So busy with life, it’s hard to keep up on every website. Schools taking its tole, although works lightened up a bit. So now I have time to focus on film, and MAYBE even start posting some new photos. Hopefully (the ones just posted are a little older). So time for some more adventure and some more experiences.
Since my Uncle lent me his Leica M8, I have viewed photography in a whole new light. Using a Leica isn’t just like using another camera, it’s an entire experience in it’s own right for two reasons.
First, it’s all manual controls. From the exposure settings right down to the focusing, the camera makes you fine tune every feature yourself. It teaches you to be in tune and (without risking a cliche’), be one with the camera. It’s not just a tool, it’s an alternative method of sight. The camera teaches you. You are it’s student, and it is your master. It forces you to learn to take a good photograph, from the dialing to the framing.
Secondly, the type images it produces. I was just (attempting) to explain to my mom. When you take a picture with an SLR nowadays or any other camera, the picture attempts to place you in that experience. Too many people are trying to surround you in the images realism and make you feel apart of it, that sometimes you forget it’s a photo.
In my opinion, a Leica does the opposite. The type of images it produces almost detaches you from the photograph. The texture, the distance, the rendering, makes you feel like your looking into an alternate reality almost. Like your viewing a piece of art that wants to suck you into it’s environment, but it’s so beautiful to look at you would rather remain third party. The camera portrays a sense of realism, like any camera to be sure, but that realism is distorted in a beautiful aspect. Different. My Uncle told me when I first picked it up “There’s a certain look to a Leica that’s unexplainable. It’s just wonderful.”
Well here’s to you Bill, my attempt at explaining that. Thanks again.
In the meantime I will keep gaining knowledge and experience through the camera. Like I said, it is my teacher. And I am the student.
Haven’t had much time for photos lately. Been consumed in my movie. I love being infantismally in love with what I want to do the rest of my life. Being my first real movie, I’m busting my ass trying to make this thing as good as I can. Got some great people helping out and working on it with me. It’s looking great so far, and hopefully it only gets better.
Check it out!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/Johnny-Mo-A-Cale-Nichols-Film/110574395681505
