B/W film in summer for urban documentary project, and come kit critique please

[BrianShaw]

Lets ditch the monopod idea.

Okay. You can ditch it.

 

[RezaLoghme]

I have ditched it already. Agility is key.

 

[BrianShaw]

@BrianShaw -- do you have it on a camera as you're trying to use that camera to take photos of a milling crowd of protesters, while moving through the crowd?

I keep mine attached to the camera and collapsed when moving about. When actively photographing (not "trying to use that camera") I keep it extended and close to my body. Never been around milling crowds of protesters and, perhaps, that would make a major difference. I know that in the US there are sometimes laws restricting anything long and hard, including wood handles on signs, during protests. Seems like anything could brew during protests and control of potential weapons makes sense to me. For general tourist-like street usage, even in crowded urban environments, I've never had a problem except in museums where it seems fairly common for prohibitions on camera supports.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Never been around milling protesters and, perhaps, that would make a major difference. I know that in the US there are sometimes laws restricting anything long and hard, including wood handles on signs, during protests. Seems like anything could brew during protests and control of potential weapons makes sense to me.

This thread IS about documenting protests.

 

[Don_ih]

Never been around milling crowds of protesters .... For general tourist-like street usage, even in crowded urban environments, I've never had a problem

Crowded urban environments seem a bit similar, but they tend to always be flowing (where a crowd of protesters is more stationary). I would also anticipate a difference in atmosphere. I wasn't saying a monopod can't be used, even in a crowded environment. But in a protest situation (particularly a potentially volatile one), you would want to be able to move through the crowd quickly without snagging anyone.

I'm all for using tripods or monopods or any such thing for general photography. I just can't imagine it would be good in this particular situation.

And I phrased it as "trying to use that camera" because I picture the situation where you're standing, camera propped on the monopod, trying to frame and shoot while people are bumping into you and knocking your monopod with their feet, knees, and elbows.

 

[BrianShaw]

Crowded urban environments seem a bit similar, but they tend to always be flowing (where a crowd of protesters is more stationary). I would also anticipate a difference in atmosphere. I wasn't saying a monopod can't be used, even in a crowded environment. But in a protest situation (particularly a potentially volatile one), you would want to be able to move through the crowd quickly without snagging anyone.

I'm all for using tripods or monopods or any such thing for general photography. I just can't imagine it would be good in this particular situation.

And I phrased it as "trying to use that camera" because I picture the situation where you're standing, camera propped on the monopod, trying to frame and shoot while people are bumping into you and knocking your monopod with their feet, knees, and elbows.

We're good...

For protest photography, even using a Hasselblad handheld just seems a bad idea...

 

[Don_ih]

For protest photography, even using a Hasselblad handheld just seems a bad idea

I'd agree with you there. Best to keep one eye looking out at reality at all times.

 

[MattKing]

For close distance protest photography, a rangefinder camera that permits the user the maximum amount of situational awareness is what I would recommend.
Sports finder, pre-set focus, fast film and small apertures, good footwear!
Using a waist level finder will be an invitation to being bopped in the head! And a prism finder won't be much better.
The monopod would make it possible to work from a bit more distance, with a bit longer lenses.
Not a protest, but a rangefinder (Olympus XA) with fast film:

 

[Donald Qualls]

For protest photography, even using a Hasselblad handheld just seems a bad idea...

I tend to agree with this -- I'd be more inclined to use a rangefinder equipped folder, but there aren't many of those with interchangeable lenses.

 

[MFstooges]

Not sure what inspired you to use Hasselblad for shooting protest. I hope it's not a serious protest, maybe like protesting the closure of local ice cream shop is OK.

Ever seen a war journalist uses Hasselblad on battlegrounds? Yeah me neither.

 

[warden]

Not sure what inspired you to use Hasselblad for shooting protest. I hope it's not a serious protest, maybe like protesting the closure of local ice cream shop is OK.

Ever seen a war journalist uses Hasselblad on battlegrounds? Yeah me neither.

A 35mm rangefinder with a 28mm lens zone focused using 400 speed film is what I'd choose for anything more aggressive than the ice cream shop scenario fwiw. Fast and light.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Ever seen a war journalist uses Hasselblad on battlegrounds? Yeah me neither.

War?? I am not going to document any kind of wars. And there are some good examples of V-series Hasselblads used in documentary/crisis reporting. Ta Mwe in Myanmar, Heinz Fröhlich in Prague, Klaus Thymann (various), Anastasia Taylor-Lind (Ukraine), Andrea Briscoli (Berlin)...

I wish I could afford another camera, lets say a nice M6 with some battle scars. But for the time being, that will remain a dream LOL.

I will have to work with what I have.

 

[BrianShaw]

This thread IS about documenting protests.

There was a prior thread on this topic that you might find interesting.

Students, Tear Gas and a Hasselblad

I wish to prove wrong once more all those who believe a Hasselblad should be nailed to a tripod inside a studio and those whoe believe photojournalism can only be done in 35mm, especially now only in digital. Today the students all over Greece marched against a new proposed law that would make...

www.photrio.com

 

[RezaLoghme]

There was a prior thread on this topic that you might find interesting.

Students, Tear Gas and a Hasselblad

I wish to prove wrong once more all those who believe a Hasselblad should be nailed to a tripod inside a studio and those whoe believe photojournalism can only be done in 35mm, especially now only in digital. Today the students all over Greece marched against a new proposed law that would make...

www.photrio.com

Might be also of interest for MStooges.

Great quote: "People may argue that a big heavy camera doesn't work well for handheld shots, but the truth is that the extra mass of the camera increases its inertia, so it is less likely to move around (f=ma)."

 

[BrianShaw]

LOL... F=ma or not, I've always found handholding Hasselblad to be a bit of a challenge, especially with lens longer than 80mm. As I age, it just keeps getting more and more challenging.

 

[eli griggs]

The point of this being a group of many photographers, new and old, is

Lets ditch the monopod idea.

there are many ways to approach each topic, that can inspire new works, not to be rude, but yours is not the only need for learning something that may be welcomed as technically and inspiringly, new to them.

I'd be willing to suppose another reader here, eventually, if not now, does not know about the usefulness of monopods or even that they are modern aids that have a place in a photographers kit, for good reason and photography.

IMO

 

[eli griggs]

Yes, it's a great idea to spend your time making sure you're not tripping people rather than looking for photos.

Not if you can walk and chew gum at the same time, that's part of practicing handling and shooting actual photographs on a monopod.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Discussion about which gear or accessory is needed, or is best, or works or not, all of it is irrelevant. There's no need for a Hasselblad, and there's no need for a rangefinder, there's no need for a monopod, there's no need for a fast film, yet all can work.

What you need to photograph a protest is a camera that works for you and lets you do what you want to do how you want to do it, with a lens that works for you, with a film that works for you and lets you get the image that you want to get.

Protest in Marseille (2022) shot with a Nikon FM2, 50mm lens, Adox CHS 100 ii. Unfortunately did not have time to stick around and take more than a few shots.

 

[MFstooges]

Might be also of interest for MStooges.

Great quote: "People may argue that a big heavy camera doesn't work well for handheld shots, but the truth is that the extra mass of the camera increases its inertia, so it is less likely to move around (f=ma)."

I have no interest being in the middle of protest with improper tool. The only kind of protest that I may shoot has to be about closing down ice cream shop where the protesters are most likely kids and their mom and dad.

 

[MFstooges]

What you need to photograph a protest is a camera that works for you and lets you do what you want to do how you want to do it, with a lens that works for you, with a film that works for you and lets you get the image that you want to get.

I concur

 

[BrianShaw]

No. Alex. None of the gear talk is irrelevant at all. One shouldn’t be dismissive when others are trying to help a fellow photographer discover what gear might work for them. You worked your gear out, apparently. Reza will work his out… or not. Has the discussion started with a FM2 and 59mm lens it would have been quite a different, and shorter, discussion perhaps.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

No. Alex. None of the gear talk is irrelevant at all. One shouldn’t be dismissive when others are trying to help a fellow photographer discover what gear might work for them. You worked your gear out, apparently. Reza will work his out… or not. Has the discussion started with a FM2 and 59mm lens it would have been quite a different, and shorter, discussion perhaps.

You've misread me, or I did not expres myself correctly. It's not the gear talk that's irrelevant. It's discussing which works and which doesn't. They all work.

In the question whether or not this or that gear works in this or that situation the problem, as the answer, is never the gear, always the photographer.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

No. Alex. None of the gear talk is irrelevant at all. One shouldn’t be dismissive when others are trying to help a fellow photographer discover what gear might work for them. You worked your gear out, apparently. Reza will work his out… or not. Has the discussion started with a FM2 and 59mm lens it would have been quite a different, and shorter, discussion perhaps.

Let me put this another way. Best photographs of a protest ever shot — it's not even close — are those Koudelka made on the days of the Prague invasion by the Russians in 68. They were done with an Exadta Varex with a 25mm lens. Film was cheap leftover 35mm "kino-film" made for the movies. Why? Because this is what he had. Gear has nothing to do with their greatness. They have to do with what he looked at and how he looked at it.

Again, not saying the discussion is irrelevant. What is irrelevant is saying one needs this or one needs that. Work with what you have. Yes, you have to be comfortable with it, that can be learned, takes practice. But still, in the end, you work with what you have.

 

[MattKing]

you work with what you have.

Agreed.
Of course there are some participating here who seem to want to acquire some new options before they start that work.

 

[BrianShaw]

I am asking for other people's opinion. If you don't want to share yours, so be it.