P3D Re: manual camera comment

[Project3D@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 03/08/98 21:16:43 GMT, Andrea S. Blair wrote:

>>>Tom Deering wrote (in part): ...I believe professional photographers 
may have a harder time reverting to an all-manual camera, since they 
have so many habits that must be re-learned. These old habits are likely 
based on auto-exposure, auto-wind, auto-focus, auto-bracket--tools to 
which almost every professional photog becomes
accustomed. This may also explain why professional photographers are 
perceived as poor stereo photographers.  Few may be willing or able to 
make the jump backward in technology.  How many of you would give up 
your professional tools, whatever they might be, for antiques?  The 
argument that a pro cannot learn to shoot with expanded depth-of-field 
seems flimsy.<<<

I'm glad you said "almost every professional photographer" in your 
comments. Why does everyone assume that professional = auto everything? 
I work part-time for a wedding and studio photogrpaher who is quite 
happy with her all-manual Hasselblad (sp?) and light meter for wedding 
and portrait work. For her casual "fun" shots, she uses a 35mm AF SLR. I 
know several other professionals who use similar equipment.

My personal experience has been more that professional photographers are 
more set in their "style" and are not likely to experiment and *play* as 
amatuers. Equipment doesn't seem to be an issue. Of course, there are 
always exceptions...>>>

And I was in a professional lab this afternoon collection the test films that
I shot yesterday in my "Stereoblad" (a pair of Hassleblads on a bar) when I
got chatting with a professional photographer. I commented that | had not used
a light meter (to the surprise of the technician who had been printing my
negs), so we both estimated the exposure - within a half stop. And No, it
wasn't a clear sunny day (in London, this year - you must be joking!). He
seemed to use judgement all the time, just as I tend to.

Oh, and if one is worried about the weight of a Realist, have a heft of my
Stereoblad!!!

Bob Aldridge
taking time off from packing for NSA!


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