Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/11/30

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Subject: [Leica] Last Post
From: "Graham Battison" <Graham.Battison@btinternet.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 22:15:50 -0000

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.


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Replies: Reply from Marc Attinasi <marc@attinasi.org> (Re: [Leica] Last Post)