Ditas Clements

Explore the visual journey of Ditas Clements as she shares her experience from shooting photography.

"I have always wanted a Leica although I had been a loyal Nikon user since I was in college. I started with a Nikormat EL. I come from a family of artists and growing up (I am the youngest girl in a family of 8), I was frustrated because I couldn’t draw. My mother, my support and pillar, encouraged me by buying me my first camera, a Kodak Instamatic. Then, I got a cheap film camera, and I would take pictures of my classmates and family. I grew up learning to use the Kodak Brownie, loading the film and remembering to manually roll the film forward. I was drawn more to the film camera that would manually wind up than the Instamatic.

In college, I majored in Mass Communications, where I took up photography. My brother-in-law lent me his Yashica rangefinder. It was challenging, but it was the only one I had access to, until in school taking photography classes, they loaned out Pentax SLR’s to the students. I learned to develop my film and print my own photos. Again, with my parents’ support, I built a dark room. I equipped the darkroom with stuff I bought from a boyfriend of one of my friends. It was really good equipment, a Durst enlarger, timer, the whole nine yards. Then, I moved to America.

Initially, I continued taking photos, but this got put aside to make a living and support myself. I did manage to afford the Nikon F3 but had many issues with it. Fast forward to two decades later, I got myself a mirrorless, Nikon D3S. I was happy with it but still pined for THE LEICA. The closest I got to it was buying the LUMIX with the Leica lens. In the meantime, my cousin in New York had just purchased an M9-P with two lenses and was just raving about it, coaxing me to get one. Then, one sunny day, I went over to Samy’s to check out the Leica. I met the nicest, most patient person you could ever meet, TIBOR SZILAGYI. The stars aligned, he was not busy, and he just happened to have the M240. He was so patient and generous with his time.

I didn’t buy it that day though. A week later, after thinking about it all day every day for a long time, “Someday…I will have a Leica.” I decided my someday was NOW! I started with the 50mm Summilux. Michael Wetzel at the Leica boutique found me a used 90mm lens. The images I captured were as I had imagined they would be. I just needed to be a better photographer.

I wear progressive glasses, so I purchased the EVF, which has helped a lot with the focusing, even better than when I have my glasses. When I shoot with the Leica M240, I indulge in it as a guilty pleasure. I am shooting for me. I have no agenda, no pose or moment to capture, just “the moment.” I do not rush. I take my time.

With the Lumix which had the Leica lens, I was happy until I read about the Leica Q- the compact full-frame 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor. I wanted a camera that was portable, easy to handle and carry around. I can’t always take the M240 and don’t always have the time, especially when traveling. I read the Q could also take great macro photos, which I thought made it a MH- must have! When I went to Samy’s to check it out, the Ebi Kuehne was there. He showed me all the bells and whistles of the Q. After the demo, I went from MH to GHI- gotta have it! Samy’s was having a show downtown LA for their 40th anniversary and was offering a special discount. Well, that was all I needed to decide (not that I needed arm-twisting). I went home with a Q that afternoon

A couple of years later, while I was happy with my Q, I wanted to see if Leica had an auto-focus camera that was more substantial with more range. I was looking for the same quality that came with Leica cameras and lenses, with the added convenience and speed I was getting from my Q. Introducing the Leica SL- it sounded like it was “THE ONE!” I learned someone had just turned in a slightly used SL. As luck or fate would have it, I also met a guy who was selling his 24-90 mm lens, so I met up with him and checked out the lens.

He trusted me enough to give me the lens right then and there. It must be a Leica Users Code of Ethics as we had yet to exchange payment. To date, the SL has been one of my most used cameras. I lug it around shooting basketball games, weddings, etc. I am not by any means professional, but I have assisted a friend in a few gigs. The SL, a mirrorless camera with an electric viewfinder and electronic shutter is so versatile and easy to handle. Combined with the versatility of the 24-90, I can use it in tight quarters as well as bigger venues like basketball courts and churches. Also, the f2.8-4 maximum aperture allows me to take photos in more varied lighting conditions.

I shoot mostly friends and family. Now, I am thinking of creating a space in my company’s inter-office connect portal, featuring photos and tips, where employees can submit and vote for a favorite photo of the month.

At Photoville, I had the pleasure of using the M Monochrom, mounted with the 16-18-21! And the hunt is on!"