Blog and White World

Farewell, Kodachrome

2009-06-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

A moment of silence, please, for Kodachrome film.

Kodak today retired the slide film, and Dwayne's announced it will process the film through December 2010.

I was one of those who loved "those nice bright colors" and the "greens of summer" that gave Kodachrome its unique color palate, and its archival quality.

It's a sad day for photographers around the world.

Telex Iran, revolutions, photography, and technology

2009-06-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

With the tide of the street protests in Iran possibly turning against the entire Islamic theocratic system that overthrew the Shah's dictatorship 30 years ago, I thought the time was right to look back at Telex: Iran by Gilles Peres. Published in 1997, the book is a visual, personal retelling of the revolution that brought the Ayatollah's to power.

Mixed in with Telex communications with his editors, the book has immediacy that we did not really have before the age of the Internet.

What strikes me comparing Telex:Iran to the current situation is that again, those leading and participating in the protests are using cutting-edge technology, and the result is graphic and immediate. The almost-instant dissemination of photos and videos (despite government clampdowns on newsgathering at the events) is nothing less than stunning. While old-fashioned ways are also being used, we're seeing YouTube, Flickr, Twitter and other forums being used to organize rallies--and to rally world opinion.

It also strikes me that the brevity and immediacy of Peres's messages to the west are so similar in their urgency to the Tweets I've been seeing on Twitter's #iranelections feed, while the grittiness and off-kilter nature of the photos are in some ways similar to cell-phone stills and videos that are being shot and uploaded by Iranian protesters.

I just wonder...did the guys who founded YouTube and Flickr ever think they'd be caught up in a revolution?

Hell has frozen over...maybe

2009-06-16T05:39:00.000-07:00

We street shooters have been waiting a loooong time for a small interchangeable-lens camera built around a DSLR-quality sensor that wouldn't cost $5,000 (such as, say, the Leica M8). Well, today, Olympus announced the E-P1, AKA the Digital Pen, which offers full DSLR features (including HD video and CD-quality audio) and access to Olympus's Four Thirds lenses and flash system.

The first Micro Four Thirds camera, it can be bought with a 17mm f/2.8 pancake lens (factoring in sensor size, covers the same angle of view as a 34mm lens on a 35mm camera). It comes with a matching optical finder so you don't have to hold the camera at arm's length to see the image on the 3-inch LCD (which is your only other viewing choice--no EVF). Hopefully a 28mm equivalent lens is in the works.

There should be a hands-on report coming later today. In the meantime, here's the basic info and the full specs.

And so the revolution began...

2009-06-15T14:32:00.001-07:00

I shot this 30 years ago in New York City. I've been thinking about this shot lately, with the situation currently going on in Iran...

Random NYC Street Shot #42

2009-06-09T04:41:00.001-07:00

Random NYC Street Shot #41

2009-06-09T04:38:00.000-07:00

Random NYC Street Shot #40

2009-05-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

Random NYC Street Shot #39

2009-05-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

Random NYC Street Shot #38

2009-04-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

Random NYC Street Shot #37

2009-04-28T18:10:00.001-07:00

Random NYC Street Shot #37

2009-04-27T06:11:00.001-07:00

Random NYC Street Shot #36

2009-04-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

Random NYC Street Shot #35

2009-04-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

Shot with a Leica M8

Random NYC Street Shot #34

2009-04-24T04:30:00.000-07:00

Tech data: Leica M8, 28mm f/2 Sumicron lens.

Exposure: Using Bryan Peterson's tip, I shot at ISO 320 in RAW and but exposed as if I was shooting at ISO 800, then added 1.5 stops in my RAW image editor. Moderate grain, but better than if I'd shot at a higher ISO setting.

More M8 shots coming soon! Too bad I have to give it back in a week...

Random NYC Street Shot #33

2009-04-24T04:11:00.000-07:00

Shot with a Leica M8!

Random NYC Street Shot #32

2009-04-24T04:10:00.000-07:00

Shot with a Leica M8!

Random NYC Street Shot #31

2009-04-24T04:08:00.000-07:00

Shot with a Leica M8!

You Must Have Fun: Las Vegas Street Photo #11

2009-04-13T15:39:00.001-07:00

You Must Have Fun: Las Vegas Street Photo #12

2009-04-13T15:36:00.000-07:00

You Must Have Fun: Las Vegas Street Photo #10

2009-04-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Why I avoid photographing street people

2009-04-07T07:01:00.000-07:00

In my street photography class, I encourage my students by saying that all things are photographable in any way. And this is true. I encourage my students, as well as myself, to go out into the world with camera in hand and no preconceptions that could interfere with openness to taking pictures.

But I have one exception to that anti-rule, and that's street people. I feel that photographing them in their poverty is taking advantage of their difficult situation, and that they are not necessarily there voluntarily. Since for many people sleeping on the street it is their "home," I feel it can be argued that photographing them is an invasion of the little privacy that they have. So, I do not go out of my way to photograph them. In addition to the moral issues surrounding photographing street people, they're too easy to photograph. Where else are they going to go?

I just received email from a fellow street photographer showing his close-ups of a street person with a sign around his neck saying "tired and hungry." They were technically good photos, but add nothing to the millions of photos of street people that have already been taken. The photos didn't put money in the guy's hand so he could buy a sandwich. And I don't think looking at the photo would motivate someone to go out and find a street person and help him or her out. Supporting a local soup kitchen would be more socially responsible.

When I see a street person, I put down the camera and smile at them. If I have some change in my pocket, I'll give it to them and wish them luck. There's something wrong with photographing someone who can't afford their next meal and who lives on the street with a camera that costs more than what they might collect in a year on the street.

I'd rather photograph tourists looking stressed out, road warriors yakking on their cell phones, and office workers grabbing a smoke because it's been banned in their offices--or, really, anything else--than street people looking hungry and begging for money.

Sorry for the rant. Just had to get that off my chest.

My kids will love this

2009-04-07T05:50:00.001-07:00

Big news of the day: 16-year-old starlet Miley Cyrus (for the uninitiated, she's the one whose dad had that big "hit", Achy Breaky Heart, who has a big Disney TV show, and who has recorded a string of pop hits; still doesn't ring a bell? Ask any 11-year-old) really digs the Leica M8 digital rangefinder camera. See photo below, of Miley doing her best Winogrand impersonation.

Does this mean a new generation of well-heeled teeny boppers will grow up to be Leica fans? Hey Leica, there's a marketing opportunity here!

Miley's also the first cover girl for the new online version of Life (Life.com).

Photo: Jeff Vespa/Time & Life Pictures

Register now! New street photo class starts April 3!

2009-03-25T17:48:00.000-07:00

Want to try your hand at street photography? Learn how to take candid photos of strangers in public places, overcome shyness, improve your photographic reflexes and step out of your comfort zone by taking my online course, "Street Photography: Finding Order in Chaos" at the Perfect Picture School of Photography.

See you in school!

-Mason Resnick

You Must Have Fun: Las Vegas Street Photo #9

2009-03-23T11:20:00.001-07:00

You Must Have Fun: Las Vegas Street Photo #8

2009-03-23T11:18:00.002-07:00