Here is a story about David Alan Harvey. He is a National Geographic photographer who embraces the minimalist philosophy... he did an entire photo essay on Cuba with a single Leica with 35 and 50mm lenses. I have seen the book and the computer screen can't do justice to the quality of the images... but they are pretty good. One has to wonder... is more equipment more versatile, or does less equipment allow more freedom... thus better results? How much more intimate would the shots be if he "looked like a photographer"?

Don't stop with the opening page... click on NEXT to continue. There are also REALAUDIO interviews to listen to Harvey address photographic issues.

http://dirckhalstead.org/issue9910/cubaintro.htm

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), September 23, 2000

Answers

I read/viewed - no, absorbed, completely -- this man's photography of Cuba with great interest, and my own feelings are now reinforced: Take the 50 (or the 35) and make photography happen. This man is a great in the works. The color is fantastic, isn't it?? I might have a hundred Leica lenses, or I might have only the 50 'cron... which way am I better prepared for the world? I know the answer...

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), September 24, 2000.

Tony, I am glad you liked this article. Harvey has quite a history. If you grab a handful of "National Geographic" magazines from the past few years, you will no doubt find essays by him. He also did a whole story on Vietnam, traveling the whole country with only 35 and 28mm lenses. His forte is to cover a whole country... alone and with very little encumbrances. His vision changes for the subject, but he is basically a two lens photographer. Do try to find his Vietnam and Spain stories in National Geo'.

This kind of makes you think... a new lens or some more film? Most advertiser's brochures don't advocate using the minimum amount of equipment, (surprise! surprise!), but this guy makes a strong case. Even with no 5 pound zoom lens or 5 FSP motor drive, he somehow captured great pictures. I'd bet he sees frame lines in his sleep.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), September 24, 2000.

The Dirck Halstead site is a treasure trove of great photograpy by great street and news photographers, The audio clips are priceless.

David Alan Harvey does make a strong case for simplicity. Many others keep their equipment simple too, concentrating instead on their vision.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), September 24, 2000.

His photos of Cuba are indeed marvellous and a testament to M Leica photography. Is 35mm really his widest lens? Some pictures look to have been taken with wider lenses...Anyway he has done a wonderful job of capturing the country. But remember there are other ways of doing it too - no need to leave your telephotos at home! What works for Harvey may not work for you!

There really is a lot to be said for the two lens approach - it simplifies your choices and forces you to "make a composition" rather than just take a shot. Still, it has also to be said that Harvey is a professional and so can devote more time to his art than perhaps the majority of us (certainly me!) - that helps too in finding out where the best spots are and when and what to take etc. etc.

-- Robin Smith (rsmith@springer-ny.com), September 25, 2000.

For more imformation, www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/9711/depatments/ for similar to above links mentioned. Its worth trying only one lens...try low or higher angles,close-ups and long shots...ages ago I did it for almost 1 year with my 50mm.Some of the photos still in my portfolio.Viewers beleive they are typical wide angle or tele depending on viewpoint.(Not extreme tele or wide).Think about what fun photograhy can be with only the body and 1 lens....I chicken out these days for pro work and wind up with this metal case plus a bag!I think the time has come to return to simplicity.

-- jason gold (jason1155234@webtv.net), September 25, 2000.

For more imformation, www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/9711/departments/ for similar to above links mentioned. Its worth trying only one lens...try low or higher angles,close-ups and long shots...ages ago I did it for almost 1 year with my 50mm.Some of the photos still in my portfolio.Viewers beleive they are typical wide angle or tele depending on viewpoint.(Not extreme tele or wide).Think about what fun photograhy can be with only the body and 1 lens....I chicken out these days for pro work and wind up with this metal case plus a bag!I think the time has come to return to simplicity.

-- jason gold (jason1155234@webtv.net), September 25, 2000.

I saw the N.G. T.V. show hi-lighting Harvey's Cuba assignment. I subsequently purchased the issue of N.G. in order to see the whole layout. In a word, fantastic! It was the major determining factor in my choice to purchase a Leica M6 (non-TTL). His minimalist approach spoke volumes to me. I currently use a 35mm f/2 and a 90 f/2.8. I may supplement the kit with a 50mm f/2 or f/1.4. What I found most interesting was David's ability to imerse himself in the culture without intruding. Bresson would be proud of him. A real pro photo- jounalist shooting real people. For those of you that didn't see the National Geographic special on T.V. and for those Leica purerists out there, David uses a very pedestrian Vivitar 283 flash (heresy, I know) for some of his images.

Best regards,

Jim

-- J.L.Kuhn (james.kuhn-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov), September 25, 2000.

Jim,

I also saw that TV program on Harvey... Wish I had the VCR set to record. I always cursed the M6's flash sync speed, but Harvey makes it work in his shots... The ghosting is not only tolerable... but really adds to the pictures. Still hate that the 283 is bigger and heavier than the camera though.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), September 25, 2000.

Hi All,

I too, like you all, admire David Alan Harvey's work. Anybody knows which film he uses..? The colors are dazzling and its fine grain too. Is it Kodak 100VS..? Or Provia 100F.? Pls inform.

Abhijit.

-- Abhijit Bhatlekar. (abhigraph@yahoo.com), June 27, 2001.

Abhijit,

Here is another short interview in which Harvey says he uses Provia, even pushing it a stop if he needs more speed.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/9711/departments/

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), June 27, 2001.

When I first know about the equipment DHA uses, and specialy his main lens during his cuba proyect (35/1.4 asph); I put much atention on every picture I find in the NG magazine, can some body tell me about lack of sharpness or camera shake in some of his images, like the one of the two farmmen and wires with a grass ground and blue sky at the top; if you follow the grass along the frame I can only see it sharp in the canter, and the same in other pictures, I donīt know if it is a scaning problem a lens problem or some shake during exposure.Any way his work is magnificent.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), June 27, 2001.

For the Cuba project David Alan Harvey shot Velvia at EI 50.

-- Robert Schneider (rolopix@yahoo.com), June 27, 2001.

Abhijit

How nice to see you here. You met my wife when you went to photograph Roshan Kalapesi in Nepean Sea Road a couple of years ago.

Are you still working for Outlook? I liked your wrestling story on LensImpressions very much.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), June 29, 2001.

Hi there,

Thank you Al Smith and Bob Schneider for the information. Very happy to hear from you Rob. Yes, I am still with Outlook. Little more busy shooting for our new baby, Outlook Traveller. Hope to see you somtime. Also check out www.outlookindia.com for INS Vikrant, the abandond warship photo-essay.

Abhijit.

-- Abhijit Bhatlekar (abhigraph@yahoo.com), August 02, 2001.