Hi ...
Yesterday was the day! I was feeling refreshed, didn't have much
regular work, and the photo gods were with me.
I took two Leicas and an LX with two lenses with me yesterday
morning.
My first stop was at a site that I've wanted to photograph for a few
days, and the day was as good as it gets. The light was right and
the
surrounding area was free from obstructions, unlike other days. I
shot a few frames with the LX and K24/2.8 and with the M2, which was
sporting the 35mm Summicron. Probably burned about twenty frames on
a static subject, shooting it from a few different perspectives.
Then, even though I had a few rolls with me, I stopped off to buy
some more film, and then went on to pay a visit to a client in the
next town. On the way I saw an accident, found a place to park,
grabbed the Leicas, and started shooting. I think I documented the
situation pretty well, from the overturned car just laying there in
the middle of the road, leaking fluids, to the police directing
traffic, to the arrival of the wrecker and the removal of the
vehicle. I shot three rolls there, and, about half way through, the
wrecker driver gave me his card and said he'd buy some pictures. I
think I got some very good photographs, and I believe my exposures
were all OK. Wasn't using a light meter ... fingers crossed!
Then, on the way home I saw a homeless woman who I've wanted to
photograph for quite some time. She was stretched on "her" bench,
sleeping, and all her possessions were around her. I burned about a
roll of film with her, trying to catch a few shots of passersby
looking at her. Sometimes one has to wait for the right shot, and,
on the last frame, I think I got it. With that one click of the
shutter I felt like Henri Cartier-Bresson. I believe I'd not have
gotten that shot with an SLR. The Leica allowed me to keep the
camera to my eye and see this fellow coming from outside the frame
line, and allowed me to shoot without having to anticipate his next
move or glance. I was able to wait for the precise moment to depress
the shutter, and, since there was no mirror blackout, I knew what I
captured.
Boy, do I feel invigorated! I was, however, reminded of a couple of
things. You can never have too much film with you - I could have
used even more. Don't be afraid to burn film and shoot the same
subject from many points of view, even if they're only slightly
different. And you must always have your cameras at the ready and
loaded with film. You just never know when that great shot or a
good opportunity may be waiting for you.
--
Shel Belinkoff
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Nothing happens when you sit at home. I always make it a
point to carry a camera with me at all times ..." -Elliott Erwitt
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