On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 08:18:49 -0700, Shel Belinkoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I saved this link for the time when I could read the article at leisure. > It's a fine article and bears reading, IMO. > > > > http://wilson.dynu.net/dilution.asp >
I sat on this post for several days now, not really knowing how to reply. First, I think this would be an interesting exercise, but OTOH, it's hard to do when one takes photos of a "reactive" nature. I mean, I'm out there waiting for something to happen. When I see it, I have to snap, I often don't have the luxury of waiting for anything better to come along. That's not to say that I don't plan things - of course I do. But, once those plans are made, and I'm where I think I should be to take a photo, being deliberate is often not what's needed. That being said, I know what the author means, and I agree that learning to be deliberate is a really good exercise. Hell, I did that for years; not taking only one photo per outing, but rather, before I started taking as many photos of people as I do now, I took a lot of photos of buildings. Not necessarily big landmark "monument" buildings, but houses in my neighbourhood, interesting but unassuming little gems that I came across all around the city. I was deliberate. I looked through the viewfinder for several minutes prior to each photo, making sure that what was in the viewfinder was exactly what I wanted in the print. I think those sorts of exercises (even thought I didn't think of them in that way at the time) helped me to get used to the whole process of exposure in a way that's very helpful to me now. Still, I wondered how I could square this article with reportage or street photography (whatever one wishes to call it), until I saw this quote from HCB, that I think pulls it all together: "Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is to take your time. You mustn't go too fast. The subject must forget about you. Then, however, you must be very quick. So, if you miss the picture, you've missed it. So what?" In any event, I very thought provoking article you provided, Tom, and I enjoyed your comments on it, Shel. thanks, frank -- "It's about time we started to take photography seriously and treat it as a hobby." -Eliott Erwitt
