Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2016/05/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]That makes sense Peter. Thanks! Gerry > On 1 Jun 2016, at 06:18, Peter Klein <boulanger.croissant at gmail.com> > wrote: > > I'm told that most professionals who used miniature cameras had Leicas. It > was that way in the U.S. as well. I guess if you got them before the > fighting started, it was OK. The Soviet pros would have to have some > connections to get them, but they were around, even in the 30s. And the > early Fed cameras were Leica copies. Leica was the standard. > > --Peter > > On Tue, May 31, 2016 at 12:54 AM, Gerry Walden <gerry.walden at icloud.com> > wrote: > >> Fascinating Peter. I am amazed they mentioned Leica which was, after all, >> a camera made by the enemy. >> >> Gerry >> >> >>> On 30 May 2016, at 23:02, Peter Klein <pklein at threshinc.com> wrote: >>> >>> As I've posted, we visited Ted Grant recently. Ted's stories reminded >> Katya of something from her younger days in the USSR--a popular Russian >> song about photojournalists? And, it actually mentions Leicas! It was >> written during World War II, and was often played on Russian media when >> the >> "Great Patriotic War" was celebrated or memorialized. So Katya found the >> song on YouTube, and wrote up a literal translation of the words. >>> >>> Here is a video of the song as sung in a 1944 Russian movie "short." It >> shows scenes photographers and cinematographers during the war, plus some >> general war footage, The final onscreen title says "Glory to heroes." It >> is, of course, a propaganda piece designed to build morale, but still very >> interesting. >>> >>> You might notice that the arrangement mixes 1920s-30s "hot jazz" with a >> Glenn Miller-style Big Band sound. Jazz was normally disapproved of as an >> example of "decadent Western culture." During the war, there was a thaw in >> the official disapproval. Then after the war, many jazz musicians were >> sent >> to labor camps as part of the "Campaign Against Cosmopolitans." >>> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4V7tgp9qFo> >>> The video might show a 30 second commercial first. >>> >>> Here is Katya's translation of the song lyrics. They are taken from a >> longer poem by Konstantin Simonov, who actually was a war correspondent as >> well as a poet, novelist and playwright. >>> >>> -------- >>> *Song of war correspondents* >>> >>> From Moscow to Brest >>> There is not a place, >>> Where we did not wander in the dust. >>> With a Leica and a notebook, >>> And sometimes with a machine gun >>> We went through the fire and the frost. >>> Without a sip, comrade, >>> The song can?t be started, >>> So let?s pour ourselves a shot. >>> Here's to writers, >>> Here's to photographers, >>> Here's to those marching under fire! >>> >>> We have a reason to drink - >>> For military communications, >>> For U-2, for ?Emka?, for success; >>> For how we marched on foot, >>> How pushed with our shoulders, >>> How we got there ahead of everyone. >>> From the winds and vodka >>> Our throats were hoarse, >>> But we say to those who reproach: >>> "Try, like us, to roam, >>> Sleeping in the field, >>> Try fighting for at least a year!" >>> >>> Where we have been, >>> They did not give us tanks - >>> But it never discouraged us. >>> In the ragged pickup >>> With only a revolver >>> We were the first to enter cities. >>> So let's drink to victory, >>> To our newspaper, >>> And if we will not live to see it, my dear, >>> Someone will find out, >>> Will photograph and write, >>> Someone will remember you and me! >>> ------ >>> >>> Pretty amazing, eh? >>> --Peter >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information