tonmestrom

Pentax has missed the boat a very long time ago. They are too slow in developing and putting their stuff on the market. That's why they lost out to Nikon and Canon. Compare the Pentax LX to the Nikon F3 for instance and I think the Pentax wins by miles. They got really great lenses but when you're so slow in getting in it's no wonder you lose to the biggies. I think the K10 would serve you well, especially in bad weather conditions. The way Pentax seal their camera's would have to be standard.

maybe they'll do a digital version of this one soon?

On the other hand, I don't now if its smallest but Pentax would be your best bet I think.

Getting tired of all that carrying around?

Chris, you're right as far as everything is hard and takes a lot of work (apart from talent) if you want to excel at it. For the rest however I think Bruce is right. Street is still the hardest and probably the most underestimated. You've got to have a brain capable of working on warp speed for more than short bursts, you've got to be blinding fast and patient at the same time, able to take a lot of abuse if not downright aggression and to top it off it's not very attractive from a commercial point of view and not well regarded upon by most peers (although I have no complaints myself)

Futhermore its by definition working in a very unctrolled environment.

 

Compare that to for instance working in controlled studio lighting with some great models (which I've also done a short time) and you know how I feel about it.

 

In the end however it's just a matter of perspective. If you're able to do what you love to do, as I am, nothing is that hard.

when I was studying before we were allowed flas-units we had to work with lamps. The first assignment was to photograph wood. If not done correctly it looks more like concrete than wood. It took some time to get it right. That's how you learn about light. Another assigment was to build our own pinhole camera which I resented at first. But that was something that really made me understand what light is, does and how it can be used to ones advantage. Have been a great fan of pinhole photography ever since and built some 5 camera's. Someone once told me that matrix measuring provides for 95% of all good shots. The excellent though can only be found in the reamining 5%. I tend to agree.

It is at with everything else. You gotta learn before you can practice. At least if you want to become more than average. I wish you lots of succes and most of all lots of fun

Stephen, thanks very much for your comment. Appreciate it

 

Marco, thanks as always

I've got some expensive bags but sometimes just use a simple plastic bag from a local store. Especcialy handy if you're going to work in a not especcialy safe neighbourhood. I've done that quite often and it worked well for me. When photographing you can put it in your pocket, keeps your gear dry when you find yourself in a downpour draws not attention and it's very cheap.

going to Milan early april. Could use some tips of places I definitely need to

visit with my camera...Thanks in advance

Shawn, as you might expect it's not hilarious but helmut Newton being who he was tells it really well. I found it a very enjoyable read. Recommended.

Fact of the matter is it's damned hard to write a good and substantiated comment. JDM is right, it should be done with sincerity. I must admit I'm not always that humble but I'm ALWAYS honest. (And probably more times wrong than right). Being just a month on PN I found that most people do appreciate honesty. For myself I have no problem with either of you biting my head of over a photo as long as you give me a good argument for doing so.

So far I've found that there are a lot of good people around on PN. It'll sort itself out automatically.

You're right, it's fun. His autobiography is very readable too.

David, I think I know which image you are referring to. If I understand you correctly it's not so much poor taste but equally the way he reacts. I myself thought that that particular image was not a good one because it was way under par from a technical point of view and left a comment to that effect. Despite your explanation I still think you're questioning his motives given his reaction to critique. That is of course your good right. But I have severe doubts if putting such a question with a reference to a specific photographer on an open forum is the best course of action. I'm not questioning your motives, in fact I might even feel the same way. But I think the best way to handle this would be to write that guy an e-mail. At least that's what I would do.

Shay, maybe this can be helpful to you (and a lot of others) William Klein produced a series called "Contacts" I think some 10 years ago. It's available on DVD. It shows how some of the great names work by dissecting their contact sheets. Maybe that could help you get a better idea of what Tim meant.

And that ladies and gentleman concludes this sermon. Mass has ended. Good one John. (I mean that)

Lex is right on all counts. It's a matter of perspective and you're a talented photographer (just checked)

I think if I'm interested enough to look at it in the first place, for whatever reason, I usually take the time to comment on it. Michael is right, a lot of it is subjective and there is no way of getting around that. It's nice though if you get to know why people think a photo is good or crap. I try to do that as honestly as I can. You just can't get any usefull information out of ratings or smileys.

a shutter and a diaphragma is all you need. Forget all those toys, it won't give you better photo's/

but then Walter what's the point you're trying to make? What would you advice a beginner in photography I wonder

I never understood that fetisj that some people seem to have with photo equipment. It's not the equipment that gets you great photo's but creativity. You either have that and develop that or you simply haven't got it. It's as simple as that. I think it not wise to advice a beginner to go buy an expensive camera and some lenses. Remember, some great photo's have and are being taken with simple point&shoot camera's.

Gary is right to some extent. I did my training at an acadamy of fine arts. They couldn't (nor pretended) to make me a better photographer but I took away a whole load of neccessary knowledge, experience and insight in my own abilities. Also I got exposed to great photography, tutoring and pushed hard to deliver better work and use my creativity. So education helps (and there you're wrong). While there are some great photographers around who are selftaught they are few and far between. You need feedback. If not why are we all here I wonder?

Just advice (and help) a beginner to find out if photography is really something he likes or just a spur of the moment with the equipment the've got. I've helped some people along in the past and its very rewarding to see them grow, get better and most of all get a lot of pleasure out of it.

I agree with the people before me that it should be constructive. Having said that, I think you started out with a good thing and that is check first if you're dealing with an acclompished photographer rather than a novice. While the first in most cases will be receptive off a less than positive comment I think that a less acclompished one needs rather some encouragement.

If I don't know the person who's written it a single line doesn't do much for me either. Important to consider is that not ever a single photo became better or worse from a comment so nobody should lose sleep over them. There are far more important things to worry about.

 

The fact of the matter is that most people find it very hard to write about an image. While they often instinctively know what they feel they find it hard to put that into words.

 

For myself I don't care if a comment is positive or negative as long as its honest and substantiated. I also try to do that when writing comments on other people's work. There will always be someone who will be offended by your honest opinion. But that's the risk if you expose your work to critique. Frankly I think hardly anyone can complain. I've been exposed to some critique you wouldn't believe in the past by some of my former teachers but it was all aimed to make me better or give me some insight. If people can't cope with that they should better stop. In this community it's a bit different. We all do our best and you have to take that into account. But like I said before as long as you give your honest opinion nobody has the right to complain.

In the last month I've met some great people here who are very good at it but don't shy back from telling me what they don't like. I think that's valuable feedback (the ability to write a meaningfull critique is depended on one's own experience so take that into account too).

 

I agree that there are not enough people who write comments or respond on received ones. You just have to find those that do. That takes some time though.

 

But the best thing of all: if you don't agree or just don't like them you can just ignore them.

 

Keep healthy, Ton

What makes a good B&W?

 

it's all of the above and much much more. in fact you know it when you see one. That's the only possible answer because it's apart from all the above also about content.

buy some books of some of those great and much admired photographers or visit an exhibition. If that doesn't give you inspiration then maybe you'd be better of looking for another hobby

as one would expect, so I'll second this. Besides which the retail price is great value for money.

anyone ever heard of Sysiphus? Vincent is right. As annoyingly as it is, it isn't worth the bother and will continue to happen.

Maybe we could see some of your pics that you took at the time. Could be the start of a whole new category.

it's called LOMO