[LargeFormat] Summer in the City

[Dan Kalish]

>From: "Vincent Dobson" <manitec@bellsouth.net>
>To: <largeformat@f32.net>
>Subject: RE: [LargeFormat] Tips on Architecture photographs
>Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 23:07:26 -0400
>Reply-To: largeformat@f32.net
>
>
>
><:)-----Original Message-----
>
><:)Behalf Of Dan Kalish
>
><:)Subject: [LargeFormat] Tips on Architecture photographs
><:)
><:)
><:)As I'm getting more experienced with Large Format photography, I find
><:)myself drawn towards architecture.  There are many such opportunities in
><:)New York City what with all the landmarks. I'm even developing a
><:)different
><:)outlook on the City: noticing the way buildings blend in and don't block
><:)the views.
><:)
><:)I can learn about the landmarks but want to get more proficient
><:)with this
><:)type of photography.  Any recommendation on books?  Organizations?  Is a
><:)Gandolfi Variant I with 210mm lens up to the task?  What about
><:)permission
><:)and permits?
><:)
><:)I can see myself ultimately picking a landmark, such as Grand Central
><:)Terminal, and doing a project around it.
><:)
><:)Dan the K.
><:)
>
>You will find yourself needing a much wider angle lens (unless you are
>talking about an 8x10 or 11x14 camera).
>
>Permission and permits would be the stickler.  After 9/11 we are finding
>more and more of our liberties eroding.  Homeland security regs. and
>safeguards are doing the eroding.  You can be innocently taking a picture of
>(for example) a pond and someone might call the law with a hint that they
>fear you are casing the pond in your planning to add poison to the water
>system - things like that.
>
>Many have reported being harassed for taking a picture of a bridge ---- and
>more signs prohibiting said type pictures appear every day.
>
>As for me and my house - it's back to nature.  In the woods you are
>basically left alone, and squirrels don't report you - hmm, maybe my hermit
>side is showing.
>
>Vince Dobson
>Visions In Nature
>www.VisionsInNature.com



Initially, I thought signs on bridges that say "no picture taking on the 
bridge" were silly.  You're driving a car, how are you going to take 
pictures of the bridge?  Maybe its not so silly: you can study the picture 
to get a better idea of how to bomb it.  And bombing bridges has always 
been a respectable activity for revolutionaries and anarchists.  <g>  Fritz 
the Cat got in on the act.

Among the list of permits, there's also one from the Transit Authority, 
giving you permission to take pictures on the subway.  I've never been 
stopped, though, without the permit.

More to the point, I have to find out what I like photographing and how to 
do it.  I'll deal with the permits when time comes.

Thanks for all the tips.  I've ordered the McGrath book through Barnes and 
Noble: same story as Amazon.  Its out of print but they can get it.

Getting a wide angle lens can be done.

I had an interesting photography experience this afternoon.  I was on my 
way to Photo Gizzmo in Manhattan and while in Queensboro Plaza, had an 
accident with a semi-tractor trailer.  We waited around for the police to 
come and, I imagine, were the actual subjects of a radio transportation 
report, "Traffic is snarled at Queensboro Plaza due to an accident.  Two of 
three lanes are blocked."

The truck driver pulls out a disposable camera and takes some pictures of 
the damage.  I, the serious amateur photographer, only have a Gandolfi and 
no tripod.  *Note* always carry a usable camera in the car.  After the 
police came and we disentangled our vehicles, I became determined to take 
some pictures.  Check the sun, look the opposite way, nice composition from 
under a subway station.  I rested the camera on top of my car, used maximum 
shift rise, and shot away.  BTW, would the lens tilt have been useful?  I 
tried it and it only made things worse.  Maybe its gotta be very very slight.

Police?  My car was blocking one lane of a very busy road, Northern 
Boulevard.  A few drivers cussed me but no police could be seen.  Lesson: 
if you do something outrageously uncivil, the police don't want to get 
involved.

Dan