The New Cruelty

[Sonnar Brian]

At least to me, this does seem like the ultimate gear-oriented exercise that a photographer can do. Force themselves to "see" the world as the one piece of gear that they have decided to use for the exercise. Some might argue that it will be liberating from the multitude of gear that they have accumulated. I've been more organizing gear into "kits" for particular types of photography. Sometimes you see something that you want a photograph of, and you want the best possible choice to capture that image.

I doubt anyone would select an Olympus EP2 with 300/4.5 Nikkor-H for one camera, one lens, one year.
But I could grab it quickly for this shot. Handheld at 1/200th, no time for a tripod.
The "deer Family" made a brief appearance in the backyard when I got home from work. Just enough time to grab the camera, get some shots. The long lens meant they did not get spooked. The shot made with an I-50 is not nearly as imressive. But again- a lot of people to not care for nature shots.

 

[shadowfox]

The real question I'm facing is this: what if my "new" M6 TTL/LHSA is experiencing trouble with its shutter release? THEN WHAT!

If that's your real question, then maybe you need to ponder this:

What is your goal in doing this? To gain more understanding about your photography (the internet guru sez) or to test your equipment?

*If* your M6 breaks, pick up a $30 Zorki and continue with the project 😀

 

[Roger Hicks]

jeez man, i really don't get the effort folks put into 'sharing' their opinion on something they apparently have no interest in, or in most cases disagree with?

it's an exercise Roger, not a tenet. it has nothing to do with not being able to choose the 'right' gear or any of my (many) problems. it's about trying something i have never done before. a new experience and when it comes to experiences my motto is more is more!

Why do they/I do it? For exactly the same reason that others make the effort to 'share' their opinion (why the quotation marks?) that it's a good idea...

It's easy to be carried along on a tide of enthusiasm, even for totally silly ideas: we've all done it, and I wasn't thinking of specifically photographic ideas: a lot of politics relies on people failing to think hard about whether something will be a good idea for them personally, or for society as a whole.

If something suits you, it suits you: great. But if EVERYONE is saying what a wonderful idea it is, you might be swayed into accepting a bad idea too. The herd instinct in humans is surprisngly strong.

Cheers,

R.

 

[bigeye]

How hot can you get about a training exercise?

This method has been used by artists and craftsmen for eons. Apprentices paint or carve using only a limited set of tools on limited subjects until expert, then they advance to another tool. You might question the duration required to attain competence or the target level of competence, itself, but that depends on the student, etc.

It would be silly to suggest this traditional method to a professional, unless you've fundamentally broken down (e.g. Tiger Woods).

Cheers,

- Charlie

 

[maggieo]

Good point, Charlie- I think that's something that gets lost in all the talk about that article: this is a training exercise for a beginning photographer. It's not a way of life or suitable for people who are being paid to deliver a large number of photographs in a timely manner. It's for someone who is just starting out and wants to get better, faster.

 

[John Lawrence]

this is a training exercise for a beginning photographer.

Like sticking to one film until you've absolutely mastered it, or shot 100+ rolls?

John

 

[emraphoto]

well as a perpetually 'beginning' photographer i am relishing the thought of it!

 

[emraphoto]

Why do they/I do it? For exactly the same reason that others make the effort to 'share' their opinion (why the quotation marks?) that it's a good idea...

It's easy to be carried along on a tide of enthusiasm, even for totally silly ideas: we've all done it, and I wasn't thinking of specifically photographic ideas: a lot of politics relies on people failing to think hard about whether something will be a good idea for them personally, or for society as a whole.

If something suits you, it suits you: great. But if EVERYONE is saying what a wonderful idea it is, you might be swayed into accepting a bad idea too. The herd instinct in humans is surprisngly strong.

Cheers,

R.

so far the count is less than 5 on this particular forum. i am unsure the herd part has come to play yet.

 

[back alley]

so far the count is less than 5 on this particular forum. i am unsure the herd part has come to play yet.

now, THAT'S funny!!

made me laugh anyway...

 

[John Lawrence]

so far the count is less than 5 on this particular forum. i am unsure the herd part has come to play yet.

...... Depends on the size of the herd!

John

 

[semilog]

I thought I had included the citation. Refer to the final post of this thread:

http://photo.net/portraits-and-fashion-photography-forum/006H11?start=10

It still may be considered hearsay, but it also is strongly suggestive to me of Harvey's images, at least for his Cuba book.

Thanks for that. It rings true.

 

[ampguy]

yes, but later

yes, but later

'05 or so, he moved on to Nikon DSLRs and the 18-70 kit zoom.

I thought I had included the citation. Refer to the final post of this thread:

http://photo.net/portraits-and-fashion-photography-forum/006H11?start=10

It still may be considered hearsay, but it also is strongly suggestive to me of Harvey's images, at least for his Cuba book.

 

[maggieo]

well as a perpetually 'beginning' photographer i am relishing the thought of it!

Beginner's Mind, Buddha Mind.

 

[BUTLER]

Some strange providence. The M6 TTL LHSA I got from KEH was indeed a little wonky. Top plate was loose, one visible ding, and the shutter release failed to fire once or twice per roll. The camera either took a fall or was struck by something - apparently once because otherwise it was pristine (looking).

Alas, I returned it. Contemplating a used purchase at a local camera shop when, to my surprise, my M7 returned from its trips to NJ & Solms (it had been out for repair since November '09).

Film counter repaired. New logo-less black paint top cover. MP-style rewind. CLA'd - totally adjusted and lubed and looking sweet and stealth. Just in time for this photo exercise, just as the M6 craps out and goes back to KEH for a refund.

Love the timing.

 

[back alley]

since November '09...

holy bat crap robin!

 

[BUTLER]

since November '09...

holy bat crap robin!

You ain't kiddin'! It's been so long that when I saw the slip from UPS on my door, it was the last thing I suspected.

So happy to finally have it back.

 

[Roberto V.]

now i go out with an iphone, headphones, 1 camera and 1 lens.

Same here, I usually go out with my Contaflex, with its tiny fixed tessar lens, and I just love the pictures I get from it. The DSLR, the big zoom lenses and the speedlights usually stay at home.
I started photography two years ago with one body and one lens so it's not hard for me to stick to that, but it's good to have other options too.

 

[RichL]

BUTLER I'm in.
I'm expecting my camera any day now so for the next year it will be an Ikonta 524/16, 75mm f 3.5 lens and Delta 100 film.

I may even go with the PAW (picture a week) idea.

 

[semilog]

I'm sort-of in, and have been for about 3 months, since I got the 35/2.8 Biogon-C. It's on an M6 0.85 classic.

But I just retrieved my old 85/2 AIS and Nikkormat FT2 from my mom's house. I haven't used that gear for a decade, and it's just going to be impossible to not use that camera and lens some of the time. I expect to use the 35 90% of the time.

I'll stick to 4 films and one developer. ACROS whenever feasible. But I live in Seattle, so it's often too dark for that. Neopan 400 or 2TMY (bulk-loaded) when ACROS is too slow. I have a pile of 2TMY and NP400 in the freezer, so I'll use both. Neopan 1600 for the dark. I'd exclusively shoot ACROS and NP1600, but at $5/roll, NP1600 is just too pricey to use when the speed is not really needed.

XTOL 1:1 for development of the fast films, always, and for the ACROS, usually. Rodinal 1:50 for the ACROS once in awhile, perhaps.

 

[raid]

Well, then I will try to use my many "knives" to do photography, Roger.