abrewer Posted June 14, 2014 Share #1 Posted June 14, 2014 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) A Leica Master Class with two classy masters I love my Leica MP, or at least I did until I sold it about six months ago. Frankly, the Leica was not getting as much use as it needed, and I wanted to sell the film camera before it depreciated to insignificance. Sorry, MP, but everybody in this house has to earn his or her keep. Also, I had increasing difficulty finding film processing in Indianapolis, and in Philadelphia. It wasn’t that the processing disappeared entirely; it was just further away and longer to return. Even buying decent film was an inconvenience—it required an online purchase and at least a day’s wait. When Tom Smith, the Manager of Leica Akademie North America contacted me for some promotional help with his Master Class Workshops this summer I began to feel a rekindled interest in Leica, and in particular the Leica M Type 240 digital camera. We all know the trials and tribulations that accompanied the M8. The M9 I used in New York a couple of years ago in another of Tom’s workshops was a nice camera, but it just didn’t connect with me for some reason. If you don’t know already, Leica Akademie NA conducts a North American version of the German Leica Akademie photographic instruction programs for Leica photographers on this continent. Here is a list of who has been instructing and where LANA has been so far this spring and summer. All of the sessions listed below are Master Class Workshops that lasted a full weekend: Craig Semetko - May 16th -17th - Los Angeles Peter Turnley - May 30th - June 1st - Los Angeles Richard Bram - June 6th-8th - Washington, DC I chose Washington, DC because I love the city, have lived there and know my way around, and wanted to photograph at a level somewhat more sophisticated than David Luria’s Washington Photo Safari courses (which are marvelous and are great fun, but are more place-oriented than technique-driven). Personal business kept me from joining the group until Saturday morning, so I missed the welcoming dinner and opening presentation from Aziz Yazdani of the absolutely scrumptious new Leica Store in DC on Friday evening. Nor did I get a chance to meet our professional photographer, Richard Bram from New York, NY. When I joined on Saturday morning Aziz issued me a new Leica M Type 240 and I took a seat on a leather couch in the store. I also chose the Leica M 28mm Summicron to mate with the body. I met some of the other photographers, all of whom were experienced Leica-users and several were professionals (which I am not). And, I met Richard for the first time (I think) though we have followed many of the same paths around the U.S. at different times. After a few housekeeping items were taken care of, our group of ten walked from the Leica Store’s F Street location in Penn Quarter to our destinations for the morning: either Chinatown or the Gallery Place Metro station. I chose the latter as I’ve shot Chinatown before, and was rewarded in my choice by a jazz quartet—music students from Maryland’s nearby Bowie State University—who were playing on the sidewalk in front of the station. I shot around the station for a while with Richard, who was observing my technique as I worked. Frankly, it was hard to get a good shot. People coming up the subway escalators were scurrying away before I could focus. Pedestrians coming down the sidewalk would see me with the camera and assume a different, less-casual demeanor while strolling down the street, or simply jaywalk cross the street before they got to me. At one point I started hiding behind a concrete pillar or one of the musicians (the drummer) to shoot unobserved. I never have liked the “shoot-from-the-hip” method, which would have been an alternative, and wasn’t going to change now. About 50 shots into my morning Richard asked me to show him what I had. It wasn’t much: just some images of the trumpet player and the drummer playing their instruments. He made one simple suggestion that changed my day. He said, “Allan, look for people who are doing things. People pointing, getting and giving directions…people crossing the street coming toward the station, or coming off the escalators.” It was incredible how all of a sudden there were great photos coming into my viewfinder. They had been there all along but I didn’t see them until Richard pointed out how to see them. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Continued after the break Edited June 14, 2014 by abrewer 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Continued after the break ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/228850-a-leica-master-class-with-two-classy-masters/?do=findComment&comment=2610719'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 14, 2014 Posted June 14, 2014 Hi abrewer, Take a look here A Leica Master Class with two classy masters. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
abrewer Posted June 14, 2014 Author Share #2 Posted June 14, 2014 (edited) *** Our group reunited at noon for a lunch break. Everyone compared notes and got comfortable again. It’s amazing how a Leica can pull people together. There have been numerous times in my Leica experience that complete strangers come up and remark on the camera. Maybe it is a pride of ownership issue, or a mastery of manual photography that is fundamental to shooting the M…the camera is a fulcrum to open conversation and make friends. Meals consumed, full and happy, we marched off into the afternoon sun, bound for the annual Pride Parade a few subway stops away at DuPont Circle. Imagine a big-city, late-night Halloween, or Carnivale, or Mardi Gras, and that pretty much sums up what was on display at the parade. Unbashful guys in nothing more than a thong, girls dressed as dominant female comic book characters (think Wonder Woman), men and women hugging each other, flags, and…wings. Rainbow wings. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! In the absence of any apparent credentialing procedure for photogs, I simply walked onto the parade route near the Circle and began making shots. That’s another thing about the M hanging around your neck: no one ever questions your authority to be there. The camera makes you look like you belong—just another honest, hard-working photographer laboring in the sun with his tool of choice, like so many before. At the end of the day’s exercise I was hot, sweaty and tired. It was the good tired, the satisfied tired. I had walked the entire parade route to the end, near 14th Street NW and P Street, where the bars were hopping with spectators coming in off the sidewalk after the last of the parade passed by. I ducked into the Logan Tavern and cooled off with a gin and tonic. When I was done and back on the street, I bumped into Aziz. He had taken the same journey to the end. *** I generally don’t haul someone else’s expensive Leica digital cam to the club. As it so happened, I was looking over my pics at the bar of the Poste Brasserie in the Hotel Monaco when a couple from Florida asked me about the Type 240 in my hands. We struck up a conversation about the Leica, with which neither of them was familiar, and about the National Hockey League playoff game about to start between the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers on the television set above us. The man and woman were from the Gulf Coast of the Sunshine State, big Tampa Bay Lightning fans, and were going to DC Redline sports bar to watch the game on the big-screen. Redline is only a block away from the hotel so I joined them. What a place! Hookah outside on the sidewalk; a huge digital LCD upstairs, at least 12 feet wide, with a sparkling picture that made following the puck easier than I’ve ever seen on a TV set. Even the food was good, something you don’t usually expect in a sports bar, as were the drinks…and the company. The game went two overtimes before LA scored the sudden-death clinching goal. Then the lights went down and the disc jockey came on. Instant nightclub…I was in heaven. Still with the Leica around my neck, I shot a few literally in-the-dark shots with the 28 ‘Cron, and at about ¼ second shutter speed made some respectable images (considering the circumstances). *** Sunday’s sessions were in-house at the Leica Store in the District’s Penn Quarter. Everyone went through their shots and picked the best 8-10 images to compare with the others. Richard and Aziz circled around the room and assessed every photographer’s shots separately, offering suggestions and pointing out nuances that made a shot good, or great, or just another snapshot. To me, these interactions with people like Aziz, and Richard, are invaluable. Aziz took the podium and gave a quick but informative talk about commenting on art, and photography in particular. As luck would have it, our group had taken in the excellent Garry Winogrand exhibit at the National Gallery of Art’s West Wing during our Saturday time together, and Aziz was able to reference some of Garry’s work as examples with which we were all recently familiar. Then we looked at the best of our own images as a group, and everyone talked about their shots, and received constructive advice on the results. In many ways, these Leica Akademie experiences are my de facto arts education. They give me insight into the way the right-brained gifted see and work. Like a lot of us here, I have a scientific education. There wasn’t much time for courses in the fine arts in school. When I get a chance to hear someone with an MFA speak, I listen intently to him or her. When someone who has successfully sold and published their photographic work speaks, I listen to them. Listening to Richard and Aziz offer their comments on my work and that of the other participants I was struck by how deeply both of them cared about each of us becoming more accomplished craftsmen with our cameras. In every sense of the word, these uniquely talented men were clearly masters who delighted in re-shaping and sharpening the photographic habits of each one of us in the group, and helping us to master our art and ourselves. *** Thanks to Tom Smith of Leica Akademie North America, Leica’s Aziz Yazdani and photographic artist Richard Bram for a great Master Class experience in DC. Visit the LANA website here and sign up today for a fulfilling photographic experience with a Leica Master. Edited June 17, 2014 by abrewer 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! In the absence of any apparent credentialing procedure for photogs, I simply walked onto the parade route near the Circle and began making shots. That’s another thing about the M hanging around your neck: no one ever questions your authority to be there. The camera makes you look like you belong—just another honest, hard-working photographer laboring in the sun with his tool of choice, like so many before. At the end of the day’s exercise I was hot, sweaty and tired. It was the good tired, the satisfied tired. I had walked the entire parade route to the end, near 14th Street NW and P Street, where the bars were hopping with spectators coming in off the sidewalk after the last of the parade passed by. I ducked into the Logan Tavern and cooled off with a gin and tonic. When I was done and back on the street, I bumped into Aziz. He had taken the same journey to the end. *** I generally don’t haul someone else’s expensive Leica digital cam to the club. As it so happened, I was looking over my pics at the bar of the Poste Brasserie in the Hotel Monaco when a couple from Florida asked me about the Type 240 in my hands. We struck up a conversation about the Leica, with which neither of them was familiar, and about the National Hockey League playoff game about to start between the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers on the television set above us. The man and woman were from the Gulf Coast of the Sunshine State, big Tampa Bay Lightning fans, and were going to DC Redline sports bar to watch the game on the big-screen. Redline is only a block away from the hotel so I joined them. What a place! Hookah outside on the sidewalk; a huge digital LCD upstairs, at least 12 feet wide, with a sparkling picture that made following the puck easier than I’ve ever seen on a TV set. Even the food was good, something you don’t usually expect in a sports bar, as were the drinks…and the company. The game went two overtimes before LA scored the sudden-death clinching goal. Then the lights went down and the disc jockey came on. Instant nightclub…I was in heaven. Still with the Leica around my neck, I shot a few literally in-the-dark shots with the 28 ‘Cron, and at about ¼ second shutter speed made some respectable images (considering the circumstances). *** Sunday’s sessions were in-house at the Leica Store in the District’s Penn Quarter. Everyone went through their shots and picked the best 8-10 images to compare with the others. Richard and Aziz circled around the room and assessed every photographer’s shots separately, offering suggestions and pointing out nuances that made a shot good, or great, or just another snapshot. To me, these interactions with people like Aziz, and Richard, are invaluable. Aziz took the podium and gave a quick but informative talk about commenting on art, and photography in particular. As luck would have it, our group had taken in the excellent Garry Winogrand exhibit at the National Gallery of Art’s West Wing during our Saturday time together, and Aziz was able to reference some of Garry’s work as examples with which we were all recently familiar. Then we looked at the best of our own images as a group, and everyone talked about their shots, and received constructive advice on the results. In many ways, these Leica Akademie experiences are my de facto arts education. They give me insight into the way the right-brained gifted see and work. Like a lot of us here, I have a scientific education. There wasn’t much time for courses in the fine arts in school. When I get a chance to hear someone with an MFA speak, I listen intently to him or her. When someone who has successfully sold and published their photographic work speaks, I listen to them. Listening to Richard and Aziz offer their comments on my work and that of the other participants I was struck by how deeply both of them cared about each of us becoming more accomplished craftsmen with our cameras. In every sense of the word, these uniquely talented men were clearly masters who delighted in re-shaping and sharpening the photographic habits of each one of us in the group, and helping us to master our art and ourselves. *** Thanks to Tom Smith of Leica Akademie North America, Leica’s Aziz Yazdani and photographic artist Richard Bram for a great Master Class experience in DC. Visit the LANA website here and sign up today for a fulfilling photographic experience with a Leica Master. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/228850-a-leica-master-class-with-two-classy-masters/?do=findComment&comment=2610725'>More sharing options...
farnz Posted June 18, 2014 Share #3 Posted June 18, 2014 Lovely photos, Allan, but with respect why is this thread worthy of a sticky? Pete. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted June 18, 2014 (edited) Hi Pete, Thank you for the kind words. The manager of Leica Akademie North America, Tom Smith, asked by email in late April for assistance from myself and from Admin in promoting these wonderful, educational and culturally-broadening photographic experiences. As you and most of the old-timers here know, this forum has long had a close relationship with Leica AG and its subsidiaries. Indeed, at one time this forum was an integral sub-section of the Leica AG website proper. It was a given, in my mind and I am sure in Admin's as well, that upon a request for help from our dear friends at Leica Akademie that help would be granted. The report is a summary of one such Leica Akademie experience, a Master Class Workshop held over a weekend in Washington, DC. In order to assure it found its intended audience I stuck it at the top of the widely-read Customer Forum and notified Admin where it was located, and has been, for about three days now. I hope that answers your question. I hope you will consider attending a Leica Akademie experience yourself sometime soon. Here is some more information on what Tom has planned for us on this side of the pond this summer: Andreas and Allan, I hope this email finds you doing well. It has been a while, since we first connected, but I thought I would reach out and see if you could be of assistance in helping spread the word about some upcoming workshops. Leica Akademie has three unique Master Class workshops coming up with photographers that I think forum members would be interested in knowing about. I'm looking for some help in getting the word out on these and wondered if you could help me share them through the forum / blog and social network. They all happen in May / June / July, so my window is quick to fill them up. Your help is very much appreciated. Leica Akademie Master Class Weekends Craig Semetko - May 16th -17th - Los Angeles Leica Weekend with Craig Semetko- Los Angeles, CA - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent Peter Turnley - May 30th - June 1st - Los Angeles Leica Master Class with Peter Turnley. - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent Richard Bram - June 6th-8th - Washington, D.C. Leica Street Photography Weekend - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent Leica in the Landscape with Tom Brichta July 13th- 17th , 2014 - Point Reyes, California. - Leica in the Landscape - Point Reyes, CA - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent For those looking for a longer workshop experience, where you can invite your entire family or a group of friends to stay in a villa, the Leica Akademie is now offering Destination workshops in partnership with Exclusive Resorts in Costa Rica, Real Del Mar, Mexico and Tucson Arizona. Leica | Exclusive Resorts I have attached images that you can use in the post to promote these programs. Please be sure to include a photo credit. Lastly, Leica's introduction this week of the new T system has been overwhelmingly positive! Samples of the camera can be seen now at all of the Leica stores and boutiques worldwide. Their will be "test drive" and photo walk opportunities planned in June, so that current Leica owners and potential new customers will have a chance to see and feel the quality of this camera in person. That's it for the update. Again thank you for helping me spread the word and thank you for your support. If you either of you are interested in joining one of the Master Classes please let me know. Best regards, Tom A. Smith Manager / Leica Akademie, NA Edited June 18, 2014 by abrewer Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted June 19, 2014 Share #5 Posted June 19, 2014 Thanks for answering my question, Allan; my take was that it was simply a record of one man's journey from film to digital and MP to M through the medium of a Leica Akademie masterclass. I hadn't realised it was a deliberate promotion. Pete. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted June 19, 2014 No, not at all, Pete. I've had a big Canon digital rig since 2000 or so, use it to this day to take photos at car-races when there's a short deadline for text and photos. So much nicer to use the M-body cameras, though....always a joy to work deliberately and slowly to get the desired result. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanyasi Posted June 21, 2014 Share #7 Posted June 21, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have an entirely different take on Leica Academy. I did a Big Sur workshop a little over a year ago. The price was right relative to other workshops, but the workshop was a complete waste of time. The focus was on eating, not photography. We were supposed to leave at 6:30 in the morning--car pool. We usually left 45 minutes late, while waiting for people to get their acts together. We broke for lengthy lunches. But what finally drove me over the top was the dinners. Here you are in scenic country on the Pacific Ocean and your sitting in an expensive Italian restaurant during Golden Hour. Even when we went to good locations during the day, it was rushed. I remember two area that we went to when we were given about 75 minutes to shoot. Nonsense. I skipped the last day and half and went off on my own. Moreover, the logistics were poorly planned. We stayed in Monterey, which meant lengthy drives back and forth. Had I done the program, I would have had people meet at the farthest point south and work our way north, with overnight stays along the way. A complete waste of time and an interesting location. It confirmed my view that photography is not a group activity. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share #8 Posted June 22, 2014 Hi Jack, I'd be a little upset too. I love to eat, but come on....it's Big Sur! Elephant seals! Yellow poppies! San Simeon! And (especially given your username) Esalen! Did you talk to the group leader? Did you submit feedback to Tom's office? Would you do it now if you had his email? I am sure he would like to know of your dissatisfaction. He is genuinely interested in a first-class experience for all of the photographers. I've been to a couple of the Workshops now. Both were within the constraints of foot travel, or a short subway ride, and neither of them was as far-flung as "Big Sur". We routinely broke out into groups and subgroups and some people, indicting myself here, just wandered off completely on their own--both DC and NYC. All it took was one group text to get everyone back together again. Again, "Big Sur" implies and is indeed a "Big" area to cover. Some great shots on your website...thanks for sharing them. Not many of Coastal Cali, though the two you did post are beautiful. An aside: are you in Chicago? Have you been to the Wit Hotel dwntwn for their Sunday "Party on the Roof"? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanyasi Posted June 22, 2014 Share #9 Posted June 22, 2014 Question 1: Yes, I talked to Tom Smith before I left. He is a very nice guy, works hard, and I think his skill set and personality make him the perfect person to be running the Leica workshop program. For me, it became an uncomfortable situation. When you are part of a group, you naturally want to go along and not make waves. But by Day 3, I dropped out of the car pool and used my rental car. As a courtesy, I didn't just leave without touching base. I explained to Tom that I wanted a more intensive photographic experience and that there were plenty of good Italian restaurants in Chicago. I parted on friendly terms. I did tell him that out of fairness to everyone, he needed to do a better job of disclosing what the workshop was all about and the schedule. After the experience, I am very reluctant to do high-end workshops. To each his or her own, but I also didn't view the participants as hardcore photographers who wanted to increase their photographic skills. Nor was it a very diverse group. Most participants were a lot more interested in camera gear, cars, and cigars than I am. If that is your thing, great. It isn't mine. It is for that reason that I also stay away from Luminous Landscape workshops (plus the price). They go to interesting places, but I have a feeling the experience will be similar. After doing four or five workshops, I remain very skeptical about workshops. At the end of the day, photography is not a group activity. So I am planning my own photo trips. I leave in less than two weeks for France with my wife, who does pastels in her free time. We will be in the Bordeaux area for ten days just wandering around. Then she heads off to Oxford for a business conference and a workshop and I head to Paris for six days of urban photography. Finally, I hate the post-processing lecture that seems to be a mandatory element in every workshop. I sat down one winter and spent every free moment teaching myself Photoshop. I still read books about it and constantly watch videos on the web because you never "learn" Photoshop and all it can do. So for someone to think that they can teach post-processing to people who never gave it much thought in two or threes hours is ridiculous. Now I don't object to a nightly or mid-day image review/critique. Question 2: I know about the Witt roof parties, but haven't been to one. The Chicago Tribune just had an article on the Ten Best Rooftop bars in the city. I took some notes, but I don't think the focus was on a good placed to photograph. I did get some nice shots the summer that the Trump Tower opened its 16th floor outdoor bar, but I am now boycotting the Trump Tower because of the new Trump sign. Best 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted June 22, 2014 Very thoughtful points all. Thanks. Sounds like your outlook is much like mine: let's come together for some sharing of technique, inside info and fun but it's the shooting experience that is paramount Did you ever think about being a group leader yourself? I'd sign up, knowing what I do now. Yes, I highly recommend Party on Roof at the Wit on a Sunday afternoon....maybe even today! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Not Leica, but pertinent to discussion: Party on Roof 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Not Leica, but pertinent to discussion: Party on Roof ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/228850-a-leica-master-class-with-two-classy-masters/?do=findComment&comment=2615856'>More sharing options...
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