Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/05/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]When I bought my M6, it had a 50mm Summicron on it so for six months, any Leica shots I did were done with a standard lens. Gear freakery soon took over and I bought a 35mm and a 90mm. When I went through my negs recently, I noticed that the shots from this "50mm or nothing" period are better than the later ones and of the subsequent shots I'd taken with the standard lens most weren't as good as the ones I took when I didn't have different lenses to choose from. I think I used those supreme aids to composition, feet and knees, a lot more when I couldn't just change lenses to change what was in the frame. I wouldn't mind betting that the chap who's off to Honolulu would get miles better pictures if he just took one 50mm lens with him and spent time thinking about where he was standing (and whether he should be standing, kneeling or lying prone) when he pressed the shutter button. I think this would apply to almost every picture situation with the exception of long-range wildlife shots. As everyone knows, you don't alter the viewpoint when you switch to a wider or longer lens, you just get more or less in the frame. In most cases, you can do this by walking forwards or backwards and at the same time see what changing perspective does to your shot which is much more interesting than just optically cropping the photograph. If you can't get the shot you want by walking about, just find something else to photograph. I'm sure Honolulu will present plenty of subjects. I like feet but I hate zooms. Neil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the designated recipient(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. This communication is for information purposes only and should not be regarded as an offer to sell or as a solicitation of an offer to buy any financial product, an official confirmation of any transaction, or as an official statement of Lehman Brothers. Email transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free. Therefore, we do not represent that this information is complete or accurate and it should not be relied upon as such. All information is subject to change without notice.