[Leica] books, articles, et al

["J.P. Leiser" <jpleiser@fetchmail.co.uk>]

There have been several books and articles that have deeply influenced me.  But, 
to reduce the number to three is difficult.  I think that the following are what 
has defined much of my thought and actions.

Wolfe, Tom
The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby 
Various publishers (first published in 1965 -current editons are available

This collection of essays is an typical of the environment in which I grew up.  
It was slices of life from the "neighborhood."   I was only really acquainted 
with a few of the characters in the essays, but I had seen the other ones under 
different names.  It continues to teach me that my life, acquaintenences, and 
experiences can be really quite interesting if I really look around and there is 
some universiality to life.  (I have transferred my allegiance from cars to 
Leicas --- imagine a candy red powder-coated M3).

Larkin, Oliver W.  Art and Life in America
Holt, Rinehart and Winston 1966 (rev.)

This tied together the cultural history of the United States and the art, 
photography and architecture.  Of course it never really answered the question:  
does life follow art or does art follow life?  Personally, I think it is a 
question of diffusion of innovative ideas.  But it has influenced the way I look 
at things --- giving them some context.

Edited book:  Human Identity in the Urban Environment
edited by Gwen Bell and Jaqueline Trywhitt
Penguin Books, 1972

This was a basic treatise in Ekistics.  This is a method to tie multiple 
disciplines togther into a somewhat comprehensible whole. This enables me to 
sometimes grasp what is happening in the environment around me.

These have all influenced my photography.  I want to photograph like Tom Wolfe 
wrote, to grasp the essence of the environment,todisplay the cultural context, 
and finally treat it as a part of the whole.  I realize that none are 
photographic books.  But why should I emulate anyone else.  I am trying to 
define my own style.

And Leicas are the tools that I have selected for this attempt.

JPL

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