Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/12/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 12/16/1999 10:19:13 PM, you wrote: <<I know some of you must view your Leica as a means (the tool) to an end (unique photographs). Equipment aside, I'm interested in what you think the 2 or 3 most important techniques are that made your best pictures your, well, best pictures. In other words, what have you learned/what do you know now, that you wish you knew when you started? >> Bruce, I think the single most important thing I've learned about making successful photos is to photograph subject matter that I have an emotional connection to. I think that if that relationship is there, the rest tends to fall into place by itself. Sometimes my exposure isn't perfect, or the focus might be off a bit, but if I really care about what I am shooting, the caring comes through and the images work. I think it is important to not separate one's life from one's photos. Shoot from the gut, and use a lot of film. Practice at shooting what you care about, and you will grow as a photographer. Bill Jay in the current edition of Lenswork Quarterly discusses this idea in more depth and with greater eloquence. I would urge everyone to read his essay in this excellent magazine. He puts much of art photography in perspective. Richard Wasserman