Re: [Leica] Re: The chip on Creek Johnson's shoulder

[Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>]

drodgers@nextlink.net wrote:
> 
> Mark:
> 
> You wrote:
> 
> >>The fact that some of us have a hard edge or even Red Neck edge in our
> opinions doesn't bother me at all. I find it a relief after a day in my
> yuppie espresso politically correct non specific world.<<
> 
> Well said. I think the LUG is as much about people as it is about Leica cameras.
> And I enjoy reading it for that reason. (As you can see from my belated
> response, I'm a little behind in my reading). It's probably stands to reason,
> then, that people are my favorite subject matter to photograph.
> 
> Galen Rowell was in town yesterday. I attended to his lecture and slide
> presentation. It was worth seeing. But I was a little disappointed in the
> content. He did a formal presentation, related to his new book, first. Then he
> did an informal presentation. The photographs were nice. But, I was looking for
> a little more insight into Galen Rowell the photographer.
> 
> I've always found photographers (especially Leica users) to be interesting
> people. I was at the Dolores Gallery (now Friends of Photography) in Carmel, CA.
> I lived in Carmel for 3 years in the '70s. I wrote editorial material and worked
> in a small condo/office a block from the Gallery. I was there during lunch one
> day to visit a new show. The place was empty, except for an older gentleman who
> was taking in the photographs. I struck up a conversation that lasted a half
> hour or so. I was fascinated, and I'll never forget the conversation, because
> the guy, obviously a photographer himself, was so interesting. It was quite some
> time later before I realized that the person I'd been talking with was Ansel
> Adams.
> 
> Dave
I saw Galen Rowell sitting there yesterday at Pro Photo (Portland OR)
with all his books laid out; no visible camera bags. I was there for the
free Nikon check that was going on as well as mine were drying out. I
was more familiar with his camera bags than his photographs and never
got around to checking out one of his many slickly presented books. Next time.
Around 5 PM I was sitting outside of Coffee People on NW 23rd with my M6
and 50 Sumicron and single espresso when photographer Larry Schlim came
by and recommended that I check out Galens talk in a few hours at the
Art Museum. Larry had known Galen for years and liked what he had to
say; they both go to Nepal alot. That fact that the talk was on the
North and South Poles? Sounded appealing but I had a previous engangment
for a beer with photographer Ken Anderson.
So I'm glad I didn't miss much. The beers and the entertainment was great.
When I was a kid in the North Chicago I lived across the street from the
Editorial Editor of Life magazine: Paul Welsh. They had a barbecue and
many of the greats were there. A backyard filled with drunk famous
photographers. 1967 give or take. Must have made an impression.
Mark Rabiner