Re: [Leica] I missed it.

["Robert G. Stevens" <robsteve@istar.ca>]

Paul:

I see this as common with a lot of the lug members.  They miss shots like
this because the are just too shy to put the camera up, focus and take the
picture, let alone ask the subject if you could take their picture.
Perhaps you could have asked her to take her picture and then taken your
time to compose and focus.  For example, Nathan Wajsman that posted a web site
  
http://members.xoom.com/wajsman/belgium.htm

showing some pictures taken at markets in Belgium.  I think in only one
picture ,Tongeren 10, there were people facing the camera and eye contact.

I too am shy, but just try my best.  If I don't get eye contact in the
picture, it just gets filed in the garbage unless there are other merits to
it.  My web page has some examples of this in the Noctilux, Trip, and Baby
picture section (nurse shot) all have example of the eye contact I am
talking about.

http://home.istar.ca/~robsteve/photography/index.htm

Regards,

Robert

At 12:48 PM 3/29/99 PST, you wrote:
>Dear LUG,
>
>It's been a beautiful day here in Boston.  I was walking down the 
>sidewalk of a busy street when I saw the shot: A young woman sitting on 
>a cream colored, obviously old and battered moped; against the 18% 
>grey-colored street(seriously).  She had a radiant pale-tan complexion, 
>a silver nose ring, and the glow from her smile made me wince.  For an 
>instant, the portion of the street in my frame was free of autos.  This 
>would have been the PERFECT Black and white shot(to me).  I swear the 
>instant that I was bringing the camera to my face, I invisioned myself 
>toning this beautiful print.  Selenium, no, sepia!  Anyway, I had the 
>exposure preset for the shadows of the buildings on the street(which she 
>happened to be in).  Okay, exposure was on.  Click.....ahh....$*&%&#!  I 
>was focused at about 32", and she was at least 10 ft. away.  By the time 
>I realized the focus was off, the magic was gone.  Did I get the shot?  
>I'll only be able to tell after tonight when I develop and print.  Maybe 
>I got it.  I was using a summicron 50, and the DOF at f11 might have 
>been adequite.  Then again, maybe I missed it.  So please, how might I 
>avoid this in the future?  This is only my 6th roll using the 
>rangefinder, and my focusing is gradually getting better, but could you 
>all impart some of your wisdom as to how I can achieve quicker focus for 
>street shooting?  I LOVE this camera, and considering the great shots 
>I've gotten with it so far, I'm not going to let "the one that got 
>away(maybe)" discourage me.  Although, it would be a shame.  Thanks in 
>advance for your kind input.
>
>Sincerely,
>Paul Klingaman
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>
>
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