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12/09/2016
Do Phone Accessories Make Sense For Photographers?
It seems there is an announcement every few weeks about a new accessory that adds to the potential of the camera in our ‘phones. I guess how valuable these ‘add-ons’ are depends on your outlook.
For me, the great thing about the mobile ‘phone is that it is compact, fits easily in my pocket and is always with me. I don’t think about whether or not to carry it – it is automatic. The better built-in lenses and sensors that are frequently features of each new iteration of a ‘phone are clearly welcome. Apps that add to the level of control make a great deal of sense to me (I use Camera+).
I do not use, and am personally less enthusiastic about the idea of, additional lenses and the like. This is, of course, purely a matter of individual preference but, for me, if I were to start carrying around extra items of ‘gear’ the go everywhere convenience of the ‘phone would reduce. Even smaller items need pocket space and a positive decision to carry them. The bulkier items may not always save very much space relative to a compact camera.
In my photography, the camera in the ‘phone is for those occasions when a good picture opportunity presents itself and I have no other gear with me, so it is not a mainstay of my approach to image capture. More ardent ‘phone snappers will doubtless have a different viewpoint.
Either way, there is clearly a demand for the add-ons, otherwise much respected producers would not be devoting time and effort to bring them to market.
mfimage
25/08/2016
America’s National Parks In Print
100 years since the establishment of the USA’s National Park Service, it is interesting to follow the role of photographers in environmental protection, making the marvels of nature more ‘accessible’ to the general public and sparking creativity in others.
Mary Street Alinder’s ‘Ansel Adams: A Biography’ tells the fascinating story not just of the great man but also of his love for photographing and protecting the grandeur of Yosemite. It’s an enjoyable and informative read, likely to appeal to anyone interested in the history of photography and the influence of the early pioneers on future generations of snappers.
Much more recently published, ‘Picturing America’s National Parks’ by Jamie M Allen and the George Eastman Museum reportedly takes a new look at the relationship between photographers and America’s parks, considering not just vintage images but more recent digital photography. Having recently enjoyed Mary Street Alinder’s book, Jamie Allen’s is now on my list for future reading.
mfimage
24/07/2016
Do Photographers Live Longer?
Taking pictures can be immensely therapeutic. You often hear amateur photographers particularly talk about how being out on their own in the city or countryside provides a real break from day-to-day pressures. The process of making images is absorbing, so everyday issues and stresses tend to fade into the background or disappear during photo sessions.
For many, photography involves a fair amount of exercise, whether it is exploring cities on foot or hiking through rural and coastal areas in search of that special location.
The best photography also generally demands a fair amount of technical knowledge and mental application.
That combination of stress relief, physical and mental exercise has to be good for the health, doesn’t it? So do photographers live longer?
It might be an interesting area for detailed study but a quick snapshot of some of the better known names is, perhaps, revealing. Below is a short list, together with a note of the age each reached.
Ansel Adams – 82
Henri Cartier-Bresson – 96
Dorothea Lange – 70
Paul Strand – 86
Henry Fox Talbot – 77
Edward Weston – 72
Fashion photographer Bill Cunningham was 87 when he died, meanwhile David Bailey is currently 78 and shows few signs of slowing down.
OK, all this is nowhere near conclusive but even this brief selection suggests there just might be something about taking pictures that’s pretty good for you.
mfimage
27/06/2016
Miss The Train Not The Picture
At the beginning of the month, I found myself driving a van through a flooded area of France, pushing hard to make a pre-booked place on Eurotunnel, despite numerous delays and detours to find a ‘dry’ route. The floods in early June were, of course, so severe that they even made the lead item on some UK news bulletins.
After various detours, I eventually managed to cross a very flooded river at Chalon sur Loire. The scene looking back across the bridge was dramatic. This was not a holiday or a photographic expedition. I did have my Sony RX100 with me but there was nowhere easy to park, any delay would put us at even greater risk of missing our Shuttle slot and the adverse travel conditions made pressing ahead the number one priority. In a different set of circumstances, I would no doubt have spent time capturing the scene but not on this occasion. In any event, I guessed there would be no shortage of other people with cameras around on that day.
Some hours later I eventually arrived at Calais, just 20 minutes after my check-in deadline, so missed the train. I then had to wait four hours before I could get a slot – thanks to a broken rail in the Tunnel and numerous would-be holiday makers who had given up on the atrocious weather and were unexpectedly heading home early.
Back in the relative warmth of the UK, I checked on line for images similar to those I might have captured that day at Chalon sur Loire. They seemed few and far between. I had overlooked the opportunity to take what could have been quite rare pictures of the worst floods for decades – and I missed the train.
Lesson learned. Next time miss the train, not the picture!
mfimage
04/06/2016
Photography & Radio Have Much In Common
They are very different media, yet in some ways very similar. Photography and the radio have something significant in common. They both involve individual interpretation of the ‘scene’ presented.
When we listen to the radio, we create pictures in our minds. The notes of a tune are set in the score but they mean different things to us. The underlying facts and words remain the same but each individual listening to a radio play will ‘see’ the characters and the settings differently. Our interpretation will draw upon a multitude of experiences and influences.
The same applies to any scene we may choose to photograph. A stunning landscape is there for all to see, a city street offers many opportunities to capture images, the physical appearance of a face is seen by all. Nevertheless, each photographer’s ‘take’ will be a little different – each views the information in a personal and unique way.
Just as when listening to the radio, there are many influences that frame our individual perception. In the case of photography it is our personal style, developed over time and against a backdrop of the work of those that we have studied or followed as that style has evolved.
Perhaps some of this accounts for why to those who enjoy photography it is ‘music to the ears’ – or should that be ‘eyes’?
mfimage