Re: [Leica] How to get comfortable with my Leica?

[Nicholas Poole <nick.botton@camphill.org.uk>]

>
>Tristan, maybe the problem is not so much the camera as what you want to be
>doing with it. I say this because I think this "street photography" thing
>is vastly over-rated. But even so, the impotant thing, IMO, is to have a
>photographic project or subject you're working on. Then it takes over.
>
>I used to wander about looking for things to take pictures of and soon
>found that it was a futile endeavour. Now I only ever take pictures as part
>of a project of some kind I'm interested in. I don't believe - in my case,
>anyway, other people may well be different - that pictures just pop up in
>front of you, I think you have to have a powerful interest that motivates
>you to look at or for a particular kind of thing. Even Friedlander, for
>instance, one of the kings of street photography, was always working on a
>particular theme, such as his own shadow, car mirror reflections, etc.
>
>One advantage of this is that when people ask you why you're photographig
>them doing somthing, you can say, well I'm really interested in
>photographing half-empty beer glasses, which is what I was snapping in this
>case, or whatever your theme might be. Then they'll just think you're a
>loony rather than a threat. But in any case, you'll have a reason to be
>taking the picture.
>
>Just a thought.
>
>Rob.

Absolutely, Rob. This really is the answer! And the motivation.
Nick