Starting to lose respect for Mike Johnston

farmersteve · Sep 8, 2016

I don't know if this is in the right forum or not but I have been following Mike for what seems like decades. Well, actually it probably started around 2002 but it's been a long time and for a long time I really respected his opinions and essays and even some of his off beat non photography stuff. The whole thing with Ctein left a bitter taste in my mouth, I don't care whose fault it is, aren't you guys adults? Anyway, moving on...

Then his post today about about the introduction of the Fuji BW Instax film was a low point for me. I'll admit that I am a little closer to film photography than he is and I am no means a professional in the field or anything like that. But not even know that Instax film even exists is a lapse that I find kind of appalling. Walk into any drugstore, grocery or big box retailer and it's all over the place.

"Now I just have to go figure out what the hell an "Instax" is...that is, what kind of camera it is that can use Fuji Instax Mini Monochrome film. Because right now I have no idea. I don't pay attention."

What they hell is he paying attention too?!?!?

http://theonlinephotographer.typepa...-hugely-significant-product-introduction.html

TheRook · Sep 8, 2016

Yes, it is hard to not notice Instax film products - the Target store in my neighborhood has an entire section dedicated to Instax!
But perhaps you expect too much from Johnston. He's only human, after all.

darkosaric · Sep 8, 2016

farmersteve said:
http://theonlinephotographer.typepa...-hugely-significant-product-introduction.html

The part in this text:
The biggest sea change in photography in my lifetime is the wholesale change from B&W to color. B&W is fast becoming dated as the marker of a certain time period in history.

sounds like a internet trolling to me. Not possible that he means it for real.

Paul Howell · Sep 8, 2016

I have a vague idea what Instex is and the concept of b&B seems cool, but I have never been a big of instant film other than a proof for MF and LF, just never thought much about it and did not miss it when Polaroid pulled the plug. I am very close to film shoot 90% film and wet print, so not thinking much as Instex is no reason to loss respect, respect Mr. Johnson for what he does well.

pdeeh · Sep 8, 2016

storm, allow me to introduce you to my good friend teacup ...

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 8, 2016

I for one greatly miss the real original Polaroid Type55. It had its flaws (print speed was different than negative speed, so you had to expose for one or the other, not both), but all attempts to date to recreate it have fallen far short of the original.

Alan9940 · Sep 8, 2016

TheFlyingCamera said:
I for one greatly miss the real original Polaroid Type55. It had its flaws (print speed was different than negative speed, so you had to expose for one or the other, not both), but all attempts to date to recreate it have fallen far short of the original.

A big +1!! I always shot for the negative so never cared about the print. It was exceedingly easy to process and I still have many negatives from 30 years ago that are as good today and when I shot them. I had high hopes for New55, but that just hasn't panned out for me.

Ko.Fe. · Sep 8, 2016

I went through the site this Mike is editor of. Dusty. As dusty as Instax. Yes, it is at every store, but in years I have seen only one time someone was about buying it. Like young couple. And two times I have seen people on the street with this camera and once I was asked to used it for charity event and once someone asked me to take their picture with it. But every time I look at this Instax boxes in the stores, they are dusty.
And I'm as close to film photography as it could be.

Actually, I almost never seen people buying condoms as well and using them (for obvious reason). Is this Instax thing something naughty?

farmersteve · Sep 8, 2016

It's a big thing at parties and weddings now. Throw down a bunch of Instax cameras on the tables and people go nuts! I hadn't thought about the naughty aspect of it, but why not. Only one copy and it can't be texted to all your friends at school! (Unless you scan it of course but that's probably too much work...)

Seriously, Instax has the potential to be a serious tool if/when serious cameras are made around this film.

Prof_Pixel · Sep 8, 2016

Ko.Fe. said:
Is this Instax thing something naughty?

In the mid 70s, when I worked on the Kodak Instant Film product that became Fuji Instax film, we did a study of instant photography markets and 'naughty' was a leader.

Prof_Pixel · Sep 8, 2016

farmersteve said:
Seriously, Instax has the potential to be a serious tool if/when serious cameras are made around this film.

I have a Kodak 4x5 camera instant back that was modified to fit a 23 Speed Graphic. One of the challenges was the film plane was moved considerably to the rear so bellows were needed to make it work.

RattyMouse · Sep 8, 2016

darkosaric said:
The part in this text:
The biggest sea change in photography in my lifetime is the wholesale change from B&W to color. B&W is fast becoming dated as the marker of a certain time period in history.

sounds like a internet trolling to me. Not possible that he means it for real.

Yes, I saw that too. A comment like this means that this author is not even remotely worth reading.

Terry Breedlove · Sep 8, 2016

Well i haven't read it yet but he sounds very creativity wise ignorant. He needs to visit a few galleries with blak and white photography and get educated. Also Fuji instant film has been a big success of late so he is ignorant about that as well.

Moopheus · Sep 8, 2016

darkosaric said:
The part in this text:
The biggest sea change in photography in my lifetime is the wholesale change from B&W to color. B&W is fast becoming dated as the marker of a certain time period in history.

sounds like a internet trolling to me. Not possible that he means it for real.

Yeah, obviously B&W became that marker many years ago. At the peak of the film market, B&W was what, like 1 percent of sales. Now it is probably more, but only because almost everything else is gone away. People produce B&W digital images to look 'retro'. Hipsters do it to be 'authentic' and 'retro.' Face it; we're anachronisms.

That said, to present yourself as some sort of photography journalist and be so completely unaware of what teh kidz are into is pretty lame.

farmersteve · Sep 8, 2016

I just saw that Fuji sold 5.6 million Instax cameras last year. That 5.6 million FILM cameras. Jeez Mike Johnston...

farmersteve · Sep 8, 2016

So funny Mike... trying to cover up your lack of knowledge about Instax on a CYA post... http://theonlinephotographer.typepa...ographer/2016/09/mint-instantflex-t70-20.html

canuhead · Sep 8, 2016

it's all about the clicks and he's good at it

removed account4 · Sep 8, 2016

canuhead said:
it's all about the clicks and he's good at it

he's got a handful of clickbacks from this thread alone.
i never really read his blog, heard of it, yes but a few weeks ago
with the endless commentary about ctien and his issues, i decided to read it.
haven't been back, and probably won't .
unfortunately there are a lot of people who believe everything
they read and don't go any further than that. if there were more
people who experienced what they blogged about / wrote about
the public who read their commentary would have a bit more to go on.

oh well, eveyone's an expert and everyone's a critic

Nige · Sep 8, 2016

I have recently been enjoying reading his articles in Camera & Darkroom (or whatever he wrote for back when) and the occasional blog (usually the off-topic ones) but most of his current blog turns into a 'biggest dick' contest of 4/3 camera users. All these people that have done everything!

Terry Breedlove · Sep 8, 2016

farmersteve said:
I just saw that Fuji sold 5.6 million Instax cameras last year. That 5.6 million FILM cameras. Jeez Mike Johnston...

I have one of the Instax cameras and when people see me shooting it they love it. Sometimes the surprise on their face when I take the photo and hand it to them is so fun to see.

Theo Sulphate · Sep 8, 2016

Nige said:
... but most of his current blog turns into a 'biggest dick' contest of 4/3 camera users. All these people that have done everything!

The M4/3 and MILC trolls / fanboys are what made DP Review so intolerable.

winger · Sep 8, 2016

I've only read a few posts of his (mainly that were linked somewhere on APUG) and don't follow the blog. Anyone involved in writing about photography and what's going on in the area should definitely know about Instax. And anyone who disparages B&W is not likely to make my reading list. There are enough things to read out there to get me ticked off - I don't need to add another.

My son's kindergarten teacher uses an Instax Wide to take pictures of the kids for special days. They get to have a picture for the fridge and there's no copies floating around or on some random computer. As part of the end-of-year gift for her, I gave her a few packs of the film. She's retiring this year, so NOT a hipster.

farmersteve · Sep 8, 2016

canuhead said:
it's all about the clicks and he's good at it

I think he's trolling all of us. That's not usually his style so I think he's covering up the fact he's never heard of Instax, which is likely since he's become such a digital fanboy the past several years. Or he's trolling us. Hard to tell...

Vonder · Sep 8, 2016

Mike Johnston is the Rush Limbaugh of photography. He sometimes makes valid points, but as he also censors his blog responses, you only see a ton of ditto-heads or mildly disagreeing folks.

I read him once a week. I seldom respond to his blog.

John51 · Sep 9, 2016

Prof_Pixel said:
In the mid 70s, when I worked on the Kodak Instant Film product that became Fuji Instax film, we did a study of instant photography markets and 'naughty' was a leader.

At that time, I was in my 20s and when a new gf learned that I could process and print any pics we took and that nobody else would see them... time for a glass of wine.

Starting to lose respect for Mike Johnston

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