Tony Parsons

<p>I do think photography can play a huge role in defining both public ethics and public behaviour. You only have to see the way that automatic cameras, taking photos of the morons who speed, have reduced accident rates.<br> My own use of this is more localised - being both disabled (thanks to a motorist) and a non-driver, I am attempting locally to raise public awareness of problems caused by selfish motorists. My local area was laid out and built over 100 years ago, when there were no cars. The streets are therefore narrow, as developers wanted to put as many houses as possible in a small area.<br> Nowadays, every family living there seems to feel it necessary to have a car for each member (including the dog). There is no off-road parking, so they park along the edge of the pavement (or sidewalk, as I believe it is called elsewhere). To fit as many cars into an area totally unsuitable for them, they park with two wheels on the road, two on the pavement. This makes it either difficult or impossible to manoeuvre either a perambulator or a wheelchair past these tin cans on wheels.<br> We are therefore forced to use the road itself, leading to frequent arguments with car drivers, who cannot see it is their selfish counterparts who have caused the problem.<br> To return to photography, for some time I have been photographing this flagrant abuse of the pedestrian areas, and sending copies to my local councillors, and the Highways Department of the Council. Their argument is that people need somewhere to park - mine is that if this is so, then the council should provide it, not permit the current dangerous situation to continue.<br> This citizen action plan is now being used in many major cities and towns - without the photographic evidence, we would not have nearly such a strong case.<br> Tony</p>

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As we all know 'Stressed' backwards is 'Desserts'<div></div>

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Image inherited from my father - possibly taken with Rolleiflex. Caption added later, as details hand-written on reverse.<div></div>

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<p>I am assuming this is the competition :</p> <p>https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2016/oct/24/landscape-photographer-of-the-year-awards-in-pictures-take-view-2016</p> <p>Tony</p>

<p>I'm just beMUSEd.</p> <p>Tony</p>

<p>Of course, what no-one has asked yet is : 'What camera are you using ?'. No, not equipment fetishism, but if the camera has a built-in metering system, is that not easier (I won't say more accurate, as accuracy depends on how you are using it !). Or are you attempting to expose your subjects using the Zone System, and looking to make sure you have accurate mid-tones ?</p> <p>Tony</p>

<p>If you want a classic that does not require batteries, a Weston Master V or Euromaster uses a selenium cell. This has its own disadvantages, but with the Invercone can be used for incident readings as well as reflected. 11 results on Ebay from £5 upwards.</p> <p>Tony</p>

<p>I print several A4 images per month, purely for myself, and they are Blu-Tacked to furniture around my flat as my own 'art' gallery. I can't frame them and put them on my walls, as the landlord has a strict '1 picture hook per wall' policy, with which I have no quibble, so 'real' art is displayed in that fashion. I do occasionally cheat and hang two images from one hook.<br> All my photos are for my own enjoyment - this is how I enjoy them.</p> <p>Tony</p>

<p>Have you thought of scanning this image (and any others you wish to share, but do not want damaged) into your computer, then creating an image CD which can be shown on either your computer or television set ?</p> <p>Tony</p>

<p>To really get a feel for this kind of photography, and the equipment in use, see what your local library has to offer in the way of photographic yearbooks from those eras. IMMIC, Rollei certainly did some, and I suspect some of the photographic magazines may have done some too.</p> <p>Tony</p>

<p>Bernardine,<br> As a committed Pentax user of many years standing, I applaud your decision to stick with Pentax. With my eyesight, I find autofocus invaluable, but can use MF if the need arises. May I suggest you have a look at the Pentax Forum :</p> <p>http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/</p> <p>who have a great 'Beginners' section, and many enthusiasts who can help you each step of the way with what you want to do, not what others think you should want to do. I have a second hand Pentax K20D, with which I am extremely satisfied, and it didn't cost an arm and a leg !</p> <p>Good luck</p> <p>Tony</p>

<p>Lingerie in a dim boudoir ? (I assume a model will be involved). And you want a camera ?</p> <p>Ho hum</p> <p>Tony</p>

<p>I suppose my requirements are quite mundane - to refresh my memories of sights I have enjoyed in the past. If others like them, so be it, but this is not a contributory factor.</p> <p>Tony</p>

<p>I must confess that I approach other people's work in two ways. Firstly, a portrait of an individual, since portraiture does not interest me, will get a few seconds, <em>unless</em> the portrait, in those few seconds, shows something interesting in the subject's character or attitude to life.<br> Other topics, however, which do strike a chord, can get intense scrutiny for many seconds, extending into minutes, for two general reasons. Firstly, I try to understand the nature of the subject matter, and the approach the photographer used in capturing the image, both artistic and technique-oriented.<br> Then I will try to work out what my approach would have been to the same subject matter, assuming all other factors were equal (i.e. I was at the site, and young and fit enough to get to the same viewpoint). For the same reasons, I will return to the many books of photographs that I (as I am sure do we all) possess, and often find new aspects of images I thought I had 'seen' before.<br> Not necessarily trying to copy others' work, but learning what I can to add to 50 years' experience to improve my own shots. </p> <p>Tony</p>