Which Leica camera is this? (Joel Meyerowitz 1981)

first thought it's a chrome M6, but can't be due to the age of the video, so I'm pretty sure it's or an M3, with a non-goggled summaron /or cron V1, with the external 35 finder, at least this is what I see there..

another version would be a 28mm lens on a classic M4.

regards
maitani
 
I took a class with Joel Meyerowitz a few years back and saw him in action. He used a M9 with a 28mm on day 1 and a S2 on day 2. It appears his technique with the M hasn't changed one bit. This guy has balls on the streets and in all scenarios. I respect him big time. He'll approach the biggest thug around and ask to take his photo. He'll photograph anyone or anything without asking regardless of the "rules/morals" of street photography. While that isn't my way, I respect him.
 
jsrockit said:
I took a class with Joel Meyerowitz a few years back and saw him in action. He used a M9 with a 28mm on day 1 and a S2 on day 2. It appears his technique with the M hasn't changed one bit. This guy has balls on the streets and in all scenarios. I respect him big time. He'll approach the biggest thug around and ask to take his photo. He'll photograph anyone or anything without asking regardless of the "rules/morals" of street photography. While that isn't my way, I respect him.
Click to expand...

Seems like an experience of a lifetime!! 🙂
 
aperture64 said:
Just wondering, what are the rules/morals? I am asking because I just started working in NY and have shot on the street during the lunch hour and didn't ask anyone. Just snapped the photo and only gave the nod and smile for the handful of people that noticed me. People, either in a studio or street, is the final photographic frontier for me since I was always shy about photographing people I don't know, but hardly anyone noticed me or the camera. I once heard someone say about street photography something like "if you ask permission to take their photo, you have missed the subject being in their natural environment" or something to the affect that they are aware of their photo being taken and no longer naturally going about their business. I watched a lot of YouTube videos in the last week or so of some of the greats and never see them ask before snapping either.

What are your techniques?
Click to expand...

most.. if not almost all street photographers shoot without permission. you did the right thing dont sweat it. there are no rules in the US about shooting people in public areas. i also wouldnt say that street photography comes with a set of morals you have to follow. its different for everyone. for example, some photographers use flash on the street (gilden) and some hate the use of it and prefer to remain discreet (HCB) while some people dont use flash but still get in your face (Meyerowitz).

with that being said, not all street photography is candid. Davidson's Subway was shot with permission from his subjects for example.

Also, don't use telephotos if at all possible. It compresses the image, makes it look very flat and boring, and makes you look like a creeper overall shooting people across the street. use a wide angle to normal prime and shoot. there's a reason that every influential street photographer you see dismisses the use of telephotos (well except for some photographers like Saul Leiter but thats another story).
 
aperture64 said:
Just wondering, what are the rules/morals?
Click to expand...

Ok, you seem like a beginner to street photography. You'll see that after awhile, people tend to have issues with what you end up photographing. Your audience, not the public you're photographing (well, in the wrong neighborhood, you will get flack for shooting in public and believe me you will be noticed)

With regard to Meyerowitz, I just meant that he's not going to worry if the person is homeless or has a handicap, etc. He photographs people's children (which is hard for a man these days). That's what I meant. There are true moral dilemmas in photography and what you choose to photograph.

With regard to asking permission, he asked when shooting with a medium format camera at a park in the bronx. He walked up to the biggest thug in the park in the bronx with the Leica S2, a $40,000 camera. The guy was full of jail / gang style tattoos all over his body and face, and was hanging out with a lot of rough looking guys (i.e. true gang looking guys) having a BBQ. I'm talking the real deal... huge muscles, tattoo tears, mean looking. Intimidating to say the least. Meyerowitz is a very skinny old man now. Just saying, many wouldn't have done it and he did it no issue even at his advanced age.

And if you think you "missed" the shot because you had to ask, you are depriving yourself of some great photo opportunities. Candid photography is not the be all end all of photography, it's just one piece of it.
 
aperture64 said:
Definitely new to street photography, but homeless, handicapped, or other people's kids are definitely things I wouldn't photograph.
Click to expand...

Me neither, generally. However, that is the moral stuff I writing about.


'm not surprised he approached the "thug" at the BBQ either. In a YouTube video, he mentions approaching people is all about body language. And the weekend BBQ is a relaxed setting for most people.
Click to expand...

See, I knew people would write this off as no big deal... but if you were there, you'd see it wasn't so easy. Many people front like they are tough and will approach anyone. Most people don't though when it comes down to it. My point was that he does.
 
Can you post a link showing his best work or the work for which he's well known. I can never seem to find anything worth adulation but I accept I haven't looked too hard; just watched a couple of documentary films featuring him.
Pete
 
aperture64 said:
Just wondering, what are the rules?
Click to expand...
There are none. It's totally dependent on the photographer. Some refuse to photograph certain people, or certain situations, and some see no problem photographing anyone at anytime. It only depends on the photographer. But I would think twice about doing something that would break the law, or would really make certain people feel very uncomfortable. And I'd also take into consideration your safety, and the safety of those around you.

But some street photogs have absolutely no shame. And some are more selective and work in a more discrete fashion.

As far as photographing homeless and handicapped. If they are subjects that interest a photographer, then the photographer should photograph what they're interested in. The way I look at it is, a lot of rookies might photograph these subjects because it's easy. It's not really much of a challenge. Yes, you can make a compelling photograph with such a subject, but the majority of images "I've" seen are nothing more than the photographer taking the easy way out.

As far as photographing children. They make wonderful subjects with their priceless, unpredictable reactions. Many viewers can instantly relate and feel an emotion with seeing a cute photo of a child. But, some photographers feel about children street photography as I mentioned above about homeless and the handicapped. Unless you're documenting a very touching moment and telling a story with the photograph(s); children photography might be frowned upon by your peers. AND, a grown man walking around a public place photographing children can piss off a lot of people and draw a lot of negative attention fast!

Just some quick random thoughts. We all have our own opinions regarding the genre.
 
i for one have started shooting people with handicaps.If one left them out of our day to day lives, that would be an untruth! They exist, they have the right as anyone, to be seen and counted. Children kinda varies.. The Media has blown the whole thing out of context. The Truth of abuse, pedophiles, sadly are very seldom a stranger, but close family. Living in Toronto, much like NYC, most people ignore the (small) camera.A DSLR or SLR with Huge Tele Lens a bad idea. Bad perspective and one wants.needs to be close to the people photographed. I try to capture the life of a city. You need folks in your images. Using a very large format camera, 4x5" or 8x!0" is a whole other world. People will willingly offer themselves as a subject!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Chasing Light - documenting Manhattan's Chinatown
Replies
1
Views
169
Ko.Fe.
Ko.Fe.
J
  • Article Article
Will the long-anticipated Leica M11-V with built-in EVF arrive in 2025? Probably, but it’s taking longer than expected and rumors are still flying!
2 3
Replies
50
Views
4K
Freakscene
Freakscene
P
Who has a Leica MP Hammertone?
Replies
1
Views
169
Photar
P
A
What is the MOST gear you've ever carried on a trip?
2
Replies
33
Views
504
Rob-F
Rob-F
Chriscrawfordphoto
Watch Repair
5 6 7
Replies
134
Views
8K
Chriscrawfordphoto
Chriscrawfordphoto
Back
Top Bottom