I have now finished reading Fred Picker’s Zone VI Newsletters for the umpteenth time.  Just ask my wife how may times I have read these things, or talk to my kids about how funny they thought it was that I had brought those two fat grey loose leaf binders with me to the beach on vacations. Yes it’s true. I’ve read all 82 newsletters many times and always seem to gain some new insight with each reading.

I couldn’t wait for that familiar envelope from Vermont to arrive in my mailbox every few months. I have fond memories of getting the calls from my wife in the middle of sixteen hour workdays at the State Department telling me I got my latest newsletter … same thing when Shutterbug arrived!  It’s surprising how much those calls meant to me. I still get great enjoyment from them and pick up new things.  But there is something else about reading them … something about one person’s photographic journey in life.

Yes I know, Picker has been a polarizing subject and still draws criticism on the Internet. But if you can get beyond some commercial promotion of his products, a few instances of self-promotion and a couple of somewhat questionable things he mentions related to getting his picture, then there is just so much there for the black and white analog photographer … and yes … more.

All the innovations, the demystification of the Zone System, the sharing of correspondence with Strand, Adams and other greats, being together with him photographing  … designing and producing exciting products unlike any before, searching for beaver dams, the excitement of capturing the light reflecting off a wall of slate, standing in awe before ancient monoliths or trying to photograph while being stranded during a non-stop rainstorm somewhere in the Outer Hebrides. Being with him as he lived a complete photographic life.  Accompanying him on a photographic and life journey for over twenty years.

Fred did it his way and he told you what he believed to be the truth. He didn’t care what others thought. He told you not to trust anyone including him, but rather to TRY IT for yourself and see if it worked … you could make your own informed decision.  Maybe too many were jealous of his entertaining life, his independence, all of the rule breaking, and the financial success he achieved from the business he created, etc. Many who were proud to post awe inspiring pictures of their family cats and the like on the Internet to demonstrate their photographic prowess claim his photography was dreck.

Fine.

You know what? I don’t give a flying fig about other’s insecurities.  I believe Fred Picker’s Zone VI Newsletters are great stuff and highly recommended! Complete sets come up from time to time on eBay and are worth getting!!!

Go ahead, TRY IT!

Stay safe,

Michael