Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]John, I have a friend who used to set up his Wisner Field camera on a street corner. He got some fantastic shots. Not with the Wisner, but with a Leica M. The Wisner was just a conversation piece. People would stop and asked him about it. It gave him credibility as a photographer. Even people walking by were more apt to give a smile or relaxed expression. He said it was very different when tried to photograph without the Wisner next to him. Far more irritated looks. Pretty fascinating the concept of pointing and shooting. Is all pointing the same? Is an M different from an R in the eyes of most subjects? People respond with curiosity when I use a TLR. The camera may be looking directly at them, but I'm not. I've about getting a right angle finder for my R7 to see if it made it less intrusive. Too bad they're so expensive. Why is it that adults are more nervous about being photographed, than are children? People get edgy when somebody takes aim with an SLR. The bigger the lens, the more nervous they become. An M seems to be less intrusive. Is it because of the smaller lenses? Does it help to be right eyed so people can see your left eye when you point? Does the value of an M reside in the fact that you can bring it to your eye relatively quickly? Look through and not into, as many people have said. Or is the real value in the fact that the lenses are fast and good? I wonder what people's reactions are when they realize a camera is pointed at them. I'm sure everyone reacts differently. But do these reactions fall into various categories? Some people turn anti-photo very quickly. "A camera. Cool! Will I be famous?"....milliseconds pass...."Oh no! I look terrible, and I don't want to be in print!" "I spy a camera"...deep breath..."You bozo! I don't care if your name is Ansel Adams. Don't point that thing at me!" I think I'll go downtown, point my camera around and ask questions. "Excuse me, but how did you feel when I pointed the camera at you?" BONK! "But is't a Leica M!" Stealthy shooting is an art from that's extremely difficult to master. Is it true that an SLR forms more of a wall between the photographer and the subject than an M? If so, is that bad or good? I don't see how people can stand being photographed with a P&S that has one of those telescoping zooms. The camera seems way too excited! This post has nothing to do with retired dentists or anything for that matter. Just musing that happened to end up here. Dave - -----Original Message----- From: Johnny Deadman [mailto:john@pinkheadedbug.com] Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 10:08 AM To: LUG Subject: Re: [Leica] yesterday's technolgy at retired dentists prices! on 6/28/01 10:55 AM, Mxsmanic at mxsmanic@hotmail.com wrote: >> film emulsions have improved to an astonishing degree > > And what else? It's still shutter, lens, and aperture. so are all cameras, really, digital or otherwise. All the rest is bells and whistles. I can't remember, was it George L who said on this forum that all cameras are ultimately point and shoot devices, even 4x5? That is SO completely true. It's the nature of a camera. Point it at something and shoot. If you're not doing that, then you haven't transferred enough of the technical details into the other side of your brain yet IMO. - -- John Brownlow http://www.pinkheadedbug.com ICQ: 109343205