Lessons from the past - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

12/05/2012 09:09:45 AM · #1

Recently I was given a box full of books on photography, namely the entire Life Library of Photography. Publication date, 1972. These books are probably older than most site members!

It's a helluva an eye-opener to go through these books and images and be reminded of what a true blending of art and science that defined pure photography. Pretty much manual everything - motorized cameras were prohibitively expensive. The artistry of being able to get a shot, or shots, without being able to chimp and use in-camera settings. Being able to develop your own film, know how to use enlargers, etc. The problems photogs had to face when shooting in extreme environments and had to deal with shutter blades seizing up, etc.

And of course the core principles are all there, along with tricks like reverse-mounting lenses and what would now be museum pieces, like a 25-lb low-level light system. The mind boggles at how the photo world use to be, and how far we've come.

Denielle

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

12/05/2012 09:20:30 AM · #2

this reminded me of something my daughter said to me yesterday.

Kiana: mom, I need a container I can soak my reeds (clairnet) in.
Me: what kind of container?
Kiana: Mr. Hardman said a pill bottle or a film roll container (had a puzzled look on her face). he said we probably wouldn't know what that is since it's for old people.
Me: (silent pause)
Kiana: what is a film roll case anyway?

made me feel old real quick.
but... made me realize how much "digital" photography has changed this world.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

12/05/2012 09:33:13 AM · #3

This is why I still shoot film. Because it's a right nostalgic pain in the ass. :)

Actually, I've just acquired two full dark-room setups for free - quite the score IMO - these wouldn't have been cheap a few years ago - thanks Digital Photography! ;)

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

12/05/2012 09:36:49 AM · #4

yeah i miss one hour photo labs too.

tanguera

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

12/05/2012 11:38:17 AM · #5

There IS something to be said about the anticipation (half excitement, half dread) of picking up the envelope of pictures from the printer. Then alternately oohing and groaning at captured gems and misses.

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

12/05/2012 12:09:30 PM · #6

Originally posted by mike_311:

yeah i miss one hour photo labs too.

There's one in just about every Walgreens.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/05/2012 04:19:10 PM · #7

Originally posted by Denielle:

Kiana: what is a film roll case anyway?

Here you go ...

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

12/05/2012 04:21:33 PM · #8

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by Denielle:
Kiana: what is a film roll case anyway?

Here you go ...

Pretty.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

12/05/2012 04:53:42 PM · #9

I used to keep clean pot in film canisters.....and seeds in others.

Denielle

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

12/05/2012 05:07:23 PM · #10

Originally posted by NikonJeb:

I used to keep clean pot in film canisters.....and seeds in others.

they were good for shots of vodka as well. perfect on the go shot glasses. haha

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/05/2012 05:16:49 PM · #11

Originally posted by snaffles:

Those books were my bible. I have a set of 'em here. And just about everything they teach is no than it was in the 1970's... A lot of it is less RELEVANT, given the hegira from film to digital, but at the core level none of the principles have changed.

12/05/2012 08:24:43 PM · #12

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by snaffles:
Recently I was given a box full of books on photography, namely the entire Life Library of Photography. Publication date, 1972. These books are probably older than most site members!

It's a helluva an eye-opener to go through these books and images and be reminded of what a true blending of art and science that defined pure photography. Pretty much manual everything - motorized cameras were prohibitively expensive. The artistry of being able to get a shot, or shots, without being able to chimp and use in-camera settings. Being able to develop your own film, know how to use enlargers, etc. The problems photogs had to face when shooting in extreme environments and had to deal with shutter blades seizing up, etc.

And of course the core principles are all there, along with tricks like reverse-mounting lenses and what would now be museum pieces, like a 25-lb low-level light system. The mind boggles at how the photo world use to be, and how far we've come.

Those books were my bible. I have a set of 'em here. And just about everything they teach is no than it was in the 1970's... A lot of it is less RELEVANT, given the hegira from film to digital, but at the core level none of the principles have changed.

Yep, that's exactly what I'm seeing. Fun to marvel at the shots and gape at the amount of gear and vast technical knowledge they had back then - a pic of a prof at a university with a Photography program pouring chemicals into a waist-high vat of developer being one of many - but the principles are rock-solid. Those principles are what I'm winnowing out of them. Cool to see what equipment and lenses have stayed and which have come and gone...like the 'sideways lens' which supposedly allowed you to discreetly shoot strangers, because it looked like the camera and lens was pointed at another potential subject. Sneaky stuff!

BTW Bear, was your collection also the 1972 edition? Don't know if I have them all, but I have a lot.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/05/2012 08:29:33 PM · #13

Originally posted by snaffles:

Cool to see what equipment and lenses have stayed and which have come and gone...like the 'sideways lens' which supposedly allowed you to discreetly shoot strangers, because it looked like the camera and lens was pointed at another potential subject.

I'm pretty sure you can get one of those now -- I'm almost positive I've seen someone post a link to one here quite some time ago ...

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/05/2012 08:41:16 PM · #14

Originally posted by snaffles:

Yep, that's exactly what I'm seeing. Fun to marvel at the shots and gape at the amount of gear and vast technical knowledge they had back then

Check out the video of Dean Collins shooting a motorbike (hell any shot - that guy was amazing).....

I drooled over those types of shots as a kid into motorbikes in the 70's but the detail and what goes into it was just jaw dropping for me - down to spinning the wheels with fishing line to get movement on the wheels. I know they can still be elaborate shots but not on this scale.

You can probably find it at youtube or alike but you can also rent the on lighting series which is all great (just ignore the cloths).

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

12/05/2012 09:08:20 PM · #15

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by snaffles:
Cool to see what equipment and lenses have stayed and which have come and gone...like the 'sideways lens' which supposedly allowed you to discreetly shoot strangers, because it looked like the camera and lens was pointed at another potential subject.

I'm pretty sure you can get one of those now -- I'm almost positive I've seen someone post a link to one here quite some time ago ...

Maybe they've made the vast hole in the side of the lens a little bit smaller? :-)

Also in this mini-treasure trove - and just found the Index for the Life books, I do indeed have the whole series - is John Hedgecoe's Book of Photography (1976) and the Photography Year Book 1972 by Fountain Press. All in pretty good condition too.

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

12/05/2012 09:08:36 PM · #16

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by Denielle:
Kiana: what is a film roll case anyway?

Here you go ...

Here are a few more. Deep sixed the last time I cleaned out the cellar.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/05/2012 09:16:48 PM · #17

Originally posted by snaffles:

BTW Bear, was your collection also the 1972 edition? Don't know if I have them all, but I have a lot.

Yup, 1972. 23 volumes plus an index and a camera buyer's guide. Supposed to be 17 vols plus index. Maybe I have some dupes?

Message edited by author 2012-12-05 21:18:13.

LoVi

Nikon D5100

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

12/05/2012 09:36:58 PM · #18

Proud to say I spent a great part of my prep school years in the dark room processing, enlarging and developing black and white film....probably thousands of images. My best early works are still in the yearbook and I love looking at the photos I did for the senior classmates.....young work, so dedicated! Yesterday I was in Boiling Springs at the Children's Lake and there was a local high school photography class busy taking pictures. To my delight they were shooting film in old Leica and Olympus cameras...with an array of funky cool lenses..I felt like I was watching myself and I thought how absolutely young and cocky they acted! Some of the kids I talked to were holding a camera the first time in their lives.........it almost made me cry to watch some of the "mis-fit" type boys bloom and smile taking photographs of the hundreds of waterfowl in the pristine green spring water.... GOTTA LOVE the teachers who start with film and processing! Film is still well alive for many who value it!

spiritualspatula

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/05/2012 09:52:46 PM · #19

Originally posted by robs:

Check out the video of Dean Collins shooting a motorbike (hell any shot - that guy was amazing).....

I've watched that a number of times

Here ya go, part 1 part 2

The Executive one is pretty cool too part 2

If you like Dean Collins, there's a bunch on youtube, actually, and Strobist compiled a decent number of them with some commentary, too

Message edited by author 2012-12-05 21:53:30.

12/06/2012 08:20:07 AM · #20

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by snaffles:
BTW Bear, was your collection also the 1972 edition? Don't know if I have them all, but I have a lot.

Yup, 1972. 23 volumes plus an index and a camera buyer's guide. Supposed to be 17 vols plus index. Maybe I have some dupes?

Sounds like you do have some dupes, Bear...I have the index, the camera buyer's guide and all 17 volumes. They're listed in the following order in the Index, so presumably they were released in this sequence:

The Camera
Light and Film
The Print
Color
Photography as a Tool
The Great Themes
Photojournalism
Special Problems
The Studio
The Art of Photography
Great Photographers
Photographing Nature
Photographing Children
Documentary Photography
Frontiers of Photography
Travel Photography
Caring for Photographs

I was really lucky, I stumbled across this box of books upstairs at a house we were cleaning out as the owner had passed away in his sleep, so the house was being listed for sale. Anyway the box itself was closed up but the Photography Year Book 1972 was on top. I leafed through it and when the deceased's relatives showed up, they welcomed us to take anything we wanted. I asked for the box of photography books without knowing what else was in the box, I just took the wild guess that they likely were more books on photography. And eh wala, so they were! And glad to see that the books have survived intact and in good condition, no torn-out pages or defaced pics.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/06/2012 08:38:42 AM · #21

Someplace I have a copy of Adams' The Print � maybe I should find it and re-read it, since it covers pretty much what we do (or want to do) in processing digital images.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

12/06/2012 09:10:43 AM · #22

I still regard my Nikon FM2n as a thing of beauty. It's mechanically perfect, and there's something compelling about knowing this thing will last forever without any need for batteries or memory cards.

Pity I never use it anymore, it makes me feel almost guilty seeing it sitting all lonely on the bookcase.

Confused my son with it when he tried it out and out of habit kept looking at the back to see the shot he just took!

Message edited by author 2012-12-06 09:11:58.

12/06/2012 12:35:55 PM · #23

I still have my Pentax K-1000 and f1.8 50mm. I had a lot of fun with that camera.

But in essence I always was waiting for the digital age to come about. I used to spend pretty much my entire allowance on getting film developed and buying film from the Discard bin at Black's.

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

12/06/2012 04:59:04 PM · #24

I still have the Canon FT-QL that my dad gave to me in 1977. He'd bought it new when they first came out in 1966. I stopped using it a few years later because it developed light leaks (probably deterioration of the foam seals around the door or pinholes in the cloth shutter curtain). I finally found someone local who can bring it back to life. The only problem is with the batteries that run the meter. The original batteries contained mercury and there's no direct, non-mercury replacement.