[Leica] Leica and LF and other excercises

[Tom Finnegan <TomF@piengr.com>]

I don't do LF photography very often. Maybe once or twice a year I'll pull
out my little field camera and take a few pictures. However, the times that
I do, I invariable have my m6 with me as well. I tend to use the m6
viewfinder to help me decide on my point of view and tripod position. I can
usually get pretty close to the final position I want by doing this.

Another excercise I think that is really valuable for helping improve your
Leica photgraphy is drawing. In the Seattle area at least, there are a
number of places where one can take non-credit classes in drawing. I think
all the community colleges offer evening non-credit classes, as does the big
university, a couple smaller schools, several working artists studios, and a
couple of the art supply stores. If you have no experience in drawing it
might be wise to take an introductory course. Once you gain a little
experience I would personally recommend taking a life drawing class.

People tend to get a bit hung up on drawing and insist that they can't do
it. It alsmost as if they are expecting to be able to draw like Michelangelo
at the get go, and anything less is a disapointment. The thing to keep in
mind is that you are not there to create a masterpiece, it doesn't matter
what the drawings look like in the end. You are doing the drawings simply as
an excercise in seeing.

Tom Finnegan
Seattle