The ArgoFlex was my first camera, although I have little memory of using it. Given that I wrote my name and address into the camera’s case (it's my handwriting), I’m sure Behn gave it to me when I was about eight to ten years old. Here are some pictures I took of my family from the only roll I have:
During the fall of 2024, I got interested in the Leica Q2 Monochrom, a digital camera that only produces black and white images. Also, the camera only comes with a single fixed lens, so no ability to use different lenses. The camera’s simplicity, limits, smaller size and weight are all appealing to me. But why would I want a camera that can't take color images? Reviews say that this camera, without the ability to process color, is capable of taking photos with a greater range of grays from white to black and that it handles low light conditions better, i.e. less grainy.
I am curious about black and white. I am drawn to the use of space in a photograph: the shapes, the positive space, the negative space. What would it be like if there was no color and only black, white and so many shades of grey?
Lastly, once I’ve picked up this camera, I’ve already made a decision to shoot black and white images. And that puts me in a different frame of mind.
