The camera that changed the world
Nov 25th, 2009 by Keith Chaloner
On Tuesday 24th November, Fred Loxton of Poole visited the club to present a talk entitled ‘The camera that changed the world’ which was, in fact, a detailed history of the Leica camera system. In a lucid and entirely unscripted presentation, Fred used slides that he had produced using black and white negative film (Ilford Pan F for those wishing to try it at home) and, presumably, one from his impressive collection of Leica cameras and lenses that he also brought along and bravely allowed members to caress and fondle. The slides were of fine quality and a testimony to his photographic and darkroom skills. The illustrations were mainly of actual Leica camera models, their component parts and relevant advertising brochures or of people who designed, produced or used them.
To discern the subtle differences between some of the models proved a challenge for many of us and even Fred with his encyclopaedic knowledge of the system admitted that, such was the quality of their design and construction, technological advances were often so skilfully concealed within the standard body shape that it required a close-up of a drawing detail to reveal the clever mechanics involved. Where necessary these were shown, he did not stint.
Overall, this event was a ‘must see’ for the cognoscenti.
Malcolm Bowditch
Talking of digital jiggery-pokery, early on in his presentation Fred showed us a photo of a man on a bike and you could see a stand very faintly holding up the bike. The photographer had attempted to remove it in the darkroom, not too successfully. Nothing is new as we found out in John Burton’s and now Fred’s presentation, we are just using different tools! And why not?
How right Marilyn is! We all do what the existing technologies - and our individual skills - allow us to do. I often strip colour from an image recorded in full colour both because I can and because it suits me. Fred’s example eliminated a mechanical stand, mine often remove colour. It’s not important; it’s the picture that counts. Unless you are recording something - like one being shot, as photographed by Robert Capa perhaps?