If you could shadow a famous photographer for one day, who would it be?

[Brian Atherton]

An addition to my previous post:

Ogle Winston Link, during his railway projects 1955-1959.

 

[gns]

It doesn't take long to confirm how zone focus is used by hitting a few websites with emphasis on "street photography" (Gawd, I hate that term!). It has been a common practice for many years, turning your multi-thousand dollar Leica outfit into a fixed focus point and shoot. I've seen it mentioned in interviews with Eggleston, Wessel, Meyerowitz, etc. As for HCB, you might notice some of his photos are a little soft in the focus department, likely due to the subject being just out of the zone.

Maybe I misunderstood him. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I think he was saying that many of C-B's photographs had to have been staged.

 

[Dogman]

Maybe I misunderstood him. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I think he was saying that many of C-B's photographs had to have been staged.

...could be I misunderstood everyone.

Never mind.

Carry on.

 

[embee06311]

Julius Shulman... when he was photographing the Case Study Houses

 

[Tim Murphy]

Given my interests

Given my interests

Moose Peterson or Neil Leifer

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[airfrogusmc]

HCB, because I am convinced that he set up many of his so called "decisive moment" shots. Anyone that has shot street, especially w/ a manual focus camera, understands that some of his shots could only have been made this way. It is just not possible for that many images to have been made on the fly, good photographer or not. Even luck could not have made it possible.

So you have never used DoF scales? I use them all the time. Just because you can't do it doesn't mean that he didn't do it and that it can't be done.

 

[Keith]

So you have never used DoF scales? I use them all the time. Just because you can't do it doesn't mean that he didn't do it and that it can't be done.

Not to mention that HCB would have spent so much time with that camera in his hand that the focus point for any scene would have existed in a zone controlled by his eye, mind and muscle memory ... and that would allow him to have the lens in pretty much the correct position by the time the camera reached his eye. This is a skill that many of us will never develop because we are constantly changing our gear.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I've had the pleasure to hang out with Jay Dusard, & would enjoy doing so again. Also I would have loved to have spent a day with Robert Doisneau.

 

[Mr. Fizzlesticks]

Most of the famous or semi famous photographers that I have met have been after shows or friend of friend type things. Photographers rarely discuss photography which the average Joe doesn't really get. I really don't harbor any fan feelings for any living photographers. If I could transport back in time, it would be cool to have met Weston. I wouldn't have minded meeting Newton, though I would guess he would have been a bit of an ass. Avedon could've been interesting. I wouldn't have minded witnessing Capa on D-day just to see how much of a chicken-**** he was. Total con artist. Penn in the studio would have been great. The only living photographer that I would be somewhat interested in is Gibson, but it would have been decades ago. These days, not so much... Actually now that I think about it, I would love to meet Corbijn. I think he would be and interesting guy, and not full of himself.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I wouldn't have minded witnessing Capa on D-day just to see how much of a chicken-**** he was. Total con artist.

How is this a thing?
I'm thinking anyone who volunteered to be on that beach that day has got more stones than pretty much anyone else.

Phil Forrest

 

[MrFujicaman]

Okay, here's my picks...

Ralph Gibson..for some reason, whenever I see his pictures,I hear that strange brooding music from the original "Outer Limits'.

Rene Gelpi-does anybody know what ever happened to this guy ? He was in Pop Photo twice and then vanished from sight.

 

[oltimer]

How is this a thing?
I'm thinking anyone who volunteered to be on that beach that day has got more stones than pretty much anyone else.

Phil Forrest

Oh wow Phil; and how I do agree with your reply. Another photographer that was in Europe and the Japan one, was Sgt. William Genaust; who died in Iwo when he entered the cave, and his body never found. Absolutely no chicken in these men.

 

[Duckmancgy]

I would probably have to go with Michael Kenna, if for nothing more than to "see how he sees" if that makes sense. I see him as being someone I could learn endlessly from, specifically how he isolates elements from larger scenes, thats something I continue to struggle with from a composition perspective.

 

[Bar8barian]

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[AlTheKiller]

Ryan Muirhead or Polly Chandler

 

[Nokton48]

Avedon, or W. Eugene Smith, or Jim Marshall

 

[bobbyrab]

My thought process would be, most of the above photographers, you want to see as they saw, look at their photographs. Shadowing them wouldn't make that any more insightful really, so for that reason I'd go more towards the Irving Penn/ demarchelier type, you can't learn their vision, but you could understand their lighting....maybe.

 

[Dpingr1]

Jacques Henri Lartigue, if only because I'd get to be in Belle Époque France for a day. Around racing cars!

 

[Dpingr1]

Man Ray, because just think about who else you'd meet.

This. Totally.

 

[Darthfeeble]

I'd like to spend some time with Joel Meyerowitz. Not so much for his technique but for his eye and his ability to completely ignore the the world beyond what he is focused on while working. Watched a short bit on PBS one time and thought that impressive.