Leica (and Leicavit!) spotting behind Bob Dylan

drewbarb

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I just saw this footage of Bob Dylan performing Mr. Tambourine Man at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival, and because I am a geek, one of the first things I spotted is a guy who gets up at the beginning of Dylans song and stands behind him, shooting a few pictures with what appears to be a Leica. He shoots with his left eye behind the finder and uses a Leicavit; you can see him unfold and use the advance lever.

Anyway, it's a fine recording of a great performance and a great song for those of us who like Dylan, too. Just thought I'd share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeP4FFr88SQ
 
I wonder if that photographer in that film clip was Douglas Gilbert?

He worked for "Look" magazine.

It sure looked like him in his younger days.
 
Is it just me or do a lot of Leica users seem to hold their camera in a similar way when not actually shooting but about to shoot and waiting for the moment? Sort of tucked away under the chin and very close to the chest.

You can see him "tucking" it away at 0:57 in that clip.

Maybe this is standard for a lot of photographers Leica or not but I definitely notice quite a few Leica shooters doing this, myself included. It just seems to fit and feel right.
 
Just as amazing and rare and desirable as an original black paint Leica MP or M2 camera, the guitar Bob Dylan is playing here in this film clip is a luscious and rare and super deluxe 1929 Martin O-45, which he had borrowed off Joan Baez for this performance.
 
Is it just me or do a lot of Leica users seem to hold their camera in a similar way when not actually shooting but about to shoot and waiting for the moment? Sort of tucked away under the chin and very close to the chest.

You can see him "tucking" it away at 0:57 in that clip.

Maybe this is standard for a lot of photographers Leica or not but I definitely notice quite a few Leica shooters doing this, myself included. It just seems to fit and feel right.

Doesn't necessarily have to be a Leica. I do that with a lot of my cameras. It's just a way of keeping it close to the eye so you don't have to spend much time getting it there for a quick shot.

PF
 
Seeing the the tantamount non verbal approval of Pete Seeger to Bob's folksy performance in the Newport 1964 music festival contrasts a 180 degree shift to Bob Dylan's " went electric" a year later at the 1965 Newport music festival.

It is reputed that Pete Seeger wanted to cut the electrical power going to the stage to silence Bob and the great Mike Bloomfield's frenzy and electric blues virtuosity on lead guitar, playing his white 1963 Telecaster through a 1965 Epiphone Futura 45 watt tube amp full blast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8yU8wk67gY
 
I pretty sure all those photos of the back of Bob Dylan were not much to write home about.

Yes, I thought the same thing , but then again maybe the photographer wanted a shot of the audience with Bob Dylan framing the right side,( or middle in this case) guitar neck and all in the foreground .

If the photographer was Douglas Gilbert , and a good chance it was, then he had taken some fairly good snaps as a photo journalist for Look magazine, just going by his work of following Bob Dylan around in July 1964 to photograph him.

https://www.douglasrgilbert.com/Bob_Dylan

Going by this photo, it does look like the photographer succeeded very well in his craft.

https://www.douglasrgilbert.com/Bob_Dylan
 
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