched by the CNN, infraganti."

Since I'm a history buff as well I'll give it a try.

Ruben is comparing Obama to Ceaser and by doing so his speculating on Obama's immediate downfall by "some means" which I won't speculate upon for "legal reasons".

This is nothing but historical superstition and in this case completely ignorant of historical facts. For one Julies Ceaser came from an Aristocratic Roman family and was groomed since childhood for high office... He was eventually assassinated because they feared he would overthrow the republic and declare himself king.

Now what Ceaser has in common with Obama, I don't really know. Is Ruben implying that Obama will declare himself a dictator and destroy the American democracy? I don't know.

But then again we give him [ruben] the benefit of doubt and save ourselves the headache. At least I'm glad he did not compare Obama to Titus Flavius Vespasianus!

 

[Nh3]

I think we're all well up on Roman history,
but what's that got to do with "stupid little cameras"?

Alright, since you're so eager to make amends for your previous shenanigans, I shall reply.

"Stupid little camera" was simply a ploy to express an opinion - actually a superstition born out of uncertainty that change brings.

 

[bmattock]

This is nothing but historical superstition and in this case completely ignorant of historical facts. For one Julies Ceaser came from an Aristocratic Roman family and was groomed since childhood for high office... He was eventually assassinated because they feared he would overthrow the republic and declare himself king.

He was assassinated by a number of Senators, among them the infamous former friend, Marcus Junius Brutus, hence the famous cry "Et tu, Bruté?".

I think that was Ruben's point - Senators who pretended to be Caesar's friend, but secretly plotted against him. Modern parallels seen in Senators who might appear to laud our new US president, but who look in secret for his first mistake, his first error, which might give them cause to cry for his impeachment - it is ever thus, and history repeats itself.

As to declaring himself king, I don't know if Ruben intended any such comparison or not.

 

[bmattock]

I think we're all well up on Roman history,
but what's that got to do with "stupid little cameras"?

It is the 'stupid little things' that can bring about revolutionary changes.

Gutenberg's toy changed the way the people got their news and information, and gutted the power once held exclusively by kings and popes, paving the way for the enlightenment and eventually democracy.

'Pong' changed the way televisions were used, and paved the way for the PC.

Cell phone cameras, webcams, and the like may change the way we as citizens look back at a society that has become pervasively and increasingly based on surveillance of us - now it can become surveillance by us.

It is both the beginning and the end of privacy as we know it, and it changes everything about photography and what it means to the average citizen, our governments, and our culture.

Wind and rain and ice are such stupid little things compared to a mountain, but the mountain doesn't change them - they change the mountain.

 

[Nh3]

He was assassinated by a number of Senators, among them the infamous former friend, Marcus Junius Brutus, hence the famous cry "Et tu, Bruté?".

I think that was Ruben's point - Senators who pretended to be Caesar's friend, but secretly plotted against him. Modern parallels seen in Senators who might appear to laud our new US president, but who look in secret for his first mistake, his first error, which might give them cause to cry for his impeachment - it is ever thus, and history repeats itself.

As to declaring himself king, I don't know if Ruben intended any such comparison or not.

I think he did.

The historical precedent is incorrect. Ceaser rose to power because he controlled many legions of the Roman army and conquered most of western Europe, thus considering himself the rightful "king" of Rome.

Obama on the other hand is a popular leader who's main support comes from people and hence his party rides the same tide of goodwill because of him. Why the democratic senators would want to overthrow the man who insures their seats is beyond me.

But I would be more interested as to why Ruben would say such a thing? Why would he post such an ominous warning right on the day that Obama is sworn in?

... And the title of his post, "its either us or them". that title itself is incredibly disturbing. What he really meant?

 

[Nh3]

What?



So is this a political thread or a "stupid little camera" thread?

Its absolutely a political thread.

 

[bmattock]

Why the democratic senators would want to overthrow the man who insures their seats is beyond me.

I can think of a number of reasons.

For Republicans, he is a popular Democratic leader, following on the heels of several election cycles of setbacks and losses and humiliations. Why would they NOT want him to fall on his sword? But they can't be seen to be 'against him' while he has the support of the people, so they will cheer him on; for now.

For Democrats, he is a rule-breaker and a paradigm-changer. He has not followed the script, he has not come from their mould. Many of them can now never aspire to greater office, because he has changed how things work. Unless, of course, he is brought low.

But I would be more interested as to why Ruben would say such a thing? Why would he post such an ominous warning right on the day that Obama is sworn in?

Beware the Ides of March, I guess. MacBeth received similar warnings, as I recall. What were Roman generals told as they paraded through the cheering throngs of Rome upon their triumphant return? There was allegedly always a slave who followed the general and was given the task of repeating over and over 'Memento Mori' or "Remember, thou art mortal." I suspect that Ruben meant it more to be a warning against hubris than a warning against evil life-threatening plots.

... And the title of his post, "its either us or them". that title itself is incredibly disturbing. What he really meant?

I believe he was being flippant. Can't speak for him on that, however.