Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/12/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Erwin- I think that perhaps I should address you as Erwin "Don Quixote" Puts! :o) Your quest, to me at least, sounds like someone trying to determine if Ernest Hemingway would have been a better writer had he used a modern word processor, or kept at it, using the yellow legal pads, and standing, usung his refrigerator as a desk! Perhaps he might have been able to do so, but it still would be a subjective evaluation. The same with the Leica- if Avedon- and I have seen and admired a lot of his work- uses or used a Leica, I think that it would have been a matter of his own style and talent that determined the 'look' It is not as if we were to ask, "Had King Arthur had another sword but Excalibur, would he have achieved the deed he did achive...." Un like Excalibur, the Leica is attainable by a fair number of people, including hacks like myself! It is a delight to use, but in terms of improving the 'look' of my photographs, it depends on HOW it is used! I tend to use a fast film, with lots of light, stopping down and losing much of the acclaimed bokeh! I like using the Leica, but can see no way that it as a tool can really improve my photography!!! I think perhaps you are trying to quantify the unquantifiable!! Much like asking someone to describe 'how they feel' on a scale of 1 to 10, trying to quantify a subjective thing like the Leica Look! You mention HCB's work; we know he used the relatively primative LTM and 'old' glass. Can we assume that his photographs would look any different uf he used an M6 TTL with a kit of the new aspherical lenses!? Can we even suppose that they might? Interesting is you concept- I'd be interested in seeing the results- and if I am proven wrong on my observations- I hope that your findings will help me get better, and that my photos will start to show a Leica Look!! Dan ( Happy crappy snapshot snapper, from way back!) Post