Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/08/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]What is the purpose of the LUG? I pose this question because it seems like a good idea every now and then to list the reasons for conversing on the Leica Users Group. 1. To ask and respond to technical questions concerning Leica equipment. 2. To ask and respond to technical questions about taking/making photographs. 3. To ask and respond to questions about photographers and their photos. 4. To gauge views on various aspects of photography, especially controversial photographic topics. 5. To give subscribers a broad view of what the users of Leica equipment are doing with their equipment. 6. To discuss various trends in photography -- trends in equipment (cameras, films, darkroom and digital equipment and techniques) and trends in photographs. 7. To discuss adventures and travels that photographers would like to share. 8. To discuss ideas that photographers would not mind sharing -- ideas on photographic projects taking place or in the planning stages, ideas on unusual uses of equipment, ideas on different uses of film, in short, ideas in general that would interest photographers. 9. Recommendations on books, exhibits, films, places to visit and non-Leica equipment that may prove beneficial to photographers who use Leica equipment. 10. To cater, when necessary, to the questions of photographers either new to Leica equipment or, in some cases, new to photography and Leica. Now for others to add to this list that, I recognize, contains some duplications. There have been many OFF-TOPIC or OFF-LEICA emails to the LUG that are not off-topic or off-Leica because they effect many photographers subscribing to the LUG and do relate to Leica equipment in some way. I am sure that a discussion on the use of a certain film, without mentioning the term Leica, is ON-TOPIC. Likewise, discussions on the works of various photographers. What is readily apparent from what I have seen in the past year is that the LUG is valuable because it tackles lots of trivia and, yes, lots of substantia. And what makes trivia essential is that it defines substantia. Not quite yin and yang but maybe phin and phang and perhaps even photographically phun.