safe haven for tiny formats

[jcoldslabs]

Dear Mr. Coldslabs, Austin Granger has instructed us to inform you that you are infringing on his copyright. To avoid legal action, please refrain from ever again photographing your elongated shadow on the ground. Thank you. Sincerely, Austin Granger's team of lawyers.

Dear Mr. Granger,

The legal team behind the photographic juggernaut that is JCOLDSLABS, INC. (i.e. THE ARTIST) is writing to inform you that THE ARTIST, on or around January 13, 1997, took out a patent on naturally occurring sunlight (that being electromagnetic radiation emanating from the star at the heart of our solar system, covering both the visible and non-visible spectra). In light of this fact it is YOU, Mr. Granger, who have used THE ARTIST's patented lighting source without permission.

Your recent nocturnal foray into the Oregon desert and the subsequent photographs taken by lantern light suggest an attempt to avoid these patent complications altogether. Be warned, however, that should it be determined by forensic analysis that any sunlight, even re-purposed as moonlight, was used to illuminate parts of your photographs, I am afraid you are still infringing on THE ARTIST's patent.

We have been notified that you recently took a photograph of yourself at night in your basement, using a flat screen television as the light source. May we suggest this as an ideal (and patent-free) time and place to practice your photography from now on.

Cordially,

W. E. T. Blanket, Esq.

[jcoldslabs]

On the other hand, if you're going to go by what the casual viewer thinks, then none of us would be using LF.

I agree. And no, we should not evaluate what we do based on what anyone else thinks, especially the public at large. I was just thinking out loud about the things we train ourselves to notice in photographs that others probably don't ever see.

I went to a Brett Weston exhibit with my wife and her grandmother years ago. They were already in the gift shop by the time I was still viewing the second photo. When I finally caught up with them and asked how they had finished viewing the prints so quickly, they told me, "They were boring and all looked the same." I never thought to ask myself if the photos themselves were boring or overly similar--in fact, they were--because I was in awe of the technical aspects of the big prints. Where I saw detail and refinement and subtle tonality, they saw a bunch of boring photos of palm leaves.

Jonathan

[rdenney]

I wish I could poll some non-photographers about this. It seems to me that the character of OOF areas of photographs is something we, as photographers, spend a lot of time analyzing and debating, so we are hyper-aware of it. I am not immune to the appeal of discussing which lenses have the creamiest "bokeh," but are other people as attuned to this as we are? I wonder if a more average, casual viewer would find the f/1.2 bokeh distracting or simply think, as I did, "Wow, she's cute!"

Jonathan

People notice. They may not know what they notice, or why, but they notice. My wife can select pictures out of a stack that were made with a Sonnar, and she loves them because they have a calming effect that accentuates the the subject in the focus plane displays.

Painters use different brushes, too, but I doubt the average viewer knows the difference between sable and bristle.

Rick "thinking good bokeh is conspicuous by its absence" Denney

[Leigh]

...with apologies to Austin's avatar.
Fuji GSW690II, T-Max 400 (expired 2001)

Watch out, Jonathan. Austin will put out a contract on you, and he knows some mean people.

Nice shot. I'll bet she looks better from the front. Too bad I can't say the same about you.

- Leigh

[jcoldslabs]

Too bad I can't say the same about you.

Ain't THAT the truth!

Jonathan

[jp]

Jonathan, probably the latter.

I use mostly Nikon primes for my non-action shots. The bokeh is often quite harsh. I'd really like one of the DC lenses, but I can't afford one. Since I see it so often in my own work, it stands out when I see it elsewhere.

On the other hand, if you're going to go by what the casual viewer thinks, then none of us would be using LF.

The 105dc is nice... There are other smooth options though. Sigma does a nice 50mm. I have a Helios 58mm with a m39-m42-F adaptors, but it doesn't focus to infinity, but it's super smooth with a 13blade aperture. There's samyang/vivitar/rokinon 85mm lenses (which I haven't tried), the old Nikkor 105/2.5 is quite well regarded (I used to have one).

[austin granger]

Jonathan, Thanks for a good laugh. From here on out, I promise nothing but flat-screen TV illumination. Could be a bit of a challenge though-can I use a generator and make it portable? Actually, that gives me an idea. What if I were to bring my TV out to the desert (on a moonless night, of course)? I could set up a whole living room out there in the middle of the playa! Yeah, it's probably already been done...

[austin granger]

Tenzing Norgay, Alvord Desert, Oregon


Sunset, Alvord Desert, Oregon


http://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/

[jcoldslabs]

Jonathan, Thanks for a good laugh.

A bit over the top, but I couldn't resist. More seriously, how did you meter the shot of the lantern (the one by itself on the ground)? Did you bracket or nail it on the first try? Nice work in any case.

Jonathan

[jcoldslabs]

No sunlight was used in the making of this picture!

Mamiya 7, 80mm, Delta 400 (cropped square).




Jonathan