West Village | Corner Bistro
Leica M6 TTL, 50mm Noctilux, Agfa APX 400.

Corner Bistro, West Village © Doug Kim
Leica M6 TTL, 50mm Noctilux, Agfa APX 400.

Corner Bistro, West Village © Doug Kim
Above all, I craved to seize the whole essence, in the confines of one single photograph, of some situation that was in the process of unrolling itself before my eyes.
-Henri Cartier-Bresson

HAMBURG, West Germany—Around the neck of a young man hangs a sign that reads, "I am looking for any kind of work," December 1952-January 1953. © Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos

DESSAU, Germany—A transit camp, located between the American and Soviet zones, was organized for refugees, political prisoners, POWs, forced laborers, and displaced persons returning from the Eastern front of Germany after having been liberated by the Soviet army. A Belgian woman and former Gestapo informer, being identified as she tried to hide in the crowd, April 1945. © Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos

HAMBURG, West Germany—December 1952-January 1953. © Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos
There were a bunch of people hanging out in front of this local corner mart as I pulled up. It was early evening in the summer, that great time between the days chores and the night’s revelry. There was a group of guys that I wanted to shoot, smoking and lounging by their cars but they were extremely wary of me as it was obvious I was an outsider. I walked up to these girls instead and started chatting, shooting a few frames as the group of guys dispersed quickly in their cars.
I did not get the shots I wanted but I had a good time hanging out and talking with these girls on a sticky summer evening.
Leica M6 TTL, 35mm Summicron, Agfa APX 400.

Dominican Drive, Nashville, Tennessee © Doug Kim

Dominican Drive, Nashville, Tennessee © Doug Kim

Dominican Drive, Nashville, Tennessee © Doug Kim
Brassed and beautiful. One of the great things about Leicas is that when they are used well over the years, brassing takes over the body. The black paint slowly disappears to reveal the warmth of the soft metal below. All of the Leicas that I have continually bought and sold over the years have been production M6 bodies and the top plates are made of a zinc alloy.
No brassing for me unless I buy an MP or an M4 or earlier.
Jim Marshall’s Leica M4:

Jim Marshall's Leica M4
It’s a very fine line to draw about taking pictures, you know, not invading someone’s privacy.
-Jim Marshall
Elliott Erwitt’s Leica M3:

Elliott Erwitt's Leica M3
All the technique in the world doesn’t compensate for the inability to notice.
-Elliot Erwitt
First printing back in 1879, Hatch Show Print is one of the world’s oldest letterpress print shops, now owned and operated by the Country Music Hall of Fame, which is just a block away. Located on Broadway in historic Nashville.
Amazed that I left there without making a purchase.
Shot with a Leica M6 TTL, 35mm Summicron, Agfa APX 400.

Hatch Show Print, Nashville © Doug Kim

Hatch Show Print, Nashville © Doug Kim

Hatch Show Print, Nashville © Doug Kim
Some offerings from their website:
Flatt & Scruggs Show Poster - Sandy Ridge Sandy Ridge, North Carolina, from 1958. Hatch Show Print, Nashville
Johnny Cash - Triple Johnny. Hatch Show Print, Nashville
Alrico Coal. Hatch Show Print, Nashville
Graves Whole Hog Sausage. Hatch Show Print, Nashville
Shot with a Leica M6 TTL, 35mm Summicron, Kodak Tri-X.

Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Rockefeller Park © Doug Kim

Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Rockefeller Park © Doug Kim

Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Rockefeller Park © Doug Kim

Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Rockefeller Park © Doug Kim

Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Rockefeller Park © Doug Kim
Shot with a Leica M6 TTL, 35mm Summicron, Kodak Tri-X.

Denver Art Museum © Doug Kim

Denver Art Museum © Doug Kim
Shot with an M6 TTL 0.58, 35mm summicron, Kodak Tri-X 400.

Coney Island © Doug Kim
With the recent release of the gorgeous Hermés Limited Edition M7, I thought I’d post just a few of the special M series bodies that Leica has put out over the years. Some are just too slick for words, others are just silly gimmicks. These cameras definitely fall into the collector’s realm to be placed on a shelf behind glass under its own lighting.
There are many limited edition Leicas that are only differentiated by engravings on the top plate or an upgrade in the materials used for the custom hardware. They even produced a one-off M8 specifically made for Woody Allen.
For all the silliness involved in these special Leicas, put one of them in my hand and then ask me if I want it or not.
Here are a few notable limited edition M bodies:
Available in a silver chrome finish and a choice of either orange or toupe calfskin leather. Includes a 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH Summilux, a matching classic round lens hood, a LEICAVIT M rapid winder and a leather carrying strap. Comes packaged in a linen-covered, silk-lined box.
Only 100 of each color have been produced and the current price is $12,950.
If you do purchase one, please purchase another for my friend Amanda and you will have her eternal gratitude. Then, she will leave the camera in her car when she goes shopping at Corte Madera.

Leica M7 limited Edition Hermès

Leica M7 limited Edition Hermès
This is a standard M8 though the lens is a silver finished Elmarit 28mm f2.8 ASPH. At the time of release, price may have been $9,000 but it is available at $7,000 if you can find it. 275 units were made.
This one is my favorite.

Leica M8 White Edition

500 of these M8.2s were released at a price of $10,000. Featuring a matte green vulcanite finish body combined with brushed silver accents and a saddle leather strap, the camera also comes with a 28mm F2.8 lens and a matching canvas and leather camera bag.

Leica Safari M8

Leica Safari M8

Leica Safari M8
Commemorating the 35th anniversary of LHSA, this MP was also paired with a 35mm Summicron ASPH with a matching hammertone lens hood.

LEICA MP LHSA 1968~2003 Grey Hammertone Finish

Top Plate of the LEICA MP LHSA 1968~2003 Grey Hammertone Finish
At one point, this camera was famously featured on eBay for a price of $21,525. It comes paired with a gold-plated 50mm Summilux.

Leica M6 Sultan of Negeri Brunei Darussalam silver jubilee 24ct gold edition

Leica M6 Sultan of Negeri Brunei Darussalam silver jubilee 24ct gold edition

The top plate of this LEICA M6 Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Edition
I would love to see some of the Sultan’s photos though I am sure that he just pays someone to take photos for him.
150 units were made for this edition, paired with a platinum-plated 50mm Summilux and a brilliance-cut diamond in the top plate. His Majesty’s price? $93,499.

LEICA M6 Platinum Sultan of Brunei 50th Birthday Edition, 1995

The top plate of the LEICA M6 Platinum Sultan of Brunei 50th Birthday Edition
You know, without a doubt, that I would still drop this thing on any sidewalk.