Dudley Simons on tue 2 sep 97
Hello to all
I am newly subscribed to the list and feel I can learn a lot from the flow
of mail on this list. A few words about me - I am not an active potter
myself, my wife is the potter. I get roped in to sort out the
technicalities and practical problems, which she has little interest in and
shows no sign of getting interested in so long as I carry out the job of
unpaid technician! I have no training in pottery, but like to think that I
have a certain amount of practical ability and an enquiring mind. My Wife,
Liz, is an Art teacher at a local secondary school, 11 - 18 year olds, and
teaches some basic ceramics, painting, drawing and printmaking. We are in
the process of trying to figure out if it is practicable to put a studio
into a shed in out garden. The shed is 9 feet by 7 feet and would not have
to house a kiln or bulk clay storage both of which could live in a lean-to
next to the shed. We would welcome any suggestions or recommendations that
other listers might have on this subject. Is there anyone else on the list
resident in the UK?
I feel that as a photographer I have to stand up and put the case of the
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER. I have no wish to try and excuse the sloppy
handywork that some photographers turn out, but, speaking from personal
experience, it is not unusual for a 'client' to come to me requesting an
object to be photographed and have no real idea of what kind of final
result they want. They do however know exactly what they don't want when
you show them the transparencies of what YOU THOUGHT they wanted.
One correspondent suggested taking along magazine cuttings etc which
illustrate the style of photography you are aiming for, this is an
excellent idea. Speaking as a photographer I am quite happy for the client
to look through the viewfinder to check that the image is what they
require, or if they are happy to bear the extra expense, I will shoot large
or medium format polaroids for them. It is also worth mentioning that if
you have a piece of work which has a fault on it, which to you is quite
obvious, it is still worth mentioning the fault to your photographer and
that you would like to exclude the fault from the final image.
Dudley
Dudley Simons
drs1005@esc.cam.ac.uk
(01223 3) 33407
Senior Photographer
Dept Earth Sciences
University of Cambridge
England
Don Jones on wed 3 sep 97
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I feel that as a photographer I have to stand up and put the case of the
>PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER. I have no wish to try and excuse the sloppy
>handywork that some photographers turn out, but, speaking from personal
>experience, it is not unusual for a 'client' to come to me requesting an
>object to be photographed and have no real idea of what kind of final
>result they want. They do however know exactly what they don't want when
>you show them the transparencies of what YOU THOUGHT they wanted.
>
>One correspondent suggested taking along magazine cuttings etc which
>illustrate the style of photography you are aiming for, this is an
>excellent idea. Speaking as a photographer I am quite happy for the client
>to look through the viewfinder to check that the image is what they
>require, or if they are happy to bear the extra expense, I will shoot large
>or medium format polaroids for them. It is also worth mentioning that if
>you have a piece of work which has a fault on it, which to you is quite
>obvious, it is still worth mentioning the fault to your photographer and
>that you would like to exclude the fault from the final image.
>
>Dudley
Dudley,
Welcome to the list. As a matter of fact, I was just going to stand up for
the photographer myself before I saw your post. I think it is quite
arrogant of some people who assume they can buy a camera and few lights and
in no time get professional results. How would we feel if a photographer
came into our sales booth and announced that the work was not what they
had in mind and that it couldn't be too hard to get some clay and a kiln
and knock out a set of dinnerware?
I have always recommended that people on this list seek out the services of
a professional and work with them.
Don Jones
claysky@highfiber.com
Sandra Dwiggins on thu 4 sep 97
Okay Don--
I didn't respond out of arrogance. I am definitely not a professional, but I
do have some training in film, video, and still photography. I have also
had some really bad experiences with professional photographers and I
have friends who also have had bad experiences with professionals --
including top guns.
Since price is always an issue for me, I always try to do things myself.
And, I already own the equipment. I didn't expect that people without
any knowledge of photography techniques could "just go out, buy a
camera and a few lights" and get good results. For those of us who
can't afford the price of a really good table top photographer, and who
know something about how to use a camera, lights, and film--doing it
yourself IS possible. I discovered that it was possible only AFTER I had
such bad luck with professionals. I decided to experiment at home
myself, and found that the results weren't half bad.
Putting yourself behind the camera whether you do your own slides or
have a professional do them ,as Eleanor suggested, is the only way you
really get what you want. However, I would never put myself in the
category of a professional photographer.
So--Mea Culpa to all professionals who may have been offended and an
encouragement to those who want to try to do their own slides to
experiment. You will either like what you've done, or you will seek a
professional's help the next time.
Sandy
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