[Leica] re: Exposure and Development

[robertmeier at usjet.net (Robert Meier)]

Ted,

Thanks very much.   You are a fount of wisdom.   Did you find any difference 
when you switched from using incident readings with the white ball to using 
reflected readings with the R cameras?   My experience has been that 
incident readings usually indicate a more generous exposure than reflected 
readings.  And, by the way, when Kodak eliminated the 'safety factor' and 
doubled the published ratings for Tri-X (and other films) in the early 60's 
, did you start giving your pictures one stop less exposure?

Robert

>
>> So what you are saying is that you shot at the film maker's recommended 
>> exposure index (except when pushing the film), and developed it at the 
>> developer maker's recommended time and temperature, for your whole 
>> career, and never saw any need to vary either one?   And you always used 
>> an average exposure reading without taking specific shadow or highlight 
>> readings?
>>
>> That is certainly keeping it simple.<<<<
>
> Robert honest, you can't get it any simpler than that! I was, am and have 
> always been a photographer, a picture taker of things and whatever is 
> happening. A technician worrying about or wondering how and why developers 
> & exposures did whatever? It never interested me. It's exactly the same as 
> digital! The only problem with digital? It's a damn sight more complicated 
> with all the numbers and whatever.  :-)
>
> Although I'm finding the more I do my own thing, by my own way and not get 
> embroiled in all the fanciful digi talk, gizmos and numbers I do a fairly 
> good shoot and the prints look very fine.
>
> People actually pay a very nice fee for the finished prints! Hey what more 
> can you ask for! :-) So my simpliciity must be working. :-)
>
> Actually I do on most occasions get a damn fine 13X19 print  from a 
> Digilux 2 and my ever present 20D Leicanon! With of course a variation of 
> Leica R glass which is becoming a pain in the ass because I have to 
> remember to focus after becoming hooked on Canon auto-focus glass. ;-)
>
> There isn't anything like KISS, in photography nor with a beautiful woman! 
> :-) Life is good when you keep things simple and uncomplicated without a 
> bunch of bloody numbers, exposures, shadows, and other stuff!
>
> Yeah I know I should know all this techie stuff to be a good photographer. 
> :-)
>
> But you know what? The less you know, the less you worry, the less you 
> feel bad because you don't know it.................... But you sure as 
> hell have a wonderful time taking pictures and travelling the world on 
> assignments and having a great time doing the most marvellous "job" one 
> can have! And better still........ be paid for doing it! :-) And better 
> better still? The end product looks smashing! :-)
>
>>>And you always used an average exposure reading without taking specific 
>>>shadow or highlight readings?<,
>
> Hell all I ever did was hold up the little white ball on the meter in the 
> same light as the subject, look at the meter, set camera and shoot! 
> SURPRISE!!! And it always looked beautiful and I was always assigned again 
> to shoot a new assignment in some other incredible location! :-)  KISS 
> baby, that's the secret of the game! :-)
>
> Then when I got into Leica R cameras I just set the camera for whatever 
> film it was, pick the aperture and let the camera to do what the hell I 
> paid for... pick the right shutter speed.
>
> Take a look at my last book, "Women in Medicine. A celebration of Their 
> Work."
>
> It's all tri-x rated at ASA 800 with Leica M7's, 3 of them with different 
> lenses set on aperture priority, the camera selected the shutter speed and 
> I went click! :-)
>
> See how easy it is even when you shoot 500 rolls of film and never lose a 
> frame using   camera set at "A."  Hey some of you guys make it all so damn 
> complicated I could never understand why you ever bothered with being 
> photographers. :-)
>
> Me? It's always been fun and enjoyment! To hell with all the details! 
> Because it's the simple picture moment that counts anyway!!
>
> So there you go eh? ;-)
>
> And you thought I'd give you some big technical meaningless answer! :-)
>
> ted
>
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