Re: [Leica] British <-> American translations

[Dave Munroe <dmunroe@vcd.hp.com>]

Alan Hull wrote:

Re: "shoot"

> I can understand amatuers using this word to feel good in the
> locker room.

I think that's overstating the case quite a bit.  How
would two photographers in a locker room boast about
shooting their subject?  "Yeah, I just shot Damon Hill
as he came into Eau Rouge!"  Sorry, I don't see it.  It
reminds me of the claim certain people in the photography
newsgroups make who think that the only reason others buy
Leicas or Hasselblads is to "impress" others.  I've found
that presumptuous, even more so in that 99% of the time
I'm with my cameras, there's no one else about, except a
few lizards and squirrels.


> But I cannot understand a professional working photographer
> degrading his art with verbal symbals of war, the hunt, and
> the firing range.

Perhaps your view of a firing range is one with "redneck
macho types" who swill beer and boast about how rapidly
they can destroy their target.  As someone who, a mere
ten years ago, was about as anti-gun as a person can be,
I can assure you that that picture is far from reality.
The firing ranges at the clubs I belong to are nestled
among fir trees and rolling hills, but, more importantly,
are used by the finest and most decent people anyone could
hope to meet - and I say this after having been involved
with several hundred shooters over the last decade.  My two
activities in the shooting sports are metallic silhouette
shooting (knocking over heavy steel targets from 50 to 200
meters) and long distance shooting at 1000 yards with a
.50 BMG rifle.  Both of these sports require skill, technique,
and technical knowledge far beyond that of just aiming and
pulling a trigger.  There is both a science, art, and a
precision to these disciplines and certainly nothing
degrading about it.

Lastly, while I do not hunt and personally do not like it,
I am open minded enough to realize two things 1) there are
places in the world (including the U.S.) where hunting is
necessary (even if for varmint control) and 2) the skills
and techniques required in hunting are basically a part of
human nature.  War is also a part of human nature and,
unfortunately, is sometimes necessary.

- -Dave