My Leica arrived today, and I will admit that the camera terrified me. First of all, it is expensive.

Secondly, I’ve never owned a Leica or touched one. This is a huge step for me and thus unnerving.

And finally, I used my wonderful Canon almost every day of my photographic life for ten years.

The Leica is a stranger to me, a small, solid, beautiful machine. But the Iphone comes through for me in color every day.  That is very important. Black and white is a passion, but not every day. For ordinary life, I want color. For art, I’ll use the Leica.

It is logical and almost easy to use (I’m still trying to find the autofocus). Beyond that, I was running back and forth to Moise’s barn-raising all day, and then the power went out for four hours in the farmhouse.

I took two photos outside in the garden; I love to photograph flowers in black and white, and one of an Iphone photo of the barn raising, which I thought fitting.

So I’ll put up these first few photos. They are only a fraction of the range and emotion of this camera, but they do offer a glimpse into it’s extraordinary detail., for me, the heart of the black and white photograph.

First, the lily above. Then below. A barn-raising photo was stored on my Iphone. The phone was four inches from the camera, and it was dark.

Secondly, one of my Zinnia’s at 4 p.m. in sunlight.

Third, a photo of the Leica itself. I’m still afraid of it, but I love it already.

I have a lot to learn with this camera, but it is intuitive, logical, and I can already sniff its wonderfulness. I was hoping you could take a look; I do not regret paying for it with every camera and lens that I have ever own, even though I had nightmares about this all night.