The 35mm Eye: The French connection

Robin Helder, Consultant

The Project

December 11, 2012. This project set off with no destination in mind but to pay respect to my photographic heroes, a small dot in the never ending spectrum of what 21st century photography has become, but nevertheless my oblivious little mark. I needed a thin red line to base this idea on and chose to start out with what has become for me a trusted and very much used way of photography, the most common in the past and still the everyday master of reality, the 35mm (D)SLR camera fixed with a prime 35mm f.2 lens. Chinese photographer Lu Yuan Min set me on the right track with this idea, well, we will see how well it works for me in the long run but I feel confident that by setting certain restrictions on how to use your gear you will be able to adapt and take your own photography mindset to a higher level. Lets see how it goes and what will be the result of this project, the aim is not to reach a goal or a certain point, but just simply set out and capture life as I see it, in Black & White with a camera and lens I feel comfortable with and with no business pressure pushing from below. I know from my own experience that this is how the best work is produced. The masters I have studied and got inspiration from during the years have all had this as a foundation and have my deepest respect as one photographer to another. Photography without borders and regulations, freedom as one choose to. I have taken a deep interest over the years in studying masters like Arnold Newman, Philip Jones Griffiths, Elliot Erwitt, Anton Corbijn, Annie Leibovitz, Henry Cartier Bresson, James Nachtwey, Ansel Adams, Steve McCurry, Lu TuanMin, Reza and of course Salgado. I love the dedication they all show to their craft and their subjects. I love to have the knowledge now after many trials and errors as a professional photographer to understand and see what they have done with their views and minds. I love the fact that there are people out there that has in the past seen and others still continuing to see what is in front of them as time slips into another frame, another situation. Lets see, it's with joy and fear I set out to share this with you all.

The 35mm Eye

Thursday, August 15, 2013

The French connection

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