New User says hi

[Nick De Marco]

I recently got back into photography with digital SLRs. Spent most of my money on the canon 5D and various L lenses, Very happy with all that BUT I only recently discovered rangefinders. I recently went on a trip to Cambodia (my first). I took the 5D and my Bessa R2 with 35mm lens. On the last day I asked the guide to take me to the bigest slum he knew in Phnom Pen. We stumbled across a little orphanage and home for street children with no stuctured NGO/governmental backing. I spent some time there looking around and taking photos with both cameras.

When I retruned and got some of my photos done I realised that those taken on B&W film with the rangefinder where so much more powerful than the digital photos. I decided, not only that I will return to Cambodia again in 2 months to take more photos, but to buy a couple of leica's and better lenses and to concentrate from now on on film photography (of course without giving up my 5D).

I have caught the bug now and am collecting a variety of rangefinders from the Leica IIIs and their copies to my current favourite user camera the M4-P

If you have a moment to check my first proper gallery of photos take with a rangefinder please do
http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/reportage
Otherwsie Hi and I'll hope to post on here often.

Nick

 

[Rafael]

Welcome to the forum Nick. And thanks for sharing your photographs. I look forward to viewing and reading further contributions from you.

 

[mike_j]

Hi Nick,
Welcome to the forum. how's the Bessa R2 you bought from me going?

 

[steve garza]

Your inexpensive little Bessa is quite a powerful tool.

 

[colyn]

Welcome..

Your photos reminded me of my time in Vietnam. Very moving..

Thanks

 

[DavidH]

Hi Nick - some very nice shots - you captured the 'feel' of the place very well. Look forward to hearing more from you on the forums...

cheers
David

 

[peter_n]

Welcome Nick!

 

[wintoid]

Hi Nick,

I enjoyed your shots. Welcome along.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Mike - the Bessa R2 was a revelation thanks. I used it heavily in cambodia and it made me fall in love with rangefinders. I bought the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.7 for it second hand and that worked a treat. then my Dd - interested in my purchase - bought a new R3A. he then found he could not use it so well because of his eyesight and he swapped it (plus me giving cash) for my R2. So sadly the R2 has now moved on, but is in good hands, and I have aquired a R3A and a couple of Leica Ms. but if it was not for your trusted R2 I would not be here now.

 

[edodo]

Welcome, you have very nices photos, very personnal. Rangefinder are so much more humanist.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

Welcome to RFF Nick and thanks for the email.
Strong and emotive images on the PBase website i especially like the one entitled
"Boy's room, sleeps 5"

 

[OurManInTangier]

Hi. Good to see another convert, welcome to RFF...lets see some more of your work in the gallery soon.

 

[robin a]

Hi and Welcome,It's a good place.......Robin

 

[oftheherd]

Welcome to the forum. Great photos. I love the depth of tone. Thanks for sharing. I too look forward to seeing more of your work.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Many thanks for all makeing me so welcome here.

I have had my M4-P, my first Leica M, for over a week now. Really enjoying it. I got the first films run through it back last night, and although too many were ruiined (whether through my lack of experience with the camera, the fact it has no meter and my MC is out, or the high street develpoer), but there were still enough that showed a littl of what the leica can do to make me happy.... please have a look at the gallery and give me any comments you have.

Thanks

http://upload.pbase.com/nickdemarco/gallery/leica_m4p

On future, where should I posts phoos/links to galleries?

Nick

 

[NIKON KIU]

Thanks for posting...looking forward for more.

Kiu

 

[kalokeri]

Welcome to RFF, Nick. Thank you for sharing the picturesof Cambodia. They are very striking and remarkable.

Thomas

 

[Jeremy Z]

Yeah, I didn't know what 'tonal range' was until I went back to film and converted the spare bathroom into a proper darkroom.

Cameras is the lesser half of B&W film photography, IMO. With the money that would go into buying a Leica body, you could have a VERY nice darkroom, which would give you MUCH more capability than another camera body.

Also, I should mention that if I went to Cambodia, I would feel much safer with a Voigtlander than a Leica. If someone mugged you and stuck a shiv in your gut for a pair of Leicas, he would be set for life. The Voigtlander looks a bit more generic and a knowledgable mugger might not consider you worth the risk. Too many Leica users don't use their Leicas enough, IMO. At the price, how can you blame them? A Voigtlander with Leica glass will do just as well as the Leica, and save money for MORE Leica glass.

There is something to be said for the tactile part of a precision machine though.