Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/11/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The Leicaslackers (M2 Division) Lament Sitting around admiring my Leica Never dreaming of taking a shot Dressing it like a chrome coloured Barbie With the few accessories I’ve got The incredibly weighty summicron The meter, booster and close up specs The satisfying click as the lens locks The photo equivalent of sex? Then one fateful night on the Internet Just surfing around for a while An H.C.B. decisive moment My random, chance encounter with Kyle He describes my attitude to the Leica With uncanny insight and precision He has me rolling around with laughter And inspires me to a decision Next time I go out with a camera No more of equipment overkill I’ll be travelling light with the Leica Meter, body and the 50 mill But talk is cheap unlike the old Leica And words are much easier than deeds And I’m soon scouring all of the used ads To satisfy additional lens needs This attempt to get value for money Is going entirely the wrong way The 35 and 90 summicrons Are going to cost several weeks pay But how can I justify such outlay When I’m no more than a camera geek? Then Kyle gives me the justification I’ll need them for my " picture a week" I spend one thousand plus on the lenses In search of good value? That’s funny! Then of course there is the web site software Which in turn will cost still more money I need to get the best from my scanner So I purchase something called Vuescan Read about it on the Lug, where else? I hope it’s not money down the pan The next software is Cyber View Image I need it to get a good jpeg This purchase must be some kind of mistake It didn’t cost an arm and a leg I must carry a camera at all times If I’m to feed the picture a week Which in turn means a point and shoot camera One used Minilux. SOLD! To the geek I know I have to improve my technique Before I show photos to the group I need tips about street photography Best methods, tricks of the trade and soup My searching takes me to Johnny Deadman As sites go this is one of the greats He’s helpful and expert and I’m convinced I need a Sekonic L308 So it’s back to the ads for a bargain I know it’s madness! I know I’m skint! My credit card is frayed at the edges And there is still no sign of a print Speaking of prints, I want them in mono But my printer prints with a red cast That means the "Peizo plunge" and Cone Software Stop! Stop! Stop! The money just wont last But if I stop now it’s been for nothing Except the fun of owning the gear But looking again at the lugger sites Fills me with an all consuming fear And its funny how everyones, pictures Look better when you get your own site And from being sure that I could hack it Well; now I only think I just might There’s Wajsman, Berube and George Callender Kyle, Tina, Bill in Denver and LeHuray I will never get results like they do No matter how I pump in the money And all those dead links on "who’s doing paw" What happened? Where are they? What went wrong? Did they blow out their brains in frustration? Or quit and sell their gear for a song? Yet some guys routinely post great pictures You doubt me? Can I prove it? You bet! Go check out SonC’s "Kathy" and "Jackson" And Brownlow pictures jump right out of the set So now I am faced with a real dilemma Will picture a week really be fun? Do I declare my site and post pictures? Or give in to temptation and run Do I sit silently in the background? Read lug postings for my daily fix Or get out and about with a Leica? Then give luggers access to my pics As I take stock of the situation This one thing is abundantly clear So far I have spent a bloody fortune To justify expense on previous gear Well that’s it. No more fancy equipment From now, money goes on film not gear For better or worse week one is posted If you want to see it, it’s here. www.g..... Sorry luggers I chickened out. I‘m sure you are a really nice bunch but I am intimidated by the quality of your photography, your gear, your CV’s. You name it; I’m intimidated by it. Looking on the bright side I now have more toys (yes I really did make those purchases) to play with even though I know money doesn’t make good photographs. My web site is up with a few photographs, mainly Olympus some Leica, to aid with site layout etc. On Jan 1 2002 I fully intend to start posting a Leica shot each week but as for giving luggers the address? I don’t know if I’ll ever have the balls, maybe I could buy a set, where’s that credit card? p.s. love the Minilux, what a pity they don’t do extra lenses for it. - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html