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Greatest EVER Leica Photo?


Jaws

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not thinly disguised excuses for having a lack of knowledge about photographic history.

 

I'm not sure the OP's question warranted the weak sarcasm displayed in this thread (though the Puts joke was funny) but neither does it warrant such an outburst of pomposity.

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I think Larry Burrows would have more than one image in the top 100 all time best Leica images, and I think he'd be at #1 with his 1966 photo of Marines waiting to be evacuated from a hilltop in Vietnam (the one with the mud and one soldier reaching out to another). Its one of his many images that when published in Life changed the way the USA looked at the war, and not many Leica photographers get to change the world they are photographing.

 

Steve

 

I remember well that astonishing picture: one of the most impressive of the Vietnam's era, and a masterpiece of war photo: I confess that didn't know it was Leica made.

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jebus!!...there some grumpy people on this thread:D....the guy only asked a question:D

 

wait to you read some of the guff i will ask when i have a spare minute:eek:

(and im not saying the guys question was guff btw)

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The greatest Leica photo until now would be answerable.

The question isn't as simple as you think.

No specific picture in mind but Gibson might be a runner up for having taken it.........until now.

The Puts remark was indeed a joke. ( next time i'll send a humour alert in advance to avoid turmoil ).

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I've seen so many great Leica pictures over 40 years that I hestitate to answer without researching my book collection - because I've probably forgotten at least a couple of them.

 

But - in addition to the Larry Burrows shot already mentioned - his shot of the weeping helicopter pilot ("Yankee Papa 13") after a failed rescue mission. (or the cover shot of the distraught gunner after his partner took a hit): Larry Burrows-Life-HMM163-"Ridge Riders"-USMC-Da Nang-Vietnam-1965- Slightly out of focus

 

Gene Smith's lede shot from "Nurse Midwife" - vertical of sleeping pregnant woman by kerosene lamplight. (with 28 f/5.6 Hektor, I believe) - Nurse/midwife Maude Callen attending a w - Photo - LIFE

 

Danny Lyons' shot of a line of prisoners winding up a staircase - although this one from the same book seems to get more internet play: http://www.geh.org/ne/str116/m197101600005.jpg

 

For me, the Che Guevara shot is a mundane picture of an iconic figure. If Che had ended up as a retired businessman in Little Havana instead of dying for "the cause" and portrayed on 20,000,000 t-shirts - no one would remember that picture or care. The power comes from who the person was, not the skill of the photographer.

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Guest maddoc2003jp

According to the Maryland Institute of Art, the most famous photo of the world is Alberto Diaz Gutierrez "Portrait of Che Guevara", taken with Leica M2 and 9cm Elmar 1:4 (According to the "Leica Calendar 2000"). If it the "Greatest EVER", I don't know....

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The question was simple. It was not the greatest ever Leica photo but your favourite photo taken with a Leica. Its a simple derivation of 'your favourite photo ever.'

 

As is so often the case a simple question has been spoiled by the arrogant and ignorant (and illiterate) that like to stomp about forums like this feeling omnipotent. There was never the suggestion of an empirically correct answer or comparing historical photos with those not yet taken.

 

The Larry Burrows shot mentioned is an incredibly powerful shot - powerful in every sense.

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