I'd like to try something, and if it goes well perhaps it will provide a new sort of PDML thread for members to start periodically. Conversations will, no doubt, evolve like wheel spokes off of a central topic (hub), but I'd like this threads "hub" to be National Geographic photographer Sam Abell. I think there may be multiple pieces of my commentary (below) that you may have different reactions to. I look forward to the discussions that will hopefully ensue.
My son-in-law, Ryan McGinnis ( http://www.bigstormpicture.com & http://www.bigstormpicture.com/blog ) and I drove to Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska a couple of weeks ago to see a presentation by Mr. Sam Abell (sponsored by Canon). Now this is not going to be a worshipful thread (by any means) at least not from me. Maybe I'm a harsh critic, or maybe I just had my expectations set too high, but I did not see as many photographs in his presentation that I said to myself, "WoW. I wish I had taken THAT." That surprised me. Perhaps it was simply his choice of images for this presentation, because when I look at this page ( http://compassrosebooks.blogspot.com/2010/03/sam-abell-national-geographic-stylist.html ) I see a lot of images that I wish I had taken. Only three images on that particular page were included in his 2 hour presentation. What Mr. Abell's presentation and work DID do, however, is stimulate some thinking on my part (which is always good, in my book). As a National Geographic photographer, Mr. Abell has been sent to some of the really interesting places on earth to photograph really interesting subjects that most of us will never get the chance to photograph. It seems to me that there is a spectrum of subjects: Nominally very uninteresting to nominally very interesting. And there is also a spectrum of photographic images: Nominally uninteresting to nominally very interesting. The two spectrums are independent of each other, or perhaps interdependent - depending upon the skill (or luck) of the photographer. Obviously, this is highly subjective. But when I look at a photograph I sometimes ask myself: Is this a great image of what could otherwise be an uninteresting subject, or is this an average image of a very interesting subject? One example, I might suggest, is one of the three Sam Abell images that graced the COVER of National Geographic magazine: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/Photography/Images/POD/a/aboriginal-teenager-504198-sw.jpg ( http://on.natgeo.com/903wXD ) Is the "greatness" of this image due to the photographer or the unusual subject? Put another way, if we put ME in that water, would this be a compelling image? On the other hand, consider this image: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FNndI0BvPNA/S7AXaamrd8I/AAAAAAAABLA/HNtibpofTPA/s400/Abell7.jpg ( http://bit.ly/cU3pDu ) At his presentation, he included a farther away image. There are a lot of different "groups" in this branding scene that the photographer had to choose from. He made conscious decisions (which group to focus on, how close to get, framing, etc.) and then he had to have the timing to capture the image when elements converged at an interesting fraction of a second. This is an incredible image and one he says for which other photographers wish to trade him prints (the ultimate compliment). Yes, it is interesting subject matter, but it could be treated in a pedestrian way, which this image is not. While still subjective, I might argue that this is an EMPIRICALLY great photograph - in other words: If you are in the minority that don't think so, you are a moron. :) Sam also has some quotes that are worth of discussion, or at least consideration. One that I particularly like is: "It matters little how much equipment we use; it matters much that we be masters of all we do use." Thoughts? Darren Addy Kearney, Nebraska -- Nothing is sure, except Death and Pentaxes. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.