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| Re: On the tight rope [message #229 is a reply to message #84 ] |
Thu, 14 April 2005 18:25   |
 Maler, Tom
Messages: 3
Registered: April 2005 |
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07:57pm Jul 16, 2000
Reading Pedro's July essay, I certainly share his excitement about all the changes taking place in Mexican politics and in digital photography in parallel. Other changes such as the exploding world population, global warming, pollution of the air and waters of the world and general plundering of our resources are a bit less exciting, nonetheless equally unstoppable?
What 's the purpose of my ranting and raving here?
Pedro mentioned the digital cameras being sold alongside of home and electronic appliances. I would indeed welcome that, in spite of the fact that most of the salespeople don't have a clue as to what they are selling. I have found one very disturbing anomaly to this trend. It has to do with what I perceive as some kind of a bizarre conspiracy Nikon Canada has with a couple of major photographic stores in Toronto.
I have had Nikon Coolpix 990 on order from Merisel Canada now for over 2 months and apparently, I will newer get it from them, since Nikon Canada is not interested in selling their cameras to anybody, but the biggest photographic retails stores. The fact that our clients may need a digital camera means nothing to Nikon Canada - they don't understand and don't care that digital cameras are now sold and used by a variety of businesses as well as by many consumers. Their cameras are selling well for now and therefore they can afford to be extrememly arrogant.
This situation is fortunately not as bad with other digital camera manufacturers.
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| Re: On the tight rope [message #230 is a reply to message #84 ] |
Thu, 14 April 2005 18:28 |
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08:45am Jul 17, 2000
Dear Pedro,
I was in Ethiopia photographing a group of Israeli doctors working in some
distant villages. I had my Elura and other standard cameras. The digital
option seemed to offer too much choice. It was difficult trying to be a b&w
oldtimer and a CNN reporter all in one. At one point a monkey hopped in among
the patients waiting to be seen and in my excitement the camera slipped and
broke. It was heaven sent. I could now concentrate on my 20 year old Contax
with the fast b&w film in order to bring home the images through good old
simple compositions mixed with utmost drama.
As for the digital... film+still, color +b&w options, I'm still at it now that
the camera has been repaired. It is improving my appreciation of the color
option, but to date my greatest satisfaction is when I operate it as a b&w
still camera. I am about to purchase an Adobe Premiere program and we'll see
if the editing option makes the movie mode more appealing.
It is good to get your editorials.
All the best,
Joel
[Updated on: Thu, 14 April 2005 18:30]
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| Re: On the tight rope [message #231 is a reply to message #84 ] |
Thu, 14 April 2005 18:30 |
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07:16pm Aug 22, 2000
Hello Pedro:
It has been sometime since I have written my opinion on your forum. I have been reading your magazine and always find it interesting and mind challenging. I truly respect your staff. I have not written because I have made two relocations across this country. The
last time I wrote was in Street Photography and No Way Like the American Way when I was living in Birmingham Alabama. I moved to Mobile and now live in New Mexico.
I do believe that digital photography has a place but not in professional photography unless it is obvious, such as in the case of commercials. People realize when watching these advertisements that cars can't fly and roads don't change from country to race track.
I have considered purchasing an inexpensive digital camera, around $200.00, for use on the Internet when my friends ask what the weather is like or how bad the storm is or perhaps what I look like now since I haven't had my hair cut in two years. Actually I look pretty good. However, to consider this a professional camera is obscene.
I have read to many magazine advertisements that promote the digital experience as something for the novice looking to become a great photographer with offerings of high tech software and equipment. The facts are still the same as the last time I wrote, it takes skill and talent to be a really good pro photographer and not a software jockey.
When a person uses these so called advances he or she is not using their own skill but the skill of the computer and software engineers. These people are using the engineers hard earned degree, skill and talent and trying to make it their own, which to me is just a big lie.
I remember reading your reply to one of the forums saying that Ansel Adams manipulated his work just as computer jockeys do, but there is a stark difference. It took great time, effort, skill, determination and a clear mind for Ansel Adams to reach his goal using chemicals. And I might ad that it took a great deal more intelligence to balance chemicals for the wanted effect than it does to click a mouse and move a simulated dial or lever to make the change.
We as a people, in order to accept change, use every excuse to justify what we do. I cannot imagine any of the great photographers of the past who used chemicals to achieve their goals, make any excuses. They just did it.
If you have to justify the use of digital then there is something wrong. Well that is my opinion anyway and of course just as I disagree with the digital world I am sure that someone will disagree with me. But that is life and people are people, or are they. That
might be an interesting topic for your next editorial.
Just one other note. I use to work for Konica in their graphic imaging division as an instrumentation and control technician making film. So I know what goes into the production of this product. As a photographer and former technician I can tell you I highly respect Kodak and that is the only film I use. I switched from Royal Gold to Portra and use it exclusively. I also have a Canon 1N RS and the combination is unbeatable. I supposed I will now catch heat from Nikon owners. LOL
Hope all is well with you.
Bill Griffin
Griffin Freelance Photography
PO Box 66390
Albuquerque, NM 87193
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On the tight rope
