Re: [Leica] Vancouver on 50mm's a day! :)

[Jim Brick <jim@brick.org>]

Great great post Ted. More more more. Can you tell us how this "50mm
challenge" came about?

Jim


At 02:10 AM 3/27/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi folks,
>
>I've just finished a three day shoot on the city of Vancouver and was
>restricted to only a 50mm lens! Actually 2, Noctilux on the M6 and 1.4
>Summilux on the R8.
>
>Given for years I've had access to Leica lenses from 15mm to 800 you can
>imagine I had some frustrating moments when looking through the view finder
>and responding, "Damn, I'm 350mm short!" :)
>
>Or wanting to shoot a wide frame as the scene was gorgeous and the 15mm
>would have blown your socks off, only I'm as far back as I can get and one
>more backwards step and I'm in the ocean! You want frustration?:)
>
>There were times it was driving me crazy, but you know what? The end result
>was a great experience in seeing and making what is considered by some as a
>limited use lens, record very exciting images. I was forced to look harder,
>compose more precisely and to "think" about what I was shooting.  And also
>find content that was interesting and didn't require a super wide or long
>tele to make it look  more attractive..
>
>The Noctilux was used for the street night shooting on 100SW of fire
>jugglers and people in outside cafes with coffee, traffic and window
>lights.  Man nothing like an f1.0 image when it's right on the mark and in
>light that everyone thinks your flash isn't working!:)
>
>"Hey buddy yer flash didn't work!" "Yep damn, I'll have to get new
>batteries."  And you walk away smiling knowing the Noctilux King has struck
>again!:)
>
>Those of us who have the very good fortune to own many Leica lenses forget 
>all this glass can become a burden and that it's necessary to go back to
>your roots of "one camera and one lens" to be humbled by the lowly 50mm
>eye. 
>
>Much to my surprise, even with the frustrations I felt the first day, I
>found it became exhilarating as each "new 50mm image" was recorded and I
>found myself chomping at the bit to keep going, seeking out interesting
>subjects. 
>
>Where I might shoot a street person from afar with the 80-200 or a 280, I
>found I was forced to walk closer, be more "daring" in approaching, but
>without annoying or destroying the moment.
>
>Years ago when I was still wet behind the ears and owned but a couple of
>cameras & lenses, it never occurred to me that I shouldn't just walk-up and
>shoot away at anything or anyone that motivated me. I guess the naivete of
>a rookie saved my butt on occasion, but now I'm a grizzled old veteran pro
>it doesn't work that way in some sections of the town. :) Now the "old pro"
>first gages how fast he thinks the subject can run before making the move
>to photograph him. :)
>
>Hey I might be an old pro, but I didn't get this far by being stupid! :)
>Besides I've got lots of places to go and things to shoot yet. :) The key
>thing is, always smile and wear fast running shoes! :)
>
>The quick peek at a few slides hot from the lab looks interesting and a
>couple surprised me as I found I shot subjects that weren't my normal
>forte. Tomorrow morning they'll be edited, screened and I'll either be
>laughing or crying. But at the moment I feel kind of satisfied I took the
>50mm challenge!:)

>
>ted
>