Altar of Lost Traits

[The_Cheat]

My argument is due to the uneducated consumer behavior/preception, they are willing to accept "Professional (The_Cheat's definition)" without expertise or skill ...ironic and sad ... poor consumer consumer also respect money more and tend to compromise quality, thats their choice, but nothing to do with my "Professional" who is not a *Slave*!

I'm agree totally that a professional need to be skilful or proficient. You would need to show at least some kind of competence before you get paid for doing the job. That's natural in all jobs. And like all jobs, there will be professionals who are good and some who are not as desirable. That's why some professional ask for premium, while some ask for peanuts. As for consumers, if they pay peanuts then expect to get monkey lor!

However, you cannot just look at the definition you want, and ignore the other definition of the word. The fact is, professional would inevitably be linked with money. And getting paid more often than not means that one have to do something, even if it is not that something one wanted. This is in contrast with an amateur, who is not in it for the money. They are in for the love of the thing.

 

[CZJena]

WHY "LOST TRAITS" ???

There are majority of people especially in Singapore who had enslaved themselves and is "Lost" into dollars, and they even called themselves "Professional", i call them despicable RAT!

And the worst thing is RAT makes more RATs!

The true TRAITS of fotograhic enjoyment, humanity and culture is LOST! And turning this country greyer into land of zombies, devoid of artists ...

Is this the end of the *World* ??
There are still hope ..... its so far, but still near ...

Find the ALTAR

 

[CZJena]

Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961)

Today surprised me by reading off the Wikipedia on Carl Jung:

"The overarching goal of Jung's work was the reconciliation of the life of the individual with the world of the supra-personal archetypes. He came to see the individual's encounter with the unconscious as central to this process. The human experiences the unconscious through symbols encountered in all aspects of life: in dreams, art, religion, and the symbolic dramas we enact in our relationships and life pursuits. Essential to the encounter with the unconscious, and the reconciliation of the individual's consciousness with this broader world, is learning this symbolic language. Only through attention and openness to this world (which is quite foreign to the modern Western mind) are individuals able to harmonize their lives with these suprapersonal archetypal forces."

"He considered this process of psychological growth and maturation (which is known as individuation) to be of critical importance to the human being, and ultimately to modern society."

"To undergo the individuation process, the individual must be open to the parts of oneself beyond one's own ego."

You can read more about his philosophy @
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Jung


His words again reaffirm my path towards self-discovery through art and expressionism of inner soul (unconscious mind).

 

[CZJena]

Water .....
Some say "Life" ...
I say "Dream" ...
Read articles @ http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art365.asp

Excerpt:
"Water is a common theme in dreams - from quiet ponds to turbulent oceans and torrential waterfalls and thunderstorms. Water generally symbolizes the emotions, intuition, the unconscious and movement. It can have many meanings, depending on the context.

The state of the water is a good indication of how you are feeling about the situation or how the journey is going. Calm and crystal clear indicatess peace and clarity while a muddy and turbulent body of water symbolize obstruction and conflict."

2007 Courtesy of Cleo Liu (cola480)

 

[Bobinde]

CZJENA:

I've also gone through a sort ot photographic "rebirth" in the last year or so. All started when I got my first FSR camera: A FED 5v with Industar 61L/D and rediscovered photography all over again. I shoot far less film, get more good shots than I ever have: Maybe the clue was to just S-L-O-W D-O-W-N!! I've been playing with my FEDs & Zorkis (and my old Practika!) so much that the film I just had processed from my Maxxum was over 3 years old! And had about 3 good shots, no great ones. Now I'm getting ready to start playing with 2 1/4 folders: 6 x 4.5, 6 x 6, 6 x 9, and I'm hoping that being limited to one fixed lens will add even more to the process. Time will tell, I guess.

FWIW, I am also discovering that my personal life is turning to a more "Spiritual" stage, sort of a cross between a contemplative Christianity, mostly from the Celtic tradition, mixed with a bit of Zen and Native American influences. Maybe that's also affecting my outlook on photography.

Bob

 

[alvinsclee]

Agree with the S-L-O-W-D-O-W-N idea.

My introduction to manual focus M42 lenses (even though I used them on dSLR) slowed me down enough for me to appreciate the moment prior to image capture... the immersion of external stimuli into the subconscious is the crucial factor for this emotional-spiritual rapture.

 

[CZJena]

" ...purity of the eye and the purity of the ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind ...." found here:
http://www.e-sangha.com/alphone/0262_20.html

I am not preaching buddhism here, but to explain the benefits of "purity of our six senses" and to help us take better fotos, first we have to know how "concentration" work in fotographi, this kind of concentration is not staring blankly, but calming down your nerves, taking deep breathing, soul searching, and after much practise you will find yourself not sleep or floating, but superbly Sharp senses started to develop, quick and fast as samurai sword without the need for stress or strength ... deeply immerse into the surrounding and spotting any inspiring angle, boosting up our creativity 1,000 percents. Sssslaasssh ...

After persistent practise you don't even need to look thru your viewfinder, you camera is your "eyes", the images is your soul .... sound like swordmanship in pinnacle form? You are right! Unison of art and craft, man and environment, mind and sword (err...camera)

Are you smelling the air around your nose now? Where are your feet touching the ground?

So its "Concentration" -> "Purity of senses" -> "Acute Senses & Realization" Think of "Purity" here like a empty glass or dry sponge.

Voodoo Voodoo ... take it lightheartedly meant good for you today :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

 

[regit]

I'm having some difficulties following this thread, it is tad ambivalent ... Are you here to philosophosize about photography or to say "no" to digital? Define "lost traits" and to whom/context are these associated with - pros, hobbyists, etc?

 

[alvinsclee]

Haha, be it the philosophy of legendary Japanese swordsman Musashi or Jedi Master Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, photographer Ansel Adams or writer Ernest Hemmingway... there is much to be intuitively experienced in life.

Agree with the "Unison of art and craft, man and environment, mind and sword (err...camera)" idea

 

[CZJena]

I'm having some difficulties following this thread, it is tad ambivalent ... Are you here to philosophosize about photography or to say "no" to digital? Define "lost traits" and to whom/context are these associated with - pros, hobbyists, etc?

I am glad that someone asked.

And since you asked, you shall be given:

This series is not about Anti-digital,
neither can you say that i am a purist photography philosopher ...

Put it this way: I take it as a way of life ... a new culture, a compelling revolution,
and it covers not only fotographi ... but life in & out of a fotograph.

The fundamental question here is "Who am i (you,us)?"

The Digital age simply accelerated this process of realization, and we need to seek something more profound and intimate, rather than simply easily cheaply 'snaps' away.

I am not a guru, 'm just surface what are hidden and let what needed revealed.

i can only give guides and inspirations however THAT fundamental question can only be discovered by nobody but yourself.

------
Although i prefer manual classic camera in serious work, that shouldn't discourage people from going digital (for some, survival is crucial, and i am using digital P&S everyday for stealth quick job easy-upload), each gears and medium has its own unique way of usage. The sole reason for sounding anti-digital is the point on making fotographi as an art so CHEAP (LOW), some people just shoot without considering seriously why they make that that!

Another thing about going manual personally is my important experience during my Alps trip in Germany when out of 5 cameras in our group tour, 3 digitals failed, only 1 digital and my 1950s vitessa worked. I am a pragmatic man as well, i rather lose my camera than to loss my fotos. Quality prove critical at critical moment.

 

[alvinsclee]

... The fundamental question here is "Who am i (you,us)?"

The Digital age simply accelerated this process of realization, and we need to seek something more profound and intimate, rather than simply easily cheaply 'snaps' away.

I am not a guru, 'm just surface what are hidden and let what needed revealed.

i can only give guides and inspirations however THAT fundamental question can only be discovered by nobody but yourself...

We are a latent force brought into existence by an on-going process

Compare this idea with photography... light photons (a latent force) impinging upon silver halide molecules, development chemistry (the process) amplifying the changes and forming the image to be fixed (brought into existence).

 

[CZJena]

Alvin i like your way of causality thinking, i believe you must had stood a long time at that corner waiting for the magical second to appear ... Apparition !

Some comment about "candid" can only be opportunistic and not directed.
The serious artist not only direct but anticipate the causality too

I know of at least a fotographer clasp and shout to freeze that surprising facial expression for eternity. There are also cases where the fotographer just "disappear" into the scene and take that mystical moment.

 

[alvinsclee]

Yes, magical apparitions... chasing the ghosts of yesteryears and the spirits of future.

When the paintbrush befriended the camera obscura in the past, when film crystals meets digital pixels in the present, and when humanity is in agreement with the heavens in eons to come... harmony leads to higher evolution.

The secret lies in that mystical moment which is timeless. In mathematical lingo, it is when zero = one = infinity. In quantum physics lingo, it is when the cat is both dead and alive. In photography, that is the moment of imaging holographic space-time omnipresence.

 

[CZJena]

One Step forward from just owning a camera(s) and taking casual shoots,
You can start exploration from a few perspectives:

1. Type of subject / Scene (could be rather too wide range)
e.g. Landscape, portraiture, nightscene, sports, macro, plants, modelling, aerial, product...

2. Locational (project on particular place)
e.g. Bangkok, Empire State Building, Grand Canyon, lifestyle in North Thailand ...

3. Emotional (means people, or even animal)
e.g. celebration, groomy day, adventureous spirit, challenge, boring, hectic, madness ...

4. Other Conceptural
e.g. people at work, war in action, environment friendly, cultural, behind theatre, lost scene, teamwork ...

After you have choosen a Theme, write out what you hope to achieve in framework and details, and do it on a project (regular) basis so that you can dedicate sometime (i know alot of us are so busy we couldn't complete anything serious within a day). You can even browse through other's work in similar theme/fashion and create your own style and improvise your action plan. For beginner taking a few more shots gives you more selections and lower your risk (of not getting That shot), sometime you don't get to go back to himalaya that often like what National GeographISTs do.

You can also combine a few perspectives too e.g. Love scenes at Grand Canyon

 

[CZJena]

Ranger's Finder

I like this nick for streetshooter ...

Because Ranger:
Is about speed "warfare", capture/snip the best shoot in limited time
Is about stealth, invisible, planned, unaffected
Is about patience, waiting for the right setting/moment/story
Is about agility, quick mind in responds to changing circumstances
Is about guardian, YES guard your body, your mind, your soul (especially for guys standing too long at nightclub / redlight zone) :bsmilie:
Is about protection, protect your own copyright:bigeyes:

And Finder?
Is about your mind,
Is about the way you view the scene,
Is about the meaning you give it,
Is about the mood,
Is about the association to a story you want to tell
Is about the passion to talk your heart out.
Is about walking the extra mile...

Join RangerFinder today and become a Braveshooter:thumbsup:

 

[CZJena]

If Da Vinci has a camera will he still paint his masterpieces?

The truth is: Fotographi is as Surreal as painting,
Do read up on why Cartier Bresson goes back to painting in his late life.

Notice the powerful graze here from the two children as well as angel Gabriel's.

When composing fotograph of human portraiture, placement of the eyes become crucial, since IMO 80% of the attention will go to the eyes.

 

[triotary]

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[Wisp]

If Da Vinci has a camera will he still paint his masterpieces?

The truth is: Fotographi is as Surreal as painting,
Do read up on why Cartier Bresson goes back to painting in his late life.

Notice the powerful graze here from the two children as well as angel Gabriel's.

When composing fotograph of human portraiture, placement of the eyes become crucial, since IMO 80% of the attention will go to the eyes.

You sound as if you discovered everything you know about photography just by merely touching a rangefinder.

Honestly? You're no better than those who jumped on the digital bandwagon if you think film is so much more superior than digital. Stick your arrogant synopsis somewhere else and start shooting to prove you're as good as you say.

This is the kind of attitude to what alot of pple refer to as LI , or 'Leica Idiocy'.

 

[alternatve]

You sound as if you discovered everything you know about photography just by merely touching a rangefinder.

Honestly? You're no better than those who jumped on the digital bandwagon if you think film is so much more superior than digital. Stick your arrogant synopsis somewhere else and start shooting to prove you're as good as you say.

This is the kind of attitude to what alot of pple refer to as LI , or 'Leica Idiocy'.

If you are accusing someone of being arrogant, first look in the mirror.

 

[Wisp]

If you are accusing someone of being arrogant, first look in the mirror.

And if you are slipping in to play mr morality, you're welcome to join me in the mirror any day. I do have a fascination of the narciscisstic complex .

Others tried the polite path, and unfortunately I do not have the patience neither the tact.