Powerfull photography

gus

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Shay Stephens

Magnificent work. And I love his expert use of light too. Top notch!

gus

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Shay Stephens

gus wrote:

The beauty here is that a lot of these shots show photographic things we here as amatures/pro's often try so hard to avoid..soft edges from wide lenses..photographers shadows in the shot etc etc but like national geographic, a powerful/controversial subject can put these things aside to make you feel the shot & sit looking at it just wondering.

Its really got so little to do with the camera in my book anyway.

Yes, it's true, content is king. Composition lays it out in a pleasing or interesting way, and lighting allows us to see what is going on in a pleasing or interesting way too.

The dumb camera is just there to record those things when the photographer tells it too. So the old adage "It's not the camera" remains true then, now, and "to infinity and beyond!"

Antonio Correia

gus wrote:

Occasionally I see a link in another site that stops me dead in my tracks.

This link to an album covers a lot of humanity...sex/death/war/disease you name it

...its here so be fore-warned if you are a bit squeemish (just realised..ive never had to spell squeemish..hope its correct)

http://www.brentstirton.com/

It was a good ideia to let us know of such a site.
Fantastic pics. Supperb quality.
Thank you.
Regards.
(Will I ever photograph like this ? )

Bodwick

Great photographer... I spent an hour going through nearly all his work and still have more to view. Very well covered subjects.

Over the years I've tried to avoid shooting poverty and dispair despite a large chunk of my time being spent looking at it. I don't like showing the 'bad side' of life but have become more drawn to this type of photography for a while now. Why bother painting a rosy picture of life in certain places when the truth is a different story.

I plan on shooting a different style in Jan 2007 as I do my usual trip around West Africa. From the Al Quida supporters of Mauritania and Nothern Senegal with their supporters stickers on their mopeds to the rubbish tip people and the war casualties who roam the streets and darker places. A prison or two and some of the 'other' places that are not usually photographed but that I find myself in.

A different approach that I'm tempted to cover at times via a remote cable release in my pocket. It's either that or get knifed for insulting someone by taking their photo.

Just a touch of reality which is needed in these troubled times.

Bod.

DoctorIt

gus wrote:

The beauty here is that a lot of these shots show photographic things we here as amatures/pro's often try so hard to avoid..soft edges from wide lenses..photographers shadows in the shot etc etc but like national geographic, a powerful/controversial subject can put these things aside to make you feel the shot & sit looking at it just wondering.

Its really got so little to do with the camera in my book anyway.

Agreed.

I especially noticed how so many of the portraits were dead on with a fairly wide lens introducing a good amount of distortion. Great stuff!

Antonio Correia

Bodwick wrote:

Great photographer... ... A different approach that I'm tempted to cover at times via a remote cable release in my pocket. It's either that or get knifed for insulting someone by taking their photo.

Just a touch of reality which is needed in these troubled times.

Bod.

Bob. Good morning.
This (remote control pics) is a great ideia.
One of these days I am going to hear where does the sound of the camera comes from and try to glue it or make it less important.
I noticed that the 'click' or 'tschak' of the camera disturbs people.
I want to silent it.
I have the 20 D and the so called 'click' can not be canceled.
Any thoughts ? Did I make myself clear in my clumpsy English ?

marlof

Gus, this is a great link. Thanks for sharing!

For Antonio: All (D)SLRs will have a distinctive CLACK sound when the shutter is pressed. It's not the sound of the shutter, but the sound of the mirror being slapped away. Some DSLRs are noticeably louder than others. My E-1 is said to be fairly quiet compared to other DSLRs, but I still find the sound intrusive when it comes to stealh photography. This may be one of the best reasons to get a Sony R1. You can turn the viewer so you can see it when looking down on the camera, it has a APS size sensor, and no mirror box to give a CLACK sound. Or just invest in a small size P&S camera that shoots RAW or gives decent JPEG results (like the Panasonic LX1 or the Ricoh GR Digital) for those stealth moments.

Antonio Correia

marlof wrote:

Gus, this is a great link. Thanks for sharing!

For Antonio: All (D)SLRs will have a distinctive CLACK sound when the shutter is pressed. It's not the sound of the shutter, but the sound of the mirror being slapped away. Some DSLRs are noticeably louder than others. My E-1 is said to be fairly quiet compared to other DSLRs, but I still find the sound intrusive when it comes to stealh photography. This may be one of the best reasons to get a Sony R1. You can turn the viewer so you can see it when looking down on the camera, it has a APS size sensor, and no mirror box to give a CLACK sound. Or just invest in a small size P&S camera that shoots RAW or gives decent JPEG results (like the Panasonic LX1 or the Ricoh GR Digital) for those stealth moments.

Marlof
Thank you. As you may understand I am not going to invest in the Sony or any other camera.
I am sorry for the sound to be so invasive !
It was a good tip.
Please go and see http://antoniocorreia.smugmug.com/gallery/938400
"Brand new" photos !
Regards.

saurora

Re-thinking the possibilities
Very powerful stuff, Gus. Thanks for the link. I have not finished yet, will go back later. I started with his black and whites and was just blown away. It was so wonderful to see images with such wonderful quality of light (and marvelous, mysterious shadows!!). Powerful and sometimes disturbing subjects, but beautifully captured. I opened up his "Project" link, and read the gallery titles....disturbing, to say the least, but I will go back and view them. A very talented photographer. Funny when you view photos with such powerful content how all the technical details of the shot seems so unimportant. It irks me how we are always advised to "bring out the shadows" in every shot. I could be wrong, but I don't think I noticed any fill-flash here. But, he certainly knows how to use available light. Just viewing his portraits has made me want to re-think the possibilities, and that's a good thing!