Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/15

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Subject: [Leica] In defense of Untitled Magazine.
From: Cary Conover <leicary@tdi.net>
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 21:08:20 -0500

I've heard all the arguments and I think I should shed some light on the
issue (heh heh).

Being an insider on the magazine's inception late last year, I will say
the magazine's contributors do happen to be all young, dedicated
professionals. There's nothing wrong with that. In terms of the recent
"1,000,000 March" issue (the seventh issue), it was just Patrick Witty
(the editor), Andy Cutraro, Chris Stanford and Chris Pierce spending
their own money on a project they believed in. Taking time away from
their jobs and families to travel halfway across the country to cover
these rallies. There is no advertising in Untitled Magazine. Anything
spent on keeping the magazine (website) running comes entirely out of
Mr. Witty's pocket.

It's just a rally. Nothing more. Nothing less. These photographers are
not expressing themselves, a style or technique. They are communicating
the black way of life, giving it a voice. Literally, in this instance.
Listening to one of the sound bytes, I could tell a lady was excited to
be having an opportunity greater than just *being* at the rally. Maybe a
little nervous at trying to find the right words to explain the way she
felt about black issues.

The recent effort by Untitled Magazine, no matter what its appearance,
should be applauded.

Cary Conover
Monroe, Michigan

P.S. "Too bad [Robert Frank] gave up real photography for artistic
trash" is the single most ignorant opinion I've heard on the LUG. What a
joke. I suppose this person wouldn't hesitate to say the same thing
about Henri Cartier-Bresson.