Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/12/01

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Come on guys --POLITICS!!!
From: Walter S Delesandri <walt@jove.acs.unt.edu>
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 19:34:13 -0600 (CST)

Ok, here's a thread that got things a-goin'!!!

Will, please note that I'm going to post in list form again...

1. The leica is a tool of the journalist, as a very old 
Time/Life photographer told me (the late Peter Anderson)--
the journalist is a "chronicler of life"-- to use it for 
other tasks is to take it out of its element.  The fact 
that Leicas are used for studio photography, landscape photography, 
architecture, etc.  is a testament to their ridiculously high 
quality, but they are not the "tool" for those tasks.  Period.
2.  Life is political.   The people who say they're not interested
in politics are the ones full of "BS" -- note-THEIR term, not 
just mine.  Let politics intrude on their precious little life/job/
freedoms/etc.  and SEE how political they're "not" ---
3.  The practice of 35mm photography --NOT the anal fixation on 
lens charts, detail differences in body cosmetics, etc-- has 
been shaped during this century BY political coverage, and MAY 
in fact helped to SHAPE some degree of political change.  Many 
now famous 35mm photographers (yes, they used Leica-and other 
stuff-God forbid.....)  BEGAN or FORMED their career/style by the 
coverage of then-significant political events.
4.  The coverage of politics will write Leica into the history
books FAR sooner than the collecting of the hardware or spewing
ad nauseum of the latest "tests".  
5.  All 35mm professional systems since WW-II were/are capable of 
first class, equal performance in "real-world" 35mm photography.
Ask a panel of experienced photo editors.  I for one believe that 
the quality of such photography (yes, more than technical)  has 
DECREASED since the late 50s-thru 60s.....
6.  Leica is SO removed from the reality of the world of photography 
that they don't have a CLUE what is going on, what is wanted/needed
by REAL photographers.  They sit at the top, with their "collectors'"
items, and make what the hell they want.  We buy it (if it's M-system)
because there isn't a viable alternative.
7. Political discussion, much like discussion of religeon, brings 
out the very WORST in people.  In spite of this, we MUST do it.  To 
ignore politics is to ignore the plight of 90% of the world's population.
While this may be possible for the "elite",  who (think they) are 
'insulated' from it, it is far from the "correct" thing to do.

Summary (aren't ya glad?)

To ignore politics is to ignore much of the significant "Leica" 
photography since the introduction of the model "A".  I really 
should say "35mm" photography, since there HAVE BEEN other brands, 
but I must keep "on topic", ya know......

Collecting, fondling, testing, polishing, etc. the equipment is 
fun allright, but it AIN't photography....If the subject of the 
group is LEICA photography, political discussion is vital....JUST 
OWNING LEICA can be a hot political subject, with all kinds of 
hidden statements,  but I'll pass this part of the discussion to 
Oddmund......

I'm one small person who's really enjoying the thread.......I hope 
whoever ends up owning Leica will get back in touch with 
photography.

Walt