Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/12/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Nice story Phil, and a nice windfall for a young aspiring student. Gerry Gerry Walden +44 (0)23 8046 3076 or +44 (0)797 287 7932 www.gwpics.com On 6 Dec 2012, at 06:00, Phil Swango <pswango at att.net> wrote: > Size matters (format/sensor size), but sometimes not in the direction you > think. Back in around 1960 I had a brief job as photographer for the > student newspaper at my university (Louisiana State or LSU for folks on > this side of the Atlantic). When I went on staff I was issued a Linhoff > 4x5 press camera and told in no uncertain terms that 35mm was out of the > question for press work. So I lugged the Linhoff to various shoots and did > my job, but longed to use the little Leica IIIf I had bought. One day my > editor assigned me to shoot an important track meet and I dutifully loaded > six film holders with film and went off to do the job. I soon realized > that I couldn't do much with 12 frames and was totally incapable of > following the fast action that the meet entailed. Out of frustration I put > a roll of Tri-X in the Leica and shot a 36 exposure roll, as much for my > own satisfaction as for the assignment. When I developed the roll I > immediately saw that the 35mm stuff was the best record of the event and > decided to show a contact sheet to the editor. He agreed that the Leica > shots were the best of the bunch and chose 14 to run as a centerfold spread > of the event. Since I got paid by the published shot I was elated. At > $1.50 per shot I had earned $21! I was rich! If that sounds silly, > remember that in today's money that would be around $168, quite a windfall > for a college student. > > -- > Phil Swango > 307 Aliso Dr SE > Albuquerque, NM 87108 > 505-262-4085 > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information