Re: [Leica] Dave Beckerman has switched to Leica

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

Well, Mike, we'll have to agree to disagree. I will always believe that
a camera is just a tool; no magic, no mythology. Certainly some people
do better work with certain tools than they do with others. However, I
would argue until the cows wake up and head out for the pasture - having
come home the evening before - that what makes the Leica M a 'best' tool
for me and my style of photography is the fact that it is a manual
rangefinder, not the much worshiped Leica glass. If Nikon still made its
rangefinders, and Contax its, I might well be shooting with one of those
today instead of the M.

If you see some great difference in your slides, more power to you. But
it sure doesn't shock me that Jonathan Eastland, whose reputation is
built on books about Leicas, would write about how spectacular slides
produced by Leicas are.

Don't get me wrong - I love the cameras. I love the lenses. I just think
that much of the mythology is pure and utter cow plop.

B. D.


Mike Gil wrote:
> 
> Im not a mind reader so tell me what your thinking.
> 
> Now can a Leica rangefinder make a good photographer a
> better one? Maybe, maybe people prefer images created
> with Leica rangefinder more than with other glass.  An
> if this subjectively makes them a better photog in
> peoples mind the better for the photog.  I was
> re-reading Jonathan Eastland book the Leica M
> Compendium and the process he went in sorting his old
> slides and rediscovering the Leica look in his
> photographs.  They just popped out at him.
> 
> I shoot with Hasselblads, Leica M & R's, and Nikons.
> And if you believe me or not people can always tell
> which ones where taken with the Leica M.  They say its
> different, it gives them an unique look, they almost
> feel like they are their, it makes them look deeper
> into the photograph.  I don't think I use a
> significant different technique when I shoot with
> different glass or format, its has to be the Leica.  I
> know this is only peoples opinions, a chart won't show
> it but isn't what people feel, what we are really
> interested in.
> 
> I just acquired a Yashica 124G and can't wait to see
> what results I'll get.  Can it make me give up my
> Hasselblads?  I'm holding my opinion until I and other
> people see the result.  Will it contradict everything
> I said.  If it does then I will change my opinion, I
> hope we are flexible enough that we can change our
> opinion and grow from life experiences.
> 
> mg
> 
> --- "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Mike Gil wrote:
> > >
> > > Please don't make us, use Holga's.  Have you seen
> > some
> > > of this stuff.  I think seeing light leaks into
> > the
> > > frame is not a cool thing.  Or the other half
> > dozen
> > > random effects created by this plastic camera.
> > Most
> > > pictures taken with a Holga look like they
> > accidently
> > > took off the top of the film developing can before
> > the
> > > film was fixed, smeared vaseline on the lens and
> > used
> > > the wrong lens hood.  HCB would not be HCB with a
> > > Brownie, imagine him showing a portfolio full of
> > > technically weak photographs to an editor.
> > >
> >
> > First off, I said nothing about Holgas, and I
> > suspect you do know
> > precisely what I was talking about. Second, and I'd
> > better get down in
> > the trench and prepare for incoming, but HCB took,
> > and published, many
> > technically weak photos. So what's your point? That
> > using a Leica will
> > make a mediocre photographer a good one, and a good
> > photographer a great
> > one?
> >
> > Sorry, but that is complete and utter BS. Using a
> > Leica will make a
> > mediocre photographer a mediocre photographer with
> > sharp images. And a
> > good photogapher a good photographer with good
> > images.
> >
> > Come on, folks...It's a great tool - for some
> > people. It's not a magic
> > wand.
> >
> > B. D.
> 
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