Re: Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
Jacob Watrous wrote:
I spent the first part of my life prioritizing 'getting the photo' at any cost. In that world, you use the high-FPS, autofocus monsters because failure isn't an option. When I transitioned to an M with manual primes for my personal and professional work, it wasn't because I wanted a 'slower' experience—it was because I wanted a more intentional one. With a superzoom and high-speed AF, you are essentially reacting to the world. You’re waiting for the camera to tell you what’s in focus.
With a manual prime, you have to do the work of Orienting to the scene before the subject ever arrives. I find that when I build the 'stage' in my head—setting my aperture and scale-focusing—the 'Act' of taking the photo becomes instantaneous. It’s no longer about whether the camera caught the moment; it’s about whether I recognized the architecture of the frame in time.
For me, the 'Experience' of using a manual Leica isn't just a hobbyist’s romance. It’s a diagnostic requirement. It forces me to see the bones of the city instead of just reacting to the motion.
Nice that you find what works for you, and you can explain it in words. I heard more than once and was amused by 'I shoot Leica because everything is a plastic garbage but Leica, and I like the special texture of vulcanite on my camera'
Mar 06, 2026 at 02:42 PM
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