[Leica] WAS: I've seen the Bokeh! NOW: WHY LEICA?

[Ted Grant <tedgrant@islandnet.com>]

Dave Yoder wrote:

>>From my observations I'd have to preliminarily agree with Simon. I got into
>Leica looking for good sharpness and less contrast, and that's what I think
>I've found.>>>>

Hi Dave,

The comments I've seen this past few days "why I got into Leica" have been
interesting as I don't think anyone has hit on my "Why I got into Leica."

Generally others have  reasons for technical results, bokeh, sharpness,
contrast and others. Where in my case (many of you know I've never been
much on the technical stuff) and more on results of the content.

I wanted Leica because it was the best and my idols, Esie, Cartier Bresson,
Capa and others of the '40's and early '50's used them. Therefore, if I
used Leica my pictures would be great like theirs. How naive we are before
we learn that it is the person holding the camera that makes greatness, as
well as being in the right place at the right time. And certainly ones
re-action time to the moment.

I'll go to the big darkroom in the sky knowing without question that when I
started using Leica my photographs began to improve, more impact, better
use of the light, (Like Capa) I got closer, worked quietly and
unobtrusively without flash. My photography took on a whole new look, I
found I'd be shooting where others feared to without blasting away with
flash creating a visual disturbance.

For me, the simplicity of the Leica (rangefinders) and how it is used
(available light) has more to do with the secret to my photographic
success, than the technical bits and pieces of the hardware.

If we consider the vast majority of non-using Leica photographers and 99%
of the public wouldn't know a Leica image from a N or C image, we have to
accept that it is what we do with the camera and how we see/re-act that
counts the most and should be the first reason for using Leica, allowing us
to capture the ultimate moment.

This isn't discounting the quality of the glass, obviously it makes our
printed images "look better" or viewed on the screen. As lenses improve one
should consider what the purchase of a new lens will do, merely make their
picture sharper Or capture the ultimate moment in time?

I guess it falls into ones priority of what they want on film. Me? I'd opt
for the ultimate moment everytime and that's what Leica means to me.

ted

Ted Grant
This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant