rob_w Posted June 8, 2011 Share #81 Posted June 8, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) And let's not forget, Seal gave away a Leica M9 in a contest that was FREE to enter. Compare that to the contests in PDN magazine where you have to pay like $35 to enter and first prize is "a camera". Seal didn't even make a big deal of the contest or use it to build up himself. It was only promoted on ONE website. And, the contest stated that your image didn't have to be "good" in a technical sense. It could be a phone shot. It just had to tell a story. Seems to me Seal understands what photography is really about: having fun shooting and telling a story. I don't care if he is a "good" photographer. +1 I agree. This was a great competition and a generous and practically anonymous donation by Seal. Seal's contributions on this forum have shown him to be someone thoughtfully exploring the creative urge to photography. I would always go out of my way to read his posts because they have value. This rant seems so out of character I can only imagine it was under provocation. I for one am grateful that Seal supports Leica and everything - photographically speaking - that Leica stands for. I do the same. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 Hi rob_w, Take a look here New pic of Seal's M. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Peter H Posted June 8, 2011 Share #82 Posted June 8, 2011 For someone to be a "Leica Ambassador" they shouldn't have to be a "great photographer" as some have suggested. Those days are over. We are all photographers today. My mom probably shoots more photos with her iPhone than I do as a professional photographer. There is nothing wrong with buying a camera because you love to shoot. You don't need to be good at it. ...... (I've added the emphasis.) Very well said that man. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFH1022 Posted June 8, 2011 Share #83 Posted June 8, 2011 1. Sapphire is very cheap. Semiconductor-grade ( so called "Epi-ready" grade) 2-inch diameter sapphire polished to atomic smoothness sells for only 25-30 USD per wafer. For Leica to sell this for hundreds of dollars more is, well, a bit too much. 2. I want to see a higher quality LCD than in the current M9. 3. Same skin ask the M8.2 would be nice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlatkob Posted June 8, 2011 Share #84 Posted June 8, 2011 For someone to be a "Leica Ambassador" they shouldn't have to be a "great photographer" as some have suggested. Those days are over. We are all photographers today. My mom probably shoots more photos with her iPhone than I do as a professional photographer. There is nothing wrong with buying a camera because you love to shoot. You don't need to be good at it. OK, I am convinced! Who cares about great photography or great photographers anyway. We are all photographers today. Those days of Quality are so totally over. Leica's next Ambassador should be an ultra-prolific iPhone shooter who absolutely loves sharing pics on Twitter and Flickr. They don't have to be good at it, or even shoot with a Leica. I mean, why would anyone want to associate these expensive hand-made cameras and their amazing lenses with Quality in the photographic sense? ;) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted June 8, 2011 Share #85 Posted June 8, 2011 The very fact that this thread is more than 80 posts long is an indication of Seal's success as a marketing mechanism. If he were "just another good photographer," we'd have shrugged off the choice. There's a direction to this indirection by Leica if you ask me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Want-a-leica Posted June 8, 2011 Share #86 Posted June 8, 2011 I'm not an M9 owner (if only!) but something strikes me as odd about this whole thing. If Leica were serious about marketing the M9 to serious photographers, I wouldn't imagine they would be pushing "...as used by pop star Seal" as a tagline. Nikon can say "...as used by Jay Maisel and Joe McNally". That is more likely to convince serious photographers than someone whose main job is not that of a photographer. I'm sure Canon can point to some major names too. Using a pop star, even if he is a gifted photographer, just seems bizarre. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted June 8, 2011 Share #87 Posted June 8, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Like any sensible company, Leica does not have one plank to its marketing. Seal will appeal to one demographic, but, a bit like marmite, some will love him, some hate him, and some simply not see the point of him. What you cannot get away from is that he is a well-known face married to another well-known face and that means he gets his photo in the glossies. If Leica pays him to carry a product that's one element in the overall marketing campaign . He is clearly passionate about his photography and passion is a powerful motivator. But, let's be honest, anyone weak-minded enough to rush out to buy a five-grand camera just because a pop star is seen carrying it probably shouldn't be let out on their own. Equally any marketing manager weak-minded enough to think that their pipeline will be significantly enlarged by same probably struggles to walk and chew gum. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Washington Posted June 8, 2011 Share #88 Posted June 8, 2011 I think Howard has something there. Leica is in business to sell cameras and make money. They are not concerned about serious photographers the way marketing is these days. So, I think going for the fact that people do indeed copy celebrities and this fellow sure gets around…. it’s probably better advertising. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Negative Posted June 8, 2011 Share #89 Posted June 8, 2011 Honestly? Who cares what Seal uses or if he's some sort of "ambassador." WTF is that, anyway? He's paid for his "marketing" which makes his word less than neutral when it comes to Leica products. It's like Leica suddenly got all the leftover Apple fabois, foaming at the mouth over rumors. Sure, we all like to speculate and play "what I want..." I have an M9. It's not "perfect." News flash - no camera is, or ever will be. I still love it and use it nearly every day. Less chit chat - more picture taking! </rant> Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
massimom Posted June 8, 2011 Share #90 Posted June 8, 2011 Very good points and I completely agree; I don't know Seal's photography, but we should if he's a Leica Ambassador. Edmond Unfortunately, and very much sadly, you missed the point there. It is obvious by now that being an accomplished and talented photographer is not a pre-requisite to be Leica's global ambassador. Seal may be a great human being and talented musician, but great photographer he isn't. He does buy a lot of Leica products, he's famous, and he carries them around. That what Leica wants to sell goods. It's not about photography. 1) How many professional photographers can afford to spend $10K+++ on Leica gear and, 2) who's going to notice it if you're not a celebrity? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted June 8, 2011 Share #91 Posted June 8, 2011 For someone to be a "Leica Ambassador" they shouldn't have to be a "great photographer" as some have suggested. Those days are over. We are all photographers today. My mom probably shoots more photos with her iPhone than I do as a professional photographer. Yes, and I went out and bought a set of high end medical scalpels. I can cut things, but it doesn't make me a brain surgeon. Yes, we can all take pictures, but that fact doesn't make one a photographer. Don't belittle and undermine your own profession. You may be sorry someday.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted June 8, 2011 Share #92 Posted June 8, 2011 And no, they don't have to be a great photographer to represent a camera company (I'm sure Aston Kucher isn't). Just like one no longer has to even act (good or bad) to be a famous celebrity. It's the times. Seal I believe is much more famous in Europe (esp Germany) than the US, so I'm sure that went into the consideration as well. It would be nice if Leica threw a bit of love the pros way though, which fortunately they are now doing with Magnum, loaning cameras, sponsoring shows, etc etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted June 8, 2011 Share #93 Posted June 8, 2011 What universally famous photographer could Leica use as an ambassador that the public would recognise? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erlingmm Posted June 8, 2011 Share #94 Posted June 8, 2011 Is George Clooney a particularly qualified coffee drinker? This is marketing. Of course there is a "cool factor". It will appeal to some, not to others. For every camera sold to an amateur, the future for the pro Leica user is more secure, if those are who you care for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 8, 2011 Share #95 Posted June 8, 2011 What universally famous photographer could Leica use as an ambassador that the public would recognise? Well, maybe not quite a photographer, but what about Ophrah? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted June 8, 2011 Share #96 Posted June 8, 2011 What universally famous photographer could Leica use as an ambassador that the public would recognise? Well, there never has been a photographer who was a "household name" compared to say music and film celebs. Kind of sad I guess. The truly sad thing is now that "everyone is a photographer" well known photographers are not granted the same stature they once were and are less and less recognized by those who should. Umm, David Alan Harvey comes to mind as one who works with an M9 (and a D700 and Gf1) that would be a good face for Leica. Constantine Manos, Ian Berry, Michael Kamber, and so on..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlatkob Posted June 8, 2011 Share #97 Posted June 8, 2011 What universally famous photographer could Leica use as an ambassador that the public would recognise? Is this a mass-market item that requires a "universally" famous photographer that the public would recognize? Unfortunately, and very much sadly, you missed the point there. It is obvious by now that being an accomplished and talented photographer is not a pre-requisite to be Leica's global ambassador. ... It's not about photography. Aren't things getting a little twisted when, to defend Leica's choices, people start diminishing the value of great photography and saying things like "It's not about photography"? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmiro Posted June 8, 2011 Share #98 Posted June 8, 2011 I believe that Leica plans an update for the M9's users with some new features of M9P as happened with M8 to M8.2..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venkman Posted June 8, 2011 Share #99 Posted June 8, 2011 BTW - some people were saying that they weren't familiar with Seal's photographic work - that can be helped: Flickr Set: Flickr: sealsong's Photostream Snaps: PicOrTwo.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
massimom Posted June 8, 2011 Share #100 Posted June 8, 2011 Aren't things getting a little twisted when, to defend Leica's choices, people start diminishing the value of great photography and saying things like "It's not about photography"? Actually, I am not defending them at all. I think it sucks, but it's about an economic reality for them, not picture making. They need to sell cameras and lenses to stay in business, period. There is much value in great photography but the bottom line, for them, is that even a guy like Salgado is not going to help them squat to sell an $8K camera + lenses. Can you imagine anyone posting..."hey, I saw Salgado yesterday walking around with a new Leica M9P!" I mean, how many people even know what he looks like? Again, I don't like it, but that's reality. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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