Beginner thinks out loud, part deux

[JackForster]

So no irritating philosophically suspect sweeping generalizaitons this time, just some thoughts. My top ten observations after a month of rangefinder photography

1. A good strap is hard to find.
2. Good for Bruce Gilden, I'd get a fat lip in five minutes.
3. Even if the rules say no pics of dogs/homeless people/kids, if it's a good picture of a dog/homeless person/kid, shoot it.
4. The lens cap E39 for the 50mm Summicron mit collapsible hood is possible the single worst piece of equipment Leica has ever produced.
5. Soft releases, if not used carefully, will fire in your camera bag.
6. Even if you find a working Leicameter MC (I did) that needle do sure bounce around somethin' fierce.
7. Ken Rockwell is not the boss of me.
8. You know, you're not getting pictures with all that Leica kit that are THAT much better than that $125 Canonet.
9. A wife can hear "Henri-Cartier Bresson said. . ." only so many times before she snaps, and finally
10. When all that fussy sh** comes together, it's kinda magical.

Jack

PS desptie the sturm und drang over my initial post on stealing people's souls, spirits, and ATM passcodes when you take their picture a surprising number just don't seem to give a **** unless you stand there for five minutes pointing your camera at them fiddling with the shutter speed. Oddly enough the only people I've been bitched out by are the ones whose pictures I wasn't taking. So much for the inherent aggression of the act of photography. Gotten to where I look forward to getting the snake-eye, at least they care 😎

 

[t.s.k.]

hehe. Good for you!

#1...You'll have box(es) of them before you find "The One"
#2...I concur
#7...me like!
#10...priceless

 

[FrankS]

So, what are you shooting with Jack, and are you getting out in the street?

 

[zauhar]

#6 - get an MR!
#7 - why does everyone hate that guy so much?
#10 - agreed!

Randy

 

[celluloidprop]

The Artisan & Artist silk camera strap has become my favorite - it's expensive, unadjustable and wouldn't work if I wore it around my neck. But with the way I twist neck straps around to make a wrist strap, perfect. I haven't had any luck with regular cloth straps for that, they way they twist never seems to come out right.

 

[JackForster]

The Artisan & Artist silk camera strap has become my favorite - it's expensive, unadjustable and wouldn't work if I wore it around my neck. But with the way I twist neck straps around to make a wrist strap, perfect. I haven't had any luck with regular cloth straps for that, they way they twist never seems to come out right.

Hey man, I owe you a big thanks for the great deal on the M3, god what a dream to shoot with. That big bright RF window is a dream for these old eyes ;-) and it's just so much fun to handle. Actually find the loading system a little more positive than on the M6 but it's just the general feel of handing I love. It's actually a little distracting --I mean if you're dancing a pas de deux you have to have your mind on the choreography, not be looking down your partner's decolletage 😀 .

I got a strap from Black Bag which I liked initially but it turns out exactly the point of highest stress on the d-rings was where the leather was thinnest. Then I tried a Gordy's which was great but almost too heavy for the camera. Natch, I've now settled on an OEM Leica strap!

J.

Jack

 

[celluloidprop]

Glad you're enjoying it, that is a great M3. The M4 I replaced it with is also great, but I'm actually finding myself missing the knob rewind and loading system. A little slower, but a lot more positive in actual use.

 

[JackForster]

The infamous Ken Rockwell

The infamous Ken Rockwell

#6 - get an MR!
#7 - why does everyone hate that guy so much?
#10 - agreed!

Randy

I actually don't hate him at all. I think some of his writing is genuinely funny and I could probably put his article "The Leicaman" in at least two of the magazines I work with tomorrow as a mordant parody of the derangement of photography when luxury overtakes utility. God know it's a sensitive subject for a watch writer these days. ;-). I think as long as you understand that editorially he has to make a living like anybody else, and you don't mistake his penchant for ironic exaggeration for serious criticism you're fine. And he DOES make some valid points; hammering away that it's not the camera, it's the photographer. I mean, true dat. However the right tool sure doesn't hurt and enjoying a beautifully made instrument is part of the fun, if you're into that kind of thing.

J.

 

[JackForster]

So, what are you shooting with Jack, and are you getting out in the street?

Hi Frank, you know I actually AM getting out in the street, it's really where I wanted to be all along. I don't think I'm ever going to be a great street photographer in the usual sense --I'm not aggressive enough, it's not my nature, but I feel very comfortable working in stealth mode and I've gotten more than comfortable with shooting when I'm invisible to my subject. No statement that about the quality, you understand, but at least I can stand on the bank with my lure in the water without frightening the fish. Right now I'm mostly shooting with an M3/50.2 and Ilford 5 which I'm going to stick with for a while. There's something about the 50mm focal length that works for me. At the very least it's an adventure every time I go out, I just never know what I'm going to see. I have to give it to the M3 and M6, they really are pretty unobtrusive. I had an M9 for a couple of weeks and having a full frame sensor in a package that small was great but lord the motor gave me away every time. Plus, I dunno, film, you know? I guess I'm just an old analogue luddite with a tear in his eye and a chip on his shoulder ;-)

Jack

 

[sojournerphoto]

So no irritating philosophically suspect sweeping generalizaitons this time, just some thoughts. My top ten observations after a month of rangefinder photography

1. A good strap is hard to find.Voigtlander luxury or A&A cotton (same thing - I wouldn't have believed it would matter but had to replace a strap
2. Good for Bruce Gilden, I'd get a fat lip in five minutes.me too!
3. Even if the rules say no pics of dogs/homeless people/kids, if it's a good picture of a dog/homeless person/kid, shoot it.with a camera?
4. The lens cap E39 for the 50mm Summicron mit collapsible hood is possible the single worst piece of equipment Leica has ever produced.right up with a zm lens cap
5. Soft releases, if not used carefully, will fire in your camera bag.but seem necessary on film Ls
6. Even if you find a working Leicameter MC (I did) that needle do sure bounce around somethin' fierce.for goodness sake, go buy a sekonic!🙂
7. Ken Rockwell is not the boss of me.not sure he's even his own boss
8. You know, you're not getting pictures with all that Leica kit that are THAT much better than that $125 Canonet.mmm
9. A wife can hear "Henri-Cartier Bresson said. . ." only so many times before she snaps, and finallytis true of all male 'enthusiasms'
10. When all that fussy sh** comes together, it's kinda magical.Oh Yes!

Jack

PS desptie the sturm und drang over my initial post on stealing people's souls, spirits, and ATM passcodes when you take their picture a surprising number just don't seem to give a **** unless you stand there for five minutes pointing your camera at them fiddling with the shutter speed. Oddly enough the only people I've been bitched out by are the ones whose pictures I wasn't taking. So much for the inherent aggression of the act of photography. Gotten to where I look forward to getting the snake-eye, at least they care 😎

10 charact

 

[celluloidprop]

Agreed on the horrors of the ZM lens cap - I can barely hold on to the ZM 35/2's cap to pinch it together to put on.

 

[JayM]

Yeah, you should definitely take pictures of whatever you want. Rules are for making people on flickr/internet happy which to me isn't as worthwhile as trying to make pictures that you like 🙂

As to #2 I really think that how you photograph, as well as the resulting pictures, are often in a large part influenced by the character you play while photographing. In most walks of life you get to walk down the street in your own little narcissistic iPhone bubble. If you want to photograph strangers though you're essentially becoming a street performer and have to put on some kind of face for the people watching you do what few others choose to. This part of photographing almost gets me more jazzed than the hopes of returning with some good images since my whole life it's been challenging for me to get out of my own narcissistic iPhone bubble. That and it just feels great to have good, if short, interactions with people around you.

(I think it makes your pictures better too)

edit: Don't think of it as being aggressive or you will be aggressive! Think of it as being excited about life, people, pictures, and all the little joys you see around you. Be curious, excited, and fun loving! Don't let this one get away like the last one!

 

[Richard G]

The Artisan & Artist silk camera strap has become my favorite - it's expensive, unadjustable and wouldn't work if I wore it around my neck. But with the way I twist neck straps around to make a wrist strap, perfect. I haven't had any luck with regular cloth straps for that, they way they twist never seems to come out right.

I do the same with an A&A thick leather strap. No slip pad. Coils around my wrist and grips well. Have it on an M6.

Jack, I never even tried to quote HC-B to my wife, but the second present I ever bought her was a book of his photographs. Didn't need to quote him after that. A compendium of RFF wife references would be a nice Christmas celebration here.

 

[Bobbo]

1) Domke for lighter cameras (Barnack to small SLR, plus TLRs). Op/Tech Classic or Pro for heavier ones (Top-level SLRs/DSLRs and the like). 'Nuff said.
2) Don't be a dick and you won't. Act like you're supposed to be there. Smile at people. Say "Hello." You'll be fine. Anyone gives you crap, ignore it. If a cop gives you crap, be polite, ask them if they are detaining you, and if they are, call the ACLU.
3) Many people have made their careers on these subjects. Since when are they off-limits? If people don't like it (and they aren't complaining about security cameras, are they?), they can stay home.
4) You've learned a very important rule: just because it says "Leica" doesn't mean it's good. The metering system in the M5/CL and "black chrome," anyone?.
5) They also break off in the camera. Ask several X100 owners here about that one. Besides, if you're shooting in the daylight, and you can't get a decent shutter speed, you're using something particularly wonky, like ISO 50 film at f/22 or lower (diffraction is a far worse threat than camera shake) or you're not doing something right. A soft release won't save you. Opening up your lens will.
6) Hehe... coupled light meters are so... quaint. Get a Gossen or Sekonic handheld meter, use it once in the shade, once in the light and switch back and forth on your shutter speed dial as you go.
7) Good lord I hope he's not 🙂.
8) Yup. My Nikon FE works just as well, and with the lens, costs less than two tickets and snacks at the movie theater. Kinda strange how it took Leica, what, almost 30 years to get to the same level of automation (Aperture-priority AE being such a horrible stretch for a camera manufacturer who probably gets most of their electronic parts from China like everyone else)
9) Yup.
10) Yup 🙂.