This summer, I finally got around to checking The Decisive Moment out of the University library. Our copy appeared completely unmolested:
I have never really seen this book before and I had all the time in the world to peruse the photos. What an amazing collection of images. What struck me, however, is the how "low quality" they are by today's standards. Please note I am not saying the images themselves are low quality, as I would proudly hang them on my wall. Rather, the grain, the sharpness, etc. aren't anywhere near the levels of "quality" produced by the camera/lens I just used for the SiJY challenge. Some thoughts:
1. I actually used a DXO Filmpack to give film-like renderings to some of my pics for the challenge. I wonder if this is because I grew up in the film era and learned to like this look, or if there is something intrinsically pleasing about the old film look. I'm not a big fan of the term "clinical" for modern digital output but there is no question that word describes some of the difference between what comes out of the XE3 and what I've seeing in the book.
2. I have to wonder what this book would look like if Cartier Bresson (HCB) has an XPro2 and the 35 1.4. IIRC, HCB didn't develop his own stuff so it was essentially straight OOC.
3. I'm sitting here in my temporary office (mine is being re-tiled) looking at my used 24 MP A7 and Samyang 35 2.8. I used it for the picture above since it's my "office camera". I've developed a real affection for this little camera. Yet, I have been perusing the net looking at used A7R and even A7R ii. Who am I kidding? I never use tripods (I own a nice one, BTW) and MP is never a real limit. I suddenly had this humorous thought about the absurdity taking one of those 36 MP images and passing it through the DXO filmpack.
4. It's clear to me that HCB's technique consisted of 1. Composition, 2. Composition, and 3. Exposure. Focus IF he had time. I seriously wonder how many of these images would be sadly deleted nowadays because they were too flawed.
Anyways, these are my ruminations. Any thoughts? Mostly, this post is about me gloating about having a nice copy of the Decisive Moment to look through at my leisure.
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I have never really seen this book before and I had all the time in the world to peruse the photos. What an amazing collection of images. What struck me, however, is the how "low quality" they are by today's standards. Please note I am not saying the images themselves are low quality, as I would proudly hang them on my wall. Rather, the grain, the sharpness, etc. aren't anywhere near the levels of "quality" produced by the camera/lens I just used for the SiJY challenge. Some thoughts:
1. I actually used a DXO Filmpack to give film-like renderings to some of my pics for the challenge. I wonder if this is because I grew up in the film era and learned to like this look, or if there is something intrinsically pleasing about the old film look. I'm not a big fan of the term "clinical" for modern digital output but there is no question that word describes some of the difference between what comes out of the XE3 and what I've seeing in the book.
2. I have to wonder what this book would look like if Cartier Bresson (HCB) has an XPro2 and the 35 1.4. IIRC, HCB didn't develop his own stuff so it was essentially straight OOC.
3. I'm sitting here in my temporary office (mine is being re-tiled) looking at my used 24 MP A7 and Samyang 35 2.8. I used it for the picture above since it's my "office camera". I've developed a real affection for this little camera. Yet, I have been perusing the net looking at used A7R and even A7R ii. Who am I kidding? I never use tripods (I own a nice one, BTW) and MP is never a real limit. I suddenly had this humorous thought about the absurdity taking one of those 36 MP images and passing it through the DXO filmpack.
4. It's clear to me that HCB's technique consisted of 1. Composition, 2. Composition, and 3. Exposure. Focus IF he had time. I seriously wonder how many of these images would be sadly deleted nowadays because they were too flawed.
Anyways, these are my ruminations. Any thoughts? Mostly, this post is about me gloating about having a nice copy of the Decisive Moment to look through at my leisure.
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