RE: My contribution to the forum.

[Alan Zinn <azinn@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At 03:20 PM 2/24/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>I don't just complain. I just don't like bickering between people through a
>public medium. I agree and disagree with the statement that one's work has
>nothign to do with one's personality. Agree that he/she can still shoot great
>photos. But disagree as far as the pratical end of it. As a former photo
>editor, I never used people again who were a pain in the butt, who were
>terribly arrogant, etc. 
>
>I have talked about panoramic topics, about my cameras, etc.
>
>I shoot with Linhof 617, homemade 6x18 (using B/J & Navy Torpedo parts), and
>very wide angle cameras, such as Brooks Plaubel 100 VW.
>
>I have had a range of  swing lenses, but really did not like the distortions,
>so sold them all.
>
>I mostly shoot nature, but from a very individual, unique perspective, which I
>call tunnel vision. Hard to explain. 
>
>Here's something to discuss: many photographers say light is everything. To me
>composition is everything. And every kind of light evokes a certain approach
>to compostion. In other words. Almost every scene has its ideal composition
>under a certain unique and ideal light, that may come around only once a day,
>or even less frequent. Thus, there is never a bad time to photograph. Whether
>it rains, whether the skies are just gray, there's sunset, whatever. There's
>always something that looks unique in that condition of light. 
>

Civility at last!

I am interested in your enthusiasm for composition particularly since it is
so difficult to achieve with very long pictures. I wonder if we all can
agree on the definition of composition? I get the impression from most that
it is essentially an agreeable balance of form. Is that necessary? I
understand the requirement for controlling the organization of an image in
some manner but I wonder about classical "renaissance" composition. I do
mostly 180+ panoramas. There is no reason to make traditional composition an
issue with most of these pictures. It IS tough not to sometimes because we
are so conditioned by it. 

My point is that not having a conventionally "composed" picture is just
fine. I encourage people to view images as maps or scrolls. Also I do not
view the sine wave effect produced by rotating cameras as "distortion"  -
it's not PC.  They are curvilinearly enhanced <>!

regards,
AZ


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