Today’s Post by Joe Farace
You can find all kinds of interesting stuff on the Internet. For instance, I recently found an interview with a photographer whose work I’ve admired for years but when it comes to the topic of Auto Review and Chimping, he doesn’t like it. In fact, he even wrote a blog post showing people how to turn this setting off on their cameras. And maybe up to a point, I get it. The Leica M-D introduced in April 2016. was the first serial production model of their digital M family to be made without a LCD screen! While discontinued they still manage to sell for $5000 or more, so somebody likes this lack of a feature.
For photographers who grew up with film photography, Auto Review might be distracting. I, on the other hand, love this feature. I think this minor disagreement has it a lot to do with how I make photographs and how it’s different than the aforementioned photographer’s work style. There is a crispness and precision about his impeccably composed photographs but during a time when he and I were shooting together his approach to making photographs seems almost casual. On the other hand, I may look like I’m being precise in my approach but I’m not. I’m haphazard and it may have to do with how (what passes for) my mind works. I need Auto Review to keep me in line. But there’s more to it than maybe just being a bozo when I shoot.
When photographing people…
…Auto Review gives me an instant look at the photograph I just made. It could be their expression wasn’t just right and I want to make another, maybe better shot or at a more practical level, maybe the subject blinked, always a challenge when photographing contact lens wearers.
How I Made this photograph: I love the 16×9 ratio of HD video but unlike the Leica D-Lux 3 that produces its maximum 10MP resolution using this format, the Casio EX-F1—yes, they used to make cameras—that was used here reduces the camera’s maximum 2816 x 2112 resolution to 2304 x 1728 to capture in this ratio. This photograph was made in the camera’s BS (Portrait) mode and shows Mary really getting into her flower photography. Exposure was 1/640 sec at f/5.1 and ISO 100.
Right or Wrong
So what’s the right way to work with Auto Review and Chimping? It’s up to you. This was never intended to be a ‘my way or the highway’ blog. Everybody, including any of the guest contributors to this blog, have their own opinions on how we capture images and never, ever will we tell you that it’s the only way. We want you to have fun with your photography whether you use Auto Review or not.
Want to wade into the discussion? Click Contact (above) and tell us your views, we’ll include your comments in the next post on this subject.