Leica IIIa: A Family Affair (a NEW "Through the Lens of History" episode!)

[@3BMEP]

Guys, your comments have been so thoughtful and generous - every one of them deserves more of a response than a couple of emojis. There aren’t enough hours in the day for me to respond as fully as I’d like, but I do want to acknowledge each of you. So… although it is not an individualized response, let me write: thank you. Thank you for sharing, thank you for your kindness and humor. We have one heck of an audience here. Claudia & I are mindful and grateful for that fact every day.

[@Otokichi786]

My Leica IIIa is/was a family camera, with a 50mm f/1.5->9 Taylor-Hobson Xenon. This uncoated, pre-World War II, "speed lens" was afflicted with dirt and hazy lens elements. It was a step or two above a Holga, so I replaced it with a coated, 1950's 50mm f/3.5 collapsible Elmar. That lens was an improvement, producing great negatives and Kodachrome slides. (50mm f/2 Summitars and Summars were collector's items in the late 1960's, so I settled for the "ordinary lens.) I did yearn for an M-series Leica, but settled on a Canon P with a 50mm f/1.8 Canon lens. Since I didn't buy "a blue chip investment," I spent money on Leica screw mount lenses, instead. (28mm f/2.8 Canon and 105mm f/2.5 Nikkor).

[@dutchovenguy]

I began in the 1950s with a Leica IIIC. It was stolen from me in 1964. I loved it dearly except when loading film.It was quite compact with the 50mm Summitar collapsable lens.

[@ansgarbook712]

Hugh as always worth seeing it. Thank you!

[@3BMEP]

🙏🏻😊🖖🏻

[@ansgarbook712]

@@3BMEP Hilde Hubuch Auststelllung in Trier...wont make it there but interesting...maybe they have a catalogue?

[@brochg]

I'm wishing you and Claudia the happiest of holidays. May they be filled with love, happiness, and be a reminder of just how blessed we all are.

[@3BMEP]

And to you and yours, Broch!

[@brochg]

@@3BMEP Thank you!

[@joekearns6936]

Excellent.

[@englishmaninsweden]

My lifelong love for photography (and all the toys) was created the first time my father showed me his Leica IIIg when I was small. Just the tactile experience of holding it and the sounds it made hooked me for life.

[@garydmorris]

From your infant pictures I can see the origin of "Hold that thought".

[@julesc5571]

An absolute gem of a film, Hugh. Beautiful 🖤

[@blakemartin9445]

Beautiful film. It allowed me to recall my own story, beginning with my dad’s Zeiss Super Ikonta B, acquired by him on the black market during WWII in the pacific. I still occasionally use it.

[@3BMEP]

Thanks for sharing!

[@leslumieres1237]

What a beautiful and moving vlog. I had seen it already a year ago, but after I saw a similar video on the excellent Analogue Insights (you yourself commented on this Leica family history) I went back to your video again. The longivety of Leica and the value put on this camera by its owners, makes epic stories possible, however grim they sometimes are. Great respect for the way in which these two stories are told.

[@mikeyjhn]

This really moved me. Each of us has a moment or collection of moments that sets us on a path to create, share, inspire and communicate. Quite powerful and beautiful.

[@richardsimms251]

Nice video. Thank you

[@3BMEP]

Thank you too!😊🖖🏻

[@jackmatthews9390]

Sorry, I just had this in my feed a year later but Hugh, Hugh it was very well done. everyone commented on it and I cannot add, but the film added to me. Most of us start out being wondering generalities, some, like you, have become meaningful specifics.

[@3BMEP]

😊🙏🏻🖖🏻

[@throtol]

My Leica iiif is in service and I found a Leica iiia in the meantime for a couple of hundred dollars with a fresh CLA. I am excited to use it and watched your video in preparation. Ironically, when I heard that the camera was manufactured in 1938, the first thing that came into mind for me was Kristallnacht. Thank you for mentioning it. As time goes on, it is important to remember all of the people that lost their lives for no reason.

[@PeterAKnipp]

Thank you Hugh for your inspiration! Magic! 👍🏻

[@3BMEP]

😊🖖🏻

[@martinscholz6613]

Bravo. Simply your best video. Personal family story told on dark background of history with a huge ease. Chapeau.

[@3BMEP]

🙏🏻🖖🏻

[@jaredgotcher]

This is awesome, Hugh. Hoping my Leica M3 will be a similarly treasured heirloom.

[@3BMEP]

I’m sure it will!

[@JennyDarukat]

I really appreciated this little bit of extra history about your own (and your family's, friend's) life - super cool that you got to do this as part of a memorial event (is that the right word here), I'm sure you enjoyed getting to talk about her to the people putting all this together.

[@jlmtrout]

Such a story, such history! Thank you for sharing. I "borrowed" my grandfathers Argus C3 in 1968 when I found it in his attic storage space. I apologized and returned it a number of years later after using it in my high school photography club. The club had access to US government surplus B&W film that arrived on large rolls. The film was free to us and we were taught how to develop it ourselves. Every once in a while some smell will trigger memories of the chemicals that we used bare handed and in a little ventilated room, I wonder how many brain cells I've killed....? Thanks Hugh, I love your "through the lens" videos.

[@DrJRaven]

Thank you so very much for sharing your journey. The film was absolutely amazing. Again, thank you from a friend and fan down under in Sydney, Australia.

[@edn.3442]

What a great story and video! Loved many of your pictures too; many of which I have never seen. Thanks for creating and posting it!

[@3BMEP]

Truly my pleasure and privilege!

[@selbyshanly6747]

Brilliant presentation. So creative and novel.

[@3BMEP]

🙏🏻😊🖖🏻

[@macbookdieter]

Enjoyed the story. I put a roll of film through one of my IIIf rd last weekend.

[@davehollis4476]

I have just read through a few articles on her (the one from the city of Trier and a Wikipedia article in German). She was a very modern woman - even by today's standards - and, of course, also an exceptional photographer. I enjoyed your lovely film but her story warrants and deserves a much longer film. The same goes for her work, one or more, books are also needed. Anyhow, thank you for making a part of her life public. I thought I knew most of the names of those Bauhaus women who were, in the main and in contrast to the men, the unsung heroes who only in recent years have been recognised as the artists they were. Last but not least: Get the camera working again and make some photos with it!

[@johnsexton3841]

I wonder if the city of Trier, some Jewish organization and/or the EU (under the arts grants maybe?) would have an interest in funding a full-length film of her story. In any case, I agree with Dave about getting that camera up and running the streets of NY...and eventually Trier?

[@4mooncheese]

An incredible piece of history. I purchased a IIIa some time back in the hope of getting into some film photography. Keep up the amazing work.

[@3BMEP]

😊🙏🏻🖖🏻

[@tomklein_photo]

Hugh, I was actually at the library in Trier when Magdalena Palica showed this film for the first time. In fact, I gave a presentation about the evolution of photography from the 19th to the 20th century just before it....and that presentation's cover slide showed a picture of my Leica IIIc. So it was a perfect transition to your film! Oh - and since I know you from youtube for quite a while, I was really surprised to see that the "American photographer" who owns Hilde's Leica was actually you ;-)

[@3BMEP]

Thanks so much for sharing! Small world! 😊🖖🏻

[@svend-erikeriksen6138]

Very lovely story. Your images are also quite striking. Thank you for telling this story.

[@3BMEP]

Thanks you!

[@markaustin614]

Simply excellent…thanks Hugh!

[@3BMEP]

Thank you, Mark!

[@williamburkholder769]

Nice work, Hugh! I love the storytelling, and your street work is classic.

[@3BMEP]

🙏🏻😊🖖🏻

[@jeffgrischow1734]

A fabulous, moving and important film, Hugh, thanks for sharing it! I love what you’ve done with the story. My wife’s grandmother came to North America under the same circumstance as Hilde, so your film was deeply significant for her, too. The images are terrific (Hilde’s and yours!), and it was nice to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your street photography. Terrific work!

[@3BMEP]

I knew I liked you, Jeff! 😉

[@albertmeyer8983]

Beautiful video Hugh!

[@3BMEP]

Thanks so much - glad you enjoyed it!

[@leonarddavis8449]

A joy.

[@robertrosario966]

I love the story and history .I started out with a polaroid swinger for my first camera 'but I got better went and got a cannon tlb and after that a nikon fm2 now thanks to whatching your youtube channel also other photogripher channel I now own a hasselblad d1xm2 with 3 lenes Im learning in my joy.

[@lawrencehorowitz9291]

Fabulous video storytelling and wonderful pictures of New York. I also wonder what we have learned since 1938.

[@3BMEP]

Apparently, not enough…

[@stuartmeador8993]

Wow! I remember as a kid, the local photographer went door-to-door and made the 'same' photographs of my family & dog on our living room sofa.

[@johonew-EdD]

What a fabulous story…I especially enjoyed it as I am trying to explore my photography roots and this is inspiring. You weave an important sub story into your journey; I look forward to you sharing more of it with us in the future.

[@3BMEP]

😊🖖🏻

[@yungsoohong28]

just to share: One of a very powerful trick is that edit you DNG in Lightroom is that first turn it in 32bit tif in Photoshop, before doing any edit in Lightroom.

[@MichaelRapp_Lichtgeplauder]

11/9 - A date, actually two dates forever etched into Germany's memories. The first, Kristallnacht, a date of shame, as an overture of the horrors to come. The same date, in '89, the Berlin wall fell, as the world wished they were in Berlin, too. Probably the only time I ever felt pride in being german. Thank you for that excelent video Hugh, there cannot be enough reminders of the horrors that had passed. Especially in times like these.

[@studiosnch]

9. November is also when several other historical events in Germany took place, including both Kristallnacht and the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Rewboss had a feature on this date. However officially it is 3. October that has the most relevance to Germany, for it is Unity Day -- when the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was finally incorporated into the Federal Republic, making the Germany that we know today.

[@MichaelRapp_Lichtgeplauder]

@@studiosnch yeah, we decided to make it officially Oct 3rd. Although nobody has an emotional connection with old guys signing documents instead of people celebrating on the wall. Because the other date really wouldn't fly with history. And any sense of good taste in the history of ever.

[@thegreatvanziniphotos5976]

That was very nice, Hugh. If it could only talk it would keep enthralled for days. I still have my 1940 something Leica's.

[@mrdavie99]

Let me add my thoughts. i was blown away after finding my way to the German museum website with images by the Hubbuch's and other Jewish photographers. Additionally, the Bahause was an important topic for me in architecture school many years. I am intrigued by the amazing photos but having trouble finding any photo books of more of these 20's images. Also from the museum website I read about the journey Hilde Hubbuch made to the US.

[@Silverjag1997]

Superb.

[@3BMEP]

🙏🏻😊🖖🏻

[@abp2861]

Great film mate👍🏻👍🏻

[@3BMEP]

🙏🏻😊

[@Jylakir]

Allways interessting to see this part of my german history through the lens of people which are the the ancestors of germans who fled the country because it ascended into madnes. I was allways currious why you sticked so much to leica but this seems to be very personal, still have the camera which took your beating and still produces pictures of pure joy.

[@3BMEP]

A clarification: my IIIa never recovered from my tinkering! But getting it into working order IS a 2022 objective.

[@Jylakir]

@@3BMEP Good luck with that. Could be interessting to see the pictures from this camera.

[@ChuckAbles]

As always, with your deep, philosophical, thoughtful commentary, it gave me pause and brought tears as I thought about it. Origin story? I grew up in the films hay days of the 60's and 70's. An Argus PalmMatic 110 Film Camera was my main camera of choice for the longest time, fit nicely in the cargo pocket of field uniform in the Marine Corps. Naturally, dabbled with 35mm slr's never caught the bug you might say and digital come on the scene. Fell in love with the concept and if there is an origin story for me, because I'm still trying figure if I have one, it's was about the time digitals were coming and my eldest son went into the Marine Corps a year after 9/11. He graduated high school a few months before going to boot camp and will retire next year. Having said that, with 3 kids still around I had to take more pictures and I had to do better. My photography has evolved, I'm still learning, still experimenting, kids are all grown embracing their challenges, went back to using film to balance, and I still have no idea what I'm doing. An ol' man needs a hobby before he retires. Well done, Hugh. Thank you.

[@andychandler3992]

I recently purchased a IIIb that I realized, after researching (being a historian at a museum has benefits) was a Leitze Freedom Train Camera. I ended up giving my IIIB to a museum and purchased a IIIa. I just couldn't photos with the first one.

[@3BMEP]

Thank you for that, Andy. Which museum?

[@andychandler3992]

Ernie Pyle birthplace and wwii museum in Dana Indiana. I work there. Leica customer service is phenomenal. when I needed to know where the batch that my camera came from went to, they sent back a photo of the log entry with Ernst Leitz's signature, date, and destination for the serial. All in 48 hours from my first inquiry. It was astonishing

[@andychandler3992]

@@3BMEP Mine was delivered to New York in July 1938. It's not a chrome, so that was the first hint it was a freedom train camera. Things just went on from there.

[@gregoryowain2073]

Hang on it feels like the end is a teaser for something else. Is there somewhere we can watch the full conversation you have about the camera? Looks interesting.

[@andrewward7042]

Loving my new CL Hugh. The perfect travel camera (with 23mm Summicron). One of my first cameras was a 111G.

[@3BMEP]

Delighted for you - enjoy!

[@andrewward7042]

@@3BMEP Thank you Hugh :-)

[@johnyoung1606]

I Luv Your Story HUGH ..... Interesting Things Shape Our History.... My Great Grand Parents Left Germany Around the Same Time :( :) :( :)

[@kapilesh14]

I rarely click like on videos on youtube even when I like the content. I don't know why, I subscribe to the youtuber and like them but hardly ever like the video. But this is the first video I clicked like to after a very long time.

[@3BMEP]

Glad you liked it!

[@charlieb.4273]

Hugh, your artistry does proud all those who came before, and inspires all who come after. Great video. A small request. When you use writing on the screen to contribute to the story, can you leave it up a little longer? Although a 13th generation American with multiple graduate degrees - which only goes to show that I have an adequate understanding of the English language - nothing more, I could not read the text fast enough and had to use the back button to understand what was written. Your fan, Charlie in Virginia

[@3BMEP]

🙏🏻🖖🏻 As for the request: I WILL try harder!

[@3BMEP]

@@walkingmeditation61 this is a big reason why I chose getting an SL2 before my next M. There are no good answers for protecting an M system from the elements - although there IS a photograph of Eisenstaedt carrying his Leica in one hand and an umbrella in the other!

[@SLLYT]

Well done!

[@3BMEP]

Thank you!

[@kaneclements7761]

Good evening (here in the UK) Hugh. What is a beautiful and moving story. Your own distinctive creative aesthetic is perfectly matched to the story. Why that might be I wonder?

[@3BMEP]

😉

[@JPWineberg]

Amazing! I have my Grandmothers iiib and would love to trace its history. Is this possible? I have a copy of the original receipt from the 30’s, from a camera store in Chicago.

[@3BMEP]

You already have at least as much information as Leica!

[@ccbphoto]

Great and profound story…. Plus, Baby Hugh! You’re so lucky to still have this camera. Have you thought of sending it to Leica for repair?

[@3BMEP]

Hi, Craig. I will drive it to DAG, I think, unless someone knows of someone closer to New York.

[@ccbphoto]

@@3BMEP DAG?

[@3BMEP]

@@ccbphoto Highly regarded independent Leica repair shop.

[@rafamorenoc]

Great history :D

[@3BMEP]

👍🏻🖖🏻

[@elmachomen]

Absolutely wonderful video Hugh, as always! The photography accompanying it is just incredible. On another note, I thought there was supposed to be an announcement from Leica today or did I just make that up? I was under the impression that you went to Wetzlar too.. All the love from Scotland!

[@3BMEP]

Don’t know about announcements, but I was not at the LOBA ceremonies. 😎

[@maze400]

I keep waiting for "hold that thought", never happened so hold that thought..... Sharing on my FB page for others to enjoy....

[@Philipp4594]

Wow i saw your video an i was shocked I live in trier and i did not know about Hilde I defenitly have to take a visit in the Archiv

[@3BMEP]

😊👍🏻🖖🏻

[@saymyname218]

I learnt more from owning a Leica 111a than any camera ..

[@richarddenise3886]

Hugh the Mensch !!!

[@3BMEP]

🙏🏻😊🖖🏻

[@TheVFXbyArt]

2:59 The Original “hold that thought…”

[@3BMEP]

Hah!

[@cellardoor7500]

First and I love your videos so much

[@3BMEP]

😊🙋🏼‍♂️🖖🏻

[@TucsonBillD]

What have we learned since… apparently nothing.

[@MikeJohnson-nj1ry]

I love Leicas. I really can't justify the price. I've had a Nikon FTN, an EL, A F3 titanium, a FE and a D850. I can take pictures and print them on 2 feet by 3 feet and you can see very grain in wood. As photographers learned in Vietnam, Nikons were more robust.