Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/11/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I haven't been reading this list, but for some reason I read this. It's beyond my comprehension why a piece of metal is supposed to have a conscience. Was the camera at fault somewhere? Did it cause the Holocaust? There are European artifacts dating from the 20's through the 40's by the millions (perhaps billions) throughout the world. So what are we supposed to do? Ask anything that is old "were you held or owned by a Nazi?" How long do we wait for it to respond? I wonder if that last atom of oxygen you inhaled was at one time inhaled by a Nazi. Better stop breathing. This is sheer stupidity!!! Of the highest order!!! Go out and take pictures with your Leica. Oops... The sand that made YOUR lens may have come from you know where. Better not let it form an image on your film. Film? Damn... I don't know where metal for the cassette came from. Or the halide ions in the emulsion. I better stop typing. Turn off my computer. I don't know where those electrons have been. What about Eddie Adams camera? It didn't record mushrooms. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for his unforgettable photograph of the street execution of a Viet Cong. Should the camera be destroyed? Jim At 10:04 PM 11/24/99 -0800, you wrote: >Jeffrey Frankel wrote: >> >> I had an unusual incident at work a few months ago. >> >> I was discussing my LTM camera in the maintenance department of my plant >> when an electrical contractor came in a listened in. An elderly Polish man, >> he smiled and asked if I would like to see his screw mount. I said sure. >> >> About two weeks later he returned with a fairly beat up IIIA (?I think) with >> an uncoated 50 elmar. >> >> He went on to tell me the following story (paraphrased): >> >> He had just taken an SS officer as prisoner and found the camera on his >> posession. When the prisoner swore at him in German (Not realizing that he >> spoke German), he took him out back, told him he would not need the camera >> any more, and shot him in the head. >> >> I just stared at the camera in my hands, as a wave of revulsion came over >> me. The quiet calm of that well used piece of German photographic >> perfection was shattered by the reality of the story. >> >> I handed the camera back to him and washed my hands as soon as I was out of >> the room. >> >> Boy, It's good to get that off my chest. Saved me a visit to the therapist. >> >> Jeff > >