benhider.com/blog

Since ’tis the season I thought I’d post some drink driving commercials from across the pond. It’s been a while since I even had a drink and even longer since I thought I could get away with driving after a couple. It amazes me when I drive late at night how obvious it is who’s been drinking on the roads. A few months ago we were driving on the BQE and this guy did a 720 spin right in front of us, missing all vehicles and barriers, and just pulled away like nothing had happened.

And Kids… DON’T DO CRACK!

Do people really have $10,000 for a lens to go on their $7,000 M9? Or I guess a better question would be if people really need that extra stop and a bit of light for $6,500 more than any other 50mm lens.

DPReview writes – “At the new 0.95 full aperture, depth of field is so shallow as to allow the most aesthetic portraits”

Leica writes – “The extremely shallow depth of field at open aperture produces portraits and detailed studies of unequalled aesthetic effect”

I have to agree with Leica and disagree with DPReview. A wide open F0.95 aperture doesn’t make portraits more or less aesthetic, but will provide an effect that cannot be matched.

I’ve always liked Larry Sultan’s work as an honest look into his family and the dynamic that lies between his parents and then how they interact with their son ‘the photographer.’ I’m sure that in the 60’s and 70’s it was not the profession of choice for a wealthy families son. He seems to often be talked about alongside Tina Barney, but I find their work pretty different. Barney’s work seems to be as much about the environment or the ’set’ than about the people. These two images are the ones that were often used to illustrate the photographer, and I’ve always been confused by Barney’s image. Hers seems confused and awkward (and not in a positive or useful way), whereas Sultan’s image uses that awkwardness to his advantage and makes it the subject.

I wonder what kind of trade in it really takes to get $12,000 off a new Hasselblad. I would imagine the two beaten up old cameras in this image don’t quite cut it! And if you did trade up would you know how to (or want to) go from an old 4×5 view camera to the latest digital H3DII-5o or H4D? If you read the fine print you have to be going from an older digital back camera from Mamiya or Hasselblad.

China’s Andy Rooney Has Some Funny Opinions About How Great The Chinese Government Is

I might start believing if he dropped off some of these on December 24th. Every year I try and ‘cancel’ Christmas, which may seem like a Scrooge move but really it’s because of all the stress that comes with the holiday. I’m not religious and don’t celebrate Eid ul-Fitr, Kwanzaa or Hanukkah but every year feel the need to celebrate the birth of Jesus by going out and buying junk for people when I don’t even know what that they want. Wouldn’t it be better if we put as much effort into the ‘family’ as we do into christmas. If there were children around, like my nephews, I would be much more excited about December 25th. I also like Christmas cards and the impetus to reach out to old friends so I happily partake in that ritual. Bahhh-humbug.

I’ve been listening to this bands album over and over and over. They’re another band that I found on La Blogotheque, the greatest music blog out there, even though it’s French!

Plants and Animals – A Take Away Show – Bye Bye Bye from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Plants and Animals – A Take Away Show – Feedback in the Field from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Check this project out to see an example of the people I work alongside on a daily basis. I’ve known Brian for nearly 5 years now but didn’t get involved in getting a portrait for this project as I felt I was too new to the industry as a photographer. The project was began to raise awareness for Paul Hawthorne. (http://gettingpaulhealthy.blogspot.com/)

I was in Washington DC yesterday for the tree lighting and this was as close as I got to the President or more importantly Jordin Sparks.