worth a read... we are all photographic wimps!!

[kevinparis]

really... megapixels and dslr v mirrorless all pale in to insignificance.... its all about the photographer

next time you whinge about unsharpness in the corner and LR/Aperture not supporting your latest and greatest camera.... think about this guy who was in the first wave of D-day, shot over a hundred shots, found his way back to a boat to england 90 minutes later, dropped off the film , had it screwed up by a overzealous lab tech and headed back to where the action was

Robert Capa... not your average photographer

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/06/photographer-robert-capa-d-day

K

 

[OzRay]

Yes, we do seem to fuss over so much minutia nowadays.

 

[OzRay]

This may also provide an interesting foil to the other article: http://theonlinephotographer.typepa...camera-used-by-939-of-news-photographers.html.

 

[kevinparis]

haha... that so reads like a last ditch attempt by SpeedGraphic to stem the tide of those pesky small frame 6x6 rolifexes...not to mention the tiny 35mm film format... seriously how can you take a proper picture with such a small sensor

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/plus_ça_change,_plus_c'est_la_même_chose

K

 

[OzRay]

It's kind of funny though, no matter what the era, there will always be those that seem to think that you have to have the latest and greatest in order to produce professional results. I don't deny that the advances have been beneficial, but I think those that benefit most from those advances, have trained themselves to work effectively and efficiently with far lesser equipment. The advances are not a panacea for poor skills, though they may hide them to some extent.

 

[kevinparis]

It's kind of funny though, no matter what the era, there will always be those that seem to think that you have to have the latest and greatest in order to produce professional results. I don't deny that the advances have been beneficial, but I think those that benefit most from those advances, have trained themselves to work effectively and efficiently with far lesser equipment. The advances are not a panacea for poor skills, though they may hide them to some extent.

I am in total agreement there... though there is the counter argument that if we didn't have all these neophytes chasing the light like moths, then the camera makers wouldn't have the funds to make cameras for the rest of us

K

 

[OzRay]

I am in total agreement there... though there is the counter argument that if we didn't have all these neophytes chasing the light like moths, then the camera makers wouldn't have the funds to make cameras for the rest of us

K

Yes, I think that's true in part. I kind of relate camera technology somewhat to car technology, where we now have better engines, vehicle dynamics, control systems etc; yet all of those won't make a poor driver into a competent or a safe driver. Those that can make the most of the advances, will benefit hugely, while the dreamers generally have no idea what it all means. Technologies such as ABS, ECS etc will help these poor drivers from going into a ditch, but it won't teach them why they were about to go into the ditch in the first place.

A lot of noise is made on forums about cameras like the D4 and how having one seemingly delivers results that no lesser camera can emulate, within its intended functional area. It's as if there's no requirement for any specialist photographic or subject knowledge in order to get results if you have one of these cameras. So when the D5 arrives, the D4 is immediately decreed obsolete and incapable of producing worthwhile results. And so the cycle resumes. Meanwhile, some poor bastard with a D2H is still plugging away and happy as a pig in the proverbial.

 

[pdk42]

I am in total agreement there... though there is the counter argument that if we didn't have all these neophytes chasing the light like moths, then the camera makers wouldn't have the funds to make cameras for the rest of us

K

That's absolutely true Kevin - but we shouldn't get too superior about people's interest in gear. Photography is just a hobby for most of us and as far as I'm concerned if chasing the latest gear rocks your boat then carry on. As you say, it drives innovation in the market.

 

[GFFPhoto]

I love those magnum guys, but you probably don't need the qualifier "photographic" in the title if you link an article about Robert Capa.

 

[OzRay]

One day I came across a photographer pulling gear from the back of his car as I was going to my car from a football game and he asked me where the game was. I gave him directions and he carefully explained that he was shooting for Getty. To this day, when I think about it, I still can't come up with an appropriate response that would subtly indicate my absolute awe at meeting a 'Getty photographer'.