I hope you're not suggesting that photography is a different thing from art?

G

As Don says, the cruelty mankind inflicts on its own kind is worse in every way than the relatively tiny amount it inflicts on animals.

I wonder how many people who make easy points about bull-fighting are taking active steps to discourage the practices of female genital mutilation, breaking of childrens limbs so that they will make better beggars, and cutting off hands and stoning adulterous women to death in countries with Sharia Law, to name a few.

By posting those pictures I was not promoting bull-fighting, and to say they can't be art because bull-fighting is inhumane is ridiculous.

G

But of course, both Constable and Dali were masters of their craft, whatever you may think of their conception.

G

I wasn't blaming Hirst and Emin on art schools. I was making the point that neither of them appear (based on what I have seen) to have acquired any technical ability in any form of art. Marketing is their forte.

I do believe that to be a good artist you have to have mastered the craft. That is self-evident in proper music, less so in some other forms of art. I made the point in relation to Juan Buhler because your dismissal of his bullfight photos suggested you thought that anybody could have done them. I wanted to point out that here is a man who HAS mastered the craft, and his bullfight photos look the way they do by design, not accident.

Fine detail is all very well. Sometimes it is very important, but sometimes it is of no importance at all. By drawing attention to this series of pictures I just wanted to point out that stunning photographs do not necessarily need to be made with stunningly expensive or physically enormous equipment.

G

By the way, Ofutter, you really badly need to disabuse yourself of the notion that good photography consists of making sharp prints.

G

What I like about them is the composition. The "artistic" element. The creative part.

Any fool can make a good print with practice and care. That's not art; it's craftsmanship. Art is doing something with your imagination that results in something that is more than the sum of its parts.

You can't "teach" art. That's why art schools are a waste of time, and all too often become bogged down in rules and prescriptions.

In Beethoven's day, the professors at the conservatories told him that he was breaking the rules of music. They are forgotten, whilst the name and music of Beethoven live on.

Have a look at some of Juan's other work. He can make a good b&w print, too. Good artists need to master the craft. Damian Hirst and Tracey Emin please note.

G

This links to a page by one of the finest photographers around today - in my view.

http://www.jbuhler.com/html/toros.html

Did he use a 6x7? A plate camera? A full-frame Canon?

No. A 2Mp p&s. And I challenge any "fine-artist" to show me better pictures.

G

In the long run, it's cheaper not to insure. Bear in mind that three quarters of the premium goes on commision, admin and profits for shareholders, so over a life-time you'll be able to afford far more cameras, lenses, wine and women (delete as appropriate) if you pay for any losses as they occur.

Never ever insure something that you can afford to repair/replace yourself.

If it's not insured, you'll take more care of it.

Most people, if they insure at all, are grossly over-insured.

G

In your position I'd buy an MZ5n.

Use it in manual mode, and it will give you focus confirmation and indicate the correct exposure. It's got AF for when you may need it. And it's much newer than the MX and MEF, so should give you longer service.

G

Steve,

I've had a look at your latest version, and it is a vast improvement on your first effort. In my view, Matt's effort is slightly better, but that is largely subjective, and anyway he's had bags of experience.

One of these days I'm going to do a course in digital photo manipulation. All I need is time.

G