Re: [Leica] red dot blues

[Jim Brick <jim@brick.org>]

EeeGads... is the Bloody Red Blotch stuff ever going to stop! Jeez! All
this wasted energy on a simple little red dot. The dot that brought you all
together. Ban the dot, ban the LUG. Are the people that are worried about
the redness of the little dot, as worried about the clothes they are
wearing, or that their wrist watch is probably attracting more attention
than the poor little measly red dot. Check your fingers for rings and arms
for watches. Make sure you blot out the Rolex crown. Then leave the poor
little red dot alone.

Jim


At 11:09 PM 2/23/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Joebikes@aol.com wrote:
>> 
>> I rather agree, Jim. I have taken many photos, portraits, etc., and I can't
>> recall that many subject expressed much interest in the gadgets I was
using to
>> take the photo. Talk to the people, put them at their ease (as possible)
and
>> try not to let the equipment get in the way.
>> Joe Stephenson
>
>
>My worthless two cents (francs, pfenigs, krone, pounds, etc):
>
>This only concerns the black body M6 (in whatever incarnation). When
>using a black body camera for street photography one of the motives is
>to remain discreet and not draw attention to the fact that you're
>photographing. A deliberate, unobtrusive style is required. Black does
>not draw attention. Red does. It seems counterproductive to use the
>equipment as an advertising billboard when it interferes with the task
>for which the body finish was intended.
>
>Certainly, I can accept that no sitting, aware subject is going to
>proclaim that the red dot distracts from the quality of the session or
>the interaction with the photographer. Nor that on a chrome body it
>draws more attention than the body finish itself. But really, it does
>seem very self-serving for Leica to put it there for people to notice.
>And it does seem like the heights of ostentation to defend its presence.
>
>There is a Taoist saying to the effect that "Those who know do not
>speak; those who speak do not know." If you are part of the cognoscenti
>that knows Leica you'll be able to spot one a mile away regardless of
>what clothing it wears. And if you don't know them, what does it matter?
>When I used to do news photography one of the most unnerving questions
>was what kind of camera I used as if professional usage gave something
>validation, that that alone made for good photos. Whereas the facts, as
>we all know, are a lot more complex and interactive between equipment,
>experiences, heart and brain. Simply to have a red dot because some
>opportunistic marketing geek decided it should be there is tantamount to
>speaking but not knowing. Selah!!!
>
>Enough already, RIP.
>
>Carl S.
>