Leica and Magnum

[Bill Pierce]

An interesting article in the BJ today about Leica and Magnum, ‘Magnum Photos has announced a "technological and photographic collaboration" with Leica that will see the camera manufacturer "sponsor the creation of a series of independently produced multimedia essays" by Magnum's photographers.’

http://www.bjp-online.com/british-j...43/magnum-photos-partners-leica#ixzz1EtzcO8zM


Some equally interesting responses from readers, “The m9 looks like a real camera, but it isn't. Digital is the way back into the cave; of cheap, mass-produced crap. No one can fault Magnum here, they've been sell-outs for decades. But Leica, come on. A blatant marketing ploy.”

Can't agree with the statement that digital is the way back into the cave for photojournalism. Trying to ship film out of war zones in the hope that some publication will still be interested in last week's news is sort of living in the past.

 

[healyzh]

I'd switched to strictly digital around 2003 (I think I got my first digital around '98), but in the last three years have gotten to the point where I'm shooting mostly film. That's a personal choice. For most people the right choice is digital. For me sometimes it's a question of the look I want, others the subject I'm shooting, or how the result will be used. Other times it can be as silly as the mood I'm in.

For something like photojournalism, it's hard to argue in favor of film.

 

[charjohncarter]

Trying to ship film out of war zones in the hope that some publication will still be interested in last week's news is sort of living in the past.

How about just trying to get film out of Mexico or Europe (or vice versa).

 

[PKR]

While I haven’t worked as a Photojournalist in a long time (I wandered of the reservation), I certainly recognize Digital Photography’s ability to meet the needs of immediacy demanded in Web Based Media.

In my work, I’ve been involved in scenarios where an east coast ad agency will send a team west with the AD on line with the Creative Director’s Team during the entire shoot. The working environment was sent live video, along with downsized captures as they came out of the capture rig.

This same AD went on-and-on in a phone conversation (we were in the can in adjacent stalls) about going to Paris to shoot with a photographer who was using 8 x 10 film for fashion work (Penn, Avedon?). He was so excited to have found this guy, who’s day rate was in the Albert Watson range, that he couldn’t contain himself.

When film is used for work related projects, working in a city with a Lab, scans are sent to the client daily or weekly. Most photographers travel (if this is necessary) with a scanner and a computer. If it’s agency work, the AD’s team will rent a scanner and computer for their work, if something beyond a laptop and photographer provided scans wouldn’t do.

As for Leica and Magnum, it’s just business and survival. The world has changed (for the better?) since the days of Gene Smith, HCB and Penn, for that matter.

If I had my choice of a time period for picture work it would be the 70s & 80s. It was more fun, I had more freedom and the money was better.

I should add that all of my "work"- work in the last 5 years has been digital. All of my film use has been for personal work. I wouldn't consider doing any photojournalism based work with film alone. Digital capture would be the primary source of imagery. I still worry about the digital files survival-over-time issue.

 

[Chuck Albertson]

Can't agree with the statement that digital is the way back into the cave for photojournalism. Trying to ship film out of war zones in the hope that some publication will still be interested in last week's news is sort of living in the past.

True, but some things never change. With the Internet down in Libya this week, a lot of the photos and video that turned up on Western TV had to be burned onto a CD and then hustled across the desert to the nearest node, across the border in Egypt.

 

[pachuco]

How about just trying to get film out of Mexico or Europe (or vice versa).

Good point! I was just telling the folks at the Portlanf RFF meeting last night that I don't think I'll ever travel with copious amounts of film again. Within the USA, sure! Internationally? No way. No doubt it can be done but the truth is I'm a lazy traveler, the less I have to worry about the better. FWIW - I think the Magnum/Leica thing can't be anything but good. Then again, what do I know? 😎

 

[PKR]

True, but some things never change. With the Internet down in Libya this week, a lot of the photos and video that turned up on Western TV had to be burned onto a CD and then hustled across the desert to the nearest node, across the border in Egypt.

You would think some news service would have a guy in country with a Sat Up-link. They are common at off-shore sporting events. No one near the border with a T3? It makes me wonder about how much progress we've made. The way the Solar Cycle is going, we may not have any satellites functional.

No net = no cell calls + no texting or maybe no mains power if we have a Carrington Event.

We had a M3 CME this week, for those who know about this stuff.
http://spaceweather.com/

 

[Harry Lime]

Does this mean that we will now get a weather sealed M-body with a buffer of a reasonable size?

Maybe even an X1 with a real viewfinder?

Happy days are here again?