Re: [Leica] Leica and LF and other excercises

[Dean Chance <mreyebal@pacbell.net>]

on 11/8/00 4:26 PM, Tom Finnegan at TomF@piengr.com wrote:

> 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

I agree with this. I found that I could not draw like Raphael, but I could
draw like me, which was more than enough. Another good seeing exercise:
study paintings and drawings. Try an art history class at your local
community college. Learning how the masters used light, composition and
symbols to add layers of meaning to their work can help you do the same on
film.

Dean Chance
Sacramento