[Leica] Le Grand Experiment

[Mike Johnston <70007.3477@compuserve.com>]

Okay folks, I'm about to leave you again, and I just want you to know about my
next little experiment...because I often have to review cameras for a living
(first as a reviewer for _Camera & Darkroom_ and lately for the "World's 25
Best Cameras" feature in _PHOTO Techniques_ magazine, which I edit), I often
get a little scattered with my own work. I found in 1994 that I needed to "pare
down" and work consistently for a while, so I promised myself I'd use an
Olympus OM-4T with 40mm f/2 and 85mm f/2 lenses for a period of a year.
Actually, with that setup, I lasted a little longer than two years. It was a
good period for my shooting--I improved as a shooter, I think, and got a number
of pictures I like.

This time, I've decided to be just a little more radical about it. I'm in the
process of getting rid of every camera and lens I own except an M6 and 50mm f/2
lens. For the next year, the only two lenses I own will both be 50mms--a
Summicron for the camera and an Apo-Rodagon-N for the enlarger. I'll shoot only
Tri-X and make only 6x9 full-frame prints on 8x10 paper. If it's possible to
work in a more simple or basic way than this, I don't know what it is! It'll be
the first time since 1993 that I've owned an M6. I need to get away from
thinking about cameras, lenses, papers, and films, and concentrate on shooting
skills,  camera handling, picture editing, and the visual content and meaning
of pictures for a while.

I'm looking forward to the challenge and the learning experience. I hope to
stick with the experiment until tax day 1999. It should be an exciting year,
because I just bought a house in a new town and will be building myself a new
darkroom; also, I'm at work on two books. The first one is nearly finished and
the second one is taking shape. I hope both will be of interest to people like
all y'all* who love photography.

Wish me luck!

- --Mike

*Bob Shell just informed me that in the South, "y'all" is singular; "all y'all"
is plural; and "all y'all's" is plural possessive. <g>