Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/11/22

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Just for the hell of it
From: Ted Grant <tedgrant@islandnet.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 22:58:54 -0800

Bill Erfurth wrote:

>Just for the hell of it, let's spend one week...from
>this Sunday through next Sunday talking about Nuts &
>Bolts stuff.  Things like, taking photos, using a 90mm
>lens to shoot something rather than a 50mm lens,>>>>>

OK Bill how's this?

Spent 12 hours today shooting every tender touching moment between a
"father and mother about to be" in a birthing room while my friend went
through the attempt at delivering her first child normally. Hell of a
struggle, finally at the end she was rolled into the OR and preped for
C-Section delivery.  Another great finally to a long long day!:)

It was her first child and my first day working with two R8's (rather than
R7's) and two M6's.  Long day, long day! Standing and watching, capturing
every little moment of loving communication between the couple.

Eyes, hands, fingers intertwined, touching little kisses of assurance, cold
cloth applied to the furrowed brow, attention of the nurses and doctors,
finally first shots of baby, the father tenderly carressing his wife's arm
as they catch first glimps of child.  And it seems a zillion other things.

Yeah it was a long day and I'll fall asleep as soon as the old head hits
the pillow.

Shot 23 rolls ...36 exposure TMax 400 rated at 800 and souped in Tmax deve.
1:4 at 75 degrees for 6 minutes.

Report tomorrow on results.

Lenses :  35 1.4 and Noctilux on the M's, 80 1.4 and 28 on the R8's.  60
macro in pocket just in case, never used and a 90 Suummicron for the M,
never used.

Was it an emotional event?  You betcha! Every birthing is emotional,
whether friend, stranger or family. Always more so when friend or family,
also more draining when it seems it's taking way too long.

You don't dare leave for food, might miss one touching moment. My food for
the day was the ever present freezer bag of raisens in the shoulder bag,
never leave home without them!

A handful of raisens, a couple of cups of water and that was it. Great for
the weight loss programme.:)

No flash of course, imagine shooting 23 rolls of film and blasting flash on
every frame! They'd have thrown me out after the first 36 frames. Talk
about disturbing the peace with twinkie lights.

yep and some of the exposures were 1/15 at f1.0! Nothing beats a Noctilux
when the light gets tough.

Can't think of anything else other than when you load a pocket with 25
rolls of film, don't crimp all the leaders to fit the M6 take-up spool, as
it's a big pain in the ass trying to load them in an R8 with the crimp,
when it should be lying flat for the auto loading of the winder.

So there's a story with nothing but Leica! :) And I thought I'd post it
just for the hell of it!:)
ted




Ted Grant
This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant