Welcome to episode 41 of The Circle of Confusion, the professional photography podcast.
For this week’s episode, we are down to two again as Peter is away in Iceland, so we can make fun of him again.
What do we talk about? Canon have another problem with their cameras and AF points. The Lego camera by Cary Norton. Yes, a camera made out of lego bricks. Yet again more problems with the Olympics and cameras. It just keeps getting worse and worse. Scientists have developed a method for authenticating digital images by analyzing ‘noise’. Roger finds the new Leica M10, or is it?
We talk about The Zack Rant. Zack Arias has a major problem, as do many others, with the “system” recommended by David Jay for starting a new photography business.
And we finally get some audio from Peter from a workshop here in Ireland.
To hear episode 41, hit the play button below. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes. We’d love it if you did.
Canon and what the AF Point problem ?
It has come to the attention of Canon that some people are not happy with the new black AF points because they are finding it hard to see which point is in use under dark conditions. On the old 1D, the AF point turned red to indicate which point was being used. Canon is saying that a a solution coming that may not be ideal for everyone. We don’t know the time frame for the update release yet.
The Legotron
Cary Norton built himself a camera made out of Lego bricks called The Legotron. It started back in 2009 with a blog post. As he says himself.. It’s best you just jump over to his blog here and read the full story.
The Olympic Problem
The problem we reported about bringing your BIG digital camera to the Olympics has taken another turn. Now it seems that certain venues will prohibit any kind of professional-style camera, which means any DSLR, as well as mirrorless, compact interchangeable len cameras for all manufactures. And worse still, it is unclear whether the security guards, which they have only 4,000 of the needed 13,700 in place, will receive proper training less than two week before the games begin.
You can read the full BJP post here.
Authenticating Digital Images
Scientist Siwei Lyu from University of Albany Computer Science has identified a new way of using ‘noise’ to authenticate digital photography. Siwei Lyu says, “Whenever a photo is manipulated digitally, the underlying characteristics of the image pixels are disturbed in a way that they become unnatural. Though human eyes may not be able to detect such subtle changes, they can be readily picked up by computer algorithms. The techniques developed aim to make sure that more significant manipulations can be detected.”
The new Leica M10 ?
Is this the new Leica M10 spotted out and about over on the Leica-Rumors website? It does look different from any of the other M series digital out at the moment, and what about the way the person is holding the camera ?
The Zack Rant
Taken from Zack’s blog:
Recently a guy made a web site touting a top ten list of things you can do to help start your photography career. I’m going on a rant and it’ll be the last one for awhile. If you care to read it, hit “more”. If not, no worries. I need to get this out of my “system” and then I should be good to go.
So this guy makes a top 10 list for starting a photography business. Sound like a joke? Good. Because it is.
Go get him Zack, we’re on your side.
Here is the Zack Arias video “Transform” Roger was talking about so you don’t have to lease us alone.
FREE SEGMENT FROM DYNAMIC RANGE EPISODE 2
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If you like it, why not buy the full episode? It’s available here: Dynamic Range Episode 2.
What do you think?
As ever, we’d love to hear your views and get your feedback.
Disagree, agree or have a completely different take on what we’ve discussed? Please get in touch by leaving a comment or emailing us at mailbag@circleofconfusion.ie.
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Blatant plug for our wares
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Mark emailed this into us and I wanted to post his comments about Art. So here you go :
Hi guys
It’s been a busy week but wanted to get some thoughts to you on last week’s question, is photography art?
Its seems that photography has gradually become more accepted as a form of art in recent decades. However, referring specifically to fine art photography, my own perception is that there seems to be a certain amount of snobbery, where fine art photography is looked upon separately to other genres as the only qualifying form of art. But flying in the face of this, museums/exhibitions are displaying photographic art that includes broader genres.
The debate seems to be whether photography is simply capture or whether photographs are constructed and imagined. Your traditional painter might suggest that it’s a lot harder and requires a much higher level of artistic talent to paint then to photograph! And yet, when you look at what it can take to skillfully put a good photography together, including; provoking a reaction, creating context, be based on an an idea, and all without imitating (criteria I borrow from Michael Freeman). Now tell me that doesn’t demand shear natural talent or at least many years perfecting a talent! Which by the way, on the basis of that criteria, counts out any of my current work as being considered art
Looking forward to hearing your debate. Keep up the great work.
Best regards
Mark.
Is Photography ART? Being a photography student at a fine arts college, you can guess where I come down on this issue; of course it’s art! But, what is art? Well, it’s probably whether and/or whatever the artist says it is.
Would there be a difference if I drew the scene rather than photographed it? Is it art if I use my pencils or paints and not art if I use my camera? Is everything that I draw, paint or photograph considered to be art?
The answer is – It Depends.
I know photographers who learned their craft at a commercial photography school. They were learning to make a living by taking pictures. Art was the furthest thing from their mind. Is a photojournalist practicing his craft or making art?
Gerhard Richter is a recognized artist – a famous guy. Look at his work “Townscape Madrid” http://www.gerhard-richter.com/art/paintings/photo_paintings/detail.php?5896
Compare that with the work of Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky – China urban renewal (http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/WORKS/China/Large_Images_Book/CHNA_UBR_05_04.htm) Is this to be considered documentary photography and not art?
Who determines whether or not it is art? As they say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.
I can’t wait to hear what the “Terrible Trio” has to say about this. Although I have to say that I’m surprised at the paucity of comments so far (unless I’m looking at the wrong podcast). Perhaps the listeners already know or don’t care or don’t want to know?
Rich