[Leica] an idea for a contest

["Mike Nicholls" <mikenic@cyberone.com.au>]

Brian Reid wrote...
<snip>
>I have a Leica IIIf, red dial, with 3 lenses (35/3.5 Summar, 50/2.8
>collapsible Elmarit (I think), 90/4 Elmar), 3 finders that I believe are
>called "imarect" (they attach to the flash shoe). .....
<snip>
>But this old IIIf means a lot to me, so I don't want to sell it. However, I
think I might be
>willing to give it away as the prize in a Leica Users Photo Contest. Before
>I announce such a contest I'd like to see some discussion about what sort
>of contest it should be and what restrictions I'd place on the winner. For
>example, I don't think any working or retired professional photographer
>should be eligible to win. My goal here is twofold:
>    1. To get this camera into the hands of some needy person who will
>really use it, instead of putting it in a display case. An engineer with a
>mortgage who lives in Arizona is probably not needy; a student who lives in
>the former East Germany and who works in a grocery store is probably needy.
>But only if he's really going to use it.
>   2. To increase the amount of discussion about photography, instead of
>cameras, in this forum. I'm absolutely delighted at the pictures that some
>of you post; I keep hoping that someday I'll have something new I'm willing
>to show you all (I'm very proud of my old work, but I haven't managed to
>take a picture that makes me quiver in a long time). Maybe this contest
>would stir the pot.

Wow, what a wonderful thing to offer in the interest of photography.
A suggestion for its use, but.... warning.....this suggestion may not seem
very practical.

Perhaps this camera could be used to promote photographic discussion (as
outlined in Brian's 2nd goal for his camera) by using it to generate
pictures for either a stand alone Leica photographic project, or in
conjunction with the "Family of Man" publication currently getting off the
ground.

Brian's IIIf could be used to generate images from around the world by
sending it from one Leica photographer to another. Each photographer to keep
and use for (say) two weeks and then send on to the next on a list of
"willing" candidates. The concept is something along the lines of "one
camera, for a world of photographs". It would be interesting to see the
different images this one "no frills" early Leica camera could generate in
the hands of the many and varied Leica photographers from around the world.
The resulting images could form a subset of the "Family of Man" publication,
with a photo of the camera coming before a selection of the images it took.
(Yes, I know, the costs of postage, but it's just an idea). Perhaps the IIIf
with just the 35/3.5 Summar would be quite enough to send around.

Another idea would be for the camera not to be given to anyone, but be a
"perpetual" trophy, won on an annual basis, like a "Logie" award. Each
winner could have name and year engraved in the camera.

At least the camera would be used and "perpetuated".  A deserving path for a
well loved Leica camera IMHO.

Its just a thought.

Mike Nicholls
mikenic@cyberone.com.au