Re: [photo-3d] Re: in a hurry photography (caution: contains strong opinion)

[Peter Davis <pd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

CanterMike@xxxxxxx writes:

--- In photo-3d@xxxxxxxxxxx, Herbert C Maxey <bmaxey1@xxxx> wrote:
> Who here remembers when there were no auto focus cameras? I do. 

I remember this well. I still don't have an AF SLR, though I do have a
twinned pair of Ricoh AF cameras.

> At one time, photography was a real chore, compared to
> now. Photography is far simpler now than in the good old
> days. People took great photographs, though.

Well, I would question whether people took great photographs, or
simply that only the great ones survived to be seen by more modern
audiences.  Also, the cost and complexity kept most people away from
photography.  It was really the realm of specialists.

> They did not consider loading plates and sheet film a hassle, or
> loading a roll film camera where film was manually threaded.

I don't know know that they didn't consider it a hassle.  If they
didn't, then why did anyone invent roll film, or auto-loading, etc.?
Obviously, some people thought it would be an improvement.

> They used filters and they understood photography better.

Again, this may be due to the fact that people who didn't understand
photography simply weren't doing it.  Modern automatic technology has
put cameras in the hands of a *much* larger percentage of people.

> For me, there is a great difference between what was done years ago
> compared to today. I think photographers who can't determine
> exposure for example, to be nothing less than snapshot takers. You
> all have seen these "Great" photographers that shoot dozens of roll
> of film to get that "Perfect" image. Photographers who bracket
> entire rolls of film to make sure that their image is properly
> exposed. GREAT PHOTOGRAPHERS never had to do this in the past, but
> it is commonplace these days.

In the past, photographers could only shoot subjects which would be
relatively motionless for a minute or more.  Sports photography was
non-existent.  I think bracketing is more a form of ensure a good
capture of a fleeting moment than it is compensation for lack of
skill.

The art is in the eye and mind of the creator.  The rest is just
technique.

> If you want to use an AF Camera to take stereo images, I certainly
> won't deride you for it. However, photography - Great Photography is
> never a simple thing. It takes knowledge and experience to do
> correctly.

There are many forms of "Great Photography" including those shots
which are so evanescent as to be impossible to plan.  Certainly
knowledge and experience will help you get better results more
consistently, but this doesn't mean that pictures taken using
auto-focus, or auto-exposure, or auto-anything-else can't be "Great
Photography".

-pd


-- 
--------
                             Peter Davis
               Funny stuff at http://www.pfdstudio.com
    List of resources for children's writers and illustrators at:
                  http://www.pfdstudio.com/cwrl.html