The Photo-Fetishist League

[johnastovall]

Nice little essay by Cetin at "The Online Photographer."

What's your fetishist?

[jeffkohn]

I thought the article was pretty good, but the picture wasn't a very good example to illustrate point if he's trying to say you can take good pictures without worrying about technical minutae.

I guess my fetish is resolution, I've worked hard to maximize the results possible with the gear I have, and am always open to new gear or techniques that will allow me to push it even further.

I think the luddites serve their purpose to remind us that there's more to photography than technical specs and pixel peeping, but I sometimes it seems like they're advocating the other extreme, that this stuff doesn't matter at all, which IMHO is just as silly.

[studiocygnet]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

I think the luddites serve their purpose to remind us that there's more to photography than technical specs and pixel peeping, but I sometimes it seems like they're advocating the other extreme, that this stuff doesn't matter at all, which IMHO is just as silly.

But it is true, nothing matters except the print and the viewer in the end. Everything else is just a tool to get the picture that you have imagined accomplished. There have been fabulous photos taken with polaroids, Holgas, Point and shoots, and pinholes as well as Hassys, Leicas, and the newest highest resolution digital stuff. So forget the specs and work with what'cha got.
And of course, my fetish is to always do the opposite of what the masses are doing.

[jeffkohn]

I agree that what matters is the print, but I don't agree that equipment doesn't matter at all in the process of producing the print you want. The fact that people have taken good pictures crappy cameras does not mean that gear doesn't matter at all. Sometime softness and other defects can be used creatively and may be part of the photographer's intent. But other times it may just mean that a good picture could have been even better if different equipment were used. If Ansel Adams used a disposable camera with plastic lens his images may have still been good, but you can't tell the prints would have had just as much impact.

[kenw]

perhaps nothing matters but the final image.....

what knocks me back is a great image projected on a fine 50" 1080p LCD....

[123canon]

in the end, the only opinion that matters is the one from who pulled the trigger. cool article, glad i finished it because i was beginning to wonder where the *&%&$*(&^& it was going!