tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38446021.post3148527912628353479..comments2024-01-08T00:59:52.091-07:00Comments on muse-ings: Five things not to bother wasting your time on (and one that's worth it)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38446021.post-6670477858209209672007-09-27T18:37:00.000-06:002007-09-27T18:37:00.000-06:00On Wiggins Shadow Catcher:Wiggins demystifies the ...On Wiggins Shadow Catcher:<BR/><BR/>Wiggins demystifies the Curtis legacy in her own entertaining and masterful way in this fantastic book. It is a really good read for all. I recommend it wholeheartedly. <BR/><BR/>The real ES Curtis legacy exists in a world today of postmortems using the eyes of a century of technology and ethnological correctness.<BR/><BR/>Edward S. Curtis, legendary photographer, and no Photoshop?<BR/><BR/>Curtis didn't use a Canon or Nikon SLR, but made his images with a 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 Premo reversible back camera. It had a 22" bellows, and a ground glass back. It took at least 15 minutes to set up a picture, and his fastest shutter speed was 1/100th of a second. He didn't have a "healing" or "cloning" tool, sharpening, curves, or levels... neither Photoshop nor the computer, or the CCD had been invented yet. My God! How did he do it?<BR/><BR/>For as much criticism as this man has received in the last century, it leads one to think that perhaps he did create a little magic. Perhaps he was on to something in the photographic world. He helped bring photography into line with the great masters of the paint brush, as the age of photography was just beginning.<BR/> <BR/>The beginnings of the modern west certainly resonate in the works of Edward S. Curtis. His photos were made at a time when Indians already driven from their lands were being shorn from their cultures. <BR/><BR/>This history is very apparent in a film on Curtis's works, The Indian Picture Opera, (Amazon, dvd). In it, his images are explained in his own words. It's a re-creation of a 1911 E.S. Curtis lecture and slide show. <BR/><BR/>The film goes way beyond the images in showing how the west was transformed. It was a last grasp at recapturing was he called the "vanishing race". <BR/><BR/>Did he romanticize Indians and the west? Yes, the same way American culture romanticizes everything today as well. We seem to love the world of pop-culture, where everything fits into a nutshell. This is part of the markings of American media.<BR/><BR/>A journey into the past is always enlightening. Even though photography has been reinvented by digital, where we use layers and effects, remember... it's golden age was a century ago.Jay Riverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04031214987521723380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38446021.post-46133670062951065502007-09-24T14:13:00.000-06:002007-09-24T14:13:00.000-06:00Tim, just read your update about the grayscale vs ...Tim, just read your update about the grayscale vs "black and white" for digital color images. Keeping an open mind, I'm going to compare some of my Tri-X to digital prints, Color digital converted to black & white (I don't convert to grayscale in my workflow process, but I get your point) and pull up some old Seagull Oriental prints. I'm just trying to understand what it is you see that apparently I don't. I do remember the old days in which the prusit of grainless images was a holy grail, e.g. Panatomic X in Microdal (think I have the spelling right) or 8x10" contact prints.Doug Stockdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02314575441389174595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38446021.post-89049501688213320832007-09-24T11:07:00.000-06:002007-09-24T11:07:00.000-06:00Tim:You might get a kick out of Kathryn Harrison's...Tim:<BR/><BR/>You might get a kick out of Kathryn Harrison's Exposure. It's trashy but amusing.<BR/><BR/>Cheers, <BR/><BR/>G.George LeChathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17628967920102736462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38446021.post-15683600078138170852007-09-23T22:10:00.000-06:002007-09-23T22:10:00.000-06:00Why can't there be more "moderatelypriced" books t...Why can't there be more "moderately<BR/>priced" books the quality of an "Albert Hastings?" <BR/><BR/>Not exactly a novel, but I did find ShutterBabe a good read some time back. <BR/><BR/>I'm sure there is some good B&W digital being made somewhere, but most does, in fact, appear to look like badly reproduced Lenswork facsimiles.Stan B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17381743002180926900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38446021.post-24359391763563007872007-09-23T19:57:00.000-06:002007-09-23T19:57:00.000-06:00Thanks, we feel the same, did get some interesting...Thanks, we feel the same, did get some interesting thoughts from the Education book, I'm still a big fan of Sontag, and John Berger.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38446021.post-37356138959966636802007-09-23T19:56:00.000-06:002007-09-23T19:56:00.000-06:00good mini reviews- thanksI especially agree with y...good mini reviews- thanks<BR/><BR/>I especially agree with you on Traub, and Shore (although with Shore, I bought it anyway bc I wanted some of the plates he used as examples) <BR/><BR/><I>The Ongoing Moment</I> has influenced me more than any other book I have read in years..<BR/><BR/>cheers<BR/>dbdbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15044117005123639578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38446021.post-65634331009973144502007-09-23T18:36:00.000-06:002007-09-23T18:36:00.000-06:00While I agree with the Wiggins, I disagree whole h...While I agree with the Wiggins, I disagree whole heartily with Digital Black and White. I think the problem is that there is a lot of bad technique. You can't just convert to grey scale or use a software filter and then quit. That is like printing in the dark room without dodging, burning, bleaching or toning. I think you absolutely can print amazing digital black and white prints, it takes a lot of work but it is very possible. I also think it helps if you learned on film first.Charity Vargashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07092580219918421587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38446021.post-22430062318194749372007-09-23T18:00:00.000-06:002007-09-23T18:00:00.000-06:00well, the Traub I actually bought... it's not THAT...well, the Traub I actually bought... it's not THAT bad, but the selection of essays and small articles isn't as good as some other's I've read.<BR/><BR/>The Steichen novel I got from the library, so what the heck. I did read it - again, okaaay - but nothing special, and I'm glad I didn't buy it...tim athertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17756179153189240704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38446021.post-82856407588724292692007-09-23T17:56:00.000-06:002007-09-23T17:56:00.000-06:00Was going to look at the Traub and the novel about...Was going to look at the Traub and the novel about Steichen. Thank you, you've saved me the time.<BR/><BR/>I also completely agree about the digital greyscale.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com