Who needs autofocus & ED lenses?
I just stumbled across Susan Burnstine’s website, and have been enchanted. She uses homemade cameras, built with plastic lenses, and various bits & pieces, and produces the most amazing, sensuous images. Put down your DSLR and have a look. I’ve seen Lensbaby pics, and thought “yeah, OK…”, but these photos move me.
Cliff Vestergaard
Nice thanks for sharing Susan with us . her work is like a ghostly Dream. Very cool indeed.
Donald Cameron
Homemade cameras, now that’s how to set yourself apart from everyone else. I’d not come across her work before but you’re right it is impressive, I love the blurred b&w style of her shots.
RosaCobos
Do not know much about the technical old phtography….started my trip with a digital one.
But I find her work outstanding and opetic….out of a night’s dream and yet..so close to my understanding.
I find that it is the result what minds… not the romanticism of the technical tools… she gets this results with her tools…so that’s great…. but that would not rest any magic if she did it with a super Canon.. las model…the only thing is…. that in this way a romanticism is added and for you lovers of the “real photograpy”.. is more than a prize.
Thank you for the link… she is so enjoyable..
Rosa
Duncan Waldron replied
Hi Rosa, good to hear from you – as always :) Yes, it is all about the results with Susan’s work. I have no problem with people using 21megapixel cameras, photoshop, etc, if they are producing good work; what gets me is the ones who have all that gear, and still turn out nothing of note. When I was a beginning photographer, I started with a basic camera, and gradually moved up as my skills improved. By then, I could appreciate the tool that I was using, and had better understanding of how to make the most of it.
I love film, I love digital … I love seeing great images, however they are produced. Even with pinhole pics – I like the process, but still want to make worthwhile images, whereas many pinhole photographers seem to shoot images that have little or no substance: “any old subject will do, just because it’s been taken through a pinhole”.
The end is important; the means is just a curiosity. Like writing: it doesn’t matter whether the author uses a Mac, an old Remington or a pencil; it’s interesting to hear of someone tapping away at an old typewriter, but if the novel is rubbish, who cares?