swoop
Well-known
Since my 5D mk2 was stolen from my car, I've been working exclusively with the M9.
swoop
Well-known
swoop
Well-known
filmfan
Well-known
First, I would like to express my condolences on the stolen camera. Terrible news.
I like a few of these photos. However, a lot of them look very much like snap-shots. A point and shoot camera would do you just fine for photos like these. Looks like you need to get closer. Just some friendly critique. I am guilty of the same thing quite often as well and since I value critique very much, I thought I would reciprocate.
I like a few of these photos. However, a lot of them look very much like snap-shots. A point and shoot camera would do you just fine for photos like these. Looks like you need to get closer. Just some friendly critique. I am guilty of the same thing quite often as well and since I value critique very much, I thought I would reciprocate.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Um, Swoop is a professional journalist who works for a large daily in NYC. He probably doesn't need to join the NPPA and look for inspiration there.
I think what he's showing us that the M9 is a capable tool for daily reportage at a serious publication, unlike the opinions of most naysayers.
He had most of his equipment stolen and is now making due with a great camera for his job. He's doing a good job at it too.
Phil Forrest
I think what he's showing us that the M9 is a capable tool for daily reportage at a serious publication, unlike the opinions of most naysayers.
He had most of his equipment stolen and is now making due with a great camera for his job. He's doing a good job at it too.
Phil Forrest
filmfan
Well-known
Most of these photos clearly lack many things. I don't care who his employer is. These look like my uncle Larry took them. Sorry, but no one ever accused me of not being honest, and I think it's for the best here.
[Edit: I hope the poster recognizes the value of critique and does not take this as anything personal]
Any camera is a capable tool in the right hands.
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emdubya
Member
Umm, about that "critique"
Umm, about that "critique"
dude, if you want people to see this as a critique, rather than the broadside it clearly is, you should need to offer something more insightful than it "looks like my uncle Larry took them."
Umm, about that "critique"
Most of these photos clearly lack many things. I don't care who his employer is. These look like my uncle Larry took them. Sorry, but no one ever accused me of not being honest, and I think it's for the best here.
[Edit: I hope the poster recognizes the value of critique and does not take this as anything personal]
Any camera is a capable tool in the right hands.
dude, if you want people to see this as a critique, rather than the broadside it clearly is, you should need to offer something more insightful than it "looks like my uncle Larry took them."
Particular
a.k.a. CNNY, disassembler
Wow, you've been all around town with that thing. It sure isn't collecting dust. What time span do these images represent?
To the critics, I would challenge anyone to rush around to this many locations and return with something decent from each one.
To the critics, I would challenge anyone to rush around to this many locations and return with something decent from each one.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Doing news photography is largely just going out and getting a shot, getting back to the desk & handing it off to an editor. Editors don't like artsy shots. How many truly compelling shots have you seen in a newspaper recently? The photos are there to add a visual dimension to the story, not to be art. Long form photojournalism can have compelling more artistic photos while daily news is largely snapshots or photos like snapshots. There is a difference between news reportage photography for a job and the compelling documentary style that people love. In a nutshell, a lot of news photos are boring but they are there to add context and another dimension.
Yes, any camera is capable in the right hands but the buzz in the news industry for the last 40 years is that to get work done you need a good SLR. If it were different, the Nikon F wouldn't have taken over and put rangefinders in a place of novelty, backup or long-form documentary at best. That's probably more-so today in our gear-oriented competitive world. And for some journalism, the rangefinder doesn't cut it. Can't get closer than .7 meters, can't use a lens longer than 135mm. This range accounts for most shots, but sometimes you need something different. Most working pro news photographers who have their own gear only own one system and that's usually Canon or Nikon due to the utility and ubiquity of the systems.
Phil Forrest
Yes, any camera is capable in the right hands but the buzz in the news industry for the last 40 years is that to get work done you need a good SLR. If it were different, the Nikon F wouldn't have taken over and put rangefinders in a place of novelty, backup or long-form documentary at best. That's probably more-so today in our gear-oriented competitive world. And for some journalism, the rangefinder doesn't cut it. Can't get closer than .7 meters, can't use a lens longer than 135mm. This range accounts for most shots, but sometimes you need something different. Most working pro news photographers who have their own gear only own one system and that's usually Canon or Nikon due to the utility and ubiquity of the systems.
Phil Forrest
emdubya
Member
P.S. I should add: there's definitely some nice shots here! I love the surfers coming out of the water; the guy sitting in the queue; the front of the off-track betting shop; the cop graduation? awards ceremony?; the crime scene with the cruiser out front; the guys comparing their betting stubs. I would have used any of the aforementioned in my paper back when I was an editor. And if you spelled your captions correctly, I would have given you a raise!
filmfan
Well-known
dude, if you want people to see this as a critique, rather than the broadside it clearly is, you should need to offer something more insightful than it "looks like my uncle Larry took them."
Please see my first post. [It's okay, can't win them all
]About the "broadside"... I believe that harsh words can be very helpful when appropriate.
This is good to know and I appreciate you clearing it up. I guess my real point was about the fact that, although the camera was stolen, any camera could take these shots so he should not fret about the loss of the 5D.
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back alley
IMAGES
love the garage shot!
emdubya
Member
"Critique"
"Critique"
Dear filmfan: this is the sum of your "critique." I stand by my original comment.
"Critique"
Dear filmfan: this is the sum of your "critique." I stand by my original comment.
filmfan
Well-known
Dear filmfan: this is the sum of your "critique." I stand by my original comment.
You don't make sense
I apologize for the derailment of this thread.
emdubya
Member
mto'brien
Well-known
my faves are: Guy sitting in the line, three cops getting citations, merv's bakery, two surfer dudes, garage, the otb, umbrella guy, union guy with bike horn, fire house, sea gull... wow, i guess i like a bunch of them. i wish my local had some interesting eye candy like those. nice work swoop. sorry about your gear getting ripped.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
To Swoop
To Swoop
I like most of the shots. I think you've done great in lieu of gear theft and using a camera which is just different in the news field.
Did you find yourself using just one focal length? Did you change lenses much?
Phil Forrest
To Swoop
I like most of the shots. I think you've done great in lieu of gear theft and using a camera which is just different in the news field.
Did you find yourself using just one focal length? Did you change lenses much?
Phil Forrest
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
Either I have bad taste, or I think like swoop. Most of the photographs deserve a place in a wall to me. I may skip some of the buildings, but those photographs that include people look vibrant and intense. I can even hear their voices or, in the case of the girl at the mall, the musak.
Nice show of what you can do with your M9. No doubt you'd do just as well with a film Leica, Thanks for posting!
Nice show of what you can do with your M9. No doubt you'd do just as well with a film Leica, Thanks for posting!
skibeerr
Well-known
Guy sitting in the line! Great.
Spyro
Well-known
Ι like the garage sign shot and the cops (?) ceremony. I absolutely hate the high iso ones and the colours generally look a bit washed out. Look at that santa uniform, it has lilac patches on it.
edit: ooops sorry, I assumed you were after some comments
edit: ooops sorry, I assumed you were after some comments
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