claudia__

In retrospect, I think Mike is rigtht and the mods should delete this thread. It has no place on PN. Sometimes the idea of "community" on these kinds of sites is misleading. I have indeed shared this with family and friends so I do not need to "seek help."

sigh.. i do not mean this to be a "pity party" but i arrived home

today to find that my neighbor of almost 30 years was killed in a

small fire in her house. smoke inhalation. she went to bed and never

woke up. i am trying to deal with her 3 cats. 2 are missing. one was

able to find me and schmooze up to me. this is totally off topic but i

have been banned from the Leica Forum (which i love and i think was

totally unfair) until next year (i guess i was really bad) and when

these things happen folks like me just need to talk. sorry if this is

disruptive. if leica forum folks are reading this you can reach me at

my email. this is very hard. i miss Kathy and feel so sorry for her

family. still trying to deal with the cats.

could he have meant simply that photography is not about expressing perfect composition but about expressing one's vision and one's own sense of what a pleasing composition is?

here is the text of the announcement by Freestyle....

 

"Subject:

Ilford Film and Paper at Arista Prices!

Date:

05 Aug 2005 13:24:50 -0700

From:

Freestyle Photographic Supplies<emailc@freestylephoto.biz>

 

 

 

 

 

 

We knew that educators and students needed to get the best value for

their money, and Ilford knew it too. That's why Freestyle and Ilford

teamed together to bring top-quality products to teachers and schools at

terrific prices. Due to contractual obligations, we could not disclose the

manufacturer as Ilford, but now the secret is out and all remaining Arista

black and white products are available at their original prices until sold

out. If you prefer to pay more for the branded product....fine, but if you

want the SAME PRODUCT for less, then Arista is your BEST VALUE!

But Hurry... It is only available while supplies last!

 

Arista Classic Graded FB

is Ilford Galerie FB

As low as $16.99

 

Arista Classic VC FB

is Ilford Multigrade IV-VC FB

As low as $14.99

 

Arista Graded RC

is Ilford Ilfospeed RC

As low as $12.99

 

Arista Premium RC VC

is Ilford Multigrade MG-IV RC

DeLuxe

As low as $10.99

 

Arista Plus RC VC

is Ilford MG RC Cooltone

As low as $10.99

 

Arista Pro 50

is Ilford Pan F Plus

As low as $1.89 on 20 more

 

Arista Pro 125

is Ilford FP4 Plus

As low as $24.99

 

Arista Pro 400

is Ilford HP5 Plus

As low as $14.99

 

Arista D-Max 100

is Ilford Delta 100

As low as $2.49 on 20 or more

 

Arista D-Max 400

is Ilford Delta 400

As low as $2.59 on 20 or more"

if you click on "who's online" you will see that it is usually somewher between two hundred and three or four hundred people. but these are the <i>registered</i> users. i think the decisions vis a vis advertising are being made on the basis of the number of unregistered hits that the site gets. so, actually, the idea of subscribers and registered users is really a marginal issue. this site seems to have become dedicated to getting as much revenue from click throughs as possible and that undermines the idea that this is a community of members even more. this to me is the crux of the complaints that have surfaced by "regulars" lately.

for many who want to subscribe but do not want to be in the Paypal system. Paying by any other means reasults in months of delay in being recognized as a subscriber. This is directly related to the paucity of subscribers IMHO. An attitude adjustment in this one little area might help don't you think? Why subscribe if PN takes months to cash your check?

This may be old news to some but it was new to me. Got an email from

Freestyle announcing that their "Arista" brand of film and papers is

actually Ilford.

Mike, it is good to play the "devil's advocate" at certain times. but surely you realize that this forum is for people who LOVE old, old cameras and whose first priority is, to quote you...<i><b> the joy you felt in making the image</i></b><p>

Gene has put up some nice websites devoted to cameras and the images that can still be made from them. It is helpful to those of us who collect cameras. I would say that your questions are good, but if you look at the title of this forum you will see it is not dedicated to "photography" and "photographers" but to "Classic Cameras."

i have a Zorki 1c which is a backup for my Leica IIIf and although I don't use it much I plan to keep it as it is quite well made compared to the later ones. the Industar 50 is actually sharper than the prewar Elmar (with the odd aperture numbers.) since you would not get much by selling them, why not keep them and enjoy?

haven't tried the Efke 25 yet though i have been meaning to. however, Ilford Pan F+ (iso 50) is a very nice film and quite easy to handle in terms of easy loading on a reel and not too soft or scratch prone emulsion.

enjoyed your enthusiasm and your posts. looking forward to your return. ciao!

I agree that each camera, particularly the oldie moldies with simple lenses have a personality or way of seeing that is different from the standard look one gets with a sophisticated lens designed to produce a sharp image. I take my British made Ensign Ful-Vue everywhere I take my Leica. Not a lesser camera imho, just different.

<p>

<a href="http://www.sfbaysailingpix.com/Blackie.htm">photos here</a></p>

<i>Hmmm.... An old leica guy who takes pretty mediocre pix (being charitable) spouting off on a subject, digital, about which he knows little. Nothing out of the ordinary on that...<p></i>

 

basically continuous repetition. i think we have heard this many times haven't we? nothing out of the ordinary on that. but i guess we need to have it continually hammered at us until we agree.</p>

hey...if cats can paint (see the book "Why Cats Paint") then why can't chimps and why can't the free market make big bucks on it? sounds like a "Specist" and specious argument to me. the "art community" did after all prevent a lot of art that we revere from going to the landfill. why question it now? i keep forgetting there are still people out there who have yet to accept Picasso as an artist.

2 observations....

 

first, Leica is a cult camera, like it or not and so this forum reflects all the baggage that comes with cult followings.

 

second, Brad really is into debating versus commenting and so has an eagle eye for what he sees as false "information." but information is not always as interesting or entertaining as the more fictional, folk loric aspects of photography.

 

 

i have to drag myself away from this and go sailing now (~_")

what disaligns me from Brad is that i am willing...nay happey...to admit that i don't know. no self, no problem. believing you know, big problem. that is all the zen i have to spit. too bad grant is banned forever...i am sure he could be more profound. subtext....Brad is trying to fill in for grant. the reviews are not good.

man...i have to sort of align myself with Brad. i clicked on Owl and was appalled at his cheesy nudie photos. what is he thinking? these things are like amazing. don't get me started.

 

but i also want to pick on Brad. i do not think he is malevolent. i just think he has no sense of humor or irony. i am not sure about his age but i think he has been caught up in the kind of depressed pessimism that masquerades as irony. and very quick to be insulted whatever that means.

 

but the Owl's stuff is really HughHefneresque owlpucky in my opinion. part of me thinks he is putting us on and it is really something like a conceptual art piece (pardon the pun.) Yech! oh well, what do i know?

i usually find subway photos uninteresting but i really do like these. the price for this Holga is kinda steep though. probably any 120 box with a bulb setting would be a cheaper route.

picked up a nice early Elmar 3.5/50 for my IIIf. it has strange

apertures like 6.3, 9, 12.5, 18.

anyone know why these apertures were used and when Leitz moved to

standard numbers in use today? TIA

brad...get a leica and you will have something to say on the Leica Forum...simple? Or, take it over to whatever forum you want but you are a kinda strange presence here. can you look up obnoxious in your dictionary? can you sense when you have shown up at a party you were not invited to that people do not hang on your every word and pronounce you wise? that is why i am offering to start a fund so you can have a Leica and be a happy part of this communtity.

welliamjustgladiintroducedthiswayofcommunicatingbecauseitslowpeopledownandtheycanthinkabouttheridiculousthingstheysaytoobadbushandcheneycn'tmanagetoharnessthebrainsthatthegreatcreatortheyworshipgavethem...godmustbejustgnashinghisteethandwaitingforarootcanalpraisedelordalmightyandpraiseclaudiaamen

my point was...ta da..i would be willing to help finance the acquistion by you of an actual Leica Camera, preferably a pre M model, because they are the coolish looking. you are obsessed with the Leica Forum but apparrently do not use a Leica. my photographs with cameras "ancient and modern" are available to all who click on my name. i do not know what your particular problem vis a vis Leica is...and furthermore..i do not care. if this is your sandbox you need to toughen up when people respond that your are obnoxious. they have a point...get a Leica or look like a looney lurker. simple.

thanks Ray...you're a kick too. but i don't think there is a lot of brain cell activity going on with you. :)

uh, Brad...

<i>Claudia, and I'm similarly willing to kick in $50 so you can take an evening adult education photography class at your local high school.</i>

<p>

granted, my degrees are not in engineering as yours seem to be but they may be a bit more relevant than yours in terms of 'art.' and i have studied and been certified (as i am sure you care about) somewhat higher than the "local high school." don't let your show go to your head...it will hurt your photography.</p>

after that nasty karma thing...hell i will kick in $100 dollars to get Brad off his hubris horse. damn. what a nasty man.