photovests.

so ... the other day i taped a segment with my friend damon.  he posted it on youtube:

i discovered that i should have stolen damon's mike. ;)  i also discovered that he did a pretty cool interview with elliot erwitt.

we spoke about lots of things that afternoon.  a lot of what we spoke about didn't make it on video.  funny because when i write about gear my pageviews go through the roof.  seems like he experiences the same thing.  i guess that's why wank is so popular, no? (hope you click that last wank-link)

gear-bators make me laugh so hard.  just so you know ... because you own a fancy d-slr, slr, holga, rangefinder ... doesn't mean you can do anything good with it.  yes, of course, if you own any of the aforementioned that means that you know everything about photography.  it means instead of using the gear to make photos you sit in forums with other gear-bators and discuss everything photography ad naseum.

yes, i've seen the galleries attached to your profiles and they're total shit.

just so you know.

you're laughable.

what else?  um ... my first street photograph was made with an slr.  it was a big-ass slr as well.  the nikon f4 was not a small camera by any means.  it was a great camera.  don't really think the subjects -- they were dogs (go figure) -- minded too much.  i saw the limitations of doing this type of photography with an slr.  i then went to the contax g system.  it was a good system.  it's just that the autofocus system was more of a limiting factor rather than something good. 

that's when i bit the bullet.  i sold some gear i didn't use.

i bought a leica.

yes, i said it ... a leica.  it changed the way i saw things.  it was different than the contax in so many good ways.  yes, the contax g system had great glass if not a bit slow for my taste.

i wouldn't think of shooting street with anything else now.  yes, i've used the zeiss zm body and their lenses.  they are excellent.  in fact, the voigtlander stuff is excellent as well.  the lenses i've tried coming from voigtlander are pretty damn good as well.  wait ... i own the cv 15/4.5.  nice glass for sure.  cheap, too.  sorry ... inexpensive. 

i also like certain wines over other wines.

it's taste.

is taste bias?

perhaps.

i just know that i prefer leica products over just about everything else.

and why the fuck does that NOT matter?  i'm not doing some lame gear-bator pay-for-review-site punctuated by equally as lame photographs.  then again, i'm sure the audience -- who makes the same lame-ass photos -- probably loves the work.  misery is great company as they say.

so, yeah, i love shooting leica. 

don't be a jealous-ass hater rubbing up on your gear.  get a girl for that, mates. ;)

but .. i'll bet that would be a bigger challenge than buying a new piece of gear, right?

okay .. i gotta get outta here.

hope you're all well and enjoy damon's interview about ... gear. ;)

cheers from a way-to-friggin'-hot-to-be-driving-to-the-friggin-valley-to-look-at-curtains!

-chris

Comments

[Liam Strain]

Hah. That rocks. Those follow focus rings are crazy - I'd forever be hooking them on stuff getting them out of the bag quickly.

[Scott Alexander]

Very cool!

Earplugs right at the top, in a position of power, since they are most important. ;)

[Havard]

Your voice sounds completely different than from what one would expect based on the way you type.

Speaking of photo vests, I was at an anime convention last weekend. There was this one particular press photographer that proudly wore his photo vest emblazoned with "PRESS" on the front, and "PHOTOGRAPHER" on the back. He was shooting 90 fps with some Nikon gear. Even then, I know 99.9% of the shots he got were awkward half-opened eyes, contorted mouths and such because I was actually watching what I was shooting and avoided the crap while his machine gun was rattling away. I didn't dare talk gear with him, although I did snicker behind his back.

[flipo]

The Ken Rockwell comment ... priceless ;)

[Patrick]

Dontcha love the camera the other way around? I love it man... just fun to watch you in all your techno glory!

[matt jan]

"What's in the bag?"

Made me laugh. Thought it was going to reveal the answer like every other movie on the internet.

[rich]

cool vid. I know I should never really care too much what people whose work I admire are shooting with, but it's interesting. Like, I think I got a little more of an idea of how you apply your style by seeing your gear. Love that nothing has filters or caps, just grab and go.

[Eduardo Frances]

Glad to see life is treating you well buddy, I just did a mega read on your blog, the photos you took with the M9 are beautiful :) as always great job, if you were in front of me I would high five you because you don´t go trolling about gear, you see them as they are: tools that have pros and cons and that you have balanced to allow you to work smoothly.

It is silly to see the internet clashes about how people go crazy for gear and how they are expecting new stuff to be released and going to the (brand)rumors.com sites... with what is available is more than frigging enough :P yeah KR style with walls and stuff.

Congrats!, the interview buddy was great :)!

[Alex]

"Cause then then would think I'm Ken Rockwell or something." HAHAHAHAHAHA, Chris, you are the shit. (Nice wank pic too haha)

Just picked up an old used Hassy Xpan, man, loving it. Jealous of your M9. I need to pick up a Leica again, thinking a used M6 until I can boost the bank account enough to pick up a 9. Anyways, off to scan some more film, peace dude.

[Sonny Thakur]

"Or else you'll look like Ken Rockwell"
"Just Kidding"

You were NOT kidding! hahahah

[Nacho Pereira]

Great video Chris. Nobody can say that you're not well equipped!

Like I said before with the documentary: It's great to hear you and see you speaking.

I don't really have much more to say right now, it's really late and I've got to get some sleep.

[tanczos andras]

F4, huh? I still work with the SRT 201. Going zm and a 35 1.4 asph though next year, I hope! But the minolta is fine so far, too. Guess I got used to it.

[Cole]

My kinda guy, shoot wide open with ND filters. Necessary in this bright LA light.
Great stuff.

[Sam Oksner]

A friend just sent me a link to Ken Rockwell site, he usually sends me something funny or ridiculous, NOPE, today, the king wanker is linking to YOU!

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/00-new-today.htm

Right under his piss poor excuse for another camera review. I just thought this was too funny.

[RamonGustav]

Hi I liked your note, add your site to your bookmarks.

[school_dubl]

Interesting site, always a new topic .. good luck in the new 2011. Happy New Year!

[Realestate]

With the new 2011. Year! Congratulations.