David and LeicaM6 in Vienna

Vienna, as we all know, is a huge city and such cities can have many hidden corners.

One of them is Westbahnstraße 40. A space where the Leica vintage shop, westlicht and premises with photography studios for product photography needed by the shop are located.

A friend who works there showed me this part of the city and I immediately fell in love with it, as it was peaceful and yet very close to the city centre. And most importantly, it hosted a huge number of shops with photographic equipment.

From used old film cameras to the latest models that we come across in the news. You could find everything. So it was no surprise to anyone when I expressed my wish to do a work placement with him. After a few conversations, a visit to the company and the studios, I soon found myself on the train to Vienna again and with a work contract.

The initial impressions were great. From very friendly colleagues to a very pleasant working environment. The possibility of relaxed work with colleagues who are happy to help you and give you advice is worth its weight in gold for a newcomer to the company. I did not need too many instructions to be able to help and assist with the photography of products intended for online sales and the shop.

After work, there was often some socialising with colleagues. And with that, a pleasant discovery of a beautiful city.

Although I had visited Vienna many times before, now that I had started working in it, I fell in love with it even more. Because of the sport Bike polo (Hardcourt bike polo) and participation in international tournaments, I met many players from Vienna and other Austrian cities. So I had the help of acquaintances in the city who could advise and help me. And of course friends with whom I could socialise when work was over.

The work I did there would become very monotonous and uninteresting for many. But my great curiosity and interest in photography and photographic equipment were never satisfied. So I photographed each product with new interest and in doing so learnt about all possible camera models and how they are used.

After photographing the products, before I sent them for publication on the website, there followed some documentation and processing of the photographs.

So in two months of work placement I photographed all types of cameras and lenses.

With my mentor, who has a large collection of cameras of all formats, we often went on a photographic walk. So I also managed to practically get to know and use different cameras. One of the first that made my hand itch was of course a Leica. I had the opportunity to take it for a walk. Leica M6 was the model with which I got to know the so-called " Leica charm" and after using it I can say that there really is something to it. It is equipment with pleasant ergonomics and excellent quality. Leica with its simplicity enables unhindered and simple photography. It does not become a photographer's tool, but part of them. This is how it should be with every system or every camera. I got a similar feeling when using Fujifilm. A system that I use for personal and professional work.

Working in Vienna put me into the actual life of a photographer. A photographer who works. A photographer who does not dream about this and that and sits at home waiting for a good photograph to hit them in the face.

A photographer who wakes up in the morning, gets ready and goes to work. And when work is finished, lives.

I advise everyone to live. Find work, a hobby, a club, something that introduces you to others and connects you with them. It is not just about the connections you have and what you gain from them. It is about the friends you make, it is about the faces to which you can attach a real name and laugh with them. Such faces are willing to help you. And these faces can offer you new experiences and new knowledge that build you and take you forward on your life path. The second thing I would advise is to make the most of the opportunities that the institute offers you. Without the support of Academia Institute of Technology Maribor and the Erasmus+ programme, I would have been deprived of this experience and that would have been immensely sad.

Move around and do not forget to take time for people.

Photo: David Pintarič – Vienna city walks with Leica M6

Source: Academia (18. 9. 2019).

This English summary was produced automatically from the Slovenian article and is pending editorial review. Slovenska različica