Re: [Leica] Italy bound, etc...

[Charles <chaslor@mindspring.com>]

Hello all,

I haven't said much here though I enjoy the discussions quite thoroughly 
(despite the lunacy). Or maybe because of. I spoke before of a traveller 
in Central America. This time I have a question. I know it's been asked 
before but I wasn't listening well at the time. But first, let me tell 
you of my plans. I shoot for a living and have "taken a vow" to never do 
weddings. I shot one about 10 years ago when I was still an assistant and 
the money seemed attractive. It went fine and all, but, well, you know. 
I've turned them all down since. Attention wedding guys: I respect you. 
Anyway, a client of mine was in the studio a couple of weeks ago and I 
was shooting a job and she was talking about getting married in Italy 
this fall and bitching about having to deal with the photography and 
all...so I said to the effect of "you fly me to Italy and put me up for a 
week and I'll shoot it". Ha,ha. Our job progressed and finished and we 
joked about it and all and then, a day later, she calls and says "Were 
you serious?".  Well, yeah. So, I'm going to Italy to actually shoot a 
wedding. I met with the happy couple yesterday to talk. She's an art 
director in advertising that deals with photographers regularly. What it 
comes down to what they want is: "Do what you do". No endless shots of 
wedding goupings. Just do what I do. This is great! Nothing traditional 
at all really. Here's where my relatively new way of 
seeing/thinking/acting with the Leica rangefinder come into play. Funny 
that this very traditional camera is now so very untraditional. And that 
it has allowed me to be comfortable in a situation that a year ago I 
would have been terrified of. Anyway... 

Here's the question and answer part of the game. I know how to shoot B&W 
and color transparency film without question. But I use color negative 
almost never. Of course the latitude is great, so getting a good exposure 
is no problem. Color balance and grain are the variables here for me. 
I'll be shooting both B&W and color neg in variable lighting conditions, 
some low light. Probably very little flourecent because it's in this 
ancient villa and compound that's supposed to be very, very cool. I have 
a tiny flash that I may use very reluncantly at some point. However, I 
will shoot mainly existing light. Now, please, nobody go on about using a 
flash, I just won't do it. I need advice on the color neg film choices. 
Slow, fast, Fuji, Kodak, whatever... Obviously, I want the sharpest and 
finest grain available while considering my speed needs. Any info on this 
topic will help me. If you feel you need, you mail email me privately 
(chaslor@mindspring.com). I know this topic has probably been beat to 
death.

I'll go on to spend an additional two weeks in Italy with my wife and 13 
year old. It's gonna be a blast! I plan to shoot like mad! From a 
portfolio point of view, my self assignment to Central America was quite 
successful and has changed the dynamics of my portfolio. I intend to 
follow through with this trip to Italy. I shoot people. My itinerary 
includes Venice, Florence, possibly Cinque Terre, some Rome, and the 
Orvieta area of Tuscany. Any past experiences or points of view on this 
subject are welcome here. I've lately been rediscovering Kodachrome, my 
mentor. I'll probably bring about 150 rolls of film. Mostly color 
transparency but much B&W as well. 

I admit, I will have a Nikon along as well with about three fast primes. 
This is only due to the fact that I don't have a Leica SLR at this point 
(shame, shame, shame). I do believe that the rangefinder and SLR can, in 
fact should, coexist. To me, it's a difference in perspective. Not the 
camera's, but our own. The SLR is more precise, you see exactly what is 
framed within the viewfinder. Since I have a preference to shoot wide 
open or very nearly almost all the time, I also see the "bokeh" with an 
SLR. You tend to frame very accurately. The rangefinder on the other 
hand, is more about the space. Things interact in front of you, you see 
this, and frame accordingly. I tend to frame much more loosely. Two very 
different ways of seeing. Both are very rewarding. 

I thank you for an help on this matter and if anybody has any thoughts on 
the other matters, feel free. Does anybody here ever see the 
Communication Arts Photo Annual?

charles