[Leica] FOM2

[kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)]

On Oct 10, 2005, at 5:25 PM, Alastair Firkin wrote:
> Thanks Graham,
> I feel a bit the same about the FOM2 project. Weighted down with  
> LUG mail, fascinated by the fragile surface of humanity which is  
> quickly peeled away by e-mail immediacy, tired of hearing about  
> street photography technique but not seeing any results, and  
> stimulated by the original exhibition book, I challenged the group,  
> including the "big-names" to come out in an anonymous setting and  
> compare images. Put your money where your keyboard is.
>
> 5 years later, I'm amazed that it is now winding up. I look at the  
> standard of images coming in from those who have been there since  
> 1999 and am amazed at the improvement. I think we will have far  
> fewer pros submitting this year: they have all gone with the pixel,  
> no Kyle, no Ted, no Tina, no Sandy so far, and yet the overall  
> quality of the images is IMHO as good.
>
> Now I would love to see images from all our "pros" again in this  
> year's mix, but I'm sure they can be proud that they have helped  
> raise the standard and make it even harder for them to get a vote.  
> All of them were happy to help out in the mentor programme, helping  
> others to review and edit their images.
>
> Anyway, you might be interested to know there are 3 publishers and  
> one exhibit organizer interested in FOM2, we have been asked to  
> supply images for a spread and story on the project in the Readers  
> Digest --- I'm not saying any of this will come off, and I'm still  
> waiting to hear from Aperture about interest, but it could be a  
> good end to some great times and good fun.

FOM2 started for me as a stimulus, an inspiration, with my hope being  
to learn to produce a technically good image, of something  
meaningful.  One goal was to have an image included in FOM2. To be  
included with others that I considered not merely excellent, rather  
excellent and profound.

The five year project has more than satisfied this purpose. The  
stimulation, learning, and wonderful images I have seen...have been  
powerful medicine.

I want to thank you Alastair for initiating this project, guiding it,  
and having such an impact on me and others....

Steve