schattenundlicht Posted March 27, 2018 Share #161 Posted March 27, 2018 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) If Overgaard does not reconsider his grotesque abominations immediately (which he does not seem to be inclined to as of today), I sincerely hope that Leica will consider their affiliation with him as a marketing liability and will severe any ties. Edited March 27, 2018 by schattenundlicht 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 27, 2018 Posted March 27, 2018 Hi schattenundlicht, Take a look here Luxury Camera Bags by Thorsten von Overgaard. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted March 27, 2018 Share #162 Posted March 27, 2018 That’s a very good point. While Leica are obviously at the upper end of the market and some of their specials are in questionable taste and covered in non bovine leather, none of it is as odious as the source of Thorsten’s bag. Very quickly, given his semi-official “Leica Ambassador” status (certainly he seems to get hold of new kit VERY early to write about it and publicise himself) Google and other search engines will associate Leica with elephant skin. It wouldn’t surprise me if that connection hasn’t already been made. This is very poisonous to the Leica brand and if I were in charge, Thorsten would be shown the door for good and a statement made on the website, in an appropriate place, that no endangered species leather is ever used on Leica products. 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted March 27, 2018 Share #163 Posted March 27, 2018 A quick search for “Leica elephant skin” currently brings up sites that are calling out Thorsten’s bags for what they are. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted March 27, 2018 Share #164 Posted March 27, 2018 I have sent all the Leica Twitter accounts a link to Thorsten's website. And copied him in for good measure. We can stop this. Feel free to retweet From @m7leicauser Hello @leica_camera @LeicaRumors @Leica_UK Have you seen the disgusting elephant skin bags being sold by one of your “Ambassadors”, @overgaard ? http://overgaard.dk/Thorsten-von-Overgaard-Gallery-Store-Camera-Bags-and-Luxury-Travel-Suitcases.html Do you want to be associated with this foul trade? I hope not Excuse that skin is “legal” is beyond belief 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted March 27, 2018 Share #165 Posted March 27, 2018 He is clearly bringing the brand into disrepute... and very Leica user is tainted by association. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted March 27, 2018 Share #166 Posted March 27, 2018 Absolutely. Unfortunately, Dr Kaufman is no longer active on Twitter, but still has an account. Leica PR should pick up on the message sent to them. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 27, 2018 Share #167 Posted March 27, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) Absolutely. Unfortunately, Dr Kaufman is no longer active on Twitter, but still has an account. Leica PR should pick up on the message sent to them. He has an active Facebook account. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 27, 2018 Share #168 Posted March 27, 2018 (edited) I have no interest in Thorsten. I will push aside any personal thoughts on the matter. I have every concern about these bags. They have to be stopped. It is short sighted and naive to validate this on the grounds that animals have died of natural causes. The increase in demand on elephant hide for such high priced goods is driving up demand for poaching on what what is a very vulnerable creature. It is both exploiting nature, and also exploiting the poverty of the world's poorest people who will poach these animals to survive and feed their own family to provide bags for the world's richest. Then there is the further reaching spread this demand on skin is creating elsewhere in the world. Here is an article describing this process, where young calves and mothers are also targeted for their skin in the much worse off Asian Elephant in Myanmar. It says there are only 2000 left in the wild and the recent skin fad could cause the population to collapse. https://news.mongabay.com/2017/06/demand-for-elephant-skin-driving-up-poaching-in-myanmar-warning-graphic-images/ Here is a focussed WWF campaign to stop the poaching of elephants for their skins. https://www.savetheirskins.com I can not even fathom a world without elephants. We can not push these animals existence to the brink of oblivion for the sake of a rich persons camera bag, likely to get pushed to the back of a wardrobe a few years later. "Elephant numbers have dropped by 62% over the last decade, and they could be mostly extinct by the end of the next decade" http://worldelephantday.org/about/elephants Let that sink in. Time for a reality check Thorsten. Edited March 27, 2018 by Paul J 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted March 27, 2018 Share #169 Posted March 27, 2018 'Guilt by association' is potentially quite dangerous these days. I have emailed Dr Kaufmann direct to suggest that Leica distance themselves from such products to avoid this. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted March 27, 2018 Share #170 Posted March 27, 2018 (edited) I invite any of you who are members of the UK's Leica Society to join me and other concerned members in calling for Overgaard to be disinvited as a guest speaker at our upcoming meeting on April 28th and 29th, and otherwise disavowed by our group. The Society's officers have the following published contact info: http://www.theleicasociety.org.uk/about.html Indeed I encourage any of you who are *not* members of the Leica Society to join what is an excellent and stimulating organisation dedicated to Leica photography, and do right by speaking up strongly on this issue, whether or not Overgaard comes to High Wycombe next month. Edited March 27, 2018 by M9reno 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 27, 2018 Share #171 Posted March 27, 2018 I invite any of you who are members of the UK's Leica Society to join me and other concerned members in calling for Overgaard to be disinvited as a guest speaker at our upcoming meeting on April 28th and 29th, and otherwise disavowed by our group. The Society's officers have the following published contact info: http://www.theleicasociety.org.uk/about.html Indeed I encourage any of you who are *not* members of the Leica Society to join what is an excellent and stimulating organisation dedicated to Leica photography, and do right by speaking up strongly on this issue, whether or not Overgaard comes to High Wycombe next month. I’m not a member, but I hope his invitation is rescinded. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 27, 2018 Share #172 Posted March 27, 2018 Facebook message sent to Herr Kaufmann... “I believe that Thorsten Overgaard is a Leica ambassador, and represents the company in certain areas. As you may be already aware he is currently selling camera bags made from elephant skin. Elephant is an endangered species that is in serious decline. I would beg you to sever all ties with this ‘gentleman’ as I consider his activities reflect very badly on the Leica brand. I speak as a long time Leica user, currently using an M240. Details of his products may be found here...” 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lonescapes Posted March 27, 2018 Share #173 Posted March 27, 2018 Some tasteless individual might consider photoshopping a picture of him with a Safari Edition mounted on a Photosniper capturing images of various endangered animals. Then submit it to PetaPixel? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 27, 2018 Share #174 Posted March 27, 2018 (edited) Some tasteless individual might consider photoshopping a picture of him with a Safari Edition mounted on a Photosniper capturing images of various endangered animals. Then submit it to PetaPixel? I think the straight facts are shocking and disturbing enough. (warning graphic image of poached elephant) https://news.mongabay.com/2017/06/demand-for-elephant-skin-driving-up-poaching-in-myanmar-warning-graphic-images/ Edited March 27, 2018 by Paul J 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted March 27, 2018 Share #175 Posted March 27, 2018 Maybe the LUF should set up some sort of petition to send to Leica management. Is there any discussion about these bags on the German part of the forum? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 27, 2018 Share #176 Posted March 27, 2018 I've just posted a note to Dr Kaufmann on his Facebook page; Hi, many of us are outraged at Leica Ambassador Thorsten Overgaard's promotion of his range of Elephant and Crocodile skin camera bags for carrying Leica's. See the discussion on the forum here www.l-camera-forum.com/…/283052-luxury-camera-bags-by-thor…/ Is this endorsed by Leica? 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
schattenundlicht Posted March 27, 2018 Share #177 Posted March 27, 2018 Maybe the LUF should set up some sort of petition to send to Leica management. Is there any discussion about these bags on the German part of the forum? The sentiment over there is the same. There is a link in the respective thread that points to this international discussion. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernstk Posted March 27, 2018 Share #178 Posted March 27, 2018 I've also messaged him on Facebook. Ernst 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 27, 2018 Share #179 Posted March 27, 2018 I've just posted a note to Dr Kaufmann on his Facebook page; Hi, many of us are outraged at Leica Ambassador Thorsten Overgaard's promotion of his range of Elephant and Crocodile skin camera bags for carrying Leica's. See the discussion on the forum here www.l-camera-forum.com/…/283052-luxury-camera-bags-by-thor…/ Is this endorsed by Leica? James, I replied to it expressing my hope that Leica sever their connections with him. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 27, 2018 Share #180 Posted March 27, 2018 I also wondered if Billingham bags would like to know that they're connected with this enterprise (as the bag is designed for a Billingham insert). Link sent. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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