RE: [Leica] IIIa Photos

["Phong" <phong@doan-ltd.com>]

Dan/Martin,

> 3 & 4 in particular showing that you don't have that "I don't dare 
> take a picture"-angst  that many seem to be plagued with.

I beg to differ: 3 is a shot of someone sleeping, 4 is a hurried shot
(out of focus), and 5 is a shot in the back.  You may not be angst-ridden
but none of the 5 photos shown are good examples of street 
photography, although 4 in particular shows you are willing to push 
yourself.  By the way, I don't think I can do any better than you.
#2 is my favorite of the bunch.  An air of mystery.

Re. loading the IIIa, if it is the same as loading the later IIIg, you do
get used to it.  I remember when I first used an M camera, how I thought
these Leica camera designers have a really sick mind;  this was the 
early 1990's for crying out loud.  :-)   I did get  used to loading it, as I 
did later with the IIIg.   The IIIg probably took longer to get used to, 
and of course you have to trim the leader. On the other hand, I loaded 
it again a couple of weeks ago after a long time of not using it, and 
there I was, cursing the camera, and wondering why I would want to 
keep this useless fine piece of junk.  :=)

And I don't really understand I haven't had a misload on an M6 in a long,
long time.  It's true Zen.  You trust the process and yourself, and it all
works.

- - Phong







> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Martin
> Howard
> Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 12:07 AM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] IIIa Photos
> 
> 
> 
> Some quick and initial impressions (from someone who largely doesn't 
> know what they're doing, but that's not going to stop me... ;)
> 
> The FED 55mm may not be a brilliant lens, but you sure seem to put it 
> to good use.  Nice utilization of the format.  You have an eye for 35mm 
> photography, especially the kind that Leicas seem to get put to: 
> documenting life around us everyday.  (1) is a good composition, if a 
> bit bland in subject matter, but I like the quirky humour in the shot; 
> (2) is the best of the lot IMO: I love the mystery in the shot.  Would 
> work great as a B&W with the silhouette printed really black; (3)-(5) 
> all competent examples of street photography, 3 & 4 in particular 
> showing that you don't have that "I don't dare take a picture"-angst 
> that many seem to be plagued with.
> 
> As for the exposure meter, given what you've posted, why would you want 
> one?  They're all well executed.
> 
> But, this brings us to the core of the matter (and remember -- it takes 
> one to know one).  While all are examples of consistently good 
> photographic composition, good technique, good utilization of the 
> format... I'm left with the question: why?  Why did you take these 
> pictures?  What drove you?  What are you trying to communicate?
> 
> This may sound overly critical, but it seems to me that you have what 
> it takes to be a very good photographer -- what you need seems to be 
> direction, or focus, or drive.  Perhaps even a point of departure.  How 
> you get that, I don't know.
> 
> OK, sure, I understand that you probably just loaded up the IIIa with 
> Fuji Press 800 and pointed it more or less at random at things just to 
> see what it could do.  But, given that these are this good as random 
> shots, imagine what they could be if they had been part of a more 
> focussed whole.
> 
> Loading an LTM is a pain in the arse.  It always was.  Which is why 
> every single manufacturer in the world, and Leica too eventually, about 
> fifteen years after everyone else, came up with a different way of 
> doing it -- one that relies on being able to open the back of the 
> camera.  And why everyone who tries to use one eventually stops and 
> runs off and buys modern camera instead.
> 
> Unless they settle for an M, of course.
> 
> M. (you may now all slap me with a large trout)
> 
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