[Leica] In-camera composition (was: Jaywalker)

[aaron.sandler at duke.edu (Aaron Sandler)]

Phil,

Thanks for your comments.  The issue of the finder lines not corresponding 
exactly with what the film sees is one of those things that I "know" 
intellectually, but I don't at all have an instinctive understanding of 
it.  Maybe someday I'll get it.

I wish I could claim that I was composing the shot in-camera as carefully 
as you give me credit for...In reality, I saw the moment, and I took the 
shot.  In PS I fixed my errors by cropping a small/medium amount from the 
left and the top.

I think one of the hardest things to do when shooting a transient moment is 
to remain in touch with the composition of the entire frame while still 
paying enough attention to the action to release the shutter at just the 
right moment.  Focusing a rangefinder on a predictably moving target is 
nothing compared to this!  I find it a fun challenge.

I like your interpretation of Costco compensating for the deficiencies of 
my M6 to bring out my true artistic intent.  :)

-Aaron

At 06:41 PM 8/23/2004, Phil Swango wrote:
>Aaron -- The second version of "Jaywalker" is *much* better IMO.  In 
>addition to cropping the bottom, the Costco scan took off a large part of 
>the right side!  As a result, the first image no longer has a 
>3:2  ratio.  Another point may be relevant here.  The M6 finder image is 
>designed to give a field of view that corresponds to the closest focusing 
>distance of the lens, not the field at 20 ft or so.  What you saw through 
>the finder would probably have "cropped" some of the shadow, which of 
>course would still show up on the negative.  Maybe Costco was just trying 
>to duplicate what you originally saw through the finder.
>
>Okay, probably not.  :-)