Re: Roll Call/ Leon Pomeroy

[LP6@aol.com]

Ted:

Got your LUG missive and thanks for prompting:   Through you - I'll do a Roll
Call:

Here goes:

The Kennebunkport Seminar introduced me to the existence of the LUG.  Since
my return I've been reading the interesting postings that fall into my area
of interest; namely, everything having to do with Leica Optics and their
performance relative Zeiss Optics.  (I'm an old amateur astronomer who ground
mirrors as a youngster in Western Massachusetts where I grew up on two Dairy
Farms.)    The Cameras (bodies) aren't especially compelling:  it's the
lenses and their manufacture that interest me! In passing I do prefer my big
M5 , and rangefinder dynamics.  

I shoot with R4, R5, SL2, 1938 Standard (According to Ernst Hartman) and M5.
 My favorite lenses are:   R 60 Macro, F2.8;  R80 F1.4 and Noctilux 1.2 on
M5.  I don't like flash and prefer available light photogaphy generally.  

My professional background is that of  youthful biologist and  aging
psychologist.  Didn't quite finish my Ph.D. in biology and at age 25 went on
to study for Ph.,D. in Psychology which I took at University of Texas at
Austin.  Went on to join the faculty of a large New York City University and
helped to build a doctoral program in psychology.  My boss was Professor G.
M. Gilbert one of the chief psychologists at the Nuremberg Trials following
WWII.  As professor Edited HANDBOOK OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY, Prentice-Hall,
 took Post Doctoral Fellowship with Albert Ellis, Ph.D. , built a private
practice in Manhattan, and then moved onto the Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center where I became a career Cinical  Psychologist and Coordinator
of Behavioral Medicine.  Work with many World War II veterans (Air Force and
Army) and Air Force POWs.  As a consequence I 've became a WWII buff!   Have
concentated on a review of books, including Albert Speer's, examining the
German experience, the German Zeitgeist that  "snapped"  under Hitler!  Last
fall toured Germany again with a focus on WWII history etc.  Look at Germany
as a "moral laboratory" for reasons noted below.  Had made many previous
trips with Walter Heun tours etc.  

When Walter Heun decided to retire I made certain I was at his last Leica
Seminar on Cape Cod and my slide won 1st Prize that year, in late 1980s.
 Seems like just yesterday!    I shot the winning sunrise "image" with my
 R80 1.4 mounted on my SL2
that year!!!!!   I took home a thick leica history book that has a prominent
place in photographic library autographed by Walter of course!  He was a
wonderful coach and I have many fond memories.  I especially liked the way he
valued images flashed on the screen before us.  Walter would focus on  what
the photographer was attempting  to do and then square that personal
objective with how well he or she pulled it off as revealed by the image
before us!   (This esthetic orientation is very close to our value science
research which defined the "good" (e.g., good picture, good chair)  as
"concept fulfillment" and richness of properties.  (But, don't get me started
on my values research! Here I'm just reflecting on how  Walter's approach to
judging the value of an image at our Cape Cod Seminars in the 1980s was so
appealing to me personally and consistent with my scientific study of value
etc).

At Kennebunkport  recently, about ten years later, Ted seemed to like a slide
of mine and only remarked that there wasn't much to say about it; and almost
as an afterthought, added,  "too bad the windows of the house don't have
light"?   I agreed!  The bounce of 
light from a setting sun would have given the shot  some "voltage".  

My research has been into values, valuation and morals.  I'm writing a book
and have published many papers in the field and given many lectures.  I'm
busy with the question of whether we can develop a  General Value Science and
Normative Moral Science?  
My results, and they include cross-cultural studies around the world, suggest
that we now have a scientific basis for studying values, valuation and
morals.  Writing is hard work and I often turn off my word processor and go
to LUG on AOL to take breaks!
I enjoy the "stuff" on the LUG and am learning a lot.  It's all new to me and
so I hesitated in running up my Flag (Roll Call)!  The "voices" from the
screen seem largely reflective and passionate about photography and good
optics.  Moreover, I enjoyed meeting the many participants sharing the
Kennebunkport  seminar with me recently.  

Married a Indonesian Physician and travel to Bali and the Indonesian Islands
often.  Have photographed  in SE Asia a lot.  Photography is a serious hobby;
but, not my only hobby:  My wife and I are Bee Keepers as well and our hives
are in the country.  We live in Manhattan and NE Pennsylvania.  

I also shoot 16mm movies with Canon Scoopics; although, less in recent years.
 In my travels in South America  etc. I used to struggle with these big
cameras, including a Bolex with lenses.  Somehow, in recent years I've sought
to travel "light" and have become less interested in 16mm shooting.  

Does anyone out there want to trade Leica stuff for Canon Scoopics?

                                                  LEICA QUESTION?
I have for my 1938 Standard Leica a Canon Screwmount Serenar 50mm F1.8 lens.
 Does anyone have an opinion on this lens?   Otherwise I shoot with Leitz
Elmar 50mm,
F3.5.  Where does this lens stand in the history of Leica Optics?  Andy,
while I have you on line, does anyone know what the 1938 Leica is worth?  
                                                    LUG QUESTION?
Is anyone editing "The Best of LUG" missives with an intention to publish
same?  Over time there is good stuff coming up on this screen!  Wonder who
might fund the effort should there be a critical mass of interest?  

Bye for now,


Leon Pomeroy From Manhattan

LP6@aol.com

P.O. Box 6176; Yorkville Station; New York; New York 10128