Our carried-over topic is the relationship between the greatness of a camera and the quality of the photographs produced by that camera. In his essay, Lane attributes to the Leica M-series line of cameras near-magical powers to produce great photographs. At a gut level, I don’t buy that. I think that the M-series Leicas are… [Read More]

While not directly on the topic of the relationship of great cameras and great photographs, I got thinking about great lines of cameras, and I thought I’d share my thoughts while I work on the larger topic. In his New Yorker essay, Lane went further than saying that one camera model could offer tangible advantages… [Read More]

This is my first post as a blogger. The previous entries were recycled from my old newsletter column. I expect that I will be able to write more frequently, and I’m looking forward to not being constrained by the requirement to produce a certain number of column inches on a fixed schedule. I hope for… [Read More]

Recently I scanned 2700 35mm slides from an archive of more than 5000. In the process, I became reacquainted with the lovely tactile qualities of that medium: the feel of the mounts in my hand, the rapid way I could go from a wide view of many images to a close inspection of one, the… [Read More]

Merle Travis wrote two songs in his career that overshadowed all his others. He wrote them in the same evening, under intense pressure. With an album contract in hand, a recording session the next day, and an order from his producer to write some “…songs that [sound] folky” Travis recalled his mining-country upbringing, and turned… [Read More]