Leica photographer...David Alan Harvey

Here is a story about David Alan Harvey. He is a National Geographic photographer who embraces the minimalist philosophy... he did an entire photo essay on Cuba with a single Leica with 35 and 50mm lenses. I have seen the book and the computer screen can't do justice to the quality of the images... but they are pretty good. One has to wonder... is more equipment more versatile, or does less equipment allow more freedom... thus better results? How much more intimate would the shots be if he "looked like a photographer"?

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Don't stop with the opening page... click on NEXT to continue. There are also REALAUDIO interviews to listen to Harvey address photographic issues.

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http://dirckhalstead.org/issue9910/cubaintro.htm

I read/viewed - no, absorbed, completely -- this man's photography

of Cuba with great interest, and my own feelings are now reinforced:

Take the 50 (or the 35) and make photography happen. This man is a

great in the works. The color is fantastic, isn't it?? I might have

a hundred Leica lenses, or I might have only the 50 'cron... which way

am I better prepared for the world? I know the answer...

Tony,

I am glad you liked this article. Harvey has quite a history. If

you grab a handful of "National Geographic" magazines from the past

few years, you will no doubt find essays by him. He also did a whole

story on Vietnam, traveling the whole country with only 35 and 28mm

lenses. His forte is to cover a whole country... alone and with very

little encumbrances. His vision changes for the subject, but he is

basically a two lens photographer. Do try to find his Vietnam and

Spain stories in National Geo'.

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This kind of makes you think... a new lens or some more film? Most

advertiser's brochures don't advocate using the minimum amount of

equipment, (surprise! surprise!), but this guy makes a strong case.

Even with no 5 pound zoom lens or 5 FSP motor drive, he somehow

captured great pictures. I'd bet he sees frame lines in his sleep.

The Dirck Halstead site is a treasure trove of great photograpy by

great street and news photographers, The audio clips are priceless.

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David Alan Harvey does make a strong case for simplicity. Many others

keep their equipment simple too, concentrating instead on their

vision.

His photos of Cuba are indeed marvellous and a testament to M Leica

photography. Is 35mm really his widest lens? Some pictures look to

have been taken with wider lenses...Anyway he has done a wonderful

job of capturing the country. But remember there are other ways of

doing it too - no need to leave your telephotos at home! What works

for Harvey may not work for you!

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There really is a lot to be said for the two lens approach - it

simplifies your choices and forces you to "make a composition" rather

than just take a shot. Still, it has also to be said that Harvey is a

professional and so can devote more time to his art than perhaps the

majority of us (certainly me!) - that helps too in finding out where

the best spots are and when and what to take etc. etc.

For more imformation, www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/9711/depatments/

for similar to above links mentioned.

Its worth trying only one lens...try low or higher angles,close-ups and long shots...ages ago I did it for almost 1 year with my 50mm.Some of the photos still in my portfolio.Viewers beleive they are typical wide angle or tele depending on viewpoint.(Not extreme tele or wide).Think about what fun photograhy can be with only the body and 1 lens....I chicken out these days for pro work and wind up with this metal case plus a bag!I think the time has come to return to simplicity.

For more imformation, www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/9711/departments/

for similar to above links mentioned.

Its worth trying only one lens...try low or higher angles,close-ups and long shots...ages ago I did it for almost 1 year with my 50mm.Some of the photos still in my portfolio.Viewers beleive they are typical wide angle or tele depending on viewpoint.(Not extreme tele or wide).Think about what fun photograhy can be with only the body and 1 lens....I chicken out these days for pro work and wind up with this metal case plus a bag!I think the time has come to return to simplicity.

I saw the N.G. T.V. show hi-lighting Harvey's Cuba assignment. I

subsequently purchased the issue of N.G. in order to see the whole

layout. In a word, fantastic! It was the major determining factor in

my choice to purchase a Leica M6 (non-TTL). His minimalist approach

spoke volumes to me. I currently use a 35mm f/2 and a 90 f/2.8. I may

supplement the kit with a 50mm f/2 or f/1.4. What I found most

interesting was David's ability to imerse himself in the culture

without intruding. Bresson would be proud of him. A real pro photo-

jounalist shooting real people. For those of you that didn't see the

National Geographic special on T.V. and for those Leica purerists out

there, David uses a very pedestrian Vivitar 283 flash (heresy, I know)

for some of his images.

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Best regards,

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Jim

Jim,

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I also saw that TV program on Harvey... Wish I had the VCR set to

record. I always cursed the M6's flash sync speed, but Harvey makes

it work in his shots... The ghosting is not only tolerable... but

really adds to the pictures. Still hate that the 283 is bigger and

heavier than the camera though.

Hi All,

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I too, like you all, admire David Alan Harvey's work. Anybody knows

which film he uses..? The colors are dazzling and its fine grain too.

Is it Kodak 100VS..? Or Provia 100F.? Pls inform.

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Abhijit.

Abhijit,

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Here is another short interview in which Harvey says he uses Provia,

even pushing it a stop if he needs more speed.

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http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/9711/departments/

When I first know about the equipment DHA uses, and specialy his main

lens during his cuba proyect (35/1.4 asph); I put much atention on

every picture I find in the NG magazine, can some body tell me about

lack of sharpness or camera shake in some of his images, like the one

of the two farmmen and wires with a grass ground and blue sky at the

top; if you follow the grass along the frame I can only see it sharp

in the canter, and the same in other pictures, I don´t know if it is

a scaning problem a lens problem or some shake during exposure.Any

way his work is magnificent.

Abhijit

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How nice to see you here. You met my wife when you went to photograph

Roshan Kalapesi in Nepean Sea Road a couple of years ago.

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Are you still working for Outlook? I liked your wrestling story on

LensImpressions very much.

Hi there,

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Thank you Al Smith and Bob Schneider for the information. Very happy

to hear from you Rob. Yes, I am still with Outlook. Little more busy

shooting for our new baby, Outlook Traveller. Hope to see you

somtime. Also check out www.outlookindia.com for INS Vikrant, the

abandond warship photo-essay.

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Abhijit.