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DDD left, Mydans right.
In June 1950 a young Japanese photographer, Jun Miki, was working at the Tokyo office of “LIFE” magazine. He took some snap shots of LIFE staff photographer David Douglas Duncan with his Leica and a lens that he had borrowed from a friend. Duncan was at first not interested, laughing at what he thought was just a Japanese Sonnar copy.
“LIFE” magazine photojournalists David Douglas Duncan and Horace Bristol had a guided visit to Nikon’s Ohi Plant in Japan. They were able to inspect and compare the lenses of Leitz and Zeiss with the Nikkors and concluded that the Nikkors were actually better.
The Korean war broke out that month and Duncan went to the front with a brace of Leica IIIc’s equipped with 5cm f1.5 and 13.5cm f4 Nikkors. His acclaimed book “This is War” was first published in 1951 with photographs taken with this Leica/Nikkor combination. The book with its images is still regarded as a classic.
Fellow “LIFE” staff photographer Carl Mydans was also sent to cover the war and on Duncan’s recommendation visited Nikon in Japan. They modified their new Nikkor 8.5cm F2 and 13.5cm f3.5 lenses for Mydans’ Contax. He later changes his camera to a Nikon.
A series of their pictures were published in “LIFE” during 1950 winning “US Camera magazine Achievement Awards”.
Hank Walker also changed his camera to a Nikon M with Nikkors and during the severe winter in Korea they found that he Nikon cameras still worked well whilst other cameras froze up.
In the USA the cameras and lenses were scrutinised by experts and the “New York Times” carried articles praising the quality and consistency of the Nikon cameras and lenses.
Nippon Kogaku was officially praised for its contribution toward rebuilding of its country’s economy.
Duncan had a long and eminent photographic career including his photographs of Picasso and was inducted into the international Photography Hall of Fame in 2021. He lived to the age of 102.
the national bowling store has a pile of these sitting out for people to read while they are waiting for their balls.
isn't she a babe (except for her feet)!?
Gel medium transfers layered on panels with imagery from 50's and 60's Life magazine and Road &Track magazines;leraset and acrylic paint washes.
This building, near the dragline in the previous photo, was burned to the ground two weeks ago (around June 1, 2008) to make way for some kind of business and is unique, in that, it was featured in LIFE MAGAZINE in the 1940's due to its being covered with tin cans that had been straightened out and nailed to the exterior. In the previous photo, some of the cans are missing.