My Lens Is Bigger Than Your Lens (Note Paper Bag Lens Hood)

*This photo is posted solely for the interest of photographers and not for photographic merit -- see how the pros do it -- any paper bag in a pinch. John

excellent shot!regards.gaby

Technically, it's awful.

 

It's out of focus and shows no action.

 

But it is what it is, and it shows something of interest to photographers, so it has stayed posted, in a folder of its own, for things that otherwise would be rejects, but have interest to this community.

 

Thanks for the comment.

 

John (Crosley)

This photo has been moved from its own folder (because it is technically so deficient) to one about photographers -- it has no increased technical or artistic merit -- it is mostly of interest to photographers who wish to see how other photographers might work, and for that purpose only.

 

Of course, note that this photographer with his giant lenses has a paper bag used for a lens hood on the foreground telephoto -- as well as a very old film Nikon for his camera -- a quite adequate setup (kit) for taking elk rutting photos, as he is doing (elk are just a ways away, sitting, standing, grazing, and in one instance, the bull elk is digging into the turf with the tip of one of his six-prong antlers.

 

He's waiting for a photo of two bull elk dueling for dominance, and the right to mate with all the cows who surround him.

 

In other words, bull elk are polygamous, but their mates will follow whichever bull elk is most powerful, as a herd. It works at least for survival -- no sentimentality here, except sometimes when an old bull has his herd taken away, a few cows may indeed stay with the defeated bull. . . . for reasons that are beyond my ken, since I am not a naturalist.

 

John (Crosley)

Shifty looking bunch, photographers, :))))). ! Yes i am jealous.

 

I like this shot a lot. Thanks for posting, John.

It's out of focus, and badly exposed, so rescued with Photoshop, and still you like it -- because it's about photography -- big time, at least with what is popularly known hereabouts as 'big glass' which few own and many envy.

 

They're photographing elk in the rut . . when giant bugling male elk challenge each other for the cows of the herd, and the cows dutifully stand by to find out who's going to mate with each of them and stand guard over each of them, after the males engage in battle -- most often settled by brute strength and the size of their huge anglers -- often with six even seven 'points'. I saw them -- they were nearby when this photo was taken but just grazing peacefully in the nearby meadow and nobody fighting. These guys were waiting for the 'fight' - one had taken place that morning.

 

Guys fighting for gals -- sounds like a Broadway musical.

 

"Jets and Sharks?

 

"Guys and Dolls"

 

Keeps the species going with the strongest.

 

I had an assistant from Moscow who confided (not so confidentially actually) that she admired Putin and others simply because they could murder with impunity.)

 

She was otherwise mostly very sweet and nice (at first) -- but seemed hung up on admiring men who could do such things. I couldn't even, and in her eyes, I think I fell short. I'm kind of proud of that. (and she wasn't kidding).

 

But somehow for an older guy, I do seem to have some attractions -- for which I have no real understanding or explanation -- maybe where i hang out, age just outranks, if there's vigor.

 

But I'd never have a herd -- way too much trouble. I'm a person who can only pay attention to one person of the opposite sex at a time -- which makes me valued by some who have been hurt by philanderers.

 

;~)

 

Elks, on the other hand, are admired by how big their herds are -- at least by their cows - for they get to impregnate every last one (except when rogue bull elks sneak away with a cow for a night, and a six pack in the back of an old Chevy Pickup down a country lane when the chief bull elk is 'otherwise engaged' and thus the gene pool is kept a little heterogeneous. For it seems, like many other animals, female elk cheat a little too, if given the opportunity. . . . . .

 

;~))

 

True?

 

Be honest with yourself based on all those people you know and what you know about them . . . .

 

I'm glad you enjoyed this decidedly lesser photo -- it was posted for photographers' interest solely.

 

John (Crosley)

 

 

 

The paper bag is a nice touch. I suppose if your shoot does not go well on that day, the photographer can always use the bag for cheap spirits. The lens at far left looks like possibly an older Nikon Prime Lens mounts, at 400mm (or longer?).

I will say I have usually felt pretty uneasy until I could leave whatever press riser I was standing on and wandered around the crowd with a normal focal length.  But everyone photographer probably shoots a bit differently.

I still think I would rather shoot a non-celebrity with an inexpensive camera in an intimate setting and good access than Bruce Springsteen and Joe Biden from two football fields away 8 thousand dollars of glass. = )

Regards. Some really interesting street shots in this portfolio. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks.

Have you seen my wide angle Nixon shot (Nixon in crowd, taken on my way to work, Powell Street, San Francisco).  Aced the AP White House Photo Press Corps (UPI too)  Another shot of mine from same roll got front pages around the world.  (not shown on PN).

This shot has terrible reproduction values but is of continuing interest to photographers, I find.  Thanks again for your comment.

Please have a look at the Nixon photo for some 'real' photography for a photo that may meet your test better, and taken on my free time, when I was not a photographer doing photo duties, but with my personal camera never shown before PN days.

John (Crosley) (Black and White, Then to Now folder)