Well, another week ends. A point on the equator has travelled 280532 km (174 352 miles) since our last week link round-up and I’m officially calling it a series now that N°3 is here. In this post, we cover legal stuff for our European readers and some photographic stuff for all.
GDPR: Although this concerns commercial companies more than leisure blogs with no financial income, I thought you might be interested in understanding what data is collected by DearSusan. In a word, none. But that’s not really true or so simple. The fact is that we don’t knowingly collect or use your data. We don’t sell it out to evil partners, we don’t use it to target ads … but we do have visitor stats which we occasionally look out to try to determine which topics and post types you find more interesting. Also some of the tools used in the blog (image carousel, visitor stats …) do use some data, although we don’t use that. If you’re interested in the specifics, here is a Privacy Page created with the help of WordPress. Also, there should be a unsubscribe link in each email we send you.
No Big Brother here ! This rendering, by the way is why I believe the Zeiss C-Sonnar 1.5/50 ZM is the most underestimated gem in all of the modern photo world.
On with photography !
The Technical revolution has turned us into a virus. Edward Burtynsky goes viral ! As well he should as an artist concerned with human impact on other species. At a hundred grand a pop Burtynsky’s photographs go far beyond the beautiful creating unease within the viewer by making our abuses so beautiful to look at.
When everything is so beautiful, what do you photograph? Another take on going beyond the beautiful. Landscape as a cultural construct. Scenes where nature and humanity intersect “What always interests me about landscapes is the dynamic of chaos versus control”. A good read.
Larry Burrows revisited: forty photographs exemplifying a humanist’s career. Photojournalism ? Pfuh … not my cup of tea! Unless photographs show this level of composition and creativity. A photo is a photo is a photo whatever the genre. It can be brilliant (as many here) or lousy. The act of photography transcends the genre.
Hasselblad X1D: Bold, Beautiful, Flawed, Fixable. 30 minutes of your life : what do you choose to waste them on? Unhealthy, draining, Facebook? Cat videos? Or this interesting essay on the camera that is keeping me awake at night ? “A camera designed for practitioners of the art of photography” ’nuff said!
Giorgio Palmas, Rugby Shivers. This guy obviously used gear that can’t shoot very high frame rates, focus quickly enough, freeze action … what a (brilliant) loser!
This week’s photographs are from Montpellier, for no other reasons that work took me there a few days ago. Beautiful town, if you have the opportunity to visit. Zeiss C-Sonnar 1.5/50 ZM.
(H.T. to my dad) Martin Parr’s day at the Chelsea flower show – a photo essay. If Parr’s brilliant eye isn’t enough to make you giggle, I’m sure the knowledge that such a genius of social comment gets criticised for over saturating his images will. Priceless.
Hmm – three of the first four articles carry a depressing message about the failings of the human species – I never imagined I’d still be here, now, until I was 65 & a rather serious dose of open heart surgery saved my life – after I regained consciousness, my surgeon told me I’d be good for another 65 years, and if I hadn’t still been rather weakened by the stress of it all, I think I might have clouted him for suggesting such a horrible thought. Still, here I am, and everywhere I go, I run into stories about the destruction wreaked by humans on this planet, its wildlife, marine life, climate and everything else – and then to show how ridiculous they are, they attack each other as well.
I did however find the Catherine Hyland article thought provoking and interesting – she certainly has “the eye”, and sees things few others have – or do. It is always stimulating to come across the thoughts of someone who has a new approach.
I did read the article on Marzena – she’s good, and I can envy her life style – but then I’d hate to have it (her life style, I mean), so why did I say that?
Hasselblads? – my initial reaction was “sadly, this is outside my budget” – but opened up the clip anyway (after I realised it first opened with an advert, that I could nuke & remove) – and have to say “thank you thank you thank you”, because I have been introduced to Three Blind Men and An Elephant Productions, and instantly fallen in love with this outfit.
Louis Vuitton? – pass – collage ain’t what I consider “photography”.
Promises & perils of America? – at first I thought this would be about dumbo tramp, but then I thought maybe it’s about whether prints are a good way to store photos, because I caught sight of a comment about resistance to technological change. Breathing more easily now – I found out it’s neither. But who’d have thought our great great great grandparents got up to stuff like that? – conning people, through photography? Instead, we find forgeries – manipulation (even BEFORE Photoshop!) – counterfeiting! That’s DEFINITELY put a stop to it – I shan’t ever play cards with my grandmother again. These people simply aren’t to be trusted!
Someone else can do the comments on the pilot’s photos – I would however like to draw everyone’s attention to his adherence to the principles behind this DearSusan website! Dunno about GAS – I don’t think it’s going to make everyone rush out and buy a 747 – but the shots of the northern lights are WOW! – what the! – gobstoppingly breathtaking!
Giorgio, your photography is an acquired taste – what grabs me with sports photography is tack sharp action shots – maybe one of Nadal whacking a tennis ball, and the shutter stopped down so far that you can see the ball flatten as the racquet hits it!
BBL to deal with the HT and the RROT – the dog is demanding a walk. 🙂 Anyway it’s Philippe’s turn.
Ha ha, brilliant, Pete, thanks. Yes, the failings of the human race are a major downer. I do find interesting how different artists spotlight it in such different ways, though.
The Hassy presentation appealed to me as well. A very interesting essay delivered in a very articulate fashion. And a glimmer of hope for photography done the old way in a modern manner. Which, less crypticlally, means the camera is here to serve the tog’s vision, not blurr it through layers of awful technology.
BTW – I thought there was something “painterly” about your third photo! Yes I agree that Montpellier is a lovely city, and it must have been wonderful to grow up & go to university there – but as much as I photograph street art, I would have selected something like l’Arbre Blanc (since you used a shot of la Place de la Comédie recently in another post) – and perhaps something like this almost poetic description of the city:
“Montpellier, the capital of Languedoc, a few miles from the Mediterranean coast, was where I discovered France. We’ve been in a relationship ever since. We’ve perhaps matured together – Montpellier into the most seductive provincial town in France, me into an older version of the seducer I never was. Back then, the city was emerging from a lethargic recent past of rentiers, wine decline and sun-lit slumber. I was fresh out of university, so given, too, to slumber and wine decline. With a French future wife, I’d rented a wooden shack which grew, like a blister, from the roof in question. ”
I can’t say I agree entirely with the author, but then my maturity descended on me from an entirely different direction. 🙂 Each to his own, I guess – his path doesn’t sound as interesting as mine was.
In some conditions, the C-Sonnar can be made to look quite painterly. Just rool down the highlights in PP and it takes on that effect quite naturally, if the light is right. I wanted to make the rest of the photograph feel like the painting on the wall and the lens helped a lot with that.
Nice description of Montpellier. Where did you find that? 😉
Back.
Well yes, of course – it’s impossible not to love Stanley Kubrick’s work. Put it another way – if you ever find someone who doesn’t, ask them how many people like THEIR work!
I’m skipping the next two – the first one is cause for personal embarrassment (been there, done that, got the scars on my back to prove it – ‘cept is was something worse than a missing card!) – and I submitted the other one. Actually there is one thing – a reminder that the guy who invented these sensors has now developed one that takes this pixel stuff to the absolute technical limit – because it captures the individual photons. Beyond that, there’s nowhere further to go! So we (photographers, that is) will all have to argue about something interesting, instead of pixel numbers.
Luis’ photography would blow anyone away. I particularly like the elephant – I’ve loved elephants all my life – so I admit it, I am hopelessly biased in favour of this shot!
I am a bit nervous about Martin Parr’s comment that “[The Chelsea Flower Show is] as white as it gets”. I’ll let it pass this time Martin, but don’t do it again. Never mind – that’s a side issue – the flowers are gorgeous as always and the hats are absurd – ditto. Isn’t digital wonderful? – you can blast away all day, the film’s free, and you have to be a complete idiot to run out, because you left the other card[s] at home . . . . 🙂
And so to ROTT – I ignored the Coca Cola ad, Pascal – sorry, can’t abide the muck – thoroughly enjoyed Alice and the White Rabbit, I’ve always been a fan of those two books – I even have an “Annotated Alice”, which is mind-blowing in the revelations it makes as to what lies beneath and behind the words! It reminded me of the heady days of the 1960s – fresh out of university, out of the reach of parents, living on my own several thousand miles from where I grew up – someone offered me a smoke and I said “no thanks, I have my own cigarettes” – his face went into convulsions, I’d clearly horrified him with my answer – and it was only as I walked away that I realised I’d just turned down the first joint anyone ever offered me.
Not all sure what the second one’s about – Kata or Go Pai Sho or some dude’s bare feet – is this something like martial arts? 🙂
Nessie is most likely something some Scot dreamed up years ago, to boost the tourist trade – Loch Ness is surely long and deep and no doubt freezing cold – poorly illuminated above and (even more so) below the water line – but it’s been plumbed to death by numerous people who wanted to be the first to discover the monster – so this latest one is probably doomed too. Who knows – maybe there are bones down there from before the Triassic Age, when there really WERE monsters there?
Back to Beethoven, my duties as resident chef, and a nice glass of red. 🙂
# To humans as a virus:
There was a 1983 film,
Koyaanisqatsi !
# Catherine Hyland
has that great knack for creating the feeling of depth in her photos.
# “The Promises and Perils of Early American Photography on Paper”
Seems to be a really important exhibition, also relevant now in other parts of our world.
# Hassy.
A nice analysis.
( Plus: H’blad has one of the smartest tilt/shift solutions, an adapter with optics optimised to work with 6 lenses from 24 to 100mm.)
– – –
Really enjoyed this post, the articles and the pictures.
Thanks Cliff, I’m really happy about that.
Hmm – three of the first four articles carry a depressing message about the failings of the human species – I never imagined I’d still be here, now, until I was 65 & a rather serious dose of open heart surgery saved my life – after I regained consciousness, my surgeon told me I’d be good for another 65 years, and if I hadn’t still been rather weakened by the stress of it all, I think I might have clouted him for suggesting such a horrible thought. Still, here I am, and everywhere I go, I run into stories about the destruction wreaked by humans on this planet, its wildlife, marine life, climate and everything else – and then to show how ridiculous they are, they attack each other as well.
I did however find the Catherine Hyland article thought provoking and interesting – she certainly has “the eye”, and sees things few others have – or do. It is always stimulating to come across the thoughts of someone who has a new approach.
I did read the article on Marzena – she’s good, and I can envy her life style – but then I’d hate to have it (her life style, I mean), so why did I say that?
Hasselblads? – my initial reaction was “sadly, this is outside my budget” – but opened up the clip anyway (after I realised it first opened with an advert, that I could nuke & remove) – and have to say “thank you thank you thank you”, because I have been introduced to Three Blind Men and An Elephant Productions, and instantly fallen in love with this outfit.
Louis Vuitton? – pass – collage ain’t what I consider “photography”.
Promises & perils of America? – at first I thought this would be about dumbo tramp, but then I thought maybe it’s about whether prints are a good way to store photos, because I caught sight of a comment about resistance to technological change. Breathing more easily now – I found out it’s neither. But who’d have thought our great great great grandparents got up to stuff like that? – conning people, through photography? Instead, we find forgeries – manipulation (even BEFORE Photoshop!) – counterfeiting! That’s DEFINITELY put a stop to it – I shan’t ever play cards with my grandmother again. These people simply aren’t to be trusted!
Someone else can do the comments on the pilot’s photos – I would however like to draw everyone’s attention to his adherence to the principles behind this DearSusan website! Dunno about GAS – I don’t think it’s going to make everyone rush out and buy a 747 – but the shots of the northern lights are WOW! – what the! – gobstoppingly breathtaking!
Giorgio, your photography is an acquired taste – what grabs me with sports photography is tack sharp action shots – maybe one of Nadal whacking a tennis ball, and the shutter stopped down so far that you can see the ball flatten as the racquet hits it!
BBL to deal with the HT and the RROT – the dog is demanding a walk. 🙂 Anyway it’s Philippe’s turn.
Ha ha, brilliant, Pete, thanks. Yes, the failings of the human race are a major downer. I do find interesting how different artists spotlight it in such different ways, though.
The Hassy presentation appealed to me as well. A very interesting essay delivered in a very articulate fashion. And a glimmer of hope for photography done the old way in a modern manner. Which, less crypticlally, means the camera is here to serve the tog’s vision, not blurr it through layers of awful technology.
Cheers, my regards to the dog 🙂
BTW – I thought there was something “painterly” about your third photo! Yes I agree that Montpellier is a lovely city, and it must have been wonderful to grow up & go to university there – but as much as I photograph street art, I would have selected something like l’Arbre Blanc (since you used a shot of la Place de la Comédie recently in another post) – and perhaps something like this almost poetic description of the city:
“Montpellier, the capital of Languedoc, a few miles from the Mediterranean coast, was where I discovered France. We’ve been in a relationship ever since. We’ve perhaps matured together – Montpellier into the most seductive provincial town in France, me into an older version of the seducer I never was. Back then, the city was emerging from a lethargic recent past of rentiers, wine decline and sun-lit slumber. I was fresh out of university, so given, too, to slumber and wine decline. With a French future wife, I’d rented a wooden shack which grew, like a blister, from the roof in question. ”
I can’t say I agree entirely with the author, but then my maturity descended on me from an entirely different direction. 🙂 Each to his own, I guess – his path doesn’t sound as interesting as mine was.
PS “joint” has a “t” 🙂
Ooops!
In some conditions, the C-Sonnar can be made to look quite painterly. Just rool down the highlights in PP and it takes on that effect quite naturally, if the light is right. I wanted to make the rest of the photograph feel like the painting on the wall and the lens helped a lot with that.
Nice description of Montpellier. Where did you find that? 😉
Back.
Well yes, of course – it’s impossible not to love Stanley Kubrick’s work. Put it another way – if you ever find someone who doesn’t, ask them how many people like THEIR work!
I’m skipping the next two – the first one is cause for personal embarrassment (been there, done that, got the scars on my back to prove it – ‘cept is was something worse than a missing card!) – and I submitted the other one. Actually there is one thing – a reminder that the guy who invented these sensors has now developed one that takes this pixel stuff to the absolute technical limit – because it captures the individual photons. Beyond that, there’s nowhere further to go! So we (photographers, that is) will all have to argue about something interesting, instead of pixel numbers.
Luis’ photography would blow anyone away. I particularly like the elephant – I’ve loved elephants all my life – so I admit it, I am hopelessly biased in favour of this shot!
I am a bit nervous about Martin Parr’s comment that “[The Chelsea Flower Show is] as white as it gets”. I’ll let it pass this time Martin, but don’t do it again. Never mind – that’s a side issue – the flowers are gorgeous as always and the hats are absurd – ditto. Isn’t digital wonderful? – you can blast away all day, the film’s free, and you have to be a complete idiot to run out, because you left the other card[s] at home . . . . 🙂
And so to ROTT – I ignored the Coca Cola ad, Pascal – sorry, can’t abide the muck – thoroughly enjoyed Alice and the White Rabbit, I’ve always been a fan of those two books – I even have an “Annotated Alice”, which is mind-blowing in the revelations it makes as to what lies beneath and behind the words! It reminded me of the heady days of the 1960s – fresh out of university, out of the reach of parents, living on my own several thousand miles from where I grew up – someone offered me a smoke and I said “no thanks, I have my own cigarettes” – his face went into convulsions, I’d clearly horrified him with my answer – and it was only as I walked away that I realised I’d just turned down the first joint anyone ever offered me.
Not all sure what the second one’s about – Kata or Go Pai Sho or some dude’s bare feet – is this something like martial arts? 🙂
Nessie is most likely something some Scot dreamed up years ago, to boost the tourist trade – Loch Ness is surely long and deep and no doubt freezing cold – poorly illuminated above and (even more so) below the water line – but it’s been plumbed to death by numerous people who wanted to be the first to discover the monster – so this latest one is probably doomed too. Who knows – maybe there are bones down there from before the Triassic Age, when there really WERE monsters there?
Back to Beethoven, my duties as resident chef, and a nice glass of red. 🙂
# To humans as a virus:
There was a 1983 film,
Koyaanisqatsi !
# Catherine Hyland
has that great knack for creating the feeling of depth in her photos.
# “The Promises and Perils of Early American Photography on Paper”
Seems to be a really important exhibition, also relevant now in other parts of our world.
# Hassy.
A nice analysis.
( Plus: H’blad has one of the smartest tilt/shift solutions, an adapter with optics optimised to work with 6 lenses from 24 to 100mm.)
– – –
# To Offff topic
YouTube from bad to good.
This is good too:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vKFMitHhd1E
And even more yester…:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M1JySi4ugyc
– – –
# Nessy.
I first saw that photo as a copy from a British newspaper with the excellent caption:
“A rare photo” !
Oh wow, that Summertime !!! Thanks.
Aye,
it bests even Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, doesn’t it?
Well, I’m no expert, but it sure is smooth !
Neither am I!
I just go by what I like.
( As in photography…)
Re. (the history aspect of):
“The Promises and Perils of Early American Photography on Paper”
I just heard of a newly published book:
Barracoon: The Story of the Last Slave,
by Zora Hurston (written in the 1930s)
( e.g. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/barracoon-cudjo-lewis-zora-neale-hurston-last-slave-ship-survivor-book-life-story-published-a8335776.html )
( Possibly even more important than Alex Haley, Roots.)
Wow, thanks for sharing!