Leica news, before they happen

Few weeks ago Thorsten Overgaard introduced a series of extension courses – the best thing is that people can do those courses from anywhere in the world. You don’t have to be a Leica shooter in order to join, but in Thorsten’s own words those classes spell Leica all over:

“It’s the basics of photography – which is light, and the three light control buttons that Leica has. It’s not an exclusive Leica course though most of the ones who sign up are Leica users – or become Leica users after the seminar. The handling of camera, the requirements for a lens’ handling of light … it just all spells Leica when you get down to the truth about photography.

People have all sorts of things they want to photograph, surprisingly many want to shoot people and human condition but find they have trouble comfortably shooting people. I see that when you know your equipment and how to make photos and people look good, that barrier becomes less: If you make people and things look good, you feel more comfortable doing it. But it also has to do with the fact that if you’re tangled up in camera buttons or not knowing your technical stuff, you have a hard time focusing on what is in front of the camera. When you comfortable can use a camera it becomes and extension of your eyes and you don’t think of it as an instrument but at tool of making things you see look artistic, aesthetic and nice.”

The full 16 pages reports can be downloaded here. Some interesting Leica facts from 1946:

• It took 33 hours to assemble a Leica III C.

• In November of 1946 Leica was producing 1100 cameras per month. Out of those 1100 units 89% were allocated to the American forces, 6% to French forces and only 5% were available for sale in Germany.

• In 1946 Leica employed 2,453 men and 428 women. In 1939 they employed nearly 5000.

• Leica lost 400 employees during the war and 300 were prisoners of war.

• Every camera was tested by taking multiple black and white photographs between 1.25 to 10 meters.

• The drawing office had 50 drawing boards.

• “The office was well organised and was scrupulously clean”.

• The standard work week was 48 hours.

• Here are two of the final conclusions of this report:

“61. The Leitz factory is a well-run happy organisation, this being due in no small measure to the family nature of the business and to its importance in the neighbourhood. Discipline is strict without being severe and one gets the impression of great interest by employees of every grade in the work being performed.

62. This pride in workmanship and the just pride all have in their world-wide reputation for quality work is the permeating spirit of the place and helps greatly to offset apathy caused by the present dismal state of the country.”