[Leica] WAS David Seymour on NPR..NOW; UNDER THE WEIRD PHOTOS

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

It does seem many of us have similar feelings toward this "magazine!" ;-)

Notice I didn't say, "photography magazine." ;-)

However, in Ottawa, the seat of the government, read whatever you wish in 
"seat" when it's used with government. ;-) A major photo exhibition was 
funded by said government with a grand opening party held with great fan 
fare, wine, cheese, BS speeches and all the notable "arteests" in 
attendance.

Of course a number of "working paying our taxes photographers" were also 
invited. But as a clan we stayed close together as we walked the gallery 
examining the "works of art?" While attempting to keep our mouths shut and 
anger levels in low gear at what we were looking at in these great works of 
"art!" :-(

And the exhibition was?

The work of photographers who saved the first frames from a loading wherever 
the camera was pointing as they advanced and shot the first few frames.

Floors, trunks of cars with gear bags, empty film boxes, near naked models 
in fashion shoots. These were a "big hit,wink,;-) wink;-)." Quite an amazing 
collection of junk that we mere mortals would clip and throw after film 
drying and sleeving the negs.

But these guys got the crazy idea first of all as a joke to present it as an 
"art piece exhibition" to the curator of the government photo gallery. The 
curator thought it a magnificent concept and bought into it hook line and 
sinker!

Cost? Hell who knows, but it was in the multi thousands of dollars for 
expenses of flying people in for this "most unusual and imaginative works of 
art?" :-(

We the working stiff tax paying photographers were livid to say the least 
knowing all this money was being spent on a great big pile of "merde!" One 
of our better known rabble rousing colleagues, after several glasses of wine 
finally
lost it and went after the curator loud and clear telling her exactly what 
he thought of her extravagant waste of his tax dollars and that of other 
working photographers.

One might say the curator was more than slightly embarrassed at this 
outrages rogue haranguing her in front of  "art friends who always gave the 
impression the curator walked on water with her photographic art 
brilliance!" :-)

We, the working guys, stood back and smiled with a sort of satisfaction 
knowing someone had the guts to take her on and call it what it really was.. 
"A big pile of merde!" ;-) I you do not know the meaning of this word, then 
think bowel movement! ;-)

So the concept of the LUG crew doing something similar between ourselves is 
a neat idea simply because it's a game that can be fun for all. Although it 
may make afew of us dust off teh "film Leica" to produce images. ;-)

And lets not have anybody take this seriously, keep it a fun thing!  And if 
anyone does take it seriously then there's an idiot amongst us!  On the LUG? 
Never old chap and chapettes! ;-) Damn poor sport you know. ;-)

Of course never on the LUG! ;-)

ted