Without Prejudice

[Riaan van Wyk]

H Riaan

Yes, he did his first couple of books from S.A. (Five Girls which I thought his best, and then Cowboy Kate and Other Stories) then moved to Lodon where his wife became his agent and, to all reports, was a very good one and very much in control of what he did, who approached him etc. etc.

You do know that he died?

http://www.haskins.com

http://www.samhaskinsblog.com

It was a rather bitter-sweet end for him - just got out a new book in conjunction with a fashion house, fell ill, realised at some stage he'd never regain 100%, took matters into his own hands. To me, he was one of the real innovators, a giant of a photographer who didn't need Photoshop to make amazing tranny combinations and in-camera combinations.

A chap in Glasgow who ran a colour lab arranged for him to come up and do a projection show with his 6x6 and 6x7 material... stunning. I even got to ask him stuff about reflectors...

I had a couple of his Pentax calendars but all I now have of Pentax is one by Hans Feurer - they would be interchanged over several years - easily as good as Pirell and Feurer even did the last of those before the hiatus which was followed some years later by a series of rubbish (in my biased view) productions with a different art director instead of Derek Forsyth who, for his part (revenge?), then worked his magic for Mintex until he was brought back into Pirelli. Boy, I'd have loved to have been the fly on the wall at those negotiations!

The first link is to Haskins' old site; the second to his blog, which was set up and run by his son after the death - as far as my memory tells me (and I think it isn't lying to me this time).

Rob C

No I didn't know he is no longer with us Rob, the knowledge that he took his own life after the stroke  saddens me- I page through Cowboy Kate and Five Girls at least once a week. Thank you for the links. 

[Rob C]

Hi Riaan

When I first saw Five Girls it was far too expensive for my tiny pocket; many years later I bought the current, revised edition of Cowboy and had hopes that Five would reappear, but that seems unlikely now.

Haskins has always been a sort of man of mystery to me; in a sense, his fame seems to have been greater than his (visible to me) body of commercial work. I'm aware of most of his books - I think - and about his calendar work along with a bit of fashion, but I can't for the life of me remember many magazine appearances. This isn't to say there weren't many, just that I can't bring them to mind or they were in magazines I didn't see or buy.

Perhaps, in truth, he was abe to work on his own projects and get them financed rather than have to depend on regular commissions all the time. That would have been an ideal life. Who could ask for more? Whatever the reality of his business model, he was one of my favourite lensmen, ever. In fact, he and Feurer probably still are, with Sarah Moon jostling somewhere in there too.

Rob C

[WalterEG]

I still have my first editions of Haskins' early books and several of his later editions.

I was fortunate enough to have an afternoon with him back in the 80s to interview him for a magazine article.  Sam chain-smoked as he sipped fine red wine.

There were a number of striking things that came of the interview, among them:

• He did not look at the work of other photographers.  Instead he drew inspiration from theatre and ballet.
• For colour photography he used Tungsten Ektachrome and filters for colour correction because of the gentler slope to the tonal curve
• In the studio he used hot lights rather than flash and usually only had one primary source as direct tungsten and all fill sources were progressively filtered warmer and accent sources may at times have had a very pale blue
• He was wary of 'flavour of the month' photographers and preferred artists that worked away quietly without fanfare and hype.
• At the time there was great strife in South Africa and he said it grieved him immensely because "There are great people on both sides of the colour divide."

Cheers,

Walter

[David Sutton]

Continuing a theme .....

Metropolis Angel in Steel:




And diagonal force [unusual for me in that it is colour and digital capture]:



W

These are good photographs Walter. I particularly like the textures and composition in the second.
Here are a few more from the same day. I had some fun looking for sites that included some of the background location.

[kikashi]

Continuing a theme .....

And diagonal force [unusual for me in that it is colour and digital capture]:



W

I like this one a lot, Walter, and although I'm normally very fond of monochrome, I think here the subtle, muted colours contribute a great deal to the effect.

Jeremy

[Rob C]

Came across this horse today after lunch; daughter and granddaughter were amazed when they discovered themselves being shooed out of shot... oh well, can't win 'em all.

Rob C


See post further along.

[WalterEG]

Rob,

You let the team down by not including .......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfuHgzu1Cjg

Cheers,

W

[Rob C]

Rob,

You let the team down by not including .......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfuHgzu1Cjg

Cheers,

W

Ah Walter, what can I say? It must have been the heat!

To tell the truth, one of the best versions of that number is in the film The Commitments and I particularly found myself watching the blonde lady singing in the middle of the backing group... forgotten her name but not her face.

http://youtu.be/RYj54YL3Yxo

Rob C

[WalterEG]

Rob,

I nearly posted the Commitments version but thought that a vintage rocker like yourself might prefer the Wilson Picket.

I loved the Commitments just as I also love the Honeydrippers.  Robert Plant has just been over here playing pub gigs with his latest outfit doing his Rockabilly stuff.  With a 1.5 buzz cut I doubt I'd have much use for hair oil at a rocker do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc4fIQvr8e0

W

PS:  I found a euro version more to your taste Rob:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZQYFBsmmyg

[Rob C]

Hi Walter

Unfortunately, your second link doesn't come live, but the first one's nice.

Music and mood can be amazingly complex:

http://youtu.be/aH8FEZvaiAI

I had some links to excellent jive stuff (or was it lindy hop?) but the best one, Sleepy Labeef's Boogie Woogie Country Girl has  been removed from 'tube and lost to future generations of would-be dancers; being a wooden one myself, it removes dreams as well as visual delights. Amazing how some hips can girate, whether in skirts or in jeans; as with much else it must be in the genes...

No dancers here, unfortunately, but nice sound:

http://youtu.be/tkuMs-WYDdY

Rob C

[Rob C]

Walter -

Couldn't live without changing the caption; unfortunately, I can't do apostrophes with the T tool in PS6 and so I had to be bit long in the tale. But it's now recaptioned to suit Sally, and she gets her name in lights again.

;-)

Rob C

[WalterEG]

Your perseverence shows commitment Rob.

[Rob C]

Your perseverence shows commitment Rob.

I know, I know, Walter; even to the extent of flogging dead horses.

;-)

Rob C

[graeme]

A recent shot taken at our less than luxurious workspace. ( One of the first images I've used lightroom for - this may be the best piece of software I've ever used ).

Graeme

[David Sutton]

I was out early yesterday when the first building here to be dropped by implosion went down. So here are a couple of shots. Nearly dropped the camera when the detonations happened. 

[seamus finn]

I'm very late coming here - was a bit daunted by the extraordinary number of members who contribute in so many ways. Great pictures too, and great fun:

[WalterEG]

Is this the most telling evidence yet of the impact of the economic crisis Seamus?

Even the oldest profession is hard hit.

[seamus finn]

I suppose it's bottomed out, Walter.

[Rob C]

Is this the most telling evidence yet of the impact of the economic crisis Seamus?

Even the oldest profession is hard hit.

Yep, it's just like stock photography: too many amateurs ruining the game.

Rob C

[WalterEG]

Too true Rob,

As a teenager with a glowing devotion to photography my faith was shattered when I guy I was working for said,
"Photography is just like prostitution.  Both professions were stuffed by amateurs."

It has been my experience that the quip carried with it a load of veracity.

Cheers,