[Leica] YOUR RE-ACTIONS TO THIS LEICA short story FOR THE BOOK?

[jhnichols at lighttube.net (Jim Nichols)]

Hi Ted,

As another old timer, though of a different profession, I think you are off 
to a good start.  And I think that, in addition to the inspiration one gets 
from using Leica gear, the Leica glass itself helps to improve ones images. 
For a change from digital, I have cleaned up my first Leica lens, a 50/3.5 
Elmar from 1946, and have it on my IIIf, loaded with Kodak 200.  It made 
great images for me almost 60 years ago, and I would like to see if I can 
still make it work for me.

Good luck with your endeavors.

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <tedgrant at shaw.ca>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2011 1:06 PM
Subject: [Leica] YOUR RE-ACTIONS TO THIS LEICA short story FOR THE BOOK?


> Good day Crew,
>
> As many of you know I am headlong  into writng a new book... it will have 
> a number of photos also. So once in a while I'm going to run a story or 
> anecdote by you for your thouhts. Your choice of comments will be 
> appeciated, GGOD BAD OR UGLY! These will be a first draft if you like. And 
> very a skilled editor will editor will re-writes where required. But this 
> is written as I though I am telling stories while we sit arond shooting 
> the breeze and relaxing with a drink of ones choice... Or none.talk about 
> life with a Leica neessary.
>
>
>
> #1 The Leica camera
>
>
>
> <<<<Once I started shooting with Leica's I felt obliged to make better
>
> pictures.  I did and have never looked back.>>>>>>
>
>
>
> This is so true!  Only the experience of finding it out for ones self
>
> will make you believe it happens.
>
>
>
> When I got my first Leica it was as though a transformation began both in
>
> how I looked at subjects and how I reacted mentally towards picture
>
> possibilities.
>
>
>
> It was as though I were given an incredible picture making tool, therefore
>
> "I MUST TAKE BETTER PICTURES!"  And I did!  It was the mystique I related
>
> to Henri Cartier Bresson, Robert Capa, Alfred Eisenstaedt and other greats
>
> of Leica photography that became a driving force for me to improve.
>
>
>
> I felt, "if they can do that why can't I?"  It was quite an incredible
>
> feeling and there isn't any question my photography improved, I became 
> more
>
> confident and the over all appearance of my photos took on a different 
> look.
>
> I became far more aware of the value of using existing light and why it
>
> made pictures look so much different from the "flash look!"
>
>
>
> <<<<I do not believe that owning an expensive camera will make you a good
>
> photographer.>>>> That is out and out common sense! But the mystique of 
> using is something else?
>
>
>
> In a mechanical sense, true. However, I feel there is a motivational
>
> factor that can be attributed to the "Leica mystique"  that drives one to
>
> become better. Or it certainly should, if you love photography with great
>
> passion. I imagine others wouldn't improve simply because they might not
>
> relate to the art of picture taking with the same emotions.
>
>
>
> Whatever happened in my picture taking "style" was in direct response from
>
> the moment I started using a Leica.  Of course the camera itself didn't
>
> take better pictures, it made me think and motivate my passion for taking
>
> pictures. And that is directly attributed to the Leica camera.
>
>
>
> There isn't a person in the world that can make me change my mind. 
> Certainly from any equipment point experience as I've used Nikons, Canons, 
> Hasselblads, Speed Graphics, C3-Mamiaflex twin reflex, Rollieflex... In 
> most cases three bodies at a time where interchangeable lenses were 
> available.
>
>
>
> My proven career and the quality of my work has been directly driven 
> through my use of the Leica and whatever it released within me as a 
> photojournalist.
>
>
>
> So it is my tool of my profession thes 61 years of mygreat pasonat love 
> affair with the magic of pphotography
>
>
>
>                                                             30
>
>
>
> COMMENTS IF YOU PLEASE?  THANK YOU.
>
>
>
> DR.TED
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>