Was it something about my "boredom" post or something in a reply to my posting that caused it to be pulled? Did I miss something overnight?

Is this an "equipment only" forum afterall? If so, that is regrettable.

-- jeff (debontekou@yahoo.com), April 17, 2002

Answers

The NAME says it all!

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), April 17, 2002.

Dear Alec-

Perhaps its just me, but you seem to have a keen dislike of my postings. I am certainly not looking for your approval, but I do find it interesting that you responded so quickly and with such vigor to my two recent postings.

I thought that as participating members in this forum, we had a responsiblity to encourage discussion and debate and that you don't always have to agree with what you read and those posts don't necessarily need to be equipment specific.

I enjoy seeing others' postings of their work, however, I don't always comment. Naturally, some of it is boring, some is amazing, as others before me have said.

If it is important to you: I use an M6. I own one lens, no motor, no grip, I don't use the Leica strap. I shoot everyday. Sometimes I use a tripod. I develop my own film. I'm putting together a digital darkroom. You can flame my work when I post :)

-- jeff (debontekou@yahoo.com), April 17, 2002.

the moderator does a very good job, and we all owe him a debt of thanks. rather than posting an arch comment, may i suggest communicating privately with him at rowlett@alaska.net. i am sure he will tell you why your thread was deleted -- and i'm sure there was a very good reason.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), April 17, 2002.

Jeff:

I'm usually one for agreeing to keep posts on-topic, and perhaps your boredom post was a little off-topic for Leica gear -- but certainly appropriate for the direction the forum seems to be headed. So, FWIW I thought your original post was relevant, and that there were some relevant answers provided as well; especially Andy's "ferret and fish" image!

If you ever do find out why, please let us know.

Cheers,

-- J Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 17, 2002.

I'm with you Jeff. I too have a minimalist Leica kit (IIIg w/2 lenses, R3 w/35-70). I too try to shoot nearly every day and oddly enough I like to talk to 'Leica people' about things other than Leica sometimes. Seems there's more to life IMO.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), April 17, 2002.

>Perhaps its just me, but you seem to have a keen dislike of my postings.

Nothing personal, Jeff. I just can't stand such drivel. You got the right to post it. I got the right to reply. Got that straight?

>I am certainly not looking for your approval, but I do find it interesting that you responded so quickly and with such vigor to my two recent postings.

Since neither of them were left on here, I must not be the ONLY one!

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), April 17, 2002.

I didn't want to read how bored you are. If you're bored, either with life, or with this forum, then go out and take some pictures, and then come back here and tell us what you did and maybe post some results.

I enjoy philosophical discussions from time to time, even when they start wandering OT or become TS (totally silly). But please, not "boredom" posts. I beg you.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), April 17, 2002.

the possibility of an "on-topic" subject to go south is the same as an "off-topic" coming round to "leica/photgraphy". that is why we are all here. i though the "boredom" thread was, refreshing, interesting and i would like to have seen it up for a few more days. it did get "phil" to suggest he might post a picture and comment favorably on the picture posted (which is worth it in itself). sure some threads need to be pulled when they get out of hand, but i take grab shots because you never know what you might get.

-- john molloy (ballyscanlon@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

Let's not forget that Alaska can be a really boring place, I should know, I lived there for quite a while. Humor Mr. Rowlett with something interesting : )

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

Even in Alaska we can cure bordom by finding something to do other than start "I'm bored, what about you?" threads on a photography forum. Come on, guys and gals! What will it be next, complaints about me zapping "Where to get the best price on a pair of pajamas?" "Teen smoking?" Ah... how about "GUN CONTROL!"

OK. I'm done with my rant. How about if I offer what would have been more interesting and more in-line with the topic of this forum. Maybe we can "restart" the thread from this point? Here goes.

I've been finding lately that my motivation for taking my camera out and using it has been lacking. I'm kind of unsettled and restless; searching for some ideas. In short, I'm kind of "bored" lately. What do you do if/when you find yourself in this situation?

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), April 17, 2002.

Well, as in a photography class there are assignments that sometimes have no specific subject to photograph, only aspects of photography to explore. Like, oh I dunno, religion, a day in the life of, light, shadows, etc. Try it out, you may discover some unexpected creativity.

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

I've also been a little lax lately with the camera(s). Maybe a monthly or weekly project might be interesting. We could select a topic/subject and keep a thread going where people could post their photos or links relative to the topic. In the archives we could have projects area we could go back to.

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), April 17, 2002.

OK, I'll be good. I agree that lately I've been a bit uninspired about subject matter. At least subject matter that requires me to be patient or stealthy. Maybe it is just me, but anytime I pull out my camera I get looks, maybe it is just a lingering state of "suspicion"?

I have recently been trying a few different developers with my usual HP5. I shot many floral still lifes in order to have something to process. Floral stills with a rangefinder? Probably not the best choice, but it works and I'm always amazed at image quality produced by the 50 Summicron, even with 400 speed film. Perhaps its an opinion best left to the B&W forum, but developers make a huge difference.

-- jeff (debontekou@yahoo.com), April 17, 2002.

Luckily this something that comes up very seldom for me (boredom). Most of what I shoot involves the nude (doing the work of the devil as one of my friends puts it) and I find it quite easy to get motivated. I'm sure Mike Dixon can back me up here. But when I do get in the photo doldrums I usually cure it by trying something new, that I don't think I'm very good at. A couple of years ago when I last had this problem I spent the summer hanging out in cafes shooting the cultural aspects of the 'coffee crowd'. Interestingly enough, I not only came out with a series that has hung at couple of galleries, but I found a whole new supply of models.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), April 17, 2002.

i have been taking pictures with a rollei 6008i for the last 2.5 years. in the last 6 months of that period i found myself taking the camera with me less and less when i went out (and i brought it with me everywehre, believe it or not). get my m6 3 months ago has changed my enthusiasm for photography, i am learning again. so "change your camera/lens" does work, for me.

-- john molloy (ballyscanlon@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

Tony:

I think perhaps you missed the point of Jeff's original post -- He was expressing boredom with the "same old same old" that has been regularly posted on the forum over the past few weeks. I mean really, how many "Is anybody using the M7 yet?" posts do we have to sit through to get to something refreshing. Moreover, Jeff's post -- and a few of the responses -- got me thinking about ways to shed the boredom by taking some time off to go shoot with my gear and thus, I feel was totally relevant and on-topic for this forum.

One man's opinion...

-- J Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 17, 2002.

Tony:

I think perhaps you missed the point of Jeff's original post -- He was expressing boredom with the "same old same old" that has been regularly posted on the forum over the past few weeks. I mean really, how many "Is anybody using the M7 yet?" posts do we have to sit through to get to something refreshing. Moreover, Jeff's post -- and a few of the responses -- got me thinking about ways to shed the boredom by taking some time off to go shoot with my gear and thus, I feel was totally relevant and on-topic for this forum.

But I like the posture you've taken by re-directing the intent of the previous thread. Now if we can only get Andy to re-post "ferret and fish"!

:-),

-- J Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 17, 2002.

i too am lacking inspiration (bored photographically), and somewhat within this forum - still the best format. discussing finely crafted equip. is fine, but i'd rather see inspirational photographs taken in ordinary places that are common all around us. i mean, i could waste a lot of film experimentally, but i'd rather go for something that i'd be proud to hang on the wall and view for more than a few weeks (R. Appleby?)- inspire me.

-- Steve (leitz_not_leica@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

discussing finely crafted equip. is fine, but i'd rather see inspirational photographs taken in ordinary places that are common all around us

I have to agree. I am reminded of several years back right after our first child was born, the moms in the "new moms" group though it would be a good idea if us new dads got together in a "new dads" group too. So about 3/4 of us did, and it lasted exactly one meeting. The one topic that came up was sex, and the only reason it came up is that we all agreed that since we wern't getting any (any man that has ever been a "new dad" will understand this), we might as well talk about it.

Cheers,

-- J Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 17, 2002.

For inspiration, I think that Tony should conduct a "Leica Non-workshop". Pick a weekend, think of a good place where we could all stay or camp near where you are in Alaska, spend the days burning film, and spend the evenings discussing Leica Photography and maybe sharing some images over a meal and some good wine.

Waddya think?

-- Joe Buechler (jbuechler@toad.net), April 17, 2002.

The summer season is definitely the time to do it if the place is Alaska! There are a few participants who live here in Anchorage. Maybe they could join this discussion and we could make it a group effort. Hotel's are expensive during tourist season. Fine wine is good, but let's not forget our favorite Single Malts! :-)

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), April 17, 2002.

Tony and All, i'd definately agree to an alaskan summer-24hour sun.

by the way tony, please choose very very carefully in deleting posts, it helps the rest of us separate the wheat from the chaff ourselves. consistent bs will be ignored. consistent helpfulness will be recognized and rewarded. this forum is for adults and we can and should choose. even if provocative and taunting, let it be, they will go away i promise. otherwise this will become an ordinary club where the same peoples and viewpoints are repeated and repeated, sort of like the masses bowing to the few. remenber travis? he deserves to be heard.

do not judge. except obvious non-productive on a few beers anger and profanities. repeat, we are adults not qualified to analyze and judge people based on any one particular off the cuff post.

-- Steve (leitz_not_leica@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

Tony: I too am bored about shooting pictures of the black, white and grey on the Kenai. I decided to try taking gear that I don't use often, change films and see what the results are. I take 2 lenses and a body with K64 and look at it from a limited perspective. I got the idea from some-one on this forum who suggested it to stimulate their mind. It worked for me.

-- Mark J. (logical1@catholic.org), April 17, 2002.

Did somebody mention Single Malts??? If so, count me in!!!

;-),

-- J Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 17, 2002.

Hey, how about those New York Yankees?

Dennis

-- Dennis Couvillion (couvilaw@aol.com), April 17, 2002.

Single Malts it is! When in Anchorage, do as the Anchorageans or whatever the hell they're supposed to be called.

I think it would be a blast! Is there such a thing as an off-season where the weather is still good? If not, we'll just have to forego buying the latest 62mm Summideluxo.

Joe

-- Joe Buechler (jbuechler@toad.net), April 17, 2002.

By popular demand.....

.

.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), April 18, 2002.

So concluding from the posts above:

We all shoot pictures everyday that nobody want to see and are boring. So the only thing we can do is talk about the great equipment we have, to justify to ourselves the great expenses we made to buy the stuff.

:-)

-- Reinier (rvlaam@xs4all.nl), April 18, 2002.

Andy, they're some damn good scans. What scanner do you use?

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), April 18, 2002.

Kristian - Nikon LS-1000 Coolscan, about 6 years old.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), April 18, 2002.