Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/11/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Marc James Small wrote: >No, it is NOT a "non-issue". The saga of how we got where we are today is >vitally important to understanding our present position. On any issue, at >any time. "Those who ignore the lessons of the past are bound to repeat >the mistakes", or however it goes.>>>>>> Marc, You're right it's not a non-issue, no argument in correcting what may or may not be lies, half truths or whatever. But it appears this is getting completely out of hand and being pumped to over importance when the guy who could fix it in two minutes is dead! That is if he'd tell us if he were alive. AA was a great artist photographer/technician no question. And then there is the lore of the image which builds around a person of his stature and being, built by his admirers and self over the years. Many stories of his likes and dislikes much as old war stories, become embellished with time and position within the photo community. Simply because he's probably the only guy with the balls to tell a story, truthfully or otherwise, that he drove umpteen hours into the desert with one sheet of film to make one exposure. Even I'd never live that dangerously with one roll of film. He said wonderful things about the Leica in promos and advertising. And was probably paid well or in kind with products. Did he lie? Heck only he can tell you the truth and unfortunately he isn't here. And despite what others heard or saw of him using various manufacturers gear or models of Leica/contax, all the discussion of what was or wasn't, is only churning the dust of time. I merely meant, there are truly many other things we all could be doing than working ourselves into a gabfest over good old AA and whether he liked, lied or ever actually used a Leica/Contax RF and that he did or didn't use an R camera in his life. >History is important. Ted, you have LIVED history, and you should know >this, more than most of us.>>>>>> Yes I surely do and I've lived it. And I'm a serious believer in the archives of nations having the truth where possible, but unfortunately many times the real truth may never be known, simply because the person who can "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth" is no longer with us. And we can simply conjecture ourselves to death without ever finding the final fully truthful answer! And that's why all this really doesn't matter a whit one way nor the other, simply because "He ain't here to tell the truth!" And all the rest is supposition, hearsay or third party "thoughts." And I'd bet he'd piss his pants laughing or harumping, that we are wasting time whipping this up when we could, with one roll of film, be shooting the wilds of the country as he did with one sheet! No offence meant in anything I've said, it's all merely conjecture of opinion. ted Ted Grant This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler. http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant