A star is born . . . .

David Allen · Nov 4, 2014

. . . .well not really!!

Just a catchy title to catch peoples attention. I sure aint gonna swap being behind a still camera anytime soon for being in front of a movie camera.

However, a student of mine wanted to make a short video of me talking about photography principally to show to his friends to encourage them to think about photography in a wider sense and the possibility of using film.

For all of those here who have wondered what the grumpy old git (sorry to our american cousins - I think this is a somewhat British-specific phrase) behind the various www.dsallen.de posts looks like, sounds like and thinks, here is your chance:

https://vimeo.com/110887395

David.
www.dsallen.de

frank · Nov 4, 2014

Thanks for sharing!

Instead of cutting away to close ups of your hands or feet, inserting images of yours would be more interesting, IMO.

cliveh · Nov 4, 2014

Interesting, but when you say you use film for its look, I would disagree. I have seen both black & white and colour digital images where I can't tell the difference. I use film because of its physical integrity and nothing to do with its look.

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 4, 2014

Nice "video", for lack of a better word.
Yeah, that approach to editing is getting a bit overdone now.

It is nice also on the content.
I'm one of those that like to take a camera everywhere. It is like a comfort blanket.

David Allen · Nov 5, 2014

Thanks for sharing!

Instead of cutting away to close ups of your hands or feet, inserting images of yours would be more interesting, IMO.

Hi Frank, I know what you mean but you are then into choosing which pictures, whether one should comment on them, etc and Andrés wanted to keep the video short. We kind of reasoned that if people found it interesting enough, they would go to my website where there are about 70 images to view.

Interesting, but when you say you use film for its look, I would disagree. I have seen both black & white and colour digital images where I can't tell the difference. I use film because of its physical integrity and nothing to do with its look.

Clive, the whole point was to convey what I believe. I have also seen great images made by techniques ranging from Daguerreotype through to smart phones - all of which do not use film. The key point of the video was Andrés wanted to convey why I still used film (without getting in to the analogue/digital debate yet again) as both something of a document and to encourage his friends to try film.

He himself, started off taking images with his smart-phone, moved on to a DSLR, published his work on various websites and built a following of some 30,000. When he was given a film camera, he tried it and liked it so much that he now shoots film, scans it and publishes it on the web.

As to being able to tell the difference between digitally / analogue produced prints, I (and a number of the people who buy my work) can see both a difference and value the proven nature of analogue's archival quality. However, getting in to all of this would have required a lot more than five minutes.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

David Allen · Nov 5, 2014

Ricardo Miranda said:
Nice "video", for lack of a better word.
Yeah, that approach to editing is getting a bit overdone now.

It is nice also on the content.
I'm one of those that like to take a camera everywhere. It is like a comfort blanket.

Thanks Ricardo,

I will pass on your comments to Andrés.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

David Allen · Nov 5, 2014

Bump - because I find it unbelievable that this forum discusses photography as a creative process so rarely.

David Allen · Nov 9, 2014

Xmas · Nov 9, 2014

psssdst Dave this a gear head forum...

Bill Burk · Nov 9, 2014

David Allen,

I particularly liked that you talked about how you approach photography, and what you look for in others' work.

It's thoughtful snippets like this that make part of a larger conversation, that can carry on open-ended.

I keep thinking I "need" to always have a camera with me, (of course it must be a film camera). But like you, I tend to only grab a camera when I have photography in mind. I'll still go through with the idea to keep a camera in my pocket, but appreciate the perspective - that maybe there is nothing "wrong" with my current approach.

Looking forward to the next installment.

Mike Crawford · Nov 9, 2014

Good work David and glad more are getting inspired in Berlin by your teaching. Do agree that would be good to feature some of your work in the clip to give some reference to those coming in cold, though always interesting to see a photographer discuss their practice. Hope to see more!

MattKing · Nov 9, 2014

FWIW, I am much more likely to read a long post on photographic vision and view a number of still images, and follow with a comment, than I am to view a video, and comment on that.

That may be just me, but I expect not.

David Allen · Nov 9, 2014

Dear All,

I have had a lot of positive feedback for this little video which is great for my student who made it and also very encouraging how many people are passing it on to people that they know who are just starting out with film.

The jury is running about 50%/50% about whether we should have included images of my work. Our decision was that, if people were interested enough, they would check out my work on my website and, adding images, would have led to a much longer video.

Probably the best indication of how such a video influences things (and people's interest in film) is that I have now requests from all over Europe from people who want (very specialised) teaching proposals.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

Trond · Nov 11, 2014

Nice video! Interesting to hear about your approach to photography (and using film).

Trond

David Allen · Nov 11, 2014

Thanks for all positive responses - I shall pass on to my student.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

Mike Crawford · Nov 11, 2014

David Allen said:
Probably the best indication of how such a video influences things (and people's interest in film) is that I have now requests from all over Europe from people who want (very specialised) teaching proposals.

Excellent. I need to get me a film crew!

David Allen · Nov 11, 2014

I am sure that would make an interesting short film Mike.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

Mike Crawford · Nov 11, 2014

Here's my 15 minutes of fame David.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEKxsI7i0tc
A client shot this TV commercial for teacher training and I feature at the end. Only time I can remember putting my hands in chemicals without gloves! Interesting day spent on a film set. I also propped and helped to build a darkroom set though they just used a close up in the end.
15 minutes? 1.5 seconds more like.
Cheers
Mike

David Allen · Nov 11, 2014

Hi Mike,

well at least your hands are famous!

Actually, when I used to work in the photographic department at British High Speed Rail (before we woz Maggied) we had a set of models who constituted the 'nuclear family' for all of our stills and movie publicity materials. However, by far the best paid model was a lovely lady who was our 'hand' model - her hands were always used for close-ups holding tickets or signing the form for a rail card, etc.

So . . . maybe there is a 'sideline' to your laboratory work waiting somewhere out there for you!

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

A star is born . . . .

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