581 I worry that i am maybe just too critical or too judgemental, so i wanted to share this and see how everyone felt and see what sort of insights or thoughts you migth have on it. there is a new agency launched (in san francisco) called "group35M." apparently the deal is that all of the photographers use leicas. you can check their site at: http://www.groupm35.com/ in theory, it sounds like a quaint idea. because in theory, the style of people who shoot rangefinders is different. i think what i found annoying was in the description or manifesto about the agency. it says "Our members are all Leica photographers, which is the most obvious explanation for the superior quality of our printed work (over that of any other agency)." maybe i need to make a disclaimer. i have owned a few leicas, and i love the way the negs look, but reading this hit me as pretentious. there is some nice work up on the site, and some that is less than inspirational, but i find it awkward that this company chooses brand loyalty over image content. is this just me, or does this come off as phony? i want to be supportive of anyone who is willing to pursue something in a new way, but i also want to feel like if some thing is lame, i can feel free to call people on it. also, i understand that this is their company and they should be able to run it as they see fit and pursue their goals and dreams, but as a professional storyteller i like to think that people in my line of work are willing to focus on the subjects and not the gear. aren't the story and the subject what is important, not they tool they are told with? one of the photographers involved told me the main goal was to sell prints, which i think is a great idea. i just find it funny that they are willing to say that the work is "superior." can or should i start saying that my audio is better because i use marantz? or my DV is better because i use canon? sorry to rant, but i am curious as a kitten. i'd think that if they reword the way they present themselves, then maybe i'd be joined with dozens of other shooters who aren't interested in shooting with leicas, but are interested in applauding people doing their own thing. i hope that these guys aren't lame or pretentious, and i hope they have a terribly successful business out of it and that it helps them get to the stories they want to be telling. feel free to tell me if you think i'm being a jerk or being dumb. i won't be offended. i promise, david... 119 2005-03-25T18:46:05Z 0 2008-08-10T22:21:52Z false 682 false 26724 2008-08-10T22:21:52Z arlington, va true false group35m---a-new-agency 1 2008-08-10T22:21:52Z 384