Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/10/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The other night, I was watching a program called "Survivors of the Skeleton Coast" on the Discovery Channel. This film was one of many made by Des and Jen Bartlett and is distributed by National Geographic http://www.cybersuperstores.com/natgeo/skeleton.html. Anyway, this film was a triple treat for me. First off, there are lots of great shots of the Bartlett's battered Land Rover Series IIA, slogging across the desert, heavily laden with supplies and equipment. Then, there are some still shots of Jen in her youth, brandishing a very long lens on what appears to be a Visoflex. And there are many contemporary shots of Jen cleaning her Leicaflex SLs, unloading film from them, and toting them on desert treks, and shooting with them from an ultralight aircraft. Needless to say, I was enjoying the show immensely when a good friend of mine, Jim Bruton, walks into the picture with his former wife (Julie Bartlett), who happens to be Jen and Des' daughter! Following are lots of great shots of Jim filming seabirds on the coast, and showing thier young son, Tarl how to use the Arriflex. Conditions on the skeleton coast expeditions looked very demanding. What better equipment to have along that Leicas and Land Rovers! Jim Laurel Business Development Manager Microsoft Digital Television jplaurel@microsoft.com (425) 703-1143 http://www.microsoft.com/dtv