RE: [Leica] Two quick questions, please

["George Kenney" <gdkenney@bellatlantic.net>]

Ah, OK.

It all started when I got a Black Lab puppy. And, naturally, I wanted 
to take pictures of him. But I wasn't happy with my Nikon 6006 
(which I'd bought to take to Bosnia with me during the war). It didn't 
take good pictures, or maybe it was me. So I went looking for a new 
camera, saw an M6 at a local dealer, he gave me a Leica catalog, 
and after a day of thinking about it I bought the M6 with a 50/2 lens. 
Then after working with it a bit I thought, 'hey, this is a wonderful 
little gadget.' And started buying more Leica stuff.

Don't know much about photography. Did a little developing of film 
and prints in High School, lo these many years ago. Have shot the 
occasional snapshots ever since.

With the Leicas mostly I've been taking pictures of my dog, Hugo, 
and two cats, Buster and Ginger, plus occasionally my girlfriend, 
Sharon, a UCC minister who doesn't like having her picture taken. 
Also a few shots in parks around the DC area.

Now, I already bought a Jeep Wrangler for the dog, to take him out 
to the park, so I figured why not a camera? Probably I'll branch out 
in terms of subject matter, but it may take a while.

As for classes, I found a course in basic photography from a 
community center at Glen Echo National Park, near DC on the 
Potomac. I'll start in about a month. People who know a little about 
the arts tell me that classes there are actually better than at the 
Corcoran in downtown DC. Maybe, maybe not. But it's a fairly well 
heeled neighborhood so I doubt anyone in intro photo will bat an 
eye at a Leica. I'm hopeful I'll learn something useful.

I have been looking at books, but at a certain point I'm a skeptic. 
Given my experience writing, which has been published fairly 
widely, tho not recently, including in the NYT Sunday Magazine, I 
find that most people (including editors) who profess to be 'experts' 
when it comes to written words don't know so much. And that the 
market for writing horribly skews what otherwise could be an 
interesting and fulfilling creative experience. I assume the same 
holds true in the world of photography. Mostly, then, I'm trying to 
learn about taking pictures to please myself.

Cheers,

G.

On 19 Feb 2001, at 18:43, goldframe wrote:

> Don't take my little jab seriously.
> 
> What experience do you have with manual photography?  What do you like
> to shoot?  How did you decide to take the Leica plunge?  BTW books and
> exposing film can do what a class would do in less time. The LUG can
> help - be patient!  Classes are good, but you're jumping through the
> instructor's hoops.  A good exercise but tedious - geared for the mass
> SLR consuming market.  Those little rangefinders you've bought dances
> to a little different tune.
> 
> Please introduce yourself further- if you like.
> 
> gold
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of George
> Kenney Sent: Monday, February 19, 2001 5:45 PM To:
> leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: RE: [Leica] Two quick
> questions, please
> 
> Wellll....
> 
> I was serious! And actually the replies are helpful.
> 
> G.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 19 Feb 2001, at 16:25, goldframe wrote:
> 
> > I think we're being baited here.  Only one new lens a month - poor
> > poor pitiful me.  Watch all the Leicaholics here jump up and down
> > over such a nice "starter" kit.  LOL  Drool.  Buy all the expensive
> > ones first  - quick before she puts her foot down.  ROTHLMAO
> >
> > gold
> >
> >
> 
>