[rollei_list] Re: Karl Heitz, RIP (Query: Mechanical Cameras)
- From: "Jim Somberg" <jimsberg_04@xxxxxxx>
- To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 17:52:06 -0700
Was a pleasure to read you in those wonderful old days and very wonderful,
indeed, to know of that Publisher's new interests at Wal Mart. Seems that the
digital revolution as practiced in the halls of journalism has become the
guillotine for film photography, including the demise of the neighborhood
camera store. Too bad our Publisher can't find a job at Wal Mart selling
digital cameras! Interestingly, my problem with digital photography is its
incredible "fidgetiness" and seemingly unnecessary complications. On the other
hand, the users of digital cameras believe that the three basic camera controls
of shutter speed, aperature, and focus are far too complicated. I always
considered them to be easily understood and useful for creative purposes. I
wonder how many of the current digital cameras will be useable in 20, 30, or
40 years, whether due to cheap electronic assembly or obsolete software, as are
my Rollei TLRs, Leica IIIa, or Nikon FE today. But will there be film available
in 10 or 30 years?
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Shell
To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 8:11 AM
Subject: [rollei_list] Re: Karl Heitz, RIP (Query: Mechanical Cameras)
On Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at 07:48 PM, Jim Somberg wrote:
> I have only been on this list for a few days but is this the Bob
> Shell, formerly of Shutterbug fame, who left probably because of the
> creeping digital camera silliness, which is mostly about computers and
> programs, and which has by now pretty much destroyed the magazine??
>
Yes, I'm the Bob Shell who ran Shutterbug for more than twenty years
and made it into a serious magazine about photography. But, no, I
didn't leave because of the digital stuff. I was actually an early
adapter of digital. I was removed as Editor due to disagreements with
a new Publisher over the direction the magazine ought to move in. This
was at the end of 2000. The new Publisher wanted more and more digital
coverage and was bored by articles about classic cameras. I wanted to
serve our core readership. So he fired me. Interestingly, that
Publisher is now working in the garden department of Wal-Mart in
Titusville!
Since you apparently dislike digital, you probably have not seen my
recent articles. These days I am Technical Editor for Digital Camera
Magazine, and write product reviews in each issue. I'd love to write
some about traditional photography, but no one seems to want me to do
that.
Bob
Other related posts:
