[Leica] Leica Sighting -- Continued

[leica at cinemaminima.com (Austin Burbridge)]

Greg's response adduces precisely the kind of candor and passion --  
informed by real experience -- which makes the LUG a worthwhile place  
to exchange opinions.

I love the Leica Users Group! It's provocative, stimulating, and  
passionate.

You can read more about how I feel about the LUG in my blog --

http://cinemaminima.com/leica/2006/04/13/exactly-how-far-off-topic- 
does-the-leica-users-group-get-a-recipe-for-brussels-sprouts/

Regards,

A U S T I N ,

Austin Burbridge,

Expose for Shadows/Develop for Highlights
http://cinemaminima.com/leica

Sprezzatura http://sprezzatura.editthispage.com/

Cinema Minima http://www.cinemaminima.com/

###

On Apr 14, 2006, at 15:57, Gregory Rubenstein wrote:

> Group:
>
> Read the chat under the heading "Leica Sighting" and was a tad more  
> than irked by a post from Austin Burbridge. Sent the following  
> directly to him 'cuz I don't like public flamings. Austin was kind  
> enough to reply and strongly recommended posting my note on the  
> LUG. Here it is, with my thanks to Austin for his reply and courtesy.
>
> Greg
> -----
> Leica Sighting . . . Unsolicited, Off-List Response
>
> Catching up on my LUG reading and, since I don't like criticizing  
> folks publicly, I sent this note off-list. Apologies in advance for  
> an unsolicited, ad hominem rant; your missive hit a nerve with me.
>
> I found your note to be the most narrow-minded, wrong-headed,  
> elitist posting I've read in my years of LUG participation. Having  
> been a professional photographer most of my life I'm aware of the  
> distractions folks stopping to talk can cause. But I am equally  
> aware of, and have benefitted from, the different points of view,  
> useful information and access to people, sites and sights they have  
> given me. Even noticing how somebody watching me work looks at the  
> same thing a bit differently has  improved some photos.  
> Conversations have proved beneficial -- even when rushing to meet a  
> deadline. Contacts and access are invaluable; you never know who  
> those curious, talkative strangers are, who they know or what they do.
>
> Many of these unsolicited conversations -- regardless of the gear I  
> was using -- helped my work when I was a newsman and in the  
> corporate photo world. They continue to do so. Out with a Leica a  
> month or two back I spotted another Leica shooter. He didn't look  
> like he wanted to be bothered, but spoke as I passed by. Turned out  
> when we exchanged names that I recognized his as that of a Chicago  
> street shooter who'd just had a highly acclaimed exhibition that   
> snowballed into a book. I congratulated him and learned from what  
> became a pleasant conversation neither of us had planned on.
>
> Yes, you close your note with a tip of the hat to tact and  
> courtesy. Truth is I think you ought to open your mind and be more  
> receptive to such encounters. No telling what you might learn, how  
> your perspective/vision/photography might improve, or what access  
> or information you might gain. And, if you find the attention THAT  
> bothersome, maybe a more private pursuit with a lower profile is in  
> order, a pursuit that does not include a Web site complete with a  
> self portrait and contact points.
>
> Okay. End of rant. Apologies for an unsolicited "eyeful" from a   
> stranger, but that nerve and my big mouth . . . Feel free to rant  
> back or simply tell me to stuff it; I've tested your patience and  
> courtesy -- you're more than entitled.
>
> Be well
>
> Greg Rubenstein
>
> P.S. Never had a theft problem with gear around my neck -- again,  
> regardless of brand. Have, however, noticed vultures circling when  
> I've set up, set things down or moved slightly out of reach when  
> working. But, like the Englishman who responded on list, I'm well  
> over six-feet tall and have, with a smile, "looked off" would-be  
> miscreants.
>
>
>
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>
>