Noam Chomsky ... again!

raid

raid

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I will be again having a lunch meeting with Noam Chomsky in his MIT office. This time, I will try to get more photos of him.

Using the iPhone would let me take many photos without creating any interruptions to our discussions. It has AF, so all images will be sharp.

Using the M9 would be nice too. Maybe use the Biogon 35/2 with it?

Another good option is the E-PL1 for its 10x magnification viewer and IS.

I will give it a shot again! Few individuals get two chances with Noam Chomsky, especially since I am not a reporter, or a linguistics expert, or a political science professor or philosopher. I am jusr "Raid". 😀
 
Thanks for the support. I will have to time my interview with him. At minute=25, I need to start taking photos. I will have 30 minutes total.
Yes, the 35mm lens may be too wide for a portarit. I used last April a Summilux 35/1.4.
A killer portrait lens is the Zeiss Planar 85/1.4 on the E-PL1 from across the room.
 
Just what I thought. The I-phone is wide enough : a portrait lens is indicated.

Cheers and good luck. I wish I could meet Mr. Chomsky like that. (wiping drool out of my beard)
 
Thank you Lukitas. I may use the phone for quick snapshots, plus use the M9 with the 75mm Summilux or the E-PL1 with the 50mm/1.4 Planar (with a 100mm view).
 
Sometimes one has the opportunity to use portraits tell the truth about evil people. For instance, Arnold Newman's 1963 portrait of Krupp. I would suggest that Chomsky deserves an equivalent treatment. He reminds me of Mary McCarthy's famous remark about Lillian Hellman: "Every word she writes is a lie, including and and the."

It sounds like you may be a fan of Chomsky's, and if so, I would recommend reading two of Brad DeLong's essays: "My Allergic Reaction to Noam Chomsky" (1998), and "My Very, Very Allergic Reaction to Noam Chomsky" (2002). Brad DeLong is a professor of economics at UC Berkeley, and writes about economics, history and politics. He was an official in the Treasury Department in the Clinton administration, and is usually described as politically liberal and as a new-Keynesian economist.

http://delong.typepad.com/delong_long_form/1998/03/my-allergic-reaction-to-noam-chomsky.html

http://www.bradford-delong.com/brad...oam-chomsky-khmer-rouge-faurisson-milose.html

In any event, good luck with your portraits, whatever approach you take.

dsymes
 
Thanks for the opposite view of things. I am open minded. Actually, I am quite new to Chomsky's writings. I am in no position to judge people. People all over the world idolize Noam Chomsky. I am curious.
As for the views of Brad DeLong, he has his opinions. I recall the comments on my WWII camera that was used to document the locations where the A-bombs were dropped. Many members from Europe and from South America were outraged at the dropping of the bombs, while some others insisted on an opposite view of those events. I am discussing photography and not whether Noam Chomsky is a saint or is evil.
 
I'd favor the M9 with 75 lux (very much), but keep in mind you might have a 3rd party actually taking one or more of the photos. I find it difficult to explain the concept of rangefinder focus to most modern people. Moreover, they fully expect autofocus anyway. The solution? Well, at times I choose a small-ish aperture, set a high-ish ISO, zone focus ahead of time and tell the helpful person to "just push the button". ....or just hand that person the iPhone. They'll know what to do with that.
 
Thanks for the tip to use a small aperture and a high ISO setting. It certainly would work well, depending on the amount of light.
 
Let him know you are about photography sir. Then relax, chat, and casually get a few snaps with one unobtrusive unit with a fast 35 or 50. Don't forget to extend your gratitude to him for another meeting and maybe give him an invite to come to your turf sometime (then you can break out the teles). Who knows maybe he would like to talk cameras with you. My opinion. 🙂

The idea would be to get the snap that shows the truth of NC...you probably need more time with him to get there...good luck I hope it all plays out well.
 
I too envy your meeting with professor Chomsky. He is a a most interesting man intellectually and photographically.

P.S.

With all the cameras you've collected over the years I can't believe you don't have at least one button hole camera for candids 🙂
 
Contarama said:
Let him know you are about photography sir. Then relax, chat, and casually get a few snaps with one unobtrusive unit with a fast 35 or 50. Don't forget to extend your gratitude to him for another meeting and maybe give him an invite to come to your turf sometime (then you can break out the teles). Who knows maybe he would like to talk cameras with you. My opinion. 🙂

The idea would be to get the snap that shows the truth of NC...you probably need more time with him to get there...good luck I hope it all plays out well.
Click to expand...

I will inform him that I want to take some photos of him as we chat. Thanks.

Of course, I will thank him for allowing me to meet with him again this year.
 
RichL said:
I too envy your meeting with professor Chomsky. He is a a most interesting man intellectually and photographically.

P.S.

With all the cameras you've collected over the years I can't believe you don't have at least one button hole camera for candids 🙂
Click to expand...

The opinions and views of NC can be quite varied from person to person.
I have seen a video of one of his speeches, and he allowed lots of photography.

I have plenty of cameras and lenses to choose from.
 
Do you have to pay money to speak to him? He'd have to pay me to listen to his wacked out nonsense. Sorry but he's nothing to me but hype. He did put Buckley in his place but that ain't saying much.😀 Get some good shots Raid & enjoy.
 
Well, this thread is escalating quickly.

Raid- congrats on the opportunity, you are very fortunate to have the connections you do- a good mark of your character I'm sure 🙂 May I ask how you were able to get this meeting?

Personally, I'm a big fan of slightly-wide environmental portraits in situations such as this; an image with the 35mm wide-open showing the man in his office and the intimacy of your conversation would (IMHO) be striking image. Although you did mention already having used a 35mm on your last meeting so a short tele would mix things up. Regardless, I look forward to seeing the images you make 🙂
 
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