Thanks guys for sharing your photos. I understand the value of word-of-mouth business for creative types very well. I worked in marketing communications for the better part of a decade. For those of us in marcom, one trusted creative resource would often lead to another. It was rare that we had to search out creative talent as we also worked with agencies in addition to independent freelancers. While there are definitely no shortage of very creative people in this world, finding the ones that are actually good to work with can be more difficult than many might think. I primarily asked about online presence as it's such a common and convenient way to share/view images these days. One great thing about this forum is that so many here do share their images and I've really enjoyed that aspect of this community very much. Not only do I find it entertaining to look at the work of others, I also often find it inspiring which encourages me to get out more with my own camera.
airfrogusmc, your professional work has a very familiar look to it — I currently work in health care. Even earlier on when I was working in marcom I was involved with the teleconferencing industry where health care was one of our biggest vertical markets (telehealth). What I found interesting was seeing the contrast between your work featured in the Leica camera blog and your health care images. For as slick and polished as your HC-related work is, your street photography is every bit as much surprising and entertaining. That's a wonderful range of expression that you're able to carry out with one camera. By the way, your link for the book was the same as the link to the blog feature.
Godfrey, while I did not take the time to dig through what photos were shot with which camera, as a guy who grew up with a love for cars and motorcycles I found plenty of subject matter to get lost in amongst your flickr images. I love cars and motorcycles of all types but perhaps my favorite subject was the Honda S600 that you randomly ran across on the street. Almost unbelievable as it was in such beautiful condition (a LHD model no less) — simply fantastic. Side note: I hope to make it to the IOM TT one of these years before I'm gone.
As I've said before, I realize that my issue with the M10-D is just that — my issue. I probably created more of a stir than I have a right to as I have no intention of buying one of these cameras. Looking at some of Godfrey's images helped me get to the root of what bothers me so much about this camera. I tend to hold design in high regard, whether it's graphic design, automotive design, industrial design, etc.. I often tend to look at beautiful cars, motorcycles, and even cameras (and all sorts of other products) much in the same way many here look at wonderful photographs. When it comes to certain companies like Leica and Ducati for example, regardless of how well their respective products are engineered, or manufactured or how well they perform, I also tend to especially admire how their products are designed. This certainly goes for some of their past iconic products.
Looking at Godfrey's images I start thinking what if Ducati were to start slapping faux bevel-drives on one of their current engines while indicating it there for some reason other than manipulating the valves. Just as with the M10-D, even though I have no plans of buying a new Ducati, I'd be similarly upset about such a design choice. That's likely because I honestly see this tendency for companies to create faux functional elements in current designs as being rather disrespectful of their own past iconic designs. I suppose that I personally just expect more from these particular companies.
But the honest truth is that these are things that very few people in this world think about. Most people look at an old Leica, an old Ducati or an old Lancia and think huh, that's a nice old camera, motorcycle or car but not much more (if they even notice them at all). As was previously noted, these are the decisions that are for the companies themselves to make, doing what they need to do to survive. Desperate times call for desperate measures as they say and companies need to make money to survive. (My personal approval doesn't go far in a marketing campaign, lol.) In the end most people just don't care that much about this kind of stuff. People like me go on little rants on Internet forums while others just buy the products to use and enjoy. For some this will be just another tool, for others just another toy. In either case it will likely be replaced at some point down the road by another camera as the world of photography evolves. While in my case there is honestly no telling if I'll even buy another camera in my lifetime, so who am I to get bent out of shape about what Leica does?
Your respective photos are a nice reminder of what happens after the dust settles on any camera design. So it will be with the M10-D. People will go on to make wonderful images with it. Sooner or later I'll surely come to enjoy photos made with it as I'm sure will countless others. In the meantime I realize that my photographic oriented focus is much better spent simply trying to become a better photographer myself. I'll just chalk all this up to getting old and in my case somewhat cranky. Cheers all.
