Daily Bread?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Leica Photography : One Thread

Hello,

I have received lots of great information and advice from the contributers to this ng. Lots of opinions and facts.

How about a few words from some of you about what you really do for a living. I'd also like to know what part of the world you consider your primary residence. The Leica Tent seems like a big one.

Lastly, if you make your living as a photographer you don't necessarily have to own up.

Since I'm the wise guy--I'll go first.

David S Smith Physician (Anesthesiologist) Boise, ID USA

-- David S Smith (dssmith3@rmci.net), July 02, 2001

Answers

Interesting question,

Mark Griffin ( Special Effects, Film Industry ) Perth, Western Australia

-- Mark Griffin (gripper@mark-griffin.com), July 02, 2001.


Ex-photographer, now a violin maker.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), July 02, 2001.

Okay, I'll bite.

Ray Moth, Management Consultant, British and Australian citizen, Lived in Indonesia since 1990.

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), July 02, 2001.


Newspaper designer, freelance travel writer/photographer. Denver Colorado USA. Formerly of Chicago, Knoxville, Memphis, Indianapolis, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), July 02, 2001.

Tim Kamke, business owner (radiology equipment leasing and management), Wisconsin, USA

-- Tim Kamke (tjkamke@excelimaging.com), July 02, 2001.


LOL!

Steve Hoffman---Audiophile record label A&R and remastering guy. See:

http://www.netassoc.net/dougspage/Interviews.htm

Oh, and Leica lover....

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.com), July 02, 2001.


IT manager, Clayton, California (a little town outside San Francisco).

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), July 02, 2001.

Electronic engineer. Owner of small engineering company specializing in Industrial Automatic Control in Talcahuano (sea port), Chile. What a good idea, David . . .! Cheers, everybody

-- Ivan Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), July 02, 2001.

Phil Stiles, real estate attorney, Seacoast New Hampshire. (I enjoy doing a few weddings, and photographing musicians, as well as family and street photography. The local county fair is a favorite venue.)

-- Phil Stiles (Stiles@s-way.com), July 02, 2001.

Paul Nelson; Civil Engineer, and with my wife, we raise cattle, olive trees, and wildflowers on our 225 acre farm on the South West coast of Australia, Shire of Denmark, W A. We are 440km from Perth, W A.

-- Paul Nelson (clrfarm@comswest.net.au), July 03, 2001.


Professional photographer. Have lived in Austin, Texas for the last 25 years. Feels like home.

-- kirk r. tuck (kirktuck@kirktuck.com), July 03, 2001.

Semi-Retired Country Doctor, Sarasota, Florida. Formerly Physicist with NASA.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), July 03, 2001.

Jack Flesher -- Los Altos, California; Multi-line insurance agent.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), July 03, 2001.

Bob Todrick - ex professinal photographer, living in Edmonton, Canada. Now during the day I sell photo equipment to pros and institutuions (called industrial photo sales) and market my personal work (photo) through two local galleries.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), July 03, 2001.

Time for a crass editorial comment! First of all--great response! Shy people obviously don't play around with Leica's.

In less than eight hours it becomes obvious that the old saw that Leica's are only owned by Doctors and Lawyers is woefully misapplied. (Maybe three docs and lawyers so far...)

Lastly, Ray Moth appears the most confused. Three countries. Brit, Aussie, Indonesian. With a pedigree like that I'd love to see his camera closet.

I've browsed the Leica Lug and find this place much more civil and my style. Here people may disagree, but they have manners.

Keep them coming.

-- David S Smith (dssmith3@rmci.net), July 03, 2001.



Writer/editor, of magazines for years, but now books. Emigrated from Manhattan to Portland, Oregon in 1971. While doing a book with Gary Braasch (Secrets of the Old Growth Forest) I found out that if I brought along my Leica I could get out of carrying his tripo

-- David Kelly (dmkedit@aol.com), July 03, 2001.

Amateur photographer for over twentyone years now! If there's a birthday or a wedding or just a party in the neighborhood, I am the one who takes all the photos! I used Pentax, Nikon and Canon cameras and lenses before switching over completely to Leica SLRs and Ms (My wife has no idea how many Leicas I have!). Oh yes, I am also an Associate Professor of Finance at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. I love Chicago!...................

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), July 03, 2001.

Professional photographer, malcontent, and subversive. Amateur monkey boy. (Just ain't much call for monkey boys in Nashville these days.)



-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), July 03, 2001.


I teach mathematics in Lugano, Switzerland.

-- Jim Shields (jim.shields@tasis.ch), July 03, 2001.

Sole practitioner patent attorney.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), July 03, 2001.

In my mid forties, retired from US Military and by "retired", I mean 100% (good investments!). I am now making up for all of the years that I was on a short leash. I lived all over the world, but have settled in Daytona Beach, Florida. Spend my days taking photos, playing guitar (blues), and doing some writing for fun. I am probably an anomaly here as far as pedigree... no doctors or lawyers in my gene pool. So much for the Leica stereo type.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), July 03, 2001.

Uhm, in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), July 03, 2001.

Biologist, New Orleans. A prodigious film waster.

-- John Fleetwood (johnfleetwood@hotmail.com), July 03, 2001.

Started my career as a fabric designer after a degree in advertising design. For the last 25 years have been involved in sales the last 6 as a commercial real estate broker. Love rangefinder cameras my favorite is the IIIc.

-- Gerald Widen (gerald@sfa1.com), July 03, 2001.

Hey cool! I'm 54, started off in the Peace River District, checked out Hamburg's baroque organs but landed here where FU means Free University (having been free of the old East German stuff), researching your DNA etc but spending most of my time as a scuba diving instructor. Solms/Wetzlar (5 min apart from each other) is occasional. Favourite residences (w/ M6) are in the 261 cemeteries here in Berlin. I own up to be not much of a photographer.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), July 03, 2001.

Professional photographer since 1959. Motion picture cameraman 1962 -1982 then back to non moving pictures, except when I shake. 99% Leica since I started. All M's as this time.

-- Steven Alexander (alexpix@worldnet.att.net), July 03, 2001.

Hi,

Fortunately, a NYSE exchange company wanted to be in my business enterprises more than I. I am a former owner of transportation companies and their vertical sub-sets, in Miami and Denver without post work syndrome. Now I am currently a semi-retired investor, venture capitalist that enjoys traveling more than three months annually, complaining about the Federal Reserve interference in the economy and taking pictures with Leica equipment. Currently, I live in Miami.

Eddie

-- Edward Steinberg (es323@msn.com), July 03, 2001.


Expat Kiwi living in Vienna. Airline propulsion engineer.

-- Mark Wrathall (wrathall@laudaair.com), July 03, 2001.

I live in the San Fransico Bay Area. Age 43. Currently work for myself (for the last 14 years) doing restorations on mostly classic European sports cars. Have also done some writing and photography for several car magazines including "British Car" and "Miata Magazine" where I was the technical editor. Not doing that at the moment--too busy with the restoration work and my 5 year old son. I managed a camera store when I was a young guy back in the heyday of mechanical cameras, and that's how I became familiar with Leica and other cameras. nOf course I couldn't afford the Leicas then, and thought only old rich guys used them.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), July 03, 2001.

I have a background in environmental engineering and policy ("green design"), and work with a large biotech firm in its Environment, Health and Safety department (Corporate group), in charge of our knowledge management systems, San Francisco Bay Area.

My first true camera is a K1000SE bought in 1988. Took the plunge last month with a 0.72 and 90mm Elmarit.

http://www.geocities.com/ tsesung/ (no photos yet- just about me and what I care about...)

-- Tse-Sung Wu (tsesung@yahoo.com), July 03, 2001.


A commercial, editorial, and wedding photographer for the last 30 years, I live on a small farm in Northwest Georgia about 25 miles south of Chattanooga, TN. I also write for photo & other magazines and am the author/photographer of the book "Rock City Barns: A Passing Era." I've owned and used Leicas off and on throughout my career, but only got serious about working with the Leica M a year or so ago because I believe it will make me a better photographer.

-- Dave Jenkins (djphoto@vol.com), July 03, 2001.

Television production, ex-medical photographer. Altadena, California.

-- Jeff Voorhees (debontekou@yahoo.com), July 03, 2001.

Systems Manager, U.S. Probation/Pretrial Services, Alaska. Geek. Leica forum maintainer.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), July 03, 2001.

Con man. Occasional criminal. I think those are the same.

Take pix sometimes too.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), July 03, 2001.


Shuttle Program Aerospace Engineer. Been launching rockets for 20+ years - there ain't noth'n Leica it (pun intended). Photography is my passion.

Jim

-- J. Kuhn (james.kuhn-1@ksc.nasa.gov), July 03, 2001.


I am a programmer. I found I can use some of my photography in a web design. See my first web design at here. My web site can be accessed from there.

-- kenny chiu (amchiu@worldnet.att.net), July 03, 2001.

Roberto, 36, maniac-depresive, comercial photographer failure, one son, Daniel (6)the guy I love more than my photography, just divorced, in love with photography since 7 or so, human-related photographer, work in a transportation family company, encourage to put my life through photography, other wise a compleate failure life, but full of the joy of it when hold a good picture, love to drive and walk, photography degree in 1987, have four M leicas for fear that they'll stop making them, heterosexual, Diana says I´m a good lover, Mexican born, live in Mazatlán in the pacific coast of Mexico.

-- Roberto Watson García (al1231234@hotmail.com), July 03, 2001.

Great idea, David!

I'm 29, an Australian but I've lived in Seattle for the last 6 1/2 years. I manage Adobe's compatibility labs in Seattle and San Jose. Probably unlike most folks here, I started with digital cameras, then moved (mostly) to film.

www.dingoboy.com

fergus



-- Fergus Hammond (fhammond@adobe.com), July 03, 2001.

What a diverse group of folks-I had no idea people were visiting here from near and far. I like this idea of a small bit of volunteered info by people whose names have been showing up here over the months, as it humanizes things for me. Thanks David.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), July 03, 2001.

Molecular genetics and biophysics research. Have been doing photography for 43 years. Did it for money for a while. Gave that up. Starting up again. Having fun and not worrying too much about equipment. I have accumulated a lot over the years when I could buy it but didn't have time to use it. My wife spent 10 years in photojournalism. She went back to research too.

Art

-- Art (AKarr90975@aol.com), July 03, 2001.


Hi, Just sold my Mercedes-Benz Dealership in UK. Now started a website - www.skillsandexperience.com Also a little involved in property. I've been a Leica user since 1981.

-- Tony Brookes (gdz00@lineone.net), July 03, 2001.

News reporter and copy editor since 1972, used to shoot a lot for small newspapers, don't anymore. Ohio, West Virginia, Idaho, now Portland, Ore.

-- Joe Brugger (jbrugger@pcez.com), July 03, 2001.

Good day! I'm a civil engineer by profession. Been shooting photos since grade 8. By 1972 I had sold enough of them to buy my first Leica (secondhand M3 with dual range Summicron). Currently use Leica C, IIIa, and M4-P (and sometimes borrow my wifes Nikon FE). Unfortunately, I haven't set up the darkroom in just over twenty years (but I've kept all the gear and will set it up someday).

-- Peter J. Hanlon (peter.hanlon@3web.net), July 03, 2001.

Amateur photographer. Age 38. Working as a clerk in an import company in Athens/Greece since 1985. Nothing special!

Dimirtis Street Photography by Dimitris Kioseoglou

-- Dimitris Kioseoglou (kosefoto@otenet.gr), July 03, 2001.


We should make a party, the closest to everyone, what about Hawaii?, or somewhere.com

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), July 03, 2001.

Government lawyer in (where else?) Washington, DC. Caught the amateur photo bug in a serious way in the past few years (just in time for society to shift to digital!). In addition to Leica M2 & M3, I primarily use & collect the classic Zeiss Ikon Contax & Nikon RF equipment from the 1930s-1960s & Kyocera Contax G2 gear.

-- Christopher Chen (furcafe@cris.com), July 03, 2001.

I am just a beneficiary, not a benefactor; and what I have received has been immensely helpful. Thanks to all of you who have been so gracious and unselfish with your advice and ideas. I am a retired pastor/U.S. Army chaplain residing in Gainesville, GA. With your continuing assistance, maybe one day I will become a photographer like all of you. Thanks so much.

-- Max Wall (mtwall@earthlink.net), July 03, 2001.

I'm 29, design engineer for telecom systems. Started photography from a Rolleiflex TLR years ago, got into Leica world 2 years ago. Hided all my EOS gears 1.5 years ago. Just moved from NY area to San Jose, CA, don't know what to shoot from there. Maybe I need to sell one of my Ms(maybe M2).

Santa Clara, CA Fred Ouyang

-- Fred Ouyang (yo54@columbia.edu), July 03, 2001.


Iam 48, live in New London New Hampshire. I am a Machinist by trade, Photographer by passion and do which ever pays the bills at the moment. Anytime anyone wants to come to New England for Fall colors drop me a line. I know most of the good places.

-- Steve Belden (otterpond@tds.net), July 03, 2001.

Family physician in Calgary AB Canada. My first Leica was a IIIa with 50/2 Summar and bright line slip-on viewfinder, in the late 50's (high school). The viewfinder got me addicted. I use M Leicas for people and travel shots, and 4x5 for scenics here in the Rockies. Give your photo-interested kid(s) a Leica M, get them hooked and the company may have a better chance on future survival.

-- Hans Berkhout (berkhout@cadvision.com), July 04, 2001.

Truly a great posting (thanks David). Absolutely a great address (thanks Tony). Never seen so many contributions in so little time (50 in 2 days). 50 men (and where are the women?)

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), July 04, 2001.

Hi David,

Great post.

Malaysian born Chinese. Raised in Australia, lived for most of last decade in the UK, fell in love with the Canadian Rockies and taught snowboarding there for a while.

Currently back in Oz and only recently a Leica owner.

Oh, I do a bit of dentistry on the side. :-)

Dr Simon Wong Melbourne, Australia

-- Simon Wong (drsimonwong@hotmail.com), July 04, 2001.


Missionary, currently trying to obtain an additional degree (theology) in Munich, Bavaria, the home of Linhof and Rodenstock.

-- Oliver Schrinner (piraya@hispavista.com), July 04, 2001.

Conservation architect in Hong Kong and a recent Leica convert (I'm strictly a user, not a collector). Like wideangle lenses a lot--they go with the job!

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), July 04, 2001.

Papermaker and trainer/assessor pulp and paer industry, New Zealand. 48 and still doing stupid things like putting the fix in the developng tank before the developer.

-- sam smith (Ruy_Lopez@hotmail.com), July 04, 2001.

Well, I'm a "government lackey" also known as a clerk for the Social Security Administration. 37, married. Born, raised, and live in St. Paul, MN. In fact, I recently figured out I've never lived more than 10 miles from where I was born. I've owned a Leica for about 3 years and a Minolta CLE for a couple of years before that, and before that an R3 for about 3 years. Can't really afford it, but my passion for photography is a lot greater than common sense.

Eric Platt St. Paul, MN

-- Eric Platt (ericplatt@aol.com), July 04, 2001.


Born in Greece, 1958. Married, two children of 6 and 8 years. Degrees in Chemical Engineering, MBA. Worked in Italy 1986-1988 on industrial risk management, later in Germany in the stage and studio lighting industry. Now earning my daily bread with patents in Munich, Germany, since 1990.

Frequent traveller, mainly within Europe, including UK and Russia. Occasional trips to Japan and the US. Passionate B&W and Kodachrome photographer since the early seventies.

-- George D. Gianni (gdgianni@aol.com), July 04, 2001.


Holy Doodle! You go on a short holiday and all heck breaks loose. Finally we are getting to the first meeting of our Leica 12 step programme. I am so far down on the list it will never get read so I will just make something up! :-)

Truthfully I am a 41 year old semiretired automotive mechanic who has taken up house husbanding with a vengeance. I started amateur photography 17 or so years ago and got my first Leica shortly thereafter. My darling wife makes pots-o-money so, when pint sized came along, it was no contest as to who would stay home. I am pretty darn happy but am overwhelmed with too many gorgeous photos of my son (a few of my daughter as well but at 15 she is getting fast on her feet). We make our home perched precariously atop a river bank over looking the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), July 04, 2001.


Ex-Astronomer, now programmer. Currently, I live in Maryland. I've been into photography for 35 years, and gone through box cameras, Regula, Exakta, Nikon SP, Alpa 6c, Minolta SRT, Canon F1, and finally Leica M. For more info, see my boffin@gis.net), July 04, 2001.

Let's try that web site again:
Click here

-- Tom bryant (boffin@gis.net), July 04, 2001.

I am a partner in a company that finds jobs for creative and marketing people. We also do organizational developemnt and management consulting projects for our clients. My office is in Baltimore, MD. I take my M6 with me wherever I go so I guess I am a photographer.

-- jeff schraeder (jeff@engineperformance.com), July 04, 2001.

Hi, I'm 30, leica user since last year, photography since 2000. I'm using M2 now; Telecommunication engineer, Jakarta, Indonesia.

-- Hans Siddharta (hsiddharta@cbn.net.id), July 05, 2001.

Hi I'm born in 1960, living in Denmark, selling barcode equipment since 1985, amateur photographer since 1979 mostly my kids, my vifes dogs, and nature - Leica M3 since may 2001 (but CLE since 2000 Xpan since 1999) also using Contax, Mamiya TLR etc - but not much recently

Kaj

-- Kaj Froling (saluki@mail.tele.dk), July 05, 2001.


Paul Chefurka - one-time pro, now an embedded firmware development manager, living in Ottawa, Canada

-- Paul Chefurka (paul_chefurka@pmc-sierra.com), July 05, 2001.

electrical engineer and airline pilot, who did well in high-tech, threw in the towel and now pursues his passion for photography full- time. well, almost. there is still a consulting job or two pursued to pay for camera equipment. satisfied and ecstatic Hasselblad owner, until a recent trip to Paris allowed me to hold a Leica M6 for the first time. there has always been a Leica link for me, Ralph Gibson, whose work I adore. after feeling the precision, holding the beauty in my hands, I knew my days of a EOS-1v and 28-70mm thumping me in the chest were over. off soon to San Miguel de Allende with Keith Carter for a week of workshops and want an M6 in the bag. have all the catalogues, books, google.com search results, and gleefully plowing through them all. thought the black body was for me, till I held the chrome with a 35 Summilux. just a matter of days now, trying to decide which viewfinder .72x versus .58x, will marry the best with these fifty-year-old eyeballs.

-- daniel taylor (lightsmythe@agalis.net), July 05, 2001.

36-year old civil engineer working on water resources projects. Married and with a 5.5- year old daughter living in Seattle. Bought my first Leicas about ten years ago after having my Nikon gear stolen and haven't looked back since.

-- Tom Finnegan (tomf@piengr.com), July 05, 2001.

Retired air cargo agent from JFK airport N.Y.C. A real Leica lover. Currently using an M6. I shoot freelance spot news to help support my Leica cravings. Take many fire photos as a member of a volunteer fire department. Also a long-time member of the Long Island Fire Photographers Association. This is a close-knit group of photographers/firefighters/firebuffs who enjoy photographing fire scenes and fire apparatus.

-- Donald Wansor (wansor@optonline.net), July 05, 2001.

Thirty something vice president in a US regional bank who started with a Pentax Spotmatic (still have) recieved as an 8th grade graduation present. Went on to travel extensively in Central Asia and sold travel pix to support road expenses. Worked commercially with R Avedon and Art Beck (how diverse can you get?)as an on again off again assistant, then married long time sweetheart.All of you ex assistants/hopefulls know the rest of the story. Thanks to all the posters for rekindling my love and enthusiasm for the medium.

-- Brooks (bvonarx@home.com), July 06, 2001.

48 years of Age, living in beautiful East Tennessee. Husband of one, Father of 3, Grandfather of 2 - so far. I cover North America, selling Radiation Detection Systems for industrial applications. Photography has been a lifelong passion. I have owned Olympus and Leica reflex systems, as well as Hasselblad medium format. I now use Leica M mostly, and wished that I had started with the rangefinder years ago. I dumped my darkroom several years ago and now miss it terribly. I am looking to purchase another enlarger (Leitz preferred) to regain the control and creativity that I have abandoned. It is wonderful to "meet" everyone!

-- David Page (pagedt@attglobal.net), July 07, 2001.

Fulltime travel & landscape 'Stock' photographer for last 9 years, living just outside London, England.

-- Gary Yeowell (gary@yeowell.fsnet.co.uk), July 07, 2001.

Where's Appleby? Come on Rob, don't be bashful!

-- Paul Nelson (clrfarm@comswest.net.au), July 07, 2001.

I am the owner of a small advertising agency in St.Petersburg, Florida and have been a photographer since 1968 when I purchased a Minolta SRT 101. I was introduced to the Leica camera when I was four by my step father who owned a camera shop, and used to take Kodachrome slides to sell to the tourists, who would come into his shop during the winter tourist season. I was never allowed to touch his 1937 screw mount Leica, but I knew it was something special. As I became more proficient at photography I switched to Nikons. But after reading about the M-3 and remembering my dad's Leica, I decided I had to finally have a Leica I could touch. I found an M-3 in a local camera shop for $300 with the 50 collapsable lens. I love the way the camera feels and I love the quality of the pictures, I have been hooked on Leicas ever since. I now use the M-6 for my work and only use the Nikon for long lenses. Years ago my parents devorced and my father died and I always wondered what happened to his Leica. A few years ago my aunt brought me a box of old cameras that belonged to my dad, and in the bottom of that box was his 1937 screw mount Leica. After finding this Leica site I was able to learn much about this camera and it's rapid winder. I am sending it of to be overhauled Monday and I intend to start using it again. Had I not found this site it would probably still be sitting on a shelf. I know that's more information than you asked for, but I thought you guys could appreciate this story. By the way, I love this site.

Cal Brown, St. Petersburg, FL USA (cbaclass@gte.net)

-- Cal Brown (cbaclass@gte.net), July 07, 2001.


OK, OK Paul, you asked for it... I'm an exotic dancer, just like Will Smith's girlfriend in Independence Day. There I said it! Or, for those of you who can't accept the sordid reality of my daily bump and grind (ha!): I'm a translator, photographer and (most recently) publisher.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), July 08, 2001.

Bob, former electronics field engineer on military electronics; then an electronics instructor; Master's in clinical psychology, and for the past 14 years a professional counselor/ psychotherapist. I like to assemble multi-projector slide shows and have a big screen with the projectors always set up and ready to run. I also have my own darkroom for black and white printing. I like German Shepherds but don't have one right now. Favorite things to shoot are architecture and nature. Favorite place is Colorado. My girlfriend and I camp, hike, and jeep in the San Juan mountains every so often. I have two slide shows of Colorado. Home is in St. Louis.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), July 08, 2001.

19 year-old British citizen born in Finland who has lived half his life in Brazil and currently lives in Ireland. Came across Leica by seeing 11x14 prints in a camera store which had incredibly micro- contrast and wonderful bokeh. I asked the owner of the shop (the type who offers tea or coffee and talks for an hour) who took the pictures and what with. Answer: himself with Leica M system.

Can’t yet afford that M6 with 35mm Summicron, but working on it! In the meantime lucky enough to have a friend who lends me the best. Totally addicted to Leica rangefinders, the Leica way of photography, Leica's proud history, the diverse user base of Leica gear and the real and obvious optical benefits. Oh, and Kodachrome 25 too.

-- Samuel Dilworth (samuel@dilworth3.fsnet.co.uk), July 08, 2001.


Residential real estate developer. Permanent residence in Vancouver BC Canada. Home away from home is Hong Kong. I will also be soon opening my first restaurant--why not? Other interests include, playing the bamboo flute, martial arts (Wing Chun, Aikido), and the art of chinese tea. Love horses and dogs. Used to ride english but don't have time now. Have a rottweiler. No, rottweilers are not vicious. They only sometimes have very stupid owners (just like kids sometimes have very stupid parents) so they suffer. Sometimes I also catch the golf bug.

My father used to own a camera store. He had all sorts of stuff but he loved Leicas the most. My father passed away over ten years ago. Now I love that I use and appreciate the same Leica that he cherished. Every time I can enjoy any Leica camera I always feel the memory of my father, every time. Thank-you Leica.

-- Bill Lee (Bill_Lee@telus.net), July 13, 2001.


Residential real estate investment & property management; Located in San Mateo, CA (near San Francisco); Amateur photographer since 1979 - having used Leica M's (on & off) since 1985 and now use my M6TTL almost exclusively...Great website, great contributors, thanks to all!!!

-- KL Prager (www.pragerproperties@att.net), July 14, 2001.

Started photographing 29 years ago, at age 14. Photography led me to cinematography. Today I'm working as a film director and am teaching at a major film academy in Germany, my country of origin. I have been living in Italy and Switzerland, too, and just moved to Zürich with my wife and daughter. Photography has stayed with me thru all the years as a hobby, with more or less intense periods. Rediscovering the Leica M6 two years ago as a love on second sight has opened another chapter for me. Thanx to all of you, for sharing your knowledge and passion here!

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), July 15, 2001.

It seems that poputation in this forum is growing, this was and still is an excelent invitation fron David Smith.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), January 12, 2002.

Have spent 30 years in computer technology field as programmer, analyst, manager, consultant. Currently designing interfaces for proprietary Customer Information and Billing system (for utility companies) to allow clients to exchange information with legacy systems.

Now in my sixth decade of life, have also spent about 30 years with photography hobby. Am a recent convert to Leica R system from N****. Like to photograph scenics and wildlife using long lenses. Also like target shooting and hunting with large caliber pistols. LB

-- Luther Berry (lberrytx@aol.com), January 13, 2002.


American working as in-house counsel for German Company in Hong Kong in charge of anti-counterfeiting in Asia. Former life as a coffee addict / arts photographer from San Francisco who failed to sell any prints.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), January 13, 2002.

I'm an architect, mostly doing residential & hospitality project here in Jakarta and Bali. Love to trek, dive and of course Leica-M photography, which the latter support my job as well. I was born in the Year of Dog (1970); father of a lovely 1 year old daughter (maybe I should buy her the M6 Dragon :)) and in the progress to affect my wife to switch to Leica...:-) This is a great site; thank you for the question; and salute to Mr. Rowlett for your care, patient and fair judgement!

-- Andy Wijono (andywijono@hotmail.com), January 13, 2002.

Great site, great folks. Retired (73), former restaurantuer in Athens, Ga. USA. First camera in '48,a RetinaI. First Leica in "52 (IIIc), had to buy it on the installment plan. Have owned Leicas off and on since that time. Now have a IIIf and an M3. Exposed to this site for first time 30 days or so ago. Prompted me to develop my first roll of B W in ten years. Thanks. Great to be part of a most diverse group. Ed DeAngelis

-- Ed DeAngelis (edeange769@aol.com), January 13, 2002.

Mainframe computer consultant. Amateur photographer using Leica since 1969. Gil Pruitt. Live in the north San Francisco bay area in San Rafael.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), January 13, 2002.

Got the camera bug from my father who used Leicas,Rollies and a Speed Graphic....I shoot 35mm to 12x20 and love all the formats.First half of my life a professional drummer also teaching from grade school to university level music as well as privatly.Have played everything from theatre to avant guarde jazz.Now play meditational music with the Tibetan singing bowls.New CD release "Mystic Bowls"by Temple Sounds in 99. Now I earn my living as a retail New Age bookstore owner and as a professional astrologer and psychic.I have a habit of turning my hobbies to professions.Sold a fair amount through local galleries as well as my shop....surprised that the leica shots sell the best for me as they capture the unusual moody image I'm after.I just wish I was into photo in my Jazz days and owned a Noct. Oh well. Nice to see so many professions and people represented here in the forum.Gives a human face to the crowd!

-- Emile de leon (knightpeople@msn.com), January 13, 2002.

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