Asking other people for money should never be simple or thoughtless or taken for granted.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been considering launching a gofundme project to raise about $15,000 to purchase a new Leica Monochrome, considered one of the first and best – though by no means the most expensive – digital black and white cameras in the world.

I feel comfortable doing this sometime in the next few weeks. I’m not going to be coy.

I don’t charge for my photographs or watermark them, the ones I publish are free to anyone to use in anyway they want. They are my small gifts to the world, each one, and I revel in seeing them used as screen savers or printed out to hang on refrigerators. I’ve given away more than 50,000 photographs, and if I had charged even a small amount for them, I would have earned a lot of money.

But I wish to keep them free.

I have no wish or intention to give up color photographs and I need to get my main camera – my 1Dx repaired, I’m not sure how much that will cost. I am comfortable asking for help in purchasing equipment for work that will be shared, and without outside help, will not be possible. I am 68 years old, I want to grow as an artist, and am not likely to have $15,000 to spare in the next few years.

I like many things about crowdsourcing, it is democratic and individualistic.

To those good people who will inevitably and predictably jeer a bit and wonder why they should help me or anyone to buy an expensive camera, my answer is simple and heartfelt: this project is not for  you, don’t contribute to it. I asked my good friend Ed Gulley, the dairy farmer, what he thought of it and he said “people can send a buck or not. End of story.” Well said.

I consider it manipulative to seek money out of desperation or terror or anxiety. This is not a drama.

Crowdsourcing is being used by writers, artists, singers, photographers and filmmakers all over the world to launch and execute projects since the Great Recession, when money for the arts in all fields has dried up and corporations are far less generous. I have no apologies for seeking a camera in this way, and complete respect and understanding for anyone who doesn’t have money to spare or doesn’t wish to use it in this way.

As Ed said, enough said. This is not an argument.  People are free to support the idea or not.

I want to go to the next level in my photography, that means exploring black and white portraits, of animals, people and of scenes. Leica lenses, considered the best in the world, are also expensive, with this money – the estimate is from B&H Photo –  I will be able to purchase one camera body ($7,450), one 35 mm lens ($4,532), insurance, batteries, etc. I don’t think it’s smart to buy a camera this expensive that is used. And there are very few around.

Why not use my Canon and simply convert to black and white?   Because digital cameras were built for color, not black and white.

Patrick Clarke, a highly regarded photographer and equipment review, wrote on stevehuff.com: “As a black and white film shooter, I’ve looked at digital cameras as hindrance to getting to my final monochrome image. Even the best DSLR doesn’t have the dynamic range and clarity of a good black and white film, and there is a lot of time spent editing color photos to make them look like film. And since I spent my work days in front of a computer, the last thing I want to do is edit color photos in Aperture all night.”

I’ve seen photos taken with the Leica Monochrome, they are remarkable, the  photos are very much like black and white film. There is great detail and shading, I understand why the Leica was Henry Cartier-Bresson’s favorite camera.

I am confident this exploration of black and white would help me see the world anew.  And it might do the same for you.

If I don’t do it this way, it will never happen. I am still researching this project and one thing I want to explore is the possibility of converting one of my two existing cameras to monochrome, there are companies that do this, I am going to talk to them this week and see if it is either affordable or plausible.

The photographers I have spoken with recommend the Leica, if I can get it. It is simply the best and the toughest. It can handle the rough and constant use. I have learned to fall on my cameras so they don’t get hurt.

So, that’s the update. We live in a new world. Just a few years ago, I would have explained the need for a camera like this to support my work to my publisher and they would have helped me to purchase it. I wouldn’t even think of asking them today. I am committed to sharing my work and the creative process as it develops.

I am not writing this in terror or crisis. It would be great to have this camera, I will survive and exist and create without it.

A Leica monochrome will advance my art, but this is not a matter of survival but creativity. I think many of you would benefit from seeing the process and the photos, animals are much on my mind with a camera like this.

This week, I got a number of messages online and off from readers of the blog and my books in support of this idea. One came from Claudia in Florida. She enclosed $20 towards the purchase of the camera, two $10 bills. “I remember way back when you were at the first Bedlam Farm and you first started taking pictures,” she wrote. “My comment online was something to the effect of “Never mind writing, Jon. Take more pictures.” The photos above the valley where your farm was located were perfect, colorful and timeless.’

She wrote that “I believe the right camera can make someone look like a great photographer but there has to be someone with an eye for great subjects, lighting, mood and story. You definitely have that “eye.” So I have no problem supporting your purchase of a new camera or repairing the current one.”

I remember that message,  Claudia, and thanks for this one as well. I was insecure about my photos and messages of encouragement mattered to me.

To me, it is reviews like that one that matter the most. I have some more homework to do – I want to be sure this is the right approach for me – before I ask anyone for support. If I decide to go ahead, I will launch the project site on a couple of weeks and link to it from the blog.

Thanks for following along with me on this, whatever happens.