Continuation of discussion with
Dirk about my possible conversion to
black and white digital world.:
dirk: I did not have photographs made on the street in my mind when
I wrote to you before and honestly I don't think it makes a difference.
Photography is photography no matter what and where you practice it.
richo: You right about that, but I guess there is certain
difference based on
subject and way you working.
dirk: I understand what you are trying to do and it sounds good and
you
seem to be excited by it. So go for it. I remain doubtful however for
the need for instant feedback, but that may be a personal preference
of mine. In reality if I understand your plan about creating stage
with objects and people correctly, you can either check after a few
shots if you got what you wanted, which personally would distract me
like hell and have a negative effect on the relationship between me
and the subject, especially with people involved (unless they are
professional models who can switch on and off despite interruptions.
What you are describing is not so far off from advertising shoots
where everyone is looking at the results immediately and then art
directing it as it goes along, so the work style obviously works).
Again we're back at being result-orientated as opposed to getting
into the moment.
richo: I must say I agree with you in the way you describe it. I am
fully with
you. But there is a bit of difference. I would never look at camera's
LCD screen when working with people and trying to capture a moment,
There is just no time for it. Checking of histogram like some other
suggested is not necessary of you ready for prepared scene. It is in a
way controlled environment.
dirk: Alternatively you can look over your work at the end of the
working
day and see if you need to redo it the next day. We have to assume
that the scene would still be available the next day. If there are
people involved or natural lighting, then that may not be possible.
Perhaps you also don't have time until another week later and by then
the whole relationship to the subject has changed and you start
again.
richo: What I have in mind is to look at series of shots after few
hours or
even later in day. You mentioned problems with setup, re-shooting (what
a stupid term ;-) the scene next day or next week (correct assumption
about time constraints). Well you right, but when doing film and let say
I am in mood and all goes nice I can shoot 20 rolls in the evening. In
optimal situations (every day developing) I can process them not sooner
than in four days, but in reality it is often more than 2 weeks. That
includes developing and scanning all negatives in preview low resolution.
richo: Two weeks! Imagine that I rent a place and I have it for
weekend and
week. Would be nice to have this feedback same evening and next day we
can try something better. Same like years ago when we recorded with band
music. We had a week in studio. We worked everyday whole day. At
evening/night we just listened what we recorded, discussed it and than
next day we knew we need to record bass again, that or that needs to be
done and that and that is good.
richo: So it is not instant interruption in work what I had in
mind. Just a
feedback in comfortable time interval to lead you to better result.
dirk: Sorry for being too skeptical here, I would very much like
this to
work myself but for me the reality and the rational plan (which makes
total sense, no question about it) just were two different things and
did not meet. I guess it is totally subjective and to know whether it
works for you the only way is to try and see for yourself.
richo: I am glad you are skeptical. You are one of very few who
talk like this to me. I appreciate it as I do have both kind of opinions to
listen to.
richo: And about trying it myself, yes I need to do that and as you
mentioned earlier once is not enough.
richo: I was just busy with color to bw conversion as that is the
one big item I would buy myself into, as you mentioned earlier. And frankly
it is not easy. All the tutorials they always show the best and most easy
images to convert. I am trying it on some images I have done in 2004 with
borrowed Nikon D70. Difficult...
