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Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
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Photography Culture

On PhotoWalking: Why I Think Leica Is King of the Land

Chris Gampat
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08/06/2020
3 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Leica M10D review sample images 15

On Photowalking is a short-lived series where EIC Chris Gampat shares his thoughts on using various camera systems.

There is the obvious idea that someone who owns a Leica is a rich photographer (or they’re a rich person, etc.) But the less popular belief is that they’re someone who really values aesthetics. I’ll never forget the words that Reviews Editor Paul Ip conveyed to me when I told him to use my Leica M4 for a while. He said, “It’s a tactile thing.” and he’s right! You can use a Leica and approach it from the standpoint of shooting like one would with any other camera, but you’d be doing your purchase an injustice then. No other system can do what a Leica can, and that’s why I think that they’re a fantastic product for photo walks. Specifically, the Leica M series are so great because they’re designed for you to be in the moment. You enter a completely different type of zen that you wouldn’t otherwise because you’re that much more involved in the photography process.

Shooting with a manual lens does this to begin with. You need to zone focus on subjects and shoot. And to zone focus, you need to have a sense of everything that is going on within a specific circle around you. You’re not necessarily paying attention to something across the street, but you’re in tune with what’s going on six feet away from you in any direction. If you want that scene across the street, then you need to move. Otherwise, you’re in the zone. And specifically, you’re in the zone that’s immediately around you. With a Leica, you can see a subject move in and out of the frame, and you can line it up in the viewfinder perfectly. You’re not getting a depth of field preview unless you use the EVF. And you’re not otherwise using the system to capture every single thing. But instead, you’re using it to get more keeper shots.

My philosophy is this: if you know that you have to shoot within a specific zone, then you’re willing to let things go. There are tons of great shots that I’ve lost, or I’ve let go. The tradeoff is that I guarantee myself much better images within the specific little bubble I’m shooting in.

For everyone else that still doesn’t get it, let me address it to you this way. If you’re an American, you’re probably only reading American based news. If you’re located in Minnesota, then your news has a more local slant. Chances are you don’t care about what’s going on in Germany at a specific time. The same goes for those in Barcelona. You probably have a more worldly view than my fellow Americans, but your news is probably still closer centered around where you are. That’s what a Leica is like. You’re hyper-focusing (pun intended) on an area near you. You’re not going after something in Nepal from where you are as the chances are slim.

Let me relate it to you in another way: if you’re driving in a car, you’re probably paying attention to what’s around you. That’s precisely what’s in your periphery, your mirrors, etc. You’re probably not paying attention to what’s going on on the other side of the highway unless it’s an accident you are rubbernecking. Shooting with a Leica M is like driving in that way. Specifically, it can be like an automatic transmission where you set the aperture, keep the shutter in auto, the ISO in auto, pre-focus to a certain distance, and then just focus on what’s happening. It’s a set it and forget it situation.

If this sounds like an ad, it’s not. This is my trying to clear up some fake news and false pretenses about the system. That’s also not me telling you to sell everything and go buy a digital Leica. I don’t even own a Digital Leica, but I plan to one day. Instead, go shoot with a film Leica.

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Chris Gampat

Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.
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