Over thinking equipment

[jsrockit]

Yeah, he was generally happy with his Leica glass.

As far as equipment goes, here is an excerpt from one of his interviews for The Leica Camera Blog:

Sorry to burst the romantic bubble.

BTW, I think his photographs are exceptional.

No romanticism, but the level of his photos shows that he cared more about framing and content than technical concerns. Of course he's an old man so he has plenty of equipment from his career. The point still remains that his photos clearly show he was not obsessed with technical concerns even though he used good equipment and had a lot of it.

 

[Huss]

Yeah, he was generally happy with his Leica glass.

As far as equipment goes, here is an excerpt from one of his interviews for The Leica Camera Blog:

Sorry to burst the romantic bubble.

BTW, I think his photographs are exceptional.

Le sigh. Read the first entry again...

You are fixating on the gear. Fixate on the image.

 

[ptpdprinter]

Actually, I am fixated on the romance and myth that grows up around certain photographers and their work habits. It natural that we do this with our idols.

 

[Lux Optima]

Thanks for the link! Great site and excellent photos!

 

[PKR]

Yes, this is a typical trapping of the internet age...sad. I swear some people only buy equipment to test.

John, one of the biggest problems I've had with photography, post my simple film cameras (most all the same model), is having to deal with changing camera systems, owning different camera systems (necessary for my work).. just having to think about my tools before considering an image at times. This is driven home every time I go out with an F3, a couple of primes and a few rolls of film in my pocket.

 

[PKR]

If I remember correctly, Elliott Erwin used a Leica camera so it's not like he was using crap equipment. He bought the best available at the time. It's easy not to worry about equipment when you already own the top of the line. Perhaps everyone should follow his lead.

In years past, I used to compete with Erwitt for Annual Report work. He used Canon F1s (and later models) and had primes from 17 or 20 to 200. He didn't use motors. He most always packed a M3 with a 50 for b+w shots. I was young, he was old. His day rate was 5 times mine. These jobs weren't about photography cost for the client. They were about photo art. I most often lost to him if he was being considered. We all used about the same range of lenses and number of cameras. Elliott had tungsten lamps stashed in storage areas all over the world, so he wouldn't have to lug them on airplanes during all flight legs. Most of us used portable flash, and lugged our stuff.

 

[charjohncarter]

John, one of the biggest problems I've had with photography, post my simple film cameras (most all the same model), is having to deal with changing camera systems, owning different camera systems (necessary for my work).. just having to think about my tools before considering an image at times. This is driven home every time I go out with an F3, a couple of primes and a few rolls of film in my pocket.

Now that is not an unintelligent statement. I still feel most comfortable with my Leica IIIf (53 years now) and my Pentax Spotmatic (48 years now), they don't require me to look at anything I focus without thinking, and with the Spotmatic, I focus, adjust exposure (whether aperture or shutter) again without thinking.

 

[PKR]

Now that is not an unintelligent statement. I still feel most comfortable with my Leica IIIf (53 years now) and my Pentax Spotmatic (48 years now), they don't require me to look at anything I focus without thinking, and with the Spotmatic, I focus, adjust exposure (whether aperture or shutter) again without thinking.

You would think with all the automated (the camera does all the thinking) digital crap, photography would be simpler. I spend a lot of time turning features on or off with digitals. I use auto focus much of the time, because expensive (Nikon) lenses have sloppy manual focus systems. Also, I never liked zoom lenses. But, with modern digitals, we must embrace the zoom. I'm often using a camera that takes two hands to get the thing to my eye. Thank the photo god for Fuji X.

I remember reading, HCB talking about camera operation being like driving a car. You get in and drive, not thinking about the car. Second nature, etc. Working with digital gear seems like NASA Pre Flight, much of the time.

I could go on.. rant over.

 

[aizan]

the only downside is that there are no real online communities that talk about the art and business aspects of photography.

people don't learn about this stuff online because of the secretiveness of photographers' artistic and business practices. it is all done in meatspace where information can be controlled more easily. this is the largest barrier to having good discussions about these subjects on the interwebs.

 

[farlymac]

You would think with all the automated (the camera does all the thinking) digital crap, photography would be simpler. I spend a lot of time turning features on or off with digitals. I use auto focus much of the time, because expensive (Nikon) lenses have sloppy manual focus systems. Also, I never liked zoom lenses. But, with modern digitals, we must embrace the zoom. I'm often using a camera that takes two hands to get the thing to my eye. Thank the photo god for Fuji X.

I remember reading, HCB talking about camera operation being like driving a car. You, get in and drive, not thinking about the car. Second nature, etc. Working with digital gear seems like NASA Pre Flight, much of the time.

I could go on.. rant over.

That's it in a nutshell! I went to use the movie feature on my D300s a short while back, and couldn't remember the proper sequence to get it going, or what button to push. And I'd read the manual specifically to learn how to do it. But since it is not a feature I use much, it has to be learned again and again. Or I need to program on of the Function buttons, which I'll hit at the most inopportune moment.

PF

 

[ptpdprinter]

I use my digital camera like I use my film camera, so I just set the items in menu when I got the camera, and have little reason to go back in and futz with them, but then I don't ask my camera do much more than take pictures. Just because the camera manufacturer endowed the camera with 101 features, doesn't mean you have to use them.

 

[PKR]

I use my digital camera like I use my film camera, so I just set the items in menu when I got the camera, and have little reason to go back in and futz with them, but then I don't ask my camera do much more than take pictures. Just because the camera manufacturer endowed the camera with 101 features, doesn't mean you have to use them.

I'm often in the menu because I bumped a button and need to restore the camera to before the bump state. There is no option to turn all but the shutter button off in my cameras.

Maybe it's just me? But, my assistant is 20 years younger (better hand eye control?) than me and, she does it too.

 

[roscoetuff]

Digital has it place(s), but I go through menus once and record the set-up in a spreadsheet - for ALL MANUAL ALL the TIME. I hate grinding when I don't know or don't want what it thinks it's doing to try to be helpful. And yes, either you "bump" something or the battery dies and the CMOS forgets. Spreadsheet to the rescue 'cause it forces you to memorize what you need to do to retain control where you want it, what you need to let th computer help, etc.

But mostly... film is more fun, humbling, and magical in a physical way that a guy who does digital binary stuff all day really, really appreciates as a change in a way of thinking.

 

[David Hughes]

Hmmm, well I think that until the mid 90's cameras were designed by photographers working with engineers who would make the things. They had a bit of electronics in them but the designers said what they wanted and the result was still a photographer's camera.

Then digital started to become mainstream and the computer designers took over, forgetting than sitting at a desk tapping keys etc is totally different from taking a picture under fire in a muddy field. So, like you know who we get everything built in but the kitchen sink and games of solitaire in the so called cameras.

There have been one or two diehards still making digital cameras for photographers and just lately I think things have improved but...

Regards, David

 

[Brian Atherton]

A persistent gripe of mine with digital is that I can’t delete or move to a dedicated folder applications or menu options that I don’t either want or need.

 

[Dogman]

The first thing I do with a new camera is turn off a whole mess of features I have no use for. Do other photographers actually use all these features or are they there only so camera reviewers can write about them?

I learned you can lock some of the back buttons on Fuji cameras and prevent inadvertently pushing them. But then when I need to use the buttons I don't remember locking them and it takes me a moment to recall it and then remember how to unlock them. But, overall, I'm very happy with Fuji and how the cameras operate.

Concerning Elliott Erwitt media, I have a considerable number of photo books by him, collected over many years. All are worth finding and studying. A search on Amazon.com would be a good place to start. There was one paperback magazine sized book published in the early 1970's by Peterson Photographic that detailed his working methods at the time. Those methods and equipment have, of course, changed over time.

 

[MCTuomey]

the only downside is that there are no real online communities that talk about the art and business aspects of photography.

Agree

Re the link and photos - incredible, beautiful, vibrant. I think of orishas, clave, living drums ...

Gear? He used what he needed, so wisely that it's transparent.

 

[PKR]

the only downside is that there are no real online communities that talk about the art and business aspects of photography.

people don't learn about this stuff online because of the secretiveness of photographers' artistic and business practices. it is all done in meatspace where information can be controlled more easily. this is the largest barrier to having good discussions about these subjects on the interwebs.

You're right. We do hold secret meetings, in very remote locations. They are held 4 times a year, usually on a weekend when there's a new moon. Cryptic messages arrive in the mail from groups like the APA and ASMP as to the time and place.

I'm not allowed to discuss much about this stuff but, I can tell you when we meet, we don't discuss camera gear. If you want to learn more about all the secret stuff, I suggest you assist for a really good professional photographer for a couple of years. It's part of the initiation right. It's what I did. I worked for a couple... but I can't tell you what I learned.. it's a secret.

 

[aizan]

hehehe, you know i don't mean it that way. i'm talking about how people are protective of personal issues like money and their creativity.

 

[PKR]

hehehe, you know i don't mean it that way. i'm talking about how people are protective of personal issues like money and their creativity.

Ask, and I'll tell you what I know, if I'm comfortable with it.