Keira Knightley on Film Photog. vs Digital Photog.

Harry Lime

Harry Lime

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“I’ve noticed that the people who started on film still have the ability to see the person in front of them. Whereas for a lot of photographers who have only ever worked in digital, the relationship between the photographer and the person who they’re taking a picture of sort of doesn’t exist anymore. They’re looking at a computer screen as opposed to the person.” -Keira Knightley




http://www.interviewmagazine.com/fashion/keira-knightley-by-patrick-demarchelier#_

(Original interview. Some 'not safe for work fashion nudity'?)
 
Yup, it's the screen that creates barriers between photographer and subject, even it it's a phone-cam screen.

Keira Knightly, I'd love to chat with her sometime. And, shoot a portrait too while I'm there anyway ;)
 
johannielscom said:
Yup, it's the screen that creates barriers between photographer and subject, even it it's a phone-cam screen.
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Buy a M60 not a Df then... ;)

BTW if you're still after something to replace your D700 the D750 blows the Df out for absolutely everything IMO... size, weight, build quality, ergonomics, sensor, image processor, AF, VF size, factory focusing screen, VF overlay... wow, what a nice thing they've made there... with the mandatory Nikon bad taste thing : no PC socket. Well... ;)
 
There's a lot of truth in what she said. The Viewfinder of a classic camera was already very good at creating a barrier. But a digital camera tethered to a Computer is even worth. Interestingly one of the Reason for Avedon to use an 8x10 was the Rapport with the subject. You set the focus on the groundglass but as soon as you put in the film casette you can't look trough a viewfinder so you have to look at the subject and push the shutter release at the right moment.
 
Interesting to read from the perspective of someone who is photographed regularly by professionals, amateurs and general public alike. As photographers we regularly give our opinions and thoughts on our practices (good and bad) but to hear the perspective of someone who deals with photography almost, if not as much, as most of us yet from a 'subjects' point of view is both welcome and somewhat educational...or at least a reminder that neither technology nor technique should really get in the way of trying to form some level of connection with a sitter.
 
DominikDUK said:
There's a lot of truth in what she said. The Viewfinder of a classic camera was already very good at creating a barrier. But a digital camera tethered to a Computer is even worth. Interestingly one of the Reason for Avedon to use an 8x10 was the Rapport with the subject. You set the focus on the groundglass but as soon as you put in the film casette you can't look trough a viewfinder so you have to look at the subject and push the shutter release at the right moment.
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If you mount your camera on a tripod it's not necessary to look through the VF after composing and focusing. I do this frequently in my commercial work.
 
Highway 61 said:
Buy a M60 not a Df then... ;)

BTW if you're still after something to replace your D700 the D750 blows the Df out for absolutely everything IMO... size, weight, build quality, ergonomics, sensor, image processor, AF, VF size, factory focusing screen, VF overlay... wow, what a nice thing they've made there... with the mandatory Nikon bad taste thing : no PC socket. Well... ;)
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Don't have to, I was raised in the non-digital era and can connect with my subject, regardless of what I shoot! Keira and me are in agreement here! :D

So far, my D700 serves me fine. And if it doesn't do so anymore, I might either get me another D700 for absurdly little cash, a pampered Df or a lightly-used D750, depending on prices. As said before, I could use the extra light off the Df or D750 sensor, but everything else is just peachy with the D700, including focusing.

Oh, and if I'm ever going to shoot portraits of Keira, I'll bring either a Hasselblad or a Holga, and a bottle of fine wine :rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
As interesting regarding this same shoot, she agreed to be shot topless with the proviso that there be no photoshop manipulation in post. She felt there should be more acceptance of different body shapes.
As we move away from a generation of photographers who shot film, the newer digital generation do seem to be more comfortable with heavy manipulation, maybe it's just me, but it seems to be becoming more and more obvious.
 
I don't really see that the type of camera or media makes or breaks the connection between the photographer and the subject?

A bit like saying my Citroen behaves more like a genuinely French car when I wear my beret. :D
 
Keith said:
I don't really see that the type of camera or media makes or breaks the connection between the photographer and the subject?

A bit like saying my Citroen behaves more like a genuinely French car when I wear my beret. :D
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Not that I would wear a beret ... that would just be silly? :eek:
 
I guess it depends on the photographer.
Personally, if I need to interact or connect moment by moment with the subject, viewing on a screen (LCD or monitor) helps me "stay connected" better than looking (one eye closed) through a viewfinder.

We all have our likes and dislikes, huh.
 
The connection is based on amongst other things eye contact and seeing the photographer if the head and/or body of the photographer is hidden behind a computer screen the connection is broken. we see it from the photographers perspective and not from the subjects perspective and I guess a subject knows more than the photographer about having connection or not.
 
DominikDUK said:
The connection is based on amongst other things eye contact and seeing the photographer if the head and/or body of the photographer is hidden behind a computer screen the connection is broken. we see it from the photographers persppective and not from the subjects perspective and I guess a subject in this case knows more than the photographer about having connection or not.
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The computer screen is sitting on a table to the side of the photographer who glances at it to set up. He is standing almost face-to-face with the subject, interacting and hitting the remote cord when desired. There is almost nothing physically between the subject and the photographer.
This is a lot more connected than a photgrapher with his face hiding behind a camera body squinting one eye through a viewfinder.

However . . . whatever works for you - go with it.
 
Sarcophilus Harrisii said:
What model Cit, Keith?
Cheers
Brett
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Hi there Brett,

A C4 Diesel hatch about four years old. I bought it against advice from a lot of knockers but after almost a year of owning it and about twenty thousand ks I love it. It goes like a stabbed rat and will do nearly fourteen hundred ks on a tank of fuel on the highway. I have been warned that if the six speed sports shift transmission happens to lunch itself it will cost more to fix than the car is worth. :eek: :D
 
x-ray said:
If you mount your camera on a tripod it's not necessary to look through the VF after composing and focusing. I do this frequently in my commercial work.
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BU_10.jpg


;)
 
Apparently the Subject sees it differently, it is the same in the movie world in the beginning the director would talk to the actors as soon as Sound came the director was still interacting with the actors but not verbally, the Video Screen came and the new directors were no longer interacting with the actor but looking at the Screen. Sure the director could see what he would get on film. But the actors often feel differently

Also daveleo this is your way of Shooting I have seen plenty of shots were the interactions between subject and photographer is close to Nil.
I also agree that looking down at the viewfinder isn't the best way to connect with the subject hence the LF thing were absolutely nothing stands between the subject and photographer.
 
johannielscom said:
Yup, it's the screen that creates barriers between photographer and subject, even it it's a phone-cam screen.
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How is the screen different from a VF with regards to a barrier? When I use an LCD, I can have both eyes open and switch between the person and the camera way easier than when I have my eye to a viewfinder. Yes, I started on film.
 
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