I once had an opportunity to be an unofficial Leica ambassador. While strolling around a state fair sporting my M4-2 and 35mm cron, I ran into a gentleman sporting a Fuji X100 who saw my Leica and started up a conversation. He was interested in my using a film camera over digital. I explained I've been shooting film and wet printing for a long time and enjoy the aesthetics of silver based prints. Also I found the Leica M camera and lenses to be good tools for my style of photographing.
He said his son was taking a photography class in college and had borrowed a Rollei TLR from an uncle. He was very impressed with the quality of photos his son produced with that old camera. I explained it takes time and patients to master manual cameras, light metering and developing film to achieve a good negative to print with. Then printing is another set of skills. But well worth the time to learn it. There is nothing like making a beautiful silver print in a darkroom.
Then I covered the cost of a nice Leica starter kit and a place not to far that rents darkroom space. Lots of helpful folks there to help him get started. Even offered to help him develop a few rolls and print a couple of prints in my darkroom. I pulled hard on the rod and started reeling him in. About then a lady with a suspicious look on her face walked up to us. My mark introduced her as his wife, and started explaining what we were discussing. She promptly excused them and off they went like a mother scolding her son for talking to strangers.
So even though I am white, barely middle class and sporting a Leica, I proved not to be a proper ambassador. If I was any good at that role they both would have gone home and bought a couple of Leica's with a stable of lenses and taken me up on my printing offer
🙂
