Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/03/21

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Subject: Re: [Leica] AA, HCB & Leicas
From: Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 14:28:36 -0800

"B. D. Colen" wrote:
> 
> Mark Rabiner wrote:
> 
> >  It averages out in this case in my overblown opinion to
> > the vision of a great artist and craftsman whose subject matter is rural
> > instead of urban.
> > Mark Rabiner
> 
> Right - Criticizing AA for not shooting what HCB shoots is a bit like
> criticizing Wyeth for not being Hopper, or Durant for not being Daumier...Art
> is art is art...and different artists see and interpret different things...and
> thank God there isn't just one vision out there...
> 
> On the other track - sure, you can shoot street life with a 'Blad,' or
> landscapes with an M6...but that's not what either camera is really intended
> for....
> 
> B. D.

I just loved your phrase or idea "criticizing Wyeth for not being
Hopper." Both for who they are and the interesting oppositeness of their
styles and the fact that I know who they are. The Durant and Daumier
slide shows I snoozed through no doubt.
Art is a dog that got put to sleep a long time ago.
A Friend of mine just got a big slick book done by a photographer who
street shoots a Blad, narrow selective focus, full frame black border
very effective. Lets not forget Victor developed the 'Blad for shooting
his birds and not after they were stuffed.
The mentality of going out with tech film or Agfapan 25 and a nice
tripod to support your Leica M is not big here on the lug unless you
count Erwin testing a lens. But I have gone through those phases and
have seen it lurking elseware. You want to tell them "Hey, why not just
shoot sheet film!" but it's best to humor them. They're having fun and
they're not hurting anybody. They might even have an angle.
Neither camera is a tripod or handheld camera. Both can be used
carefully or quickly. Both look great next to each other in the same
camera bag.
Mark Rabiner