Interesting opinions about RFF

[JoeFriday]

Actually hip-photography is not very hard at all.
I tried it out for, I think, the first time a few months ago.
Took about 10 shots and got 3-4 keepers.
Here's one:

I'd do it again - simply because it was pretty fun and adds an element of 'surprise' when you get your film developed.

I did however notice that I felt less 'proud' of any of these images - I guess for me deliberate composing and framing 'means' more than getting lucky shooting from the hip. To each his own. Or her.

excellent shot, Rich.. whether it was a hip shot or not

here's an example of my hip shot capabilities.. I was holding the camera below my knee to get that shot of my niece, who wasn't too thrilled with the idea of being photographed that day

 

[Chris Lynch]

haha
i can't wait to start USING my new Bessa.... i have film (Velvia 100 and Press 1600), i've got a J-8 (thanks to Triplefinger), and i don't (yet) have the M39-M adapter. BAH!

 

[Rich Silfver]

btw, really nice shot! where did you take that shot? she looks exactly like a friend of mine 😉

Thanks. It's from Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco for 2-3 months ago.

 

[quizzard87]

haha
i can't wait to start USING my new Bessa.... i have film (Velvia 100 and Press 1600), i've got a J-8 (thanks to Triplefinger), and i don't (yet) have the M39-M adapter. BAH!

my 100ft of HP5+ and 50ft of FP4+ are on their way...hopefully arrive on monday

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

(Do I dare point out that the correct spelling of the synonym for preface is "foreword"?) 🙂 {ducking, running, and looking for a place to hide} 🙂

Edit: Why was the word h-i-d-i-n-g bleeped out?

Reminds me of the bumpersticker line "you can run but you can't hide" in 2004. Maybe DieBold systems have leaked into the bleeping system? ::shrug::

 

[Stephanie Brim]

My opinion is this: Chris Weeks can shoot a camera. Well. He has good equipment and he knows how to use it. I like his photographs and always have, but I don't hold him as a god of the photography world. I joined DA because he put a general statement to go check it out in one of the other threads and I was pleasantly surprised at the changes they've made throughout the year or so since I've been there.

Everyone has a different view of everyone else's photography and that's okay. I mean, someone I know wants a print of one of my photos that I personally thought was garbage. We're allowed to differ in our opinions. And his comments were his opinions. What he wrote took most likely months of hard work and dedication...I'd probably defend it, too, if I was him. It was his baby and his vision...he really did never say that it was the tell-all be-all of street photography. What I read, I liked. I agreed with some of it. The writing style didn't bother me at all regardless of my almost anal sense of grammar. I agree with a lot of others here that people need to just think about it. Think of it as someone's journey through street photography. A lot of his tips make sense.

Frankly, even if he said that my work was **** on his blog, I'd still just shake it off and keep doing what I'm doing. And that's what we should do. And I'd still like his photos and respect his work.

Just my two cents.

 

[jan normandale]

Interesting article. I'm only half way through it.

(Do I dare point out that the correct spelling of the synonym for preface is "foreword"?) 🙂 {ducking, running, and looking for a place to hide} 🙂

Edit: Why was the word h-i-d-i-n-g bleeped out?

@ dmr... Jan here.. please make the changing of your avatar to quarterly or something, I drove right past your comment because I didn't even recognize you!! LoL

BTW this thread is fun!

 

[dmr]

I drove right past your comment because I didn't even recognize you!! LoL

Meow!

(Recognize me now?)

 

[jan normandale]

@ Rich, I gotta hang out w you. You have all sorts of interesting RF's and I can learn that 'hip shot'

The one in this thread is great. Everyone is smiling and happy except the intently focused cell phone user! I like it.

 

[Matthew Runkel]

When 160-page PDFs are given to me through my computer, I accept them graciously.

I think it's pretty generous for a group of people to put together a 160-page PDF on a subject they know a lot about and share it with the world for free. Most experts don't do that. It's certainly nothing I've ever done or am likely to, even assuming arguendo that I know enough about any subject to fill 160 pages even with the benefit of many illustrations.

Thanks, Chris et al. for taking the time and sharing. I've saved the document and look forward to reading it.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Experts?

It would be easier to get a copy of HCB's The Decisive Moment for a treatise on street photography. Or, James Nachtwey's War Photographer for photojournalism. Or any of Winogrand, Koudelka, Depardon's works.

regards

 

[Matthew Runkel]

I would welcome free PDFs of those works. Please supply a link for the downloads. That would be of interest ot me. Others may be interested in parsimonious quibbling about who is an expert--I was merely erring on the side of generosity.

 

[FrankS]

When all is said and done, this is about Chris's less than classy reaction to some negative criticism for some members of RFF of his article on street shooting. He could have simply said: "Whatever, man." Instead he chose to write vindictive entries on his blog containing name-calling of those who criticised his article. That's it. Less than classy. If someone puts something out there, they should be prepared that some people don't agree or don't like something about it. Was he expecting nothing but universal praise and genuflecting? I'm done.

 

[JoeFriday]

I'm glad he placed links to galleries. Other than Beniliam, everyone who criticised his article is a poor photographer, and everyone who supported him is a good photographer. Weird how that works.

actually, that doesn't appear to be much of a coincidence since Chris is personally approving or denying all comments on his blog.. I notice my less-than-gushing comment didn't make the cut.. I'll assume the fact that I was censured as a critic means I'm a good photographer 😉

 

[VictorM.]

I've avoided contributing to this thread because it concerns 'art' and the self-obsessed prattling of a 'brand' photographer (I was once a 'brand' photographer-I know what I am writing about) and his sycophants. I found the overall content sad and trivial. Rather than download and read a 160 page pdf (wow! pdf! free!), go out and take pictures. You're all spoiled fools who think the world should salute your every bowel movement.

 

[rogue_designer]

actually, that doesn't appear to be much of a coincidence since Chris is personally approving or denying all comments on his blog.. I notice my less-than-gushing comment didn't make the cut.. I'll assume the fact that I was censured as a critic means I'm a good photographer 😉

I think Frank meant the comments on the thread here originally - not the comments on Chris's blog. As far as I know, he's out shooting today and so unregistered blog comments on his won't be addressed until he gets back to a computer.

But to the best of my memory, you *are* a good photographer (not that you need validation from me). 😀

 

[JoeFriday]

well, I was kidding with my 'good photographer' comment.. but thanks

however, I do notice that other comments have been approved after mine.. so I'm not convinced of the 'out shooting' story.. personally, I think it's a case of cherry picking comments.. a bit odd since Chris went out of his way to criticize others in the same post.. again, I'm not impressed

 

[enochRoot]

i'm good enough. i'm smart enough. and doggonnit...people like me.

 

[rogue_designer]

i'm good enough. i'm smart enough. and doggonnit...people like me.

hah - damnit Enoch, almost made me spit coffee on the keyboard. 😀

 

[Trius]

I don't think he takes himself as seriously as he lets on. I like some of his photos, some I think are boring, but then those are ones probably in a style (for Hollywood publication) that really isn't "exciting" ... hey it puts bread on the table.

I'm sure he'll say rude things about my gallery, but then I don't care because I haven't put anything really good up there.

I think his b&w from the Canon 1d MK II is good ... better than a lot prolly most) of digital b&w I've seen.

I like the shots of his daughter and John Malkovich a lot.