"Mystery Camera" at the DNC convention

[amateriat]

"I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat!" - Will Rogers

Anyway...I was working at a client's place on a bunch of computers, and she had the big-screen TV trained on the Democratic conventon. Yep, I heard Hillary's speech (not much to say from here...Dog knows I have opinions, but I'm struggling to stay on-point), but the thing that threw me, generationally-speaking, is how the pundits referred to the camera someone (I should know who he is, but the wine's getting to me, and its late) was training on a big bunch of people for a DNC "family snap" of a section of the masses, which was referred to as a "strange" and "old fashioned" camera. "Old fashioned" I can deal with (to a degree, anyway). "Strange?" Is this something a bit of brushing up on history might straighten out? I've rarely touched the view-camera stuff myself, but it burns me a bit to hear stuff like this.

I stress this: this is not a political rant, but something I feel cuts across "lines", if you will, and it's not all that good, Something about those who don't recall history...


- Barrett

[wlewisiii]

Sounds like David Burnett was there with his Speed Graphic. He's got an insanely great 178mm f/2.5 Aero-Ektar mounted on it that would be killer in that situation. I'll have to try and see if I can find someplace showing it.

William

[amateriat]

William: Yep, it looked like Burnett, but I was punch-drunk from too much tech work tonight (last night?). I was trying hard to steer somewhat clear of the convention for mental health reasons, but my client had a lot of it on tonight, and galfriend wanted to hear what Clinton had to say later on, so I stuck around, and looked up a lot of Will Rogers quotes in the interim.


- Barrett

[jan normandale]

if it's an Aero Ektar, it's def the flav of the mo! I know Burnett has popularized it and it's running like wildfire thru the 'eager for the fresh moment' photogs out there. Kinda like the lensbaby craze.

Go long on Aero Ektar lenses! Forget the Dems! ;D j/k

[35mmdelux]

what exactly does he intend to Change? sounds good tho..

[pachuco]

There are quite a few "old fashioned" cameras here. I have my M3 and I have seen several TLR's and old SLR's. There is a guy named Alan Chin that I know is here but I have not seen him yet, he shoots almost exclusively with Leica M's. Here is a link to some of the work he is doing at the DNC, good stuff:
http://bagnewsnotes.typepad.com/bagnews/

[Bill58]

It's an "Obamica". It takes pictures of people of all colors, has a wide angle to long tele zoom lens and is far ahead of it's time. 'Hope it goes over in the mkt.

[Harry Lime]

Antonin Kratochvil may also be running around there with his M bodies, bag of film and two cigars.

[dmr]

Originally Posted by memphis

I sincerely hope to see a similar post about the RNC as well.

Yeah, but the Pubs have all gone digital! {ducking, running, looking for a place to hide}

[MikeL]

I'm surprised at the posts here, since I thought everyone would be at Burning Man this week.

If I was at the convention or Burning Man, I'd use an old Kodak so that when I was finished I could go,"Heck of a job Brownie"

[dmr]

Originally Posted by MikeL

I'd use an old Kodak so that when I was finished I could go,"Heck of a job Brownie"

ROFL!

That would be a very appropriate line at the Pubfest up in MSP.

(For those who don't get it, it's kind of an inside joke for Statesiders. Most Dems will think it's funny. Most Pubs won't.)

[jan normandale]

I'd like to see a 'cameras spotted at "burning man" ' thread :D

[amateriat]

Memphis: Yikes! Never seen any of the particular "gunstock" setups, let alone knew of one for Leicas. You wouldn't want to be toting one of those on the streets up here, either!

As for RNC coverage, I'd say a lot of eyes and glass will be watching, 'specially since McCain hasn't officially picked a running mate yet.

Originally Posted by memphis

in theory, there will be more leicas with the burning man crowd rather than the media frenzy that is dnc and rdc combined

Roger that.


- Barrett

[oftheherd]

Originally Posted by memphis

...

and having to strip down your camera to prove you're not up to no good

Or get yourself stripped down.

[AshenLight]

Originally Posted by jan normandale

I'd like to see a 'cameras spotted at "burning man" ' thread

I'd imagine lots of Holgas, Dianas and Lomos

[bean_counter]

Originally Posted by memphis

not true -- it's the same media covering this... I think you'd be suprised at the number of republicans using film cameras -- even on this forum

Yep! I'm a 'pub and proud of it. Not very happy with the dubya admin (maybe he's actually doing an ok job, he's making everybody mad), and not a Mac fan. I'll vote Mac, but not enthusiastically.

Same media, sure, but it will be dramatically different coverage. Doubt the guy with the 4x5 will cover McCain, he covered Kerry but not dubya last cycle.

[amateriat]

Originally Posted by bean_counter

Yep! I'm a 'pub and proud of it. Not very happy with the dubya admin (maybe he's actually doing an ok job, he's making everybody mad), and not a Mac fan. I'll vote Mac, but not enthusiastically.

Same media, sure, but it will be dramatically different coverage. Doubt the guy with the 4x5 will cover McCain, he covered Kerry but not dubya last cycle.

You just reminded me: wasn't there one guy with a Leica who was covering Bush's travels and appearances, off-and-on? (Don't know if he was doing this officially or not, but obviously had to have serious credentials.)


- Barrett

[bean_counter]

pretty sure there was a thread a month or two ago; IIRC, he was an official White House photog (civil servant, not press/political)

[mabelsound]

Originally Posted by memphis

http://mugshotdujour.com/misc/matthe...ernalia-462008

Matthew Gibeault was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia in Ada County, Idaho.

"This mustache wax is sure to throw the cops off my trail!"

[Ronald_H]

Originally Posted by memphis

another mugshot or two... sad thing is... this is an ex-employee from the cleaners - saw him on the news last night for mid-south's most wanted...

He will remember you fondly

But that buttstock Leica, what kind of setup is that? A screw mount with a Viso and a whopping tele on it, that I can see. Does anyone have more details? And can't those wily Ukranians forge THAT for a change? Wonderful conversation piece too.

[JoeV]

Perhaps the camera in question was a Cirkut panoramic camera, as discussed in this thread, and seen in this CNN video.

~Joe

[Seele]

More than a few war photographers had been shot dead when using Novoflex lenses, under the current social climate I just do not think Novoflex is doing a roaring trade.

[bean_counter]

Last night on one of the cable news shows (can't recall which one, I was chanel surfing), I noticed one of the photogs covering Obama was using an M.

He was having a difficult time getting in close for a shot, there was a guy with a DSLR and a lens the size of a blunderbuss that completely blocked his shot.

[szekiat]

perhaps he should have picked better tools then. You don't bring a pocket knife to a gun fight after all...