tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249657679940822851.post1630926468873057738..comments2013-08-31T05:32:10.750-07:00Comments on The Bertie Project: New directions (no, I have not joined the glee club!)Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10862623910757236075noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249657679940822851.post-6890804096876260172011-09-24T14:33:05.469-07:002011-09-24T14:33:05.469-07:00Paul, I admire your ability and willingness to que...Paul, I admire your ability and willingness to question assumptions and to ask complex and nuanced questions. I always learn something from this, and enjoy pushing the boundaries of my own thoughts. <br /><br />I keep thinking about your comment that "this [plastic lens] aesthetic adds another layer between me and my experience of that moment ... While the toy camera creates a sense of a dream-like or memory state it also distances the viewer from the actual 'in the moment' experience." I'm not sure whether I could be misunderstanding, but I find myself seeing this as equating the high-end optics look with a kind of neutrality or objectivity. And it seems to me that far from being devoid of extra layers of meaning, an "objective" perspective is a perspective, just as a dreamlike one is. <br /><br />For example, what if the "in the moment experience" <i>is</i> dreamlike or really does have the quality of living a memory?<br /><br />In my opinion, a perspective of clarity might be one that any of us prefers, whether consistently, intermittently, or for specific expressive purposes. But it seems to me that it's still a perspective.<br /><br />I'm reminded of something Ted Orland wrote (in Light Leaks, in fact - issue 18, p. 27): "where Ansel's world was monumental and sharply defined, my world has become increasingly quirky - and decidedly fuzzy around the edges... the Holga...sees the world the way I do."<br /><br />At the same time, both your and Jim's remarks remind me that I have an old Mamiya (whose number escapes me at the moment) in my closet, and it might be interesting to try it again...<br /><br />Thank you for expanding my ways of thinking about this.J. M. Goldinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11124250317393120336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249657679940822851.post-48403475843921150592011-09-13T22:57:38.587-07:002011-09-13T22:57:38.587-07:00Hi Jim,
Thanks for such a thoughtful and supporti...Hi Jim,<br /><br />Thanks for such a thoughtful and supportive response to the post. I've long admired your work and continue to do so - you are a master at working with the Holga and consistently produce strong, engaging images.<br /><br />PaulPaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10862623910757236075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249657679940822851.post-59385762514745323442011-09-13T09:35:22.221-07:002011-09-13T09:35:22.221-07:00Paul,
You have covered this topic quite eloquentl...Paul,<br /><br />You have covered this topic quite eloquently here.<br />It's something I have given some thought to recently.<br />But I think I have made peace with being a "toy camera" photographer, at least temporarily. <br />I occasionally bring my Mamiya 7 with me when I shoot. The resulting images usually just reinforce the fact that these are not the type of photos I am happy with (or good at) creating. Perhaps someday. <br /><br />Jimjim rohanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09721730311823528622noreply@blogger.com