Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/01/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]That's a funny story/photo combo, John. And a good cautionary tale for me and others like me with similar delusions of telyt capabilities. Doug's results make it look easy, but whenever he describes what he has to go through in terms of stalking, waiting, and working his shots, I know that I should stick to looking and enjoying rather than trying to emulate. So that's what I'll do! -Aaron >Well I guess it is confession time. A number of years ago I got stars in >my eyes after looking at too many of Doug's images. I began to fancy that >I too could be the bird world's equivalent of Avedon. Birds would flock >around me just as they obviously do for Doug. > >To make sure, I even bought Doug's old 400/6.8! Yep, the very lens that >made so many of his early images. I next procured an SL2 (a camera also >blessed by Doug), a rare SL/2 2x converter, 14182 extension tube and a few >other odd bits and pieces. > >So there I was all set. I mounted the 400/14182/2x on to the SL2 and >waited by my bird feeder. Soon a likely suspect appeared -- a young cheeky >twit I soon found out -- and I framed and focused carefully. Just before I >pressed the shutter release, I thought I saw an odd expression appear on >the bird's face: sort of the beginnings of a smile. The mirror slapped >down, the shutter did its stuff and the mirror dropped back into position. >The bird was still there and hadn't moved a bit. Though now the darn thing >seemed to be laughing! > >Oh well the film went off to the lab and here is what came back: > >http://gallery.leica-users.org/album139/getting_the_bird > >Sure it is sharp (not bad for a handheld 800 f:gawdknowswhat) but I knew >right then and there that I was not going to be the Avedon of the bird >world. A higher feathered power was gently telling me to get back on the >viewfinder track and leave SLRs and birds alone. I sold the lens to >another local chap on the list, warned him about the cheeky twits. I sold >the SL2 to Doug where I hope it is finally doing a bit of good. > >John Collier