It will be interesting to see how AI generated images evolve technologically as they meld their way into the vast universe of visual imagery around us. Their niche will grow, but with that, I feel the demand for authenticity will increase with it, adding value to the work of those genuine creators who produce high-quality visual images. It brings to mind the value a genuine luxury brand product holds over a good “knock-off,” even when it might be difficult to tell the difference between the two. Of course, these are just my early musings on AI generated images at this point, and I could be completely wrong on that one.
I enjoy looking back on so many technologies that were introduced over the years, the pundits predictions on their future impact at the time, followed by the realities that unfolded into the future afterward. Learning how to adapt to those new realities is another matter altogether.
Nothing compares to seeing photographs come to life in an event of this nature. Each photographers story was unique and moving.
While their photographs and narratives were compelling and powerful enough, there is still nothing like meeting the photographers in person, and listening to them expand upon their often very emotional and personal stories.
When I read the title of this article, I really could not think of a reason silver cameras would be better than black. Then I read it, and the reason makes perfect sense. For someone like me, who has lived through and coped with a lifetime of very hot and bright sunny summers, the reason should have been obvious.
I am still “reflecting” on that reason, and my experience on a hot sunny day last September when my sliver “pocket” Leica took over after my black Samsung phone camera overheated and crashed without warning on a photo walk. The details in this article go into more detail on the how and why on that. It was definitely a lesson learned.
Many people are familiar with some of Wim Wenders films, and his captivating moving picture artistry that captivates us in them. What many don’t know, as with many great directors, he is a great still photographer and remains one to this day.
Check out the tribute to his “road’ trilogy in the attached video below along with his website, that includes a section featuring his still photography.
I found this post very poignant and moving. What “getting close” meant and the reason for stopping were not what I was expecting but completely understandable.
I found this to be a captivating and insightful video on the subject of not only the topic of street photography, but overall photography in general. His mindset, and workflow from shooting to post editing to an image worth sharing and/or publishing is efficient and masterful.
Late in September 2022, I traveled to the Trinity River / Downtown Dallas area to shoot some pictures. Normally, I take a backpack with one of my Nikon DLSR cameras and lenses. This day, I wanted to travel light, so I just took my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and my Leica D-Lux 7.
While I had only planned to shoot a few river and skyline shots from a distance, then leave, that did not happen. As often happens, I began walking and exploring instead. I hiked down the levee to the Trinity River bottoms trail and kept walking when I discovered the view of some landmarks and infrastructure was very much different and interesting than what we all usually from street and ground (or drone) level. It was captivating, and I kept walking further, shooting pictures with my smartphone, until it “crashed.” There was a message saying the camera had overheated, so it had to close. It was only a mild 91 degrees, which is not hot by Dallas standards, and I’d never had any film or digital SLR/DLSR or.any camera for that matter “shut down” due to the heat, ever in my decades of shooting, including many middle of summer 100+ degree days in TX. The camera did not come back on no matter what I did, and I could see many potential good pictures ahead on the trail.
Fortunately, I had my taken my small Leica D-Lux 7 along with me. It was working, but as with moast mirrorless cameras, it was eating battery power up as I continued to shoot and didn’t have an extra battery. In the end, I was able to capture most of the images I wanted between the two cameras that day. The picture in this post of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge taken from below at the river botttom level was taken with my Leica after my smartphone “shut down.”
I experimented with the choice of camera gear I took with me that day and learned a lesson with that experience. Fortunately, it was not a serious shoot, and had it been, I would’ve had my backup Nikon cameras and gear available.
I am sharing this experience as a caveat for those who set out with a smartphone “only” to capture important images. Keep a backup camera close.
My interest in photography began in the film/darkroom days when I went to photography school and learned to shoot with all types of film format cameras, process color/b&w film and prints, and worked in a custom color photo lab after I graduated school. Over time, as I evolved into the digital age with all its possibilities, film faded away in my life. My Nikon Ftn 35 mm SLR sat dormant for decades, yet I carried it through life and many moves. I did think of selling it at one point but hung on to it, possibly for nostalgic reasons. What I never would have predicted is the resurgence of analog and film photography you see today and for me, an plan to shoot film with my 1970’s Nikon 35mm camera once again.
I always liked Nikon above others camera products then. I even used their lenses on my darkroom enlargers. I’ve always been interested in photography gear and back then always looked at the popular cameras of the day, especially if I was with someone who owned one. Outside of Canon and Nikon, when it came to 35 mm, I always had an appreciation of Pentax cameras and the quality niche they had in the market among the other big names. I was excited to see the news of this film project featuring Pentax. I look forward to seeing where it goes as well as shooting a roll of Kodak film with my 35 mm Nikon Ftn for the first time since my last roll in the 1990’s .
This is some of the best advice I have seen on how to grow professionally and personally in any life endeavor, but especially relevant to growing in a creative/technical world, specifically photography.
