Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/04/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> " GRAB YOUR DAMN LEICA, WHATEVER MODEL & GO TAKE PICTURES!!!!! Ted Grant I must have been reading your mind, Ted. Yesterday produced a rare snowfall of almost four inches in the alpine meadows and forests near the "Lost Coast" just northeast of Cape Mendocino (that western most elbow of Calif - not the town). A local reporter wanted to interview me re my landscape exhibits going up soon, so I played hooky from Ciba printing. Up the hills we went above Rio Dell along Bear River Ridge, M6 and M3 locked and loaded with Velvia. What a site! Weather was changing faster than my teenage daughter's mind. One minute I was sweltering in bright sunshine, then fog would roll in and obscure two-mile vistas within 30 seconds. Next thing I would be hunkered over the tripod in a five minute blizzard. Then sun would break out a few minutes later, with more "decisive moments" in light than two eyes and two cameras could possible capture all at once. But I tried. I started with 35mm Summicron and 50 DR, then used an interesting combination - my 21mm Elmarit using a 28mm viewfinder. Looks like I'll have some cropping to do in the resulting images. Live and learn. I also used the 90 Elmarit and even one picture of distant cattle being herded thru the snow with my seldom-used 135mm Elmarit. Come to think of it, the 135 could double as a cattle prod for as little use as it seems to get on the camera. Two days before the snow scenes, I flew home from another Hasselblad aerial photo mission along the coast from south of Mendocino (the town this time) back to Eureka. Inland clouds scrubbed afternoon plans, so I was free to take some recreational shots on the way north. Air was crystal clear as we flew alongside the tops of pristine snow-capped 4000' mountains that dropped directly down to the ocean. Towards the Eel River valley we dropped down to about 300' and I shot river delta scenes out the open window. Someday I'll have to hike that beautiful stretch of coastline and see if I can find my 35mm lens hood that blew out the window! When I get home from the aerial photography, there are usually a few frames of film left in the Hasselblad ELM 70mm magazines. So if our Swedish exchange student, Sara, is home, we take a few portraits just for fun. Great Swedish camera, beautiful Swedish girl - a wonderful combination! She could be the only model in the world whose portfolio is being done on aerial Aerochrome HS film. So you're right, Ted. What is this incredible waste of time with PC/Mac comparisons, gray cards and politics? Go take some pictures, people! What a world out there that we have the privilege and delight to capture on film. Regards, Gary Todoroff Tree LUGger