Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/03/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]B. D. Colen offered wisely: > The only way to get photos "like HCB" has nothing to do with what lenses > you have in a drawer, or what camera you use them on; it is to be born > with > his artistic ability and sensibility. HCB would have shot "like HCB no > matter what equipment he had used, as long as that equipment had allowed > him to realize his vision. I'd concentrate on developing the vision, not > trying to ape the style. ;-)<<<< B.D., And after 56 years of pushing the button in this wonderful profession of photography I still hear people say... "Oh you use Leica's no wonder your pictures are so good!" :-( People aren't any brighter today that equipment is the minor part of capturing what a photographer is motivated by. The most important thing is, you've got to be visually motivated first above all else! About 1958 at a seminar with Ralph Morse of LIFE magazine, who became the most influential person in my life on equipment, when he said....." Money can buy you everything in equipment, but it can't buy you the ability to see!" If you don't "see photographic moments," all the equipment in the world wont make you a photographer of note! Ralph and the Photo editor of Weekend Magazine, Louis Jaques, who was constantly on my case, "If you can see it, you can shoot it! As long as you show no fear in making your equipment work." He was also a devout Leica guy as one of the magazines earlier staff photographers. As you say, >>> "I'd concentrate on developing the vision, not trying to ape the style. ;-)<< And why would anyone want to ape another photographer? Certainly when we all see differently and re-act to varying moments in such diverse manner? Isn't the challenge to blow "them off the planet" with better seeing and have them want to ape you? ted