Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/03/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jeff, I often follow the same eye-training path as you. That is how I discovered the power of the ultra-wide angle angle of view and realised it was much more usable than what the literature suggests. A few days with the 21mm alone gave me some of my best ever pics. Each focal length deserves such exercise, and then the 'angst' of not having the 'needed' lens diminishes grandly. I would even recommend not to carry all the M lenses along, as compact and light as they are. Maybe there are situations that really do 'require' a certain focal length, but in 90 pct of cases it is more interesting to get round those so-called requirements by choosing unconventional angles of view rather than changing lenses. To go back to other aspects of this thread, the analogies with other fields of creation or other hobbies, I find that photography, as respectable and potentialy great as it is, is an activity that allows more incompetence and self indulgence than others. It does not take that much work and knowledge to make an acceptable picture. I'm constantly surprised by the quantity of unsignificant-but-acceptable pictures that get printed and totally amazed by the much greater avalanche of unsignificant-but-acceptable pics that get published on the web. It takes a hell of a lot more training to perform correctly an audible piano concerto and, from what I can see, very few amateur musicians (in the traditional sense of the word) dare to publish their sound clips on the web (not talking 'bout rap or techno sampling competitions here). I guess that might be at least part of the reason I chose photography, and now that I own the photographic Steinway, I realise I am far from deserving it, on creativity grounds anyway (I've worked my butt of to pay for those gems). How many luggers feel that way ? Alan At 10:54 15/03/99 -0700, you wrote: >This business about seeking perfection in one's gear is great, and I'm glad >that there are designers who strive for perfection, and independent parties >like Erwin who can keep 'em honest by checking the quality of their work. > >But the hardware is only one side of the equation: The other is a >photographer's vision/skill/strength of the shoulder! > >I recently acquired a late-model 90/2-M lens and decided to try something >new: I've been shooting with the 90, and ONLY the 90. I want to be able to >instantly isolate a 90mm composition, even before touching the camera. I've >been seeking unfamiliar views of familiar places, and it hasn't always been >easy going, but when things start to click, wow! > >Jeff >