Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/06/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> Paul Klingaman wrote: > > I have decided to take a trip with my best friend this summer across most of > > the United States(From Denver, PA to Denver, CO; with a pit stop in Boston). > > And so, I thought calling in the big dogs(members of the LUG) for advice > > would be a good idea. I'd like to make the "Great American Portfolio" on > > this trip. Paul, First pack a copy of The Americans and of The Family of Man for inspiration. Second, talk to people everywhere. Smile a lot. Take their photos. Then ask for a model release, too. A year ago a photographer with a photojournalism bent was signed with Tony Stone Images and they encouraged him to travel across the country making Icon America pix. He spent six weeks and got some wonderful stuff. And got model releases. And all BW. Leica? I don't know. But Leica-like anyway. Wonderful project. Last I heard he was even beginning to make some money from it. I did three months once in a VW microbus (of course) after school and after sending out 50 applications to newspapers. An offer caught up with me in South Dakota for the Hartford Courant, or it would've gone on longer. One wife and two cats. We had fun and learned a lot about the country. I can't remember ever doing a cross country trip without being on a dirt road somewhere. Mark's advice against the Interstate is excellent. Two years ago I got a room in Flagstaff AZ for $16. And there were cheaper. Little towns. Read the town newspapers too for events. Talk to waitresses in coffee shops (after people quit staring at you) about what is happening. Wear work clothes, neat but not fancy. The biggest challenge in photographing America today (and soon the world) is the proliferation of franchises, and logos, and commercial T-shirts. But places still exist with real live small businesses, country fairs, and farmers sitting under trees drinking iced tee brought by their wives. Yup. donal - -- Donal Philby San Diego http://www.donalphilby.com