Into the Summer, Leica, and an Upcoming Workshop

The summer is almost here. It’s already hot. It’s even getting humid. I don’t love summers in Korea, never have. Lots of things going on this summer though. 

So far, I’ve spent some time traveling nearby cities. Places I hadn’t yet gone. It is strange to me how even within an hour from where I live there were all kinds of interesting places I had never been. 

Photographically, the last couple months have been interesting for a couple of reasons. 

First, I have shot almost exclusively film over the past five or six months. I have enjoyed it. I enjoy not thinking much about the photos until I get around to developing them. I don’t check my photos that often even on digital so I suppose it isn’t that much different. Many of you will have read my post on the Leica Q and about how I used it for the 24 Hour Project last month. No, I didn’t buy one. Yes, I did really like it. And no, it isn’t really for me. 

One of the things I realized while shooting film was this: 

While I really enjoyed shooting film, I enjoyed shooting with a rangefinder more. For me, film vs digital isn’t really much of an argument anymore. I realized it wasn’t the film part I loved but the cameras I was using. 

I’ve gotten some comments recently saying I’ve “sold out” to Leica and comments from people who say I’ve become nothing more than an artsy photographer with a Leica. A pretty much direct quote, the last one. Well, the truth of the matter is I started with Leica camera. My blog was started with a Leica camera. I used an M9 for almost 5 years. I’ve always loved a Leica M.

When I shoot with something like a Ricoh or a Fuji or my smartphone I do so because it is literally something to do. The act of taking a photo isn’t interesting in itself. It is almost like playing a game. A decent photo equals a win. 

With a rangefinder, the act of taking the photo is actually fun for me. I enjoy the feeling of it. It is cliche and has been said thousands of times, but it really is a zen like experience. I’ve written many times about how I get some of my best photos with other cameras and that is true. The fact of the matter is though, I don’t feel anything when I’m using them. When I use a Leica, I actually feel like I’m part of what I’m doing. I feel connected to the process. 

I’ll probably get hate for this. I’ve realized people like to hate Leicas because they are expensive. I suppose, for me, it doesn’t matter much. I’m just as happy with a Leica M2 (which isn’t particularly expensive) as I am with an M-P. It isn’t the name that interests me but the feeling. Haters gonna hate, as they say. 

Speaking of Leica, myself and the rest of the wearethestreet team will be hosted by Leica Korea for a workshop and exhibition in July here in Seoul. My next post will explain in more detail about the workshop and how to sign up (will be via the Leica Korea website). What I can say so far is that the exhibition will open July 7th and myself, Aik Beng Chia, Chulsu Kim, Nicholas Dominic Talvola, and Junku Nishimura will all be present for the workshop and opening. 

The following weekend Sean Lotman will also join us! If you’d like some advance info feel free to email me: jtinseoul at gmail dot com. 

Anyway, enough for one night.

I’m going to go out a shoot a bit. Since I’m having fun doing so again. 

Night kids.