I am a photographer, I am an artist…I love the tools I use, since I spent so much time and effort acquiring the perfect tool for each job. I currently use a Leica M4 from the late 60′s, the thing is almost 60 years old, but it was well cared for by its previous owner. Leica, like any other camera, it is not perfect, but it is exceptional in the things it does best. I don't usually walk around flashing my camera on the street… I prefer to be judged by my photographs, not by my tools. Besides, I use several cameras depending on my mood… I do, however love my Leica…I also love my Mamiya… They don't have lightmeters, and they are fully mechanical, but then, I still prefer them over having a fully automated camera. When I am not walking about, I use a medium format camera. I use a beaten up Mamiya RB67 SD… The thing is the exact opposite of my Leica! I mean, that thing is huge!! But it gets me the results I want. Whenever I feel playful, I have two lomograph cameras lying around. They are really fun cameras, but they sometimes fail in consistency… I also dislike not having control over my exposures… Lomography cameras are great toys, but they rarely have any controls to adjust them. Again, this brings us to my two workhorses… The Leica and the Mamiya… Both are excellent in their own domains, and both give me the amount of control I need.

And another thing, I guess the most important thing is this…all of these I got second hand and real cheap.(Except for the Leica). I am not rich, afterall… All I want is to take photos! I want to take photographs which I could say that I made them…from conception, to execution…it was all me… I guess that's why I love using fully manual and mechanical tools…they become perfect extensions of myself. They become tools through which I channel my desires, visions, and emotion.

R.M.Detoyato