[Leica] Light in the Delivery Room

[Buzz Hausner <Buzz@marianmanor.org>]

I have been present at the birth of my two children.  Also, my wife is an
obstetrician and from her I have learned a great deal about the conditions
under which women give birth and have had the opportunity to observe many
delivery rooms in a number of US hospitals.  It is quite common in the U.S.
to deliver a child in a fairly dark environment.  True, the actual plane of
action will be well lighted perhaps by one focused lamp.  However, the rest
of the room may be quite dim.  Scenes such as the mother's first moments
holding her child are often undertaken in subdued light.  Similarly,
cleaning the newborn and her first examination by the doctor, the father's
first snuggle with the swaddled baby, and many other touching and important
moments may take place away from full or direct light.

No, babies are not born in hospitals under the light of just one candle, but
the delivery room may present many challenging lighting conditions which
require wide apertures and fast films.  If you would actually like to learn
something, Bernard, I would be happy to arrange for you to speak with people
who deliver babies.

- -----Original Message-----
From: Bernard [mailto:4829.g23@g23.relcom.ru]
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 1:52 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] it DOESN'T work well for leica!


Ted Grant wrote:

> Bernard wrote:
>
> > I can't believe how you would need a nocti in a hospital. Isn't that
people's
> > workplace? Aren't there laws in the US stating how bright the light
should be at
> > people's workplace? Wouldn't a hospital be a well-lit place, practically
per
> > definition?! And the man has to use a nocti and ISO1600 film... who are
you
> > kidding! A 2.8 quality point and shoot would have done just as nicely,
and it's
> > a lot quieter yet.<<<<<<<<<<<
>
> Excuse' moi?   Bernard,  have you ever been in a heart surgery recovery
> room at 2 a.m.?  Like that's in the middle of the "dark time," you know
> ......   night!

Ted, as Jim Brick is so very ready to assert without really knowing what
is going on, you indeed deserve all the respect in the world for your
photography. So just such that you understand my following reply; I
wasn't talking about you and shooting at night _at all_. If you had read
what you reply to (no offense, but reading does help avoid
misunderstandings), you would realize that I referred clearly (I had the
quote included in my post, yet you snipped it) to Ken Lisaka's shooting
of the birth of his son. I always thought that doctors delivered babies
in more than the light of one single candle. But I could be wrong!

> Now lets  take your post one line at a time so there wont be any confusion
in what
> I'm saying!
>
> <<<<<<<I can't believe how you would need a nocti in a hospital. Isn't
> that people's
> > workplace? <<<<<<<<<
>
> Yes it is. Lots of people work there. Day and " Night! "

Don't they flip on the lights when a woman gives birth?


>> >>>>>>>And the man has to use a nocti and ISO1600 film... who are you
> kidding! <<<<<<<
>
> Well now son,  you better cut and run,  because in my entire life I never
kid when
> it comes to photography!  And if someone stated that I used ASA 1600 and a
Noctilux,
> then by God that's what I used.  However, I do believe it was ASA 800 if
you're
> referring to my earlier post on Plate 69 in my book "This is Our Work."

Again, I wasn't referring to your book at all. I was curious as to why
one would need f1 with ISO1600 (it might even have been D3200) in the
delivery room (the Lisaka setup).

> >>>>> A 2.8 quality point and shoot would have done just as nicely, and
it's
> > a lot quieter yet.<<<<<
>
> Really? It seems you might be mistaken unless you're using a loud  Leica
M6!

Perhaps a loud M3, but my Minilux is quieter.

>  And as far as any suggestion of a pointie-shootie and a 2.8 lens, sorry
old buddy,
> never happen in the above mentioned lighting conditions.  Unless you like
point and
> shoot wiggly squiggly pictures.

Once again, I trust you entirely as to your book not being possible with
a 2.8. But in the delivery room when the action comes down? If I were a
doctor, I would really appreciate some light to shine down there.

> Possibly you might do better with a few years experience under your belt
in the real
> world of available light photography before you make unfounded remarks
about other
> photographers work.  Actually at the moment you sound like some of the
"visually
> impaired editors" I've had to contend with over the years.  No offense me
old son!

Ted, you're the master, no doubt about it. But if you had read my post
completely, I might have had a chance at not being called "photo
editor", visually impaired or otherwise.

Bernard