Suggestions for Leica Film Photographers to Follow?

[jsrockit]

Somebody could be curious to know what an M film camera can do in the hands of a professional photographer, which style of photography is suited, if it is “compatible “ with his needs (desires) and what the limits are.
I find this normal, maybe more interesting that just to know technical data’s before buying.

That’s true. I’m the opposite. When I see photography I like a lot, I wonder what they used.

 

[jsrockit]

He did not used it as main camera. Period.

True, but that was because his use of the 28mm lens was deemed novel by John Szarkowski. This ended up being his legacy. However, now, with his color work being rediscovered we are starting to see that he used a 50mm sometimes and SLRs. He carried both cameras for many years. And he was great at color. Sometimes the most popular work of a photographer is not the only work of that photographer. It’s what the museums, galleries, and publishers deemed important. He has stated that he used B&W because it was cheaper to print ... and cheap was important since he was prolific. He had also quit doing assignments. No doubt he preferred a Leica but he could have used anything. I would say at the end of his life he was using a Leica and 28mm to his detriment.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

https://www.leica-camera.blog/made-with/leica-m/
They have M film users in where. I always comeback to check for new ones.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

True, but that was because his use of the 28mm lens was deemed novel by John Szarkowski. This ended up being his legacy. However, now, with his color work being rediscovered we are starting to see that he used a 50mm sometimes and SLRs. He carried both cameras for many years. And he was great at color. Sometimes the most popular work of a photographer is not the only work of that photographer. It’s what the museums, galleries, and publishers deemed important. He has stated that he used B&W because it was cheaper ... and cheap was important since he was prolific. No doubt he preferred a Leica but he could have used anything. I would say at the end of his life he was using a Leica and 28mm to his detriment.

I'm the one who translated two articles from two ex Winogrand's students, with permission.
I'm the one who studied Winogrands thousands of prints on-line via on-line archive in Arizona.
I'm the one who watched documentaries and interviews with him and about him.
I'm happy to share with you what I know after all of this done and still in progress.
He started with 50mm lens. You as the one who could see will clearly find it in Arizona archive. He was wearing two Leica M at some time (around "Animals" period at least) with 35mm on one of them. He liked 21mm, as matching his POV (same for me), but distortions were not benefitable for him. Later Winogrand, after injury, started to use narrower than 28mm lenses again. It is in one of the interviews with him.

 

[robert blu]

Agreed and what I see us doing is trying to refine the question before we get focused on answering it; nothing wrong with that, is there?

Regards, David

PS FWIW, most of today's photos that I like/admire are posted on RFF but I seldom look at the technicalities just the picture.

I agree with your PS David, when I look at photos my interest is in the images themselves, in the stories they tell or in the background, maybe just in the aesthetics...

The OP question was clear, one more reason to be interested to see photo from a professional photographer taken with a film Leica is that most of professional photographers today use digital and in many cases non Leica so can be interesting (or maybe simply curiosity) to see what they do, what their style is.

 

[David Hughes]

I agree with your PS David, when I look at photos my interest is in the images themselves, in the stories they tell or in the background, maybe just in the aesthetics...

The OP question was clear, one more reason to be interested to see photo from a professional photographer taken with a film Leica is that most of professional photographers today use digital and in many cases non Leica so can be interesting (or maybe simply curiosity) to see what they do, what their style is.

Yes, I wonderred if any would be using (digital) Leica as I'd expect most to be into digital Canon or Nikon. Perhaps a few use film in old Leica M's for the weekend or holidays. Perhaps so that they don't forget the basics or just for the pleasure of using the things...


Regards, David

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have quit from looking at images at P.O.T.N. Those are predominantly taken with Canon DSLRs. Nor I’m posting my pictures much over where. I’m just not interested in dogs, flowers anything typically taken by DSLRs. I looked at strictly mirror less gear sites. Same thing. I joined RFF where I only have my taken with M series. I was also looking at rangefinder.ru gallery which has more restrictions in favour of RF and scale focus camera.
I’m not the only one to accept its distinguished look and feel as the fact.

 

[giganova]

Get a subscription of the Leica Magazine, which I find fantastic. They still feature a lot of film photography.

 

[PRJ]

I don't know why people just can't answer the OPs question. Simple really.


Erko Ever. Shoots color. Cranks up the volume a little too much maybe, but they are good.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/erko_ever/


Le_jeune_flâneur. Reminds me a lot of Gibson.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/levieuxfaineant/


There are two for you....

 

[kasti]

Very good points David. Seems this question is better asked in reference to the style of photography you like vs. which camera was used. Many people don't ever say which camera they use and make great photography.

Yes you nailed it!!!😎😎😎

 

[Ricoh]

When it comes to Leica based photography, personally I like to look at images captured with older glass. Apart from the photographer - and I'm sure everyone would agree that the individual's vision is key to good image making - the second determinator for me is the 'glass'. When I started the Leica journey, I equipped myself with modern, perfect lenses, and to a degree I'm sorry I did when I see how appealing the optical 'defects' of the pre '60's lenses can add to the result.

 

[leicapixie]

I love my Leicas, there is nothing like them.
Professionally i had to use SLR !
It's difficult to replicate the images of the past..
Tri-X is a weak substitute, HP5+ is light years ahead of its gray past..
One needs to understand and really look at "Masters".
Listen and watch videos.
It's a long and lonely road doing good photography!
Keep it simple, one camera (any M) a lens 35mm or 50mm.
Develop your own films and scan if possible.
My most used film camera a 53 years old M3 (my personal camera) a Collapsible-Summicron 50.mm f2.
Camera bought new back in 67, lens swapped for 66. (1955 version).

 

[Chris101]

This Mary will never stop going round.
If you are after flowers, nudes and cheese sunsets, sure.
But why GW, HCB, A. Myakishev and other as of now photogs I have posted links for are choosing Leica. Simply because they told it is better for them with Leica M.
But many like you, even at RFF could not get it and repeating their miss understanding over and over again like broken records.
Anna Bicharova has her pictures in museums and her pictures in sales catalogs. She is paid for special items photography with DSLR, but her street, candid photography is taken with Leica.
Please, try to understand...

Sigh. Nobody listens to Ralph G. any more man. 🙁..

 

[jsrockit]

I'm the one who translated two articles from two ex Winogrand's students, with permission.
I'm the one who studied Winogrands thousands of prints on-line via on-line archive in Arizona.
I'm the one who watched documentaries and interviews with him and about him.
I'm happy to share with you what I know after all of this done and still in progress.
He started with 50mm lens. You as the one who could see will clearly find it in Arizona archive. He was wearing two Leica M at some time (around "Animals" period at least) with 35mm on one of them. He liked 21mm, as matching his POV (same for me), but distortions were not benefitable for him. Later Winogrand, after injury, started to use narrower than 28mm lenses again. It is in one of the interviews with him.

Come on man, Really? There is plenty of information available to all of us. A well known and newish documentary, interviews on you tube and on the internet, many many books, many large exhibits in major cities, etc. His ways of working and his philosophy on photography is no secret to anyone who wants to know. I’ve seen at least 3 major exhibits of his in NYC that amounted to hundreds of images. The color exhibit in Brooklyn recently had 450 photos exhibited in one show. I will concede that he certainly favored a Leica with a wide angle. However, that he only used a Leica with a 28mm, as you know, is not true. As you can see in the photo I posted above, he is clearly using an SLR.