[Leica] Journalist buys a Leica!/Reinvigoration

[steve.barbour at gmail.com (Steve Barbour)]

On Dec 30, 2012, at 10:10 AM, Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com> wrote:

> The beginning of the 21st century will be remembered by the coining of the
> metaphysical catch phase: "it is what it is."
> The problem arises when half the time it is what it isn't which they will
> figure out in the year 2525.
> And the other half the time It isn't what it is.
> And some will say its because "it never was".
> 
> 


> You know that sound of one hand clapping....
> I know that sound.
> Shelly Berman

hmmm, I thought that this list frowns on politics....

but in any case, remember...



Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has 
to be us.
~ Jerry Garcia



> On 12/30/12 1:02 PM, "Steve Barbour" <steve.barbour at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> On Dec 30, 2012, at 8:49 AM, Greg Rubenstein <gcr910 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Warning: rant at fine-art photographers
>>> 
>>> Read with interest the piece about the journalist buying a Leica and
>>> how it reinvigorated her interest in photography. I know exactly what
>>> she felt and how she feels. Am sure many working photographers,
>>> journalists, amateurs and others who use cameras have had similar
>>> experiences.
>>> 
>>> Back in the 80s and 90s as cameras became increasingly automated, I
>>> began to feel disengaged. Nothing to do with my commitment to
>>> photography, but I felt less essential to the process -- despite the
>>> fact that my eyes, vision and results were the keys to getting work.
>>> 
>>> Bought my first Leica to help me "regain my chops." Had to manually
>>> focus the thing. Had to set its aperture. Had to select a shutter
>>> speed. Even began using my handheld light meters more. It was
>>> re-engaging and reinvigorating. And continues to be. My commitment
>>> never wavered. Today I own only Leica gear. Other stuff for work or
>>> personal projects is easily rented as needed.
>>> 
>>> Also, there have been and are times when I cannot be in two places at
>>> once. I am an omnivorous viewer of images and portfolios. Having
>>> viewed so much, I will say publicly, and knowing full well that I'm
>>> offending some people, I have never hired a photographer with the
>>> appellation "fine art" on his or her card, resume or portfolio, and
>>> won't recommend a fine-art photographer to someone seeking a shooter.
>>> 
>>> Why?
>>> 
>>> Based on the limits of my experience and viewing, and the anecdotal
>>> experiences of others in my sphere, I have found that fine-art
>>> photographers:
>>> 
>>> -- have attitude ("If buying a new camera 'reinvigorated' her interest
>>> in photography, then she has never really been that committed to it
>>> anyway. Sad thing is, this airhead has a job with a major newspaper."
>>> being a typical example of such attitude.),
>>> -- lack a necessary understanding of photographs as communication, and
>>> -- do not understand or willfully ignore the needs of businesses that
>>> hire them or other customers who pay them.
>>> 
>>> This is my experience and my prejudice as a photographer and as
>>> someone who has hired photographers, as well as someone who spends a
>>> fair amount of his time with photographers. I have yet to meet a
>>> fine-art photographer who grasps any of the concepts mentioned above
>>> except attitude.
>>> 
>>> Fact is, I bristle when someone tells me one of my images is artistic.
>>> At one of the finest design and photographic programs in America, The
>>> Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology (a college
>>> created by many of the Bauhaus school -- Laszlo Moholy-Nagy among them
>>> -- when they fled the Nazis) "art" borders on being a dirty word.
>>> 
>>> Think hard, then hold your tongues and thoughts, fine-arts
>>> photographers, when you publicly question others' commitments to
>>> photography or "photographic purity."
>>> 
>>> End of Sunday rant. Anyone in the mood to respond, feel free to fire
>>> back publicly or off list.
>>> 
>>> Thank you.
>> 
>> 
>> my take,  seems like  " take pictures, lots....no label,  let them define
>> themselves.....let someone else define them,
>> 
>> if a picture of an ancient defunct gas station is called art by someone, 
>> so be
>> it....
>> 
>> it is what it is...
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Steve  (never an art major, not an artist,  always attracted to art, also 
>> to
>> images)
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> 
>>> Greg Rubenstein
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Mark William Rabiner
> Photography
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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