On Nov 10, 2005, at 10:52 AM, Christian wrote:
I agree with you about getting close to the subjects and I try to do this in my own nature (bird) photography. After looking at Brandt's photos, I must say that you and I have VERY different ideas about photography and "doing the subjects justice" I don't like his technique at all. I hate the soft edges; it reminds me of glamour photos with a soft filter/lens. The soft focus (or post processing; whatever it is) ruins otherwise very nice closeups/portraits. I DO like the framing and composition of his wider shots. In my opinion he is trying too hard to make his photos look "vintage" and that bothers me; it isn't "genuine" and it makes it look like he is trying to be something that he is not. Except for the wide shots showing the animals and the sweeping vistas of their environment, it doesn't (in my opinion) do them any justice.
I took a look at these too and my feeling is that the web isn't doing some of them justice at all. The first thing I thought looking at the elephant close-ups is that these are surely intended to be shown as large prints perhaps several feet to a side. That would put you, the viewer, close to where Brandt presumably was with the camera. The the fall-off and vignetting would then mimic how your eyes would have seen the real thing. I also suspect this is not an effect you could duplicate easily with a 600mm lens?
I'd guess that if any of them were shown at any sort of decent size the reaction of most people would be 'wow'.
Chris
