Charlie Weiss, who travels the world, has long dreamed of owning a navy blue Leica, and this dream has now come true as the "LEICA T “CHALIE VICE” Special Selection." In May, a model shooting event will be held exclusively for purchasers. For one day only, limited to 20 people, photographer Ryoma Kashiwagi will be giving a direct lecture. "I will talk about the basics, such as how to place your finger on the shutter button of the navy blue Leica T," he says enthusiastically.
Part 1 is here.


From the M- type Leica to the "Leica T"

--Mr. Kashiwagi, you switched from a Leica M to a Leica T. Did you like it from the start?

I first tested it at the Le Mans Classic, a classic car racing event held in France, and I immediately liked it because the handling was better than the M-type.

—How do you use the Leica T?

I'm using a Leica T body with an M lens. I primarily use manual focus, estimating the focus by eye. I honed my estimating skills using M-type cameras, so I can judge focus in increments of a few centimeters. At Le Mans Classic, I took 600 shots, and only 4 were out of focus.



—So you're using the Leica T like a Leica M?

When using an M-type camera, you can see the focus accurately, so it's used exactly the same way as an M. However, with an M-type camera, you support the camera at three points and practice so that the horizontal and vertical lines are correct the moment you frame it, but because the Leica T is smaller, the horizontal and vertical lines tend to waver, so when you want to get them straight, you have to rely on the display. There are three variations in how to frame the Leica T, which I will teach you at the model shooting event.


What is the appeal of Leica as a camera for creating images?

--Mr. Kashiwagi, you've been using Leica for a long time. What do you find most appealing about it?

Simply put, it's "high-definition." The image doesn't break down at the center or edges of the screen, and the lens design is solid. Also, especially with the M-type, it doesn't break even if you drop it or bump it. The M-type I used had a misaligned viewfinder, but I was still able to use it even though it was broken.

—What is the appeal of the Leica T?

The Leica T is a camera that makes you want to take pictures. It brought back the excitement I felt the first time I took a picture. I don't like cameras that scream "I'm taking pictures," so I wanted something stylish. The fact that the Leica T can be used in everyday life is a major appeal.


Please tell me your tips for taking good photos.

—I imagine you get a lot of questions from camera enthusiasts about things like "tips for taking good pictures."

That's a very difficult question to answer, but ultimately, I think it comes down to the amount of knowledge you have. Everyone wants to "frame their shots well," but where do good framing and good photo opportunities come from? It all comes down to "ideas."

—That was an idea that came to you in an instant.

This might sound philosophical, but the clearer you are about what you think about and what you see on a daily basis, the better you can frame your shots. While many photography books are written about various things, photography is ultimately a confrontation with time. I believe the most important thing is to use all of your current self to decide on the composition.


LEICA T “CHALIE VICE” Special Selection
□Price: 313,200 yen (Limited to 20 sets)
□Set Contents■ "LEICA T" camera body (lens sold separately)
■YUHAKU Leather Furoshiki (Lining: Made by Edo Komon Hirose)
■Photographer Ryoma Kashiwagi's work (postcard size)
[Purchase Bonus] Participation in a model shooting event with Ryoma Kashiwagi (scheduled for late May)

*All prices include tax.

Photo: Ozawa Tatsuya

Ryoma Kashiwagi
Born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1976. Studied under the late photographer Yoshikuni Okumura. Debuted in 1999 with a cover photo for Newsweek magazine, beginning his career as a photojournalist and publishing his work as a documentary specialist, primarily in Israel. After working for publications such as NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, he based himself in Paris in 2008. He signed an exclusive artist contract with the Paris gallery PHOTO 4/LWS, transitioning into a full-time photographer. He unifies the theme of his work with "beautiful and ephemeral."
Top 75 in the LEICA OSKAR BARNACK PREIS 2009, Top 25 in the LEICA FOTOGRAFIE INTERNATIONAL 35mm Competition, and in 2015, with the support of Leica Camera Japan, exhibited works at Ginza Mitsukoshi in the "ginza troposphere" exhibition and at Daikanyama in the "LeMans classic/Racers" exhibition.


CHALIE VICE
Charlie Vice is always traveling somewhere in the world. He has talented friends all over the globe. He knows all about how to enjoy life... CHALIE VICE is a brand that shares things and experiences that enrich life, created by Charlie and his friends. THE GALLERY by CHALIE VICE, located on the 8th floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , is a collection of "ways to enjoy life" that he has gained from his many travels.
http://www.imn.jp/feature/chalie-vice

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