Re: [Leica] an idea for a contest

["Ed Brillhart" <gebrill@prodigy.net>]

Don't give it to someone who is too needy. They will end up selling it.
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Reid" <reid@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2000 9:17 PM
Subject: [Leica] an idea for a contest


> I have a Leica IIIf, red dial, with 3 lenses (35/3.5 Summar, 50/2.8
> collapsible Elmarit (I think), 90/4 Elmar), 3 finders that I believe are
> called "imarect" (they attach to the flash shoe). I also have a Tower
> 135/5.6 for it that is not wonderful. The 50/2.8 is an unbelievably good
> lens and the finders, especially the 50 finder, are amazingly wonderful.
>
> I am the second owner of this camera; I bought it used around 1970 from a
> Baltimore Sun photographer who was retiring. The Sun permitted the use of
> Leicas in those days; most papers didn't. I have shot about 2000 rolls of
> film with it through the years, mostly Tri-X. The camera looks like what
> you'd expect it to look like after being owned by a newspaper photographer
> and then me. Not a museum piece, but not damaged in any way.
>
> I have an M6 now, for which I am very thankful. So I don't use the IIIf
any
> more. I don't believe in owning cameras that I don't use. But this old
IIIf
> means a lot to me, so I don't want to sell it. However, I think I might be
> willing to give it away as the prize in a Leica Users Photo Contest.
Before
> I announce such a contest I'd like to see some discussion about what sort
> of contest it should be and what restrictions I'd place on the winner. For
> example, I don't think any working or retired professional photographer
> should be eligible to win. My goal here is twofold:
>     1. To get this camera into the hands of some needy person who will
> really use it, instead of putting it in a display case. An engineer with a
> mortgage who lives in Arizona is probably not needy; a student who lives
in
> the former East Germany and who works in a grocery store is probably
needy.
> But only if he's really going to use it.
>     2. To increase the amount of discussion about photography, instead of
> cameras, in this forum. I'm absolutely delighted at the pictures that some
> of you post; I keep hoping that someday I'll have something new I'm
willing
> to show you all (I'm very proud of my old work, but I haven't managed to
> take a picture that makes me quiver in a long time). Maybe this contest
> would stir the pot.
>
> Any ideas for rules? I have a pretty good idea of who I'd want the judges
> to be, but the decision would be based both on photographic quality and on
> need. I want the entire setup to go to the same person, rather than having
> the kidney go here and the liver go there and the corneas go over there.
>
> Brian Reid
>