Re: [Leica] Thanks!! OT Nikon F5

[Michael Scarpitti <mikescarpitti@yahoo.com>]

- --- "M.E.Berube - GoodPhotos" <meb@goodphotos.com>
wrote:
> Simon,
> 
> You make a good point. When the situation calls for
> AF/AEverything and 
> there is positively no other way to get the shot
> otherwise, go for it.
> 
> BUT someone here a few days ago, mentioned the
> dumbing down of Photography 
> in the last 20 years. Now, I'm just a kid 33 years
> of age and have only 
> been 'shooting for dollars' about 15 of those years,
> but I agree that all 
> of these 'modern conveniences' made available to
> practitioners of our Craft 
> are dumbing us down over all. As I said above, if
> you need the AF/AE by all 
> means use it, but I think it important to the
> integrity of the 
> professional, that we as photographers know how to
> function without the 
> technologies assistance. (Just as important as
> knowing how to prepare a 13 
> column report for your boss by hand if the PC gets
> attacked by the next I 
> L0VE Y0U virus. To borrow on your example.) We need
> to have the basics down 
> on how to manipulate light using our choices of
> light source, focal length, 
> aperture, shutter speed, film, composition and how
> these effect the 
> exposure onto the film in our light tight boxes.
> More importantly we need 
> to practice these skills regularly in order for them
> to remain second 
> nature for us. If we can have an AF/AE camera for
> when we need it and still 
> maintain our competency of these skills, by all
> means we are worth every 
> penny we can get.
> 
> I can't of course speak for all photographers, but
> personally, I know that 
> I am lazy enough that IF I had all of the amenities
> of these 
> poly-carbonate, eye movement focused,
> gyro-stabilised, 3D Matrix metered, 
> technocameras at my disposal, I would shortly come
> to find that EVERY 
> situation required their use, (as most of us have
> done with now having a 
> light meter in our cameras.) Eventually I would no
> longer be able to create 
> photographs without their "assistance." In this
> respect, I don't think that 
> I'm all that much MORE lazy than the average "pro."
> It is not my intent to 
> sound a like a purist snob, (if it works for you, do
> it) but if I allowed 
> myself to rely on one of these cameras to this
> extent, I would no longer 
> consider myself a photographer, I would consider
> myself simply a camera 
> operator.
> 
> I recently needed a change from the SLRs that I've
> always used. I wanted 
> the best quality photographic equipment that I could
> afford and still 
> maintain my own skills (that I will likely never
> perfect though I continue 
> to try) so, I started looking. The Leica (back on
> topic!) marketing wonks 
> sold ME when they put into words the philosophy that
> I've always sought in 
> a camera "Technical gadgetry is purposely limited to
> those features that 
> truly contribute towards creating a better picture.
> With the Leica...it is 
> always the photographer who controls the medium and
> not vice versa." After 
> reading that, it was only a matter of saving my
> pennies.
> 
> You might have a wider angle (with greater DOF) and
> I might even be a bit 
> out of focus, but that's the view from my finder.
> ;-)
> 
> Carpe Lumen,
> Michael
> 
Well said.

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