RFF Featured Photos

[Dave H]

Is there a trend developing in the RFF Featured Photo ?, (or should I say “Still Life and Landscape Forum Featured Photo”). Forgive my ignorance because I only know of the last three photos chosen, (wagon wheel, lake scene and the current, rocking chair).

I’m not attacking any of the photographers involved because I think the photos chosen are excellent, but, to I’d like to quote the caption with these photos “artistic and creative view captured on film with a rangefinder camera”. These are no doubt artistic and creative views, but to me at least they seem to show no connection to the Rangefinder Camera at all and have more in common with the Medium Format SLR or LF Camera.

Before you all flame alive and spread my ashes to the four winds please read Essay 11, which won the recent competition here on RFF bearing in mind the point I’m making here. I believe that on a rangefinder forum the “showcase” photos should say to any viewers, “ Wow, forget all that SLR and tripod crap, I’m off to get me one of those dinky Rangefinders and live a bit”.

Dave.

 

[zuikologist]

The photo of the beggar a week or two back was excellent.

 

[Dave H]

Ahh, sorry forgot about the begger. I've tried to find an archieve of all these featured photos, but, I guess I'm just not looking hard enough, is there one ?

RF can be as versatile as any other camera but hey why buy a Ferrari to go and do the weekly shop.

 

[Toby]

The RF is a tool with certain advantages over other formats. Surely these advantages should be exemplified in the featured photo? I'm with Dave on this one

 

[RayPA]

No flaming here. I think you make a valid point, one I've thought about myself (I'm glad YOU're the one that brought it up, however! 😉 ). I think we've adopted some other camera types here that are close to the hearts of RFer's (like TLR's). So there is some forgiveness on that end.

But what makes a "rangefinder" photograph? The gallery is full of examples, and the images are not just street photography. They're everything. But I agree that the showcase photo, as a representative image, should attempt exactly what you suggest. It should be something that a rangefinder is best at capturing. Of the three or four, so far, IMO, Graksi's image of the beggar girl (however controversial) has come the closest.

🙂

 

[JoeFriday]

I agree and I disagree.. I think the Pheatured Foto isn't for us to show the world that we're special.. I think it's here to inspire each of us.. to show what can be done with a rangefinder and to open our eyes and minds to new ideas and new views

I'm not a big fan of still lifes or macros of flowers taken with a rangefinder.. but a good image is a good image, regardless of what camera it was taken with

that being said, I have a strong preference for candid street scenes, but we all need some variety or we'll end up living in Yosemite for 30 years, taking pictures of rocks and trees

 

[richard_l]

I came along before the SLR revolution, when 35mm was practically synonymous with rangefinder, and Leica rangefinders in particular were the cameras of choice for many National Geographic photographers, who used them for everything. Therefore I do not stereotype it as primarily a device for street photography. Among other things, the compactness of a rangefinder system make it ideal for taking into the backcountry, especially for those of us who are not quite as dedicated or as tough as Galen Rowell, who routinely lugged many pounds of 35mm Nikon SLR equipment, in addition to standard backpacking gear, into extremely remote areas.

Street shooting is a fine genre, of course, just not the only one for rangefinders.

Richard

 

[ray_g]

And let's not forget that Rangefinder describes the camera's viewing/focusing system, not the film used, ie, there are LF and MF rangefinders such as the Iskra Todd used for the "wagon wheel" photo.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I came along before the SLR revolution, when 35mm was practically synonymous with rangefinder, and Leica rangefinders in particular were the cameras of choice for many National Geographic photographers, who used them for everything. Therefore I do not stereotype it as primarily a device for street photography. Among other things, the compactness of a rangefinder system make it ideal for taking into the backcountry, especially for those of us who are not quite as dedicated or as tough as Galen Rowell, who routinely lugged many pounds of 35mm Nikon SLR equipment, in addition to standard backpacking gear, into extremely remote areas.

Street shooting is a fine genre, of course, just not the only one for rangefinders.

Richard

I agree that the RF can be used for any genre and with colour as well as B+W film. There seems to be a bias towards B+W and certain genres. The featured photos have been excellent so far but lets not get stuck in a rut.

Bob

 

[JoeFriday]

wagon wheel.. rut.. ha!

 

[Toby]

For me, RF photography is as much a sensibilty rather than a particular camera. I was drawn to RF because I inspired by cartier-bresson not ansel adams. I've attatched a couple of photos from my pre-rf days as an example - they're shot by a man who wants a leica but has a canon eos (colour) and a pentax 67 (b&w) 🙂

 

[Nikon Bob]

wagon wheel.. rut.. ha!

Good one.

Bob

 

[zuikologist]

Toby - both nice photos. You seem to have a talent regardless of the equipment used.

 

[richard_l]

So far there have been one street shot, two still lifes, and one architecture/landscape. Not a bad representation of the versatility of the rangefinder. Maybe it's time now for another street shot or two, and maybe a "pure" landscape, and an abstract, and definitely some color shots. But it's really up to Jorge and his preferences, isn't it?

Richard

 

[TPPhotog]

..... I was drawn to RF because I inspired by cartier-bresson not ansel adams .....

LMAO Yep with you on that one. If I had been exposed to the work of Adams before HCB I would never have gone near a camera of any description 😀

I agree it's Jorges choice and that's good enough for me. Lets just enjoy the featured picture for what it is and not what we might have chosen.

 

[Toby]

[QUOTE

I agree it's Jorges choice and that's good enough for me. Lets just enjoy the featured picture for what it is and not what we might have chosen.[/QUOTE]


I still think there's a valid discussion to be had about what RFF represents - A mission statement?? But perhaps those of us who shoot street photography should just work harder to catch the selectors eye 😀

 

[TPPhotog]

...But perhaps those of us who shoot street photography should just work harder to catch the selectors eye 😀

Yep as a street shooter myself I have graded myself as a must try harder to capture something special 😉

 

[Toby]

Other note to you all you snappers out there... never mind digital you'd think colour film hadn't been invented yet! (don't flame me I'm a main offender)

By the way Tony I like your "Plastic Classic" on the web site looks like a great "fun" camera

 

[TPPhotog]

Other note to you all you snappers out there... never mind digital you'd think colour film hadn't been invented yet! (don't flame me I'm a main offender)

By the way Tony I like your "Plastic Classic" on the web site looks like a great "fun" camera

Toby what's this colour film you mention? The only colour in my photography is the leather on my RFs 😀

Many thanks for the compliment and thank you also for your visit 😉

 

[TPPhotog]

And what of the folks who can't shoot street photos?
They don't qualify as legitimate RF users?....

You could always move to a friendlier State or even the UK 😀 LMAO

Oh my Gourd what did I say .... hey how about macro pictures? 😉