[Leica] My Yearbooks Arrived Today

[kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)]

On Jan 11, 2007, at 1:31 PM, Jim Shulman wrote:

> Ted,
>
> Many thanks for the kind words.  Coming from you--one who's been  
> though more
> than his share of photo book projects--it's wonderful praise.  I'm  
> thrilled
> that you like it.
>
> Only thought is that the CEO of Leica probably could give a rat's  
> rear about
> this project, for several reasons. Judging from their recent  
> advertising,
> Leica's trying to appeal to "lifestyle" sales, where a Leica is as  
> important
> to a luxury lifestyle as a Rolex or 7-Series BMW. It's camera as  
> jewelry or
> stage prop.
>
> For much of the LUG, a Leica purchase is hardly a lifestyle frill.   
> It's a
> very difficult purchase decision, often requiring some not  
> inconsiderable
> sacrifice.  The unique qualities of Leica as an important  
> photographic tool
> seems to be the common thread among this group.  Well, that and roux.
>
> The book also shows a major flaw in Leica's market position: many  
> of the
> shots were made with non-Solms digital cameras, reflecting Leica's  
> difficult
> transition as the film era wanes.  Even the Leica devotees have  
> been veering
> away from Solms equipment.  If I were the CEO of Leica, and saw  
> that 25-40%
> (I didn't count exactly) of the images in a Leica Users Group book  
> came from
> non-Leitz equipment, I'd be quite concerned.
>
> Fifteen years ago the contents of a LUG book would probably have  
> been nearly
> all from Leica cameras.

a Family of Man 2 book next ? ...

5 years of great photos taken with Leica equipment...

maybe a sequel...?


    Steve


>   Of course, as I noted in my book preface, the LUG
> book would never have existed with the technology of 1992.
>
> All best,
> Jim Shulman
> Bryn Mawr, PA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org
> [mailto:lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of  
> Ted
> Grant
> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 2:16 PM
> To: Leica Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Leica] My Yearbooks Arrived Today
>
> Jim Shulman offered:
> Subject: [Leica] My Yearbooks Arrived Today
>
>
>> Seems like the chef's the last one to eat <g>.
>>
>> While the images looked nice on screen, I was amazed at how well they
>> reproduced.  For all the issues with blurb.com's shipping and
>> communications, at least the finished product is well worth  
>> placement on
>> the
>> coffee table.<<<<
>
> Jim mon ami, "IT'S LIKE WOW !!!!!!!!!
>
> Good wife just brought mine to my room, obviously after opening the  
> package
> and examining the beautiful piece of work you've put to-gether!
>
> She was all smiles and excited .... "I bet there's a lot of LUG  
> machine
> people who'll be sorry they didn't send a couple of photographs  
> when they
> see this! It's a wonderful book of fine photographs and a  
> compliment to the
> people on the LUG who submitted." Then I scoured it cover to cover,  
> several
> times! WONDERFUL! Beat's the heck out of seeing them on screen! :-)
>
> A compliment to all.... "we're a damn fine bunch of photographers!!"
>
> Those who didn't submit, "eat your heart out!!" As you missed a great
> opportunity to have a picture or two in a very fine collection of
> photographs by the people who you know as "screen friends and  
> colleagues."
> Pity!
>
> However, Jim this is a great tribute to yourself and "Brian the saloon
> Keeper" for maintaining the LUG allowing a great number of people  
> about the
> world to share our passion for photography and the equipment we use!
>
> If the subject hasn't been put forward may I offer a suggestion a  
> copy be
> sent to the new CEO of Leica, I'm sure he'll find it very interesting
> indeed. WHY?
>
> Well gee whiz eh, the LUG just handed the Leica corporation a major  
> piece of
>
> free advertising the likes they haven't done in centuries! well OK  
> in many
> many years!
>
> The closest book they did to this, not one whit better, was "75  
> Years of
> Leica Photography."  If you have a copy look through our LUG, then  
> 75 years
> and the LUG holds it's own without question, even better than some  
> of the so
>
> called greats of the long long time ago photo world!
>
> Our's is modern, today, up to the minute and it's a damn fine  
> photography
> book tribute.
>
> So Jim a great big thank you for putting this together and making  
> it happen.
>
> I'd bet a $100.00 you've given a bunch of shooters something to  
> feel good
> about their work and smile!  Good on you lad!
>
> Now onto 2007! :-)
>
> ted
>
>
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