At 12:36 PM 3/9/02 +0100, you wrote: >I always been of the opinion the Photo.net would an excellent site for >research into blatant consumerism and the concept of branding. Sites like >photo.net are places were people can meet to get acknowledgement of their >consumption.
... snip ... >Particularly the nature section of Photo.net show amazing conformity; the >"advice" is almost always without context and based on names and brands. >We are not only talking cameras here but even items like tripods, heads >and quick release plates where there really is only one option if you want >to be a worthy member of the club. I don't agree with your generalizations (below) regarding North American nature photographers, but I'm willing to overlook that and just say "Hear hear!" to your observation about Photo.net. A most telling episode was a while back when someone asked a question about the Takumar 500mm f4.5 converted to the Nikon mount. Almost all the replies came from people who had never seen or used the lens, and did not even have any second hand hearsay info to share about it. But, they dutifully passed along the conventional wisdom of the group and thereby confirmed their standing in the group... Replies to questions seem to be more an exercise in demonstrating how well one has mastered the nuances of group preferences and consensus, and not much at all with how well one understands the actual question being asked. >On Photo.net you get the north American perspective on outdoor photography >gear fashion simply because the majority of participants are from the US. >It also something of a cultural shock for someone like me to read the >threads and the question posted. They are alien to me and I realise that >outdoor photography in the US is to a large extent a social enterprise >where being seen with equipment is the norm and downright important. I wouldn't generalize too much from Photo.net - but then I wouldn't extrapolate too much from any aspect of the internet to the real world. >When photographer talk about dropping their lenses on asphalt while doing >wildlife photography and that they are in a crowd with other >photographers, I realise that wildlife photography means something >different to them. I mean, who on earth do wildlife photography on >asphalt? To me it means being out in the bush. Also, I never met another >photographer, or even another person, when out in the wild shooting. >Hence, no one see my photographic gear and I don't need to be embarrassed >for using Pentax. I almost never run into other photographers out in the field, though I do encounter bird watchers or fishermen (along the lake shore). The few times I've run into photographers the discussion is more around what's out there and how to catch it than what gear we are using. I don't think this is restricted to North America - but I do encounter a lot of fair weather photographers. I can go to the beach at sunset on a 50 degree or warmer day, and often see dozens of photographers out snapping away, often with impressive equipment. But got to the same spot when it's 20 F (sometimes the next day around here) and windchills of -20 F, and no one is there. But I'm glad for that - let's me get some unique shots. t=(There's nothing I like better than shooting a great scene an not seeing another photographer around.) Or -when the weather changes watch the guys with the goods run for shelter. Sometimes the folks who buy the fancy gear are then so afraid it will be damaged that they never use it. Personally, I've gotten my Mz-S and Pz-1p's and various lenses soaked in gales along the lakes - sometimes by the lake water, sometimes by rain or snow. So far nothing has been damaged, but if it was to be wrecked, well, that's the price of getting the shot. As for asphalt - I assume people are talking about fumbling their gear when putting it the car or taking it out. I usually park on asphalt, unpack my gear, and hike in to where I plan to shoot. If you get to drive to your shooting locations in the bush - then you are lucky indeed. - MCC - - - - - - - - - - Mark Cassino Kalamazoo, MI [EMAIL PROTECTED] - - - - - - - - - - Photos: http://www.markcassino.com - - - - - - - - - - - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
