Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/11/01

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Subject: Re: [Leica] RE: Street Photography debate
From: Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>
Date: Mon, 01 Nov 1999 10:55:55 -0800

D Khong wrote:
><Snip> 
> Jem and Harrison,
> 
> My friend said that when a persons learns photography, he is taught about
> composition, perspective, lighting, rule of thirds, proper use of selective
> focussing, etc., to make the final picture pleasing to look at.
> 
> His view is that street photography is most of the time haphazard and that
> you could give your pet chimpanzee a P&S camera and it will be able to
> produce street scenes in many of the shots that it takes.
> 
> Dan K.

All the students want to be great street photographers nowadays. What is it that
they are trying to learn? Do you really think it is easy? I think the edge or
the difference lies in the commitment a photographer such as Joseph Koudelka's
makes, spending the night under a bench and waking up in the morning clicking
his Leica to a gypsy parade before he has time to wipe the sleep from his eyes.
But I have no problem with HCB. His genius speaks for itself no law says he's
got to be every ones cup of tea you could say Bach and Shakespeare are both
overrated too. What statement does it make when one decides not to recognize
incredible genius?
Mark Rabiner