pelagia Posted December 30, 2009 Share #21 Posted December 30, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) You obviously overestimate the knowledge of people about Leica M9, its price and its "respect-generating-power". Normally people think it is an old Russian camera when I shoot M9 in my part of the world (East Europe). It can be the same in Cuba. To add: I use old Russian lenses (some good ones), this may be the reason) Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 30, 2009 Posted December 30, 2009 Hi pelagia, Take a look here M9 cuba problem. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wparsonsgisnet Posted December 30, 2009 Share #22 Posted December 30, 2009 Bill with all respect are you serious? Taking pix of the (insert nationality here, e.g Brits-Americans-Chinese etc.) with an M9 shows respect? Wow..... The instrument is part of the act of taking the picture. I always feel that I have done the best for my subject when i use a good instrument. The image that is the final product is the result both of the photographer's viewing abilities and of the workmanship inherent in the process. This includes the camera used. If the camera makes a better picture, then it honors the subject. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbaron Posted December 30, 2009 Share #23 Posted December 30, 2009 It's not the equipment that matters, it's the attitude. If you stand on a street corner dressed in long socks, bermuda shorts and a photo-vest pointing a long lens at the 'poor' people as if they were animals in a zoo then they will probably be reminded of the cultural divide. But if you learn a few words of the local language and at least try to engage with them, they won't care how much your camera is worth. Cubans aren't 'poor' people, per se. They're human beings, like the rest of us. Just imagine if Warren Buffet or Richard Branson came to your neighbourhood and started taking photos of the 'poor' people. It's all relative. Take a look at David Allen Harvey's work, or that of any master photographer that has worked in such areas. David Alan Harvey Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson Accueil - Sebastiao Salgado et al... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted December 30, 2009 Share #24 Posted December 30, 2009 Bernd, Your suggestion to take home as many addresses and drop some prints in the mail is great, I have done this frequently, but not organized. Bo BoPhoto.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPH1962 Posted December 30, 2009 Share #25 Posted December 30, 2009 finally we found a solution.the argument with the flight was not that efficient as it is a miles&more ticket. but we are going to donate some money - doesn't change the world but maybe it helps. cheers andy äh... you needed a solution? very honestly, this is just an "Alibi übung" - I pay some money to some charity and i feel so much better now.... I did my part! It is true that around Xmas-Time we enjoy participating in some charity funds to feel better about our own standard of living. I never have been to Cuba, but I travelled for personal reasons or business in many countries - and one thing is certain: one might not have the the same financial possibilities as "we" have, but people elsewhere live usually with pride and dignity. As long as you do not confuse cuban people with the animals in a zoo, and respect their life and dignity I do not see why there should be a problem taking pics. Further more if you had visual contact and gave them the chance to turn their heads if they did not want to get photographed. So, enjoy your trip and post some pics! JPH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted December 30, 2009 Share #26 Posted December 30, 2009 Ultimately what I find what works best. First I dress fairly close to the locals. Second, I find a nice local spot that has lots of people taking a break, and blend in. Perhaps strike up a conversation, try to get to know people. Then if it feels right, then I bring out the camera. Even when I am in a country where I don't speak the language, Somebody is bound to speak pigeon english, enough to converse, if not, then I try to blend into the back ground. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 30, 2009 Share #27 Posted December 30, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I take my M cameras into countries where a DLux 4 represents a years' salary, not an M9. Would it make any difference if I took a cheaper camera? Not at all - the division between the two worlds in material wealth is not affected by gestures like that. Does anybody care about the price of your M9 - if they even were aware of it? Not at all again - people live with dignity, are proud to show you their world if you show interest and empathy and love to present you with their image if they trust you, no matter what camera. Send them the images you took - accept their friendship, share your wealth and help where you can - that is far more important. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted December 30, 2009 Share #28 Posted December 30, 2009 Thanks Jaap Friends first, everything else second. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelb Posted December 31, 2009 Share #29 Posted December 31, 2009 This is indeed a dilemma easlily overcome. All you have to do is liberally apply gaffa tape to the outside of your M9, pull off the red spot, black paint the M9 legend and rough up the remaining paint with sandpaper. Then your camera will appear old and well used and the 'poor people' will be happy to be photographed and you won't feel so bad. The other advantage of doing this is that the 'poor people' won't want to steal it. Sorry about the sarcasm, I am new to this forum having bought a humble D-Lux 4, but I have been looking at some of the threads in this and other forums here and can't believe what I am reading. Never mind about Cuba, come to Newport city centre on a Saturday night and try poking your M9 in people's faces and see how you get on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 31, 2009 Share #30 Posted December 31, 2009 I don't see any reason to be dismissive about a thread where the OP adresses social awareness about the differences between the first and the third (or maybe in Cuba second) world. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lykaman Posted December 31, 2009 Share #31 Posted December 31, 2009 Hi, wrap your Leica in a black plastic bag, with a hole for the lens, a cut out for the top plate and a cut out for the screen...problem solved...L Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fines Posted December 31, 2009 Share #32 Posted December 31, 2009 My daughter goes to a public school where many of the kids are from lesser income families. At school events I often would like to bring my Nikon 200/2 VR and 200-400vr. However, that actually would be (IMHO) ostentatious. I often end up with the D300/70-300 and high iso's. That size camera / lens isn't too far from the norm. When I carry around the M9 (in the States) comments are along the lines of "Oh - is that digital?", "How old is your camera?" and "Neat to see someone still using film". If you or the girlfriend are worried about the M9 being overly conspicuous you've been drinking too much of the Leica juice. No one outside of the camera geek world will see it for what it is. Enjoy the trip! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Evel Knievel Posted December 31, 2009 Share #33 Posted December 31, 2009 Your girlfriend is right. Sell your M9 and give the money to a poor family on cuba! Or stay at home and take pictures of rich people only. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted December 31, 2009 Share #34 Posted December 31, 2009 I can understand your girlfriends feeling and it seems her heart is in the right place. I have lots of family in Cuba and hope to visit in 2010. Although they lack in material wealth, they are rich in dignitiy and the population as a whole is extremely educated. I don't think of Cuban's as poor. I think you will do them justice if you use your M9 to capture something of their resilience even under the worse of circumstances and a U.S. embargo that continues to cripple the small island nation. If you can use the camera to that end, more power to you. If not, leave it home and keep the girlfriend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelagia Posted December 31, 2009 Share #35 Posted December 31, 2009 Well said Wilfredo. Happy new year to you, all M9 admirers and all Cubans! Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted December 31, 2009 Share #36 Posted December 31, 2009 I don't see any reason to be dismissive about a thread where the OP adresses social awareness about the differences between the first and the third (or maybe in Cuba second) world. Agreed. Leica has always attracted the dilettante but, having 'gone digital', the brand does seem to have attracted an even less attractive (and larger) bunch of bling-seeking morons with more money than imagination. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted December 31, 2009 Share #37 Posted December 31, 2009 Thanks Tom. BTW Leica has a reputation to maintain in Cuba. This is no doubt the most famous photo of Che Guevara taken by Alberto Korda on March 5, 1960, with a Leica M2. 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/108199-m9-cuba-problem/?do=findComment&comment=1169923'>More sharing options...
swamiji Posted December 31, 2009 Share #38 Posted December 31, 2009 Che with his Visoflex 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/108199-m9-cuba-problem/?do=findComment&comment=1169933'>More sharing options...
Pophoto Posted December 31, 2009 Share #39 Posted December 31, 2009 This year I bought myself tons of camera equipment, and within that an M9 and lenses. I didn't buy my pregnant wife a xmas present this year. It is now New Year's Eve and I'm happy to say I am still alive I'm not going to go into the details of what a wonder relationship we have (wife allowing me to buy camera gear), but there are many many people more wealthy than me and likewise the other extreme. My choice of taking any camera into a bad (not poor) neighbourhood, I'd really think hard about for my own personal safety simple due to my own fears. The reason a lot of us without bottomless pits of money bought a M9 is simply because of the love affair of the type of photography it ascribes to. The question is; are you bringing your M9 to cuba to gloat or take pictures. Next ask your girlfriend, is it really for the reason she had stated or she fears: 1) with M9 in hand, you will spend more time with it than her 2) she feels threatened by the attention it will cause to both you and her 3) you're a clutz and fears she'll be the one dealing with the paperwork and phonecalls after you lose it in cuba ;p 4) she has heard about Cuban customs shortage of M9s 5) all of the above, in which case just buy one of those cardboard wind up film cameras, if they are still available. In case my joke at your expense went a little too far, I do apologise. However, I don't think you could do far worse, by agreeing with your gf how sensitive she is, and likewise let her understand why you want to take your M9 to take pictures that you feel will be important to you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelagia Posted December 31, 2009 Share #40 Posted December 31, 2009 3) you're a clutz and fears she'll be the one dealing with the paperwork and phonecalls after you lose it in cuba ;p This is an interesting one. Exactly this happened to me and my companion in Habana. A videocamera and a phone were stolen (not a Cuban specificity, we just were stupid and looked for adventures in a company of bad girls, our fault). But what followed next day was a real adventure. Several hours in different police stations, then driving around with them to find the shady nightclub, investigations with nightclub keepers, meters of faxes to domestic phone company to close the number etc. And lots of paperwork! Without proper language knowledge! But no problem for you, because you will have your girlfriend with you. Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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