Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/12/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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