abrewer Posted May 18, 2011 Share #1  Posted May 18, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Leica Akademie is spending time on this side of the Atlantic through the end of 2011, with more and better opportunities for enthusiasts  My personal choice, Street Shooting in New York City, is now fully subscribed but there are many, many other venues and propositions of interest:  Listed here  If you've got a Leica you can use it, or you can try one of theirs. If you don't have a Leica, this is a great opportunity to use one, find out what the fuss is all about, and decide first-hand if a Leica is in your future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 Hi abrewer, Take a look here Leica Akademie in North America. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
abrewer Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share #2  Posted May 19, 2011 More information from Leica Akademie regarding the programs:  After the success of the Leica " M9 Road Shows" over the last two years and increased requests from Leica customers for more hands on learning opportunities a decision was made to bring the Leica Akadmie to the North American market. The Akademie aims to provide programs that will be of interest to experienced rangefinder photographers as well as those picking up the M9 or a Leica compact camera for the first time.  www.leicaakademie.com will provide a list of programs and a summary page for each. Customers with specific questions, not answered on the site, may contact Leica directly through akademie@leicacamerausa.com  The M9 Shooting Experience is the perfect introduction to rangefinder photography. Both perspective owners and current owners of the M9 will benefit the most by attending this workshop.  A couple of key points that may be of interest to Forum readers:  Each program will include M9 loaners and an assortment of the lens. All programs will be lead by Akademie Instructors Justin Stailey or Tom A. Smith  Single day programs focused on Street photography and Black and White photography are aimed at the more experienced photographer looking for a day of instruction, tips and critique that goes beyond just understanding the camera.  Leica Compact camera programs will benefit current or perspective owners of the DLux-5 and X1. Content of these programs is designed to ensure you get the best quality image from these cameras.  Programs in New York, LA, Boston and San Francisco are filling up quickly.  Leica weekends will feature guest Leica Photographers in addition to the Akademie instructors. These weekends expand on all of the content provided in our single day workshops, with itineraries customized to each city. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted May 23, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted May 23, 2011 It's really too bad they didn't get real street shooters that know the local spots. It would have been much better to have some of your best shooters, each with different skill sets & styles. This was a big opportunity missed. A very Corporate & Money oriented decision that runs counter to the whole objective. I have nothing personal about their choice, but come on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share #4 Â Posted May 23, 2011 It's really too bad they didn't get real street shooters that know the local spots. It would have been much better to have some of your best shooters, each with different skill sets & styles. This was a big opportunity missed. A very Corporate & Money oriented decision that runs counter to the whole objective. I have nothing personal about their choice, but come on. Â What about the "guest photogs"? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted June 14, 2011 Author Share #5 Â Posted June 14, 2011 I received an update this morning regarding these programs: Â The Akademie program is nearly sold out and we are adding more programs to allow wait listed customers to attend the programs. Â Only a few locations are not sold out. Â Here are a few that are not yet sold out: Â Calgary; Boston; Victoria, BC; Seattle Grab this opportunity before it's too late!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WPalank Posted June 15, 2011 Share #6  Posted June 15, 2011 I just received this email from Tom Smith, Events & Education Manager/ Leica Akademie:  Because of the overwhelming demand, Leica has added these ADDITIONAL DATES. Leica Street Photography -New York City 9/21/2011 Leica Street Photography -New York City - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent  Leica Weekend - New York City Active 9/28/2011 (ONLY ONE SPOT REMAINS.) Leica Weekend - New York City - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent  Leica M9 Shooting Experience -San Francisco, CA 7/27/2011 Leica M9 Shooting Experience -San Francisco, CA - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent  OTHER PROGRAMS WITH A FEW REMAINING OPENINGS.  Leica M9 Shooting Experience with Todd Korol-Calgary, AB 7/16/2011 Leica M9 Shooting Experience -Calgary, AB - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent  Leica Weekend with Quinton Gordon - Victoria, BC 8/12/2011 (Filling up quickly. A few spots remain.) Leica Weekend - Victoria, BC - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent  Leica M9 Shooting Experience -Boston, MA Active 8/12/2011 Leica M9 Shooting Experience -Boston, MA - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent  Leica Street Photography - Seattle, WA Active 8/20/2011 Leica Street Photography - Seattle, WA - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent  Leica Weekend with Craig Semetko- Los Angeles, CA 10/14/2011 (A few spots remain) Leica Weekend - Los Angeles, CA - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent  Leica Street Photography - Washington, D.C. Active 11/5/2011 Leica Street Photography - Washington, D.C. - Event Summary | Online Registration by Cvent  We have not yet booked all of the guest photographers for these programs, so if there are photographers forum members would like to see featured. Post these ideas in the forum or let us know. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WPalank Posted June 15, 2011 Share #7 Â Posted June 15, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Repost Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share #8 Â Posted June 15, 2011 Thanks, William Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted June 17, 2011 Share #9 Â Posted June 17, 2011 Thanks for the heads up...I signed up for a couple of them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veronica Anne Posted August 6, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted August 6, 2011 Would like to see more available in Chicago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuananh Posted August 8, 2011 Share #11 Â Posted August 8, 2011 Hello, friends. I had an opportunity to enroll in the Leica Akademie North America workshop in Santa Barbara, CA, this past July 2011 for the Leica M9 Experience. I've owned many Leica equipment over the years, most notably the Leica M2, M8, and M9, as well as, a list of lenses from the 35-50-90mm focal lengths. The workshop really helped me to hone many of my skills as a photographer and at the same time correct many of the habits that might have prevented me from using the equipment more efficiently. Tom A. Smith and the entire Leica staff were extremely respectful, patient, and helpful throughout the entire day. Their experience and expertise proved to be invaluable. The lectures comprised of the basic use of the Leica M9 to more advanced controls and settings. There were also lectures on Adobe Lightroom and a renowned guest speaker. Â There were numerous Leica M9's available for everyone in the course as well as full cases of Leica lenses for everyone to try-out and enjoy. I was lucky to use the Noctilux-M 50/1.0, Summicron-M 90/2.0, Summicron-M 75/2.0, Elmarit-M 21/2.8, which were all of the lenses that I've been wanting to test out. We were able to use the lens throughout the lectures, where different lighting situations were given. During the lunch hour, we sat alongside the Leica staff and enjoyed what we all love to do...talk about Leica's. The conversations were fabulous, the company was even better!! The building that the workshop was in is an actual arts and photography school, so there were many closed studio sets that were available to do some after lunchtime shooting. A portion of the studios were under renovation and ironically it was perfect for some low-light shooting with the Elmarit-M and Noctilux-M. Â After lunch, we hit the streets of Santa Barbara. We were given small assignments, testing out various ISO, compositions, and other valuable techniques. Luckily, it was a beautiful sunny California day and many people were out by the pier and beach boardwalk. The images that came out of the Summicron-M 90/2.0 were amazing. It was actually because of my experience at the Akademie that led me to purchasing my Summicron-M 90/2.0 and accessories. With any serial numbered Leica M products, you also get a $149.00USD voucher to be used with your order, which is pretty awesome! The Akademie also supplies you with some cool Leica extras: Leica pen & pad, Leica pin, and some take home brochures. Great treat if you're a Leica fanatic! Â I definitely recommend the Leica Akademie North America workshop to anyone who is currently or considering the Leica lineage for their photographic needs. It was a great opportunity to spend a day with the Leica staff, try out some Leica lenses, and soak up some California sunshine. Thanks, Tom A. Smith and Leica for a great weekend on the central coast. -Tuananh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted August 9, 2011 Share #12 Â Posted August 9, 2011 I attended the M9 Experience in San Francisco last month and also had a very positive experience. Tom Smith, who lead the class, was extremely knowledgeable and offered information, tips, advice, and suggestions to a very diverse group (everything from "I've never held a rangefinder before to pro magazine photographers). Tom Brichta, Leica's Sales Manager for that region, was also a wealth of knowledge about Leica cameras and lenses. Our guest speaker was Peter McCollough, who gave a wonderful presentation on his personal journey through the photographic world, and specifically on his last year with the M9. Â In short these classes are a bargain and a great way to get the most from your investment in Leica. Â But I didn't get a Leica pin . Guess I should have gone to Santa Monica Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulOD Posted August 12, 2011 Share #13 Â Posted August 12, 2011 I attended the Leica Academy Seminar in Chicago on Aug 6. Matt Butzow, the Midwest sales manager, was there with several M9 bodies and excellent selection of lenses including a Noctilux. Some attendees had the M9P and I enjoyed the opportunity to examine this model. I've had my M9 for about fifteen months and I found the seminar very helpful. About fifteen people attended, some very experienced and the facilities were very good. It was led by Tom Smith who was really excellent and thorough. Topics included a quick review of the M9 and its controls and settings, with good suggestions re custom settings, scale focussing and hyper focal distance, exposure and metering, lens selection, travel photography, lens selection, workflow and backup. Audience interaction was excellent. I was fortunate to be in his small group for the street shoot after lunch. Tom was patient, informative and gave great -on -the spot advice as we moved around. He never regarded any question as too basic. Prior to getting my M9 I had been using Nikon DSLRs and several zoom lenses so I had a significant learning curve (I sold most of my Nikon gear but kept the D300 and a some lenses). I had been using Aperture mode and exposure compensation to set exposure. After this shoot experience with Tom I have switched to using manual almost exclusively. After choosing a desired f-stop, I now rotate the speed dial with my index finger to quickly adjust exposure (keeping the shutter speed at or above an appropriate speed} instead of using my thumb to rotate the setting dial for exposure compensation. I found this method quicker and easier. Matt Butzow was very helpful in answering questions. All-in-all it was an excellent seminar. Inevitably time constraints meant that some topics were covered relatively briefly but Tom and Matt answered many questions for some time after the official seminar ended.A guest speaker showed some of his work and discussed it. While interesting, I don't think this added to the program and in fact took significant time away from a more detailed discussion of some topics. I definitely would attend a future Leica Academy seminar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Holzapfel Posted August 21, 2011 Share #14 Â Posted August 21, 2011 I attended the Leica Akademie in Minneapolis. Our two presentors (Tom & Matt) were very knowledgeable in the current Leica product as well as many of the older models. The group attending varried from persons that had never touched an "M" Leica to a few life long users. I would like to attend another Akademie. I'd suggest that the group be pre-screened to actual owners of an M system. Also slightly more focused to the needs of the attendees. Someone that does not own a M camera and has not used a range finder should be in a beginners class. To their credit or presentors did their best to keep the agenda moving, but those with limited or no knowledge of the system really hold back the "Class". I also think it would be benifital if each attendee brought their own M camera and one or two lenses. That way the hands on would be better directed to what each owns and compared to the new and different features of the new M9 and current line of lenses. The use of rangefinder focus and composition could have had more emphasis. The "Pro" persentation could be left out with that time spent on use and evaluation of shots taken during the hands on time. Â It is exceptional that Leica holds these sessions. Despite a limited time off track, a very well done presentation. the "goo ga" - Pin, Pen, and pads are a nice friendly touch. As a Leica owner for most of my life it is great to see this on going commitment to the community of Lecia owners. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swanny66 Posted August 22, 2011 Share #15 Â Posted August 22, 2011 Hi Fred! I too was at the MSP class and really enjoyed it. I also agree that there should be a requirement for owning an M8/9, though I understand that this is a good marketing tool for future M sales. This being said, spending 2.25 hours on a menu as simple as the M9 caused us to miss the Lightroom, spend less time shooting/trying out lenses, and focusing part of the class (which was what I was most interested in) in the specified time. This was of no fault to the presenters from Leica, who were excellent. We had one individual who though the class was all for themselves, and didn't own an M. So I don't know why they thought the menu was so critical. Oh well. I too would like to attend a more advanced class. I met some really nice folks, and had a fun time street shooting with the class mates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcoombs Posted September 21, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted September 21, 2011 Anybody here signed up for the NYC session starting next Wednesday, the 28th? I'll be there, and am curious who else among the forum members will be joining. Â Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheArtfulLens Posted September 24, 2011 Share #17 Â Posted September 24, 2011 Dcoombs, Â I will also be attending the NYC class 9/28-30 and look forward to meeting you. I go by Hunt Harris although I'm registered under my legal name John Harris. See you in NY. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted September 25, 2011 Share #18 Â Posted September 25, 2011 It's really too bad they didn't get real street shooters that know the local spots. It would have been much better to have some of your best shooters, each with different skill sets & styles. This was a big opportunity missed. A very Corporate & Money oriented decision that runs counter to the whole objective. I have nothing personal about their choice, but come on. Â Some of the workshops have a Lonely Planet writer as a guide in each city. I attended the NYC Weekend Workshop last week as guest photographer to offer a different skill set and style to the shoot. I also shared my workflow with the group. It was a great opportunity and in no way corporate or money orientated. I hope some of the participants will give their feedback on this event. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted October 4, 2011 Share #19 Â Posted October 4, 2011 Looking forward to the LA Weekend Class Oct. 14-16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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