Kirk Tuck has posted another thoughtful article about photography, and like always, even some of the comments are interesting. Like the ones from Claire, or from Ron who mentions “Nighthawks” from Edward Hopper. My brother Willi has (or had, I don’t know because he’s currently renovating) a big reprint of that one in his kitchen.
Me? I just took this when I was out on the veranda to have a smoke:
Art? I don’t know, and frankly, I don’t even care. I just saw those rather lonely chilies out there, which are about the last colourful spots left during winter – as far as I can see from here. Why do I do this? No idea – maybe just to remember it later, should we move elsewhere some day. It’s not even a perfect picture; the wind was moving everything a bit, so with an exposure time of 1/3rd of a second it’s not “critically sharp” like many call it. I don’t even care about that a single iota – I just took my longest lens to separate the plant a bit from the background, and took a photo of it.
Technical info: Olympus E-520 with the longer (of two) 40-150mm “kit zoom” at f=8. One third of a second (which was minus 0.3EV from the (center-weighted) meter reading), from my tripod. The camera was set to “muted” colours to keep the contrast in a manageable range. And yes, tho I converted this from a raw file, when using the Olympus Viewer 2 software this actually does make a difference.
Ok; I’m out again. Thanks for viewing.
P.S.: After coming back home from shopping I realized that it was 15:30 already, which translates to just one more hour of daylight in our region during January. So when I went out for another smoke, I took some more photos of another plant, this time with the 50 macro lens and from a bit closer:
Cropped the first of these two to a 5:4 format, the other one is almost the full 4:3 frame.
Thanks again for viewing.
I think Kirk is making a very strong case: we should not blindly follow what our predecessors told or taught us, we should have room for our own experimentation and growth. I found some street photographers here in KL strictly following tradition: using film cameras, doing black and white, using zone focusing, finding that elusive “decisive moment”, after they have read countless books of HCB. However, what you see from them is not from HCB, but an imitation which would make HCB turn in his grave. They hail those old time photographers as gods.
But photography, as Kirk put it so well has changed so much, and many things no longer apply from the older times. Kirk is one strange photographer who is successful in adapting to change (much respect and admiration to him for that) and always challenges himself to improve (from what is already so great). We should learn to be more versatile and flexible.
Everyone shoots for different agendas. Much like yourself, I also shoot for personal pleasure !! I have to remind myself that (and thanks for your blog to remind me too), because it is too easy to get trapped by the endless GAS, and you have shown that even the humblest E-520 and E-PL1 can produce amazing Tuna shots !! I am starting to love Tuna though we never met.
And if I find that chili of yours… it will find its way as an ingredient into one of the many Malaysian dishes I cook.
Yes Robin; I’ve heard comments like “This is no street photography!” from the self-proclaimed “experts” as well. Which is utterly nonsense of course – where is that book of rules we have to follow, and who told us that there’s no other way? Blindly following the footsteps of those who were here before us doesn’t make ourselves great artists IMHO.
And yes, Kirk does traditional style portraiture very very well – but he’s also an expert in showing us the CEOs of companies or even silicon wafer “dies” (surfaces which will become computer chips later) in ways which are just awesome. But what’s more important is that he’s also a friendly guy, willing to share all of his knowledge about lighting and such – I have every single book he ever wrote. Still I wouldn’t go and simply copy him; why should I? Plus I think it’s even not possible – his beautiful (mostly female) subjects look at him in a way totally different than they would look at me I suppose. And even these looks he’s getting take him up to three or more sessions with his sitters as he once wrote.
I know that your “shutter therapy” walks are for personal pleasure (and probably an escape from work), but it’s also great how those people you show us react on you – most of them look very friendly. And your results are first class. I wouldn’t simply put them into “drawers” like “street portraiture” or such – it’s quite obviously an ongoing experience which you are having, and it must be great. I’d love to play the peeking and invisible mouse sometimes…
About that chili: Mitchie (her real name is Hamidah) usually dries and grinds them, after which these are really hot – I think these seed came from her friend who’s from Thailand. Feel yourself invited, if you should ever visit us here in Europe. Or we could bring some next time we’ll land in KL.
Thanks for your kind words, mate!
Wolfgang, I like that you don’t care if others consider your photography as art – or not. I have never viewed my own photography as art – although I have a few photos that I think have “some” artistic qualities. No, I view my photography more as an effort to document the things that I have seen and experienced, as well as the people that I have met during my lifetime. Why do I do that? I’m not sure if there is one single reason or answer. Maybe it is so that when I am old and near my death, I can play back all of my favorite images in one giant slideshow, much like what was shown in the 1973 movie Soylent Green….
Yes, I understand perfectly well Gregg. And that was one great movie! Thanks for your comment.