[Leica] 80 Summilux R (was 'Am I being stupid? (R content)')

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca)]

Jim Nicchols offered:
>"Mark,
>
>It sounds like you don't shoot many portraits of women, else you would also
>add that the portrait lens cannot be razor sharp in all details.  This is
>why older lenses find favor with those who specialize in this 
>market.<<<<<<,

And Mark in rebuttal offered:
>>>I shot mainly women and after a while diffused none of them and had no 
>>>"old"
> glass to use on them.
> I just image Googled Karsh (who did photography quite a few women), and
> Penn, and Avedon and the gals were just as sharp as the guys. Karsh's shot 
> of
< George Bernard Shaw seems a bit soft maybe from what I can
>see.<<<<<<<<

It didn't make any difference to Karsh... it was sharp, male or female or 
into file 13 which eventually went to the scrap heap.As much as my comments 
about Karsh may have some folks wonder how I can, It's simply because his 
brother Malak and Karsh were friends of mine for a number of years. Malak 
and myself were assigned to work on the same subject in photographing the 
tourist beauties of Canada several times over the years. He in one part of 
the country, I in another. With great sessions upon returning comparing each 
others photography.

I was a guest in both of Karsh's Ottawa studios, the old original on Spark's 
Street and the new one in the Chateau! Assigned  to shoot a series on his 
new wife in their home in the suburbs of Ottawa shortly after they were 
married. KARSH without question demanded of the society editor he approve 
any and all pictures before publication. That was before  he knew I was the 
photographer for the assignment. And in his position he demanded that kind 
of control from publications and got it.

When I was told this by the editor, I said "forget it, just tell him it's me 
doing the assignment and no he isn't going to approve any of my pictures as, 
"I don't have to approve any of his!" Jokingly of course. :-) Editor not 
knowing we were acquaintances was shocked and near died! I of course was 
being slightly facetious with a smile. So while I was in the editors office 
she called and spoke with KARSH. His response?

"Why didn't you tell me Ted Grant was the photographer and we wouldn't be 
wasting my valuable time now!"

End of KARSH approving any photographs without even seeing them until 
published! :-)  Estralita didn't have any problem as she knew me through 
visits and seeing some of my published photos. Wonderful, kind lady to shoot 
with.

But his pictures were sharp regardless the  old wives tale of  "ladies like 
soft lenses" not to show their wrinkles! Which to some degree indicate 
beautiful character! ! :-)

cheers,
Dr. ted :-)