I remember some years ago I met a guy from Miami who had been on cocaine for a period. He told me, it was the only drug he wanted to do. He was an ad exec and made loads of money but wanted somehow to get higher, in some spiritual sense.
To begin with cocaine worked for him, and he didn't consider himself a drug addict at all. But within a year it just started to ruin his life. He didn't see it first as he was elsewhere: He tought things was great and he was just talking and talking and felt wise as hell. As people on cocaine do.
Till he started getting nightmares in in clear daytime if he didn't get his cocaine. Which then escalated to a point where even he was fully drugged at all times, yet he had nightmares and couldn't escape.
What a damn trap! Anyway, he got off and he even gave me his Narocon Anniversary t-shirt which was a really nice t-shirt in 70-ties design (red with yellow text on front) I wanted to frame and hang on my wall.
Anyways, in UK I saw something that might communicate that guys story better than me having a framed t-shirt on my wall:
That's one of four videos that so far has been made by http://www.drugfreeworld.org
Get your Kleenex' ready and sit your kids and friends in front of the screen. This is important. Drugs does not make anyone happy, creative or free.
Drugs are a trap. I know several fashion photographers who's career went down the drain with cocaine. Some of them still take pictures and think they are the best in the world. But they are alone in thinking so but anyways live in their own world where they don't notice that the big hot magazines that used to call doesn't call them anymore. Drugs really destroy creativity in a way not even good old Soviet union was able to.
If your go to their website http://www.drugfreeworld.org you can digg it and also post the videos to your Facebook.com profile with one click.
I really really loved reading your blog entry here. Four months ago in front of my house's door, a drug user died in front of my eyes while doctors did everything they could to keep him alive. I live in the worst neighbor, drug-wise, in Greece, and everyday I see what those things can do. It's really sad to see people wasting their lives this way, because somebody told them that dreams can be sold...
I really really loved reading your blog entry here. Four months ago in front of my house's door, a drug user died in front of my eyes while doctors did everything they could to keep him alive. I live in the worst neighbor, drug-wise, in Greece, and everyday I see what those things can do. It's really sad to see people wasting their lives this way, because somebody told them that dreams can be sold...
Posted by CMphotogra... on November 03, 2007 2:23 PM
i know what you're talking about. when i was in germany one of my classmates did drugs nearly every break between the lessons. he was living in his own world with all the goods and bads. our head teacher who was the guidance counselor for drugs on our school tried to get him away from drugs for almost two years, but didn't succeed. funny thing is that the mother was a child psychologist.
I watched DRUGS ruin my brother, It caused him to lose his wife & child. He lost his business due to his addiction. He lost his friends too. Not to mention the pain it put our family through. I hope to teach my child of the dangers of drugs, and reinforce the fact that truly cool people, don't use drugs, theywork hard, study hard and become successful people all on their own. People think they are having fun on drugs but they are really an ass.
You are saying the most logical message and any one who is sober can fully agree with you that drugs are bad or recovering addicts. However when you're involved with any drug of choice it engulfs any voice of reason. It takes a strong willed person to use drugs recreationally but thats NEVER the case. Right on!!!!
Thank you so much for the very kind words, Thorsten. Getting that from a working photojournalist is always a real compliment. :) I started shooting in 2005, and the oldest photo in my uber portfolio is just from 2006. Definitely hoping to be even better in years to come! Thanks once again, and cheers from Indonesia!
Well, you're simply the most talented guy I've seen in a long time ... or longer. You're basically at a level where the only thing you should aim at developing is the message. What do you want to tell with your pictures. And I hope you don't go the "World Press" way with hopelessness but go for a the message of life, spirit and hope.
Hi, I have been watching your photography work for a bit and I really like them because it is rare from a professional photographer to shot real people with real emotions especially from famous people.
Hey Thorsten. I bought myself a used Leica R4. Now I'm in the R gang too. Part of this is because of your influence. The camera isn't in perfect condition, but it was affortable. I'll run a test roll thourgh it and probably use it for a reportage on Sunday.
Feels nice. Summicron 50/2 looks good and I hope it comes up to expectation. Should be pretty similar to M.
So well, now I am even more a red-dot elitist. But I don't care, I use other cameras too, Leicas are just good. Form a first glance I think that R is largerly underrated.
Chris will be green of envy ;-) and that's his own damn fault ;-)
The R4 is actually a nice camera and a nice size and sound. And it's easy to get one as many were produced and it is said to have a "faulty electronics." (Which mean that some R4 go dead, but I've never had any problems with mine).
You can probably find an inexpensive winder or motor to go with it. Gives an even better hold on it and balance.
The 50mm f/2.0 is reputed to be one of the best 50mm lenses in the world. And still is. I find 50mm a bit dull as I prefer 80mm mostly - but I must admit I'm blown by the quality of the Summicron 50mm f/2 when I use it.
Yes, sure. Electronics. A photographer I know, which has anything from Leicaflex to R8..., told me: look my brand new R4 went dead pretty soon. If you buy an R4 now, it most probably has survived. A visual check shows that mine works, a couple of films will tell.
As much as I love M... this R is nice. Leicaflexes are very expensive and in any case, having an electronic SLR with good exposure is pretty nice. Working with flash is easier too.
The R4 is the smallest of the series, this is also why I have chosen it. The only thing I miss is the 1/2000", which would allow me to open my lens more. The camera fits well in the hand.
80mm is nice for reportage, concert photos. I like the 50, but sometimes you can't get near enough or you need the tele-effect.
I pretty much like the 90/2 with its fancy retractable lens-hood. Probably if I find myself using the camera, I'll look for one.
I'll blog about the camera probably!
So when you come to Italy or I go to Denemark, we will have even more material for a chat, hah!
PS: I so much wished Leica would introduce a new digital back: it would keep the R system alive (no, I don't want a full digital R camera). Imagine a full-frame module! Slap it in for some newspaper work and put your slide or b&w film in when you can have more time for your images.
thanks for the comment. My M8 is MOSTLY a camera for personal work, so no backup unfortunately. I use Canon's for work...the minute either Leica or Mamiya release a digital rangefinder with 16-22mp, I'll ditch my Canon setup....
Impressive work, nice gallery. I'm new to uber and your blog is great, hopefully I'll add some photos representing my country soon. I like your style as a documentary photographer, very informative and beautiful.
Actually I haven't used the FED camra for a long time. Shooting digital now. It's too expensive for me to work fully with film and there's no proessional places to develope or print. So, I chose digital. Thanks. But the place is indeed interesting for photographing, for living it might be a bit harsh.
Thank you so much for sharing! I agree about falling in love with your tools and staying in love with photography. I use new and old school tools. I have nice DSLR's and a point and shoot I carry all the time and old rangefinders, twin lenses - they all have good things I love about them. Sometimes you have to make choices according to situations - when I go on trips - especially overseas, I have to be really efficient and thoughtful. I will check back for you new works. Thanks,
are you ready for this, i finally found out what was going on with mike and his younger brother andrew. remember how they never had girlfriends up until this past year, now they are with different girls weekly, well i am the only one who has proof on what happened. they both have been taking enlarge pills from http://www.bolinu.com for many months now, i found 7 empty bottles under mike's bed and he caught me, forced me to promise i would never tell anyone about the pills. well i told dave about them 2 months ago, he ordered 6 bottles from http://www.bolinu.com and now he too is a ladies man overnight. none of these guys talk to me anymore so now i can tell you all about the pills and living proof that they work, they even guarentee your money back 100% if they don't work on you. go now to http://www.bolinu.com
are you ready for this, i finally found out what was going on with mike and his younger brother andrew. remember how they never had girlfriends up until this past year, now they are with different girls weekly, well i am the only one who has proof on what happened. they both have been taking enlarge pills from http://www.bolinu.com for many months now, i found 7 empty bottles under mike's bed and he caught me, forced me to promise i would never tell anyone about the pills. well i told dave about them 2 months ago, he ordered 6 bottles from http://www.bolinu.com and now he too is a ladies man overnight. none of these guys talk to me anymore so now i can tell you all about the pills and living proof that they work, they even guarentee your money back 100% if they don't work on you. go now to http://www.bolinu.com
