A Father's Pride

[Deliberate1]

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Those of you who have raised sons know what I mean. Unbridled love on their first day on earth. Joy with each accomplishment. Shared sorrow when things didn't go so well. And that very special pride when the boy picks up the bar tab for the first time. And gets a job that removes him permanently from "the payroll."

Today, our oldest, now 28  years on this earth, called to tell me that he bought a new camera - a Leica Q. And it felt like milestone moment. Because I knew this major purchase, one that rivaled the cost of his car, was for all the right reasons.

Not for the name or red dot, because he has never been a slave to brands or fashion. And not because the Q is a glitzy, technological tour de force. Because the Sony's he considered are far more computer-like. And not because he wants an object d'art, in the form of a camera box, that will spend its life resting comfortably on a shelf. Because it, along with three dear high school pals, are off for an inaugural adventure in Japan next month.

Rather, I know that his purchase was motivated by a thoughtful process of considered elimination. He chose the Q for all the right reasons. The same reasons that prompted his great uncle to pay a princely sum for a IIIc more than 60 years ago, a camera that has since come into my hands. And for the reasons that I bought an M9 six years ago, and an S 006 more recently. The lens. The ergonomics. The remarkable fusion of glass and metal and composites. The wonderful way neither form nor function follows the other, but are inextricably intertwined. The quality. The look. The legacy. But most of all, he sees it as the tool that will best capture his vision of the world. To my mind, that reason rises above all others when such a purchase is made. And especially by a young photographer spending his early, hard-earned dollars for a very special tool that will memorialize our world in his very special  way.

That is a father's pride.

Thanks for reading.

David

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[Leica Guy]

Those of you who have raised sons know what I mean. Unbridled love on their first day on earth. Joy with each accomplishment. Shared sorrow when things didn't go so well. And that very special pride when the boy picks up the bar tab for the first time. And gets a job that removes him permanently from "the payroll."

Today, our oldest, now 28 years on this earth, called to tell me that he bought a new camera - a Leica Q. And it felt like milestone moment. Because I knew this major purchase, one that rivaled the cost of his car, was for all the right reasons.

Not for the name or red dot, because he has never been a slave to brands or fashion. And not because the Q is a glitzy, technological tour de force. Because the Sony's he considered are far more computer-like. And not because he wants an object d'art, in the form of a camera box, that will spend its life resting comfortably on a shelf. Because it, along with three dear high school pals, are off for an inaugural adventure in Japan next month.

Rather, I know that his purchase was motivated by a thoughtful process of considered elimination. He chose the Q for all the right reasons. The same reasons that prompted his great uncle to pay a princely sum for a IIIc more than 60 years ago, a camera that has since come into my hands. And for the reasons that I bought an M9 six years ago, and an S 006 more recently. The lens. The ergonomics. The remarkable fusion of glass and metal and composites. The wonderful way neither form nor function follows the other, but are inextricably intertwined. The quality. The look. The legacy. But most of all, he sees it as the tool that will best capture his vision of the world. To my mind, that reason rises above all others when such a purchase is made. And especially by a young photographer spending his early, hard-earned dollars for a very special tool that will memorialize our world in his very special way.

That is a father's pride.

Thanks for reading.

David

Thanks for sharing. So proud you are and rightfully so. The baton has been passed and your son is running with it. Congratulations. Reflects well on his upbringing, values and passion for photography.

[Deliberate1]

Thanks for sharing. So proud you are and rightfully so. The baton has been passed and your son is running with it. Congratulations. Reflects well on his upbringing, values and passion for photography.

 

Thanks for your kind note. Nature or nurture? Or perhaps there is a "Leica gene" that has filtered down through the generations, or a more generic one that manifests as an appreciation for the process for capturing the visual world with a very elegant device. One lesson actively taught and repeated to him: it's the pilot not the plane.

Cheers

David

[Skyring]

Japan will open the eyes. In that way that sparkles the mind and lifts the spirit. Having a good camera to capture the feeling is priceless.

Not just a good camera. A great camera. One with grace and harmony.

Give you joy of your son!

[Deliberate1]

Japan will open the eyes. In that way that sparkles the mind and lifts the spirit. Having a good camera to capture the feeling is priceless.

Not just a good camera. A great camera. One with grace and harmony.

Give you joy of your son!

Cheers,mate.

David

[marcg]

Those of you who have raised sons know what I mean. Unbridled love on their first day on earth. Joy with each accomplishment. Shared sorrow when things didn't go so well. And that very special pride when the boy picks up the bar tab for the first time. And gets a job that removes him permanently from "the payroll."

Today, our oldest, now 28  years on this earth, called to tell me that he bought a new camera - a Leica Q. And it felt like milestone moment. Because I knew this major purchase, one that rivaled the cost of his car, was for all the right reasons.

Not for the name or red dot, because he has never been a slave to brands or fashion. And not because the Q is a glitzy, technological tour de force. Because the Sony's he considered are far more computer-like. And not because he wants an object d'art, in the form of a camera box, that will spend its life resting comfortably on a shelf. Because it, along with three dear high school pals, are off for an inaugural adventure in Japan next month.

Rather, I know that his purchase was motivated by a thoughtful process of considered elimination. He chose the Q for all the right reasons. The same reasons that prompted his great uncle to pay a princely sum for a IIIc more than 60 years ago, a camera that has since come into my hands. And for the reasons that I bought an M9 six years ago, and an S 006 more recently. The lens. The ergonomics. The remarkable fusion of glass and metal and composites. The wonderful way neither form nor function follows the other, but are inextricably intertwined. The quality. The look. The legacy. But most of all, he sees it as the tool that will best capture his vision of the world. To my mind, that reason rises above all others when such a purchase is made. And especially by a young photographer spending his early, hard-earned dollars for a very special tool that will memorialize our world in his very special  way.

That is a father's pride.

Thanks for reading.

David

 

I don't know what you've been smoking but it must be pretty good stuff. Maybe you would let us know how much it costs and where we can get some.

Thanks

[shootinglulu]

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I don't know what you've been smoking but it must be pretty good stuff. Maybe you would let us know how much it costs and where we can get some.

Thanks

 

 

you were always going to get this one!

[marcg]

'fraid so