Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/10/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Dave Fisher wrote: >>>>>>It hit me hard the past few days, realizing how much a part of all of us he really was. Makes me want to get a really nice photo of him and throw in a frame. Ted....?<<<<< Hi Dave, Like you, I felt very bad at loosing someone who affected all Canadians in such away as he did. I wont go into the handshakes , dislikes and despising of the man at times, only to finally understand that he took Canada out of the "olden days" and put us on the map without a war doing it. Like some countries!! Yep my wife and I shed a tear as we watched son Justin give his eulogy, probably one of the most moving I've heard. The best photo I have of Trudeau? He's sliding down a railing in the Chateau Laurier hotel, arms held high above his head like a kid sliding down a bannister during the Leadership campaign '68. It was shot with an M4, 35 summilux and tri-x! And I'm the only photographer to have it, because everyone else ran down the stairs and outside waiting for him to get in his car. Let's put it this way, the Photo Chief of Canadian Press has always considered it the "visual epitome" of the beginning of the Trudeau era. When it was rumoured he was medically in trouble a few months ago I received a call asking the right to use the picture in CP's Obit file they were preparing in case of what just happened. For me it's the one picture that says what Trudeau was all about in his youthful approach to life and the world. If your interested I'll send a print, send your snail mail address private: tedgarnt@home.com. A Leica side note to the picture: When I cover a personality and they're on the move in crowds and changing room to room, I try to work within 15-20 feet and closer if the situation permits. Change exposures as I move before a picture happens, then the camera is always at the correct setting or nearly so. I keep the focus position about 10 feet. So when Trudeau slid down the railing, I didn't see him start as I was hurrying to get ahead of him and outside with the others. However, I heard the laughter and I turned, there he was sliding toward me & I had time for three frames... sans RapidWinder in those days. The first frame was the keeper, the other two were out of focus as he was right on top of me. And that's how it happened. :-) ted Victoria, Canada