Leica nightmare

[orangegoat]

Do you ever have vivid nightmares about photography? Last night I had one where I was on the street with my M2 and I kept seeing these amazing color coincidences -- six random people in alternating green and yellow jackets, that kind of thing. Every time I went to shoot, though, the 50mm framelines were much tighter than I'd expect and I'd have to backpedal to get everything in frame, and then I'd try again, press the shutter -- only to realize that it wasn't cocked. So then I'd frantically wind on, but it was all rough and wonky, making me feel like I was about to strip gears or snap film. Then, finally, when I was able to shoot, the scene would have dissipated, but I would take a desultory shot anyway. It kept happening over and over, amazing color opportunities blown, but I soldiered though the roll. Finally, I finished it, rewound, and opened the camera -- only to discover I'd had black and white film loaded the whole time. I woke up. Anyone else have photographic anxiety dreams?

 

[fish1991222]

I had one of this kind of dreams just few weeks ago.
It's kind of blur to me right now, but I remembered that there was one perfect scene where one gentleman sitting in front of a ladder. And the light of sunrise (or sunset) just flashed his hands while his neck, head were in the shadow. I lifted my camera (a m6 as I usually bring with me everywhere), only find the focusing patch was gone, so I was panic and missed the perfect shot. And then I just woke up and found myself breathing in a dark night...

 

[alexandru_voicu]

Yes. Perhaps not as vivid of yours. But I certainly dream of spectacular landscapes that I want to capture on film only to realize that I don't have the camera. Another leitmotif is that somehow I destroy my gear. I remember I once dreamt that I was climbing up onto a tree when suddenly the strap broke and I could see in slow motion how my beloved ZI tumbled down among branches and smashed into the ground, breaking up in a million pieces. Although I only shoot b&w film, it seems that my "photographic" dreams are in color.

 

[grouchos_tash]

Two nights ago I woke myself up frustrated that the focus on my X-T1 just wouldn't focus on what I wanted it to haha

 

[Tom R]

I had one of this kind of dreams just few weeks ago.
It's kind of blur to me right now, but I remembered that there was one perfect scene where one gentleman sitting in front of a ladder. And the light of sunrise (or sunset) just flashed his hands while his neck, head were in the shadow. I lifted my camera (a m6 as I usually bring with me everywhere), only find the focusing patch was gone, so I was panic and missed the perfect shot. And then I just woke up and found myself breathing in a dark night...

I haven't had one of these kinds of dreams in quite a while. I had them often when I was younger.

My response? When doing street work I made it a practice to shoot at least one or two "from the hip" before looking through the viewfinder. Now, at that time, film was more affordable and I processed daily. With practice I found that often these first attempts were adequate, if not better, than the studied composition.

I imagine that most people on this forum work in the digital format, and I would suggest that it's even more cost effective to at least try this technique. If nothing else, perhaps it'll diminish the frequency and intensity of such "nightmares?"

TR

 

[Rob-F]

Dreams are seldom really about what they appear to be about. Has life been too hectic for you lately? The dream could be about difficulty trying to keep up with too many responsibilities, or about too much conflict, in your waking life. Too many "balls in the air."

 

[bluesun267]

I have this recurring dream where I witness an incredibly beautiful thunderstorm and/or a funnel cloud forming...I run to get my Bolex but don't remember where I put it...I am desperate, but finally locate it, realizing that I haven't loaded any film... I then vacillate over what film to use (what speed? color or B/W?). Once decided I struggle to peel off the seal, unwrap the paper band, peel off the sticker...my hands becoming more and more shaky with each passing second...then the film jams or I've forgotten to wind the camera altogether...I'm frantic, not only about the missed photo op, but the tornado. Sometimes I actually do shoot footage in the dream, only to realize afterwards that the shutter was closed or the aperture totally wrong.

 

[Huss]

Do you ever have vivid nightmares about photography? Last night I had one where I was on the street with my M2 and I kept seeing these amazing color coincidences -- six random people in alternating green and yellow jackets, that kind of thing. Every time I went to shoot, though, the 50mm framelines were much tighter than I'd expect and I'd have to backpedal to get everything in frame, and then I'd try again, press the shutter -- only to realize that it wasn't cocked. So then I'd frantically wind on, but it was all rough and wonky, making me feel like I was about to strip gears or snap film. Then, finally, when I was able to shoot, the scene would have dissipated, but I would take a desultory shot anyway. It kept happening over and over, amazing color opportunities blown, but I soldiered though the roll. Finally, I finished it, rewound, and opened the camera -- only to discover I'd had black and white film loaded the whole time. I woke up. Anyone else have photographic anxiety dreams?

Don't think of it as a nightmare. Quite the opposite. Your dream state has given you a great project that you can bring to reality.