[Leica] London lurker surfaces with a bit of a ramble

[Mike Stone <mike.stone1@virgin.net>]

Hello all

I've been lurking here for a couple of years on and off and thought I
should introduce my self.

I'm Mike stone and a professional shooter based in London specialising
in corporate and celebrity portraits with a variety of kit, mainly
Hasselblad but also Linhof for large format and of course my Leicas for
35mm.

On the Leica front I have an M6, M4-2, 90mm Elmar-c ( about to become a
new 90mm Elmarit-M ), 50mm Summicron-M , 35mm Summicron-M and a Heliar
15mm.

The Heliar recently saved my skin on a shoot the week I picked it up
actually, I was booked to shoot Bill gates on his trip London at the end
of last year and had bee told I would have a half hour slot with him to
shoot some set up portraits.


On arrival at the location Phil my assitant
complete with all our lighting kit wasn't even allowed in the building
by the first wave of P.R. and security bods and I was told that I
couldn't even use any flash on camera.

So in I go with just a bag full of Leicas to meet the great man only to
hit the second wave of goons who politely inform me that when Mr Gates
arrives I can introduce myself but that I cannot talk to him whilst
taking his picture, that I can have five minutes and have to work whilst
the interview is taking place. I am also told that I should only take
head shots because he is a little concerned about his waistline. 


In walks Bill and I think if they are going to mess me around his
waistline is
no longer my concern and out comes the Heliar, of course they have no
idea what I'm using or in fact that after the five minutes are up 
I'm still shooting which I do right through the half hour interview,
result a great set of pics including some nice wide ones with all his
goons lined up on the walls around the room thinking they are out of
shot. Unfortunately the magazine I was working for didn't have the
courage to use those but it was a great gig at the end and the Heliar
was a peach at f 8.0 1/30 on tri-x at 800.

I hope I have not rambled on too long and  must say I love the range of
debate on and off topic and do declare an unhealthy interest in the
delights of Talisker, picked up whilst at art college in Edinburgh back
in the 80's.

If you want to see some of my stuff have a look at

http://business.virgin.net/mike.stone1

Not too many Leica shots on the
site but you may like it and any feedback is always welcome.



Mike Stone