adin@frontier.net
Fri, 23 Jul 1999 12:09:44 +0000
Jeff,
the APIS people are pretty much the same as any group- some of those folks can
print with the best (or ARE the best), the rest of us only WANT to print that
well. If you don't think I have asked my share of remedial questions, Melody
can vouch for that. and I'm not done asking.
and I do know you are willing to share, most of the time. Truthfully, I
probably don't have as much patience as others with the dumb questions. BUT, I
will try to answer what I can with documentation. Just saying strathmore is
the best doesn't help without some reason.
and yes, a lot of gossiping and eye-dropper technique. Maybe a good
generalization is: the better you print the more boring the basics become.
Just remember, someone else may have already solved your problem (or you there
problem) and a lot of time/energy can be saved by sharing.
I've no secrets, I'm already the best (haha ask my mom!) Seriously, there are
enough differences that sharing "secrets" won't hurt anyone.
You have done tons of research, that most others might envy, and there is a
social responsibility to disseminate this information. Perhaps we could try to
be more helpful (cheerful, polite, whatever.) (I say "we" because it IS hard
sometimes to endure. We have all had the curious peer into the lens during an
exposure, and at some level we all probably would like to kick the sob. Lately
I try to "cherish" the moment and tell the story later.)
bitch, moan, and whine. better go.
David
> Open response to Dave,
>
> I certainly agree with the bulk of what you stated in your post, and in
> fact do practice such ambassadorship when photographing. However, your
> point that I am somehow reluctant to share information could not be
> farther from reality. It would not be difficult to find those who will
> tell you that I will go out of my way to explain a technicality and
> answer any of their questions if I can. And I'll let them know when I
> can't. I certainly believe that complete and accurate information
> should be disseminated freely.
>
> Make photographs in isolation, I sometimes do that. Photograph with
> other photographers, I sometimes do that. I've had a drunken vet wonder
> up and breath on the lens in Philadelphia. I've had a hiker
> accidentally (or maybe not) kick the tripod just before the exposure was
> to be made. I've diverted into conversations for over an hour with some
> passerby. Some days I've even had all conversation and no exposures.
>
> The point is that I really expected something a bit different from folks
> involved with alt-photo, after all they are a bit different from the
> typical public. What is so unusual to an alt-photographer about using a
> 4x5???
>
> Anyhow, I met several new people with whom I hope to have long and
> bountiful relationships (some that I feel can help improve my work), as
> well seeing several old acquaintances. But I do feel that I spent a
> disproportionate amount of the time talking technique, perhaps in
> answering those questions.
>
> --
> Jeffrey D. Mathias
> <a
href="http://home.att.net/~jeffrey.d.mathias/">http://home.att.net/~jeffrey.d.ma
thias/</a>
>
-- This message was sent using Frontier Internet's Webmail. http://www.frontier.net
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b3 on Thu Oct 28 1999 - 21:40:37