
C’est la vie in B&W – Vladimir Panasenko
If you are in San Francisco, or planning to be there soon then there is an exhibition that you should definitely go and see, not just for the brilliant street photography, but also because of the stunning and unique cameras that were used to make it. Vladimir Panasenko has a show on and you should see it.
Photography credit: © 2015 Vladimir Panasenko, courtesy Leica Store and Gallery San Francisco
Camera images courtesy Leica Store and Gallery San Francisco


Vladimir typically photographs alone but the times he has spent with other photographers can be noteworthy. He mentioned one time hitting the streets with another photographer whom he met at a camera swap meet. After wandering for quite awhile shooting around town, the other photographer asked Vladimir why he hadn’t taken any photos. Little did the other photographer know, Vladimir had shot off a handful of frames, but because of his speed and technique the other photographer never noticed.


(San Francisco, California) – The gallery at Leica Store San Francisco is thrilled to present a world premier exhibition – C’est la Vie in B&W, a collection of photographs by Vladimir Panasenko.
Born in 1939 in Kharkov, Ukraine, at the age of ten Vladimir Panasenko emigrated to the United States with his family who, swept away by the war, chose San Francisco, CA for their new home. Known on the streets simply as Vladimir, he has called the Bay Area his home ever since. Vladimir is an incredibly prolific artist who has photographed the streets of San Francisco for over three decades now. Unlike a lot of Leica specialists, Vladimir’s influences include outlaw Billy the Kid, race car driver Juan Manuel Fangio and WWII ace Erich Hartmann. From these he learned to increase his reaction time and to follow three rules: always take your subject by surprise, always shoot from the closest possible distance, and break away immediately after shooting.


Vladimir’s extensive body of work is as astonishing as any discovered in recent years. Working Women. Pursuit of Pleasure. Rich & Poor. Homeless. Birds. Pairs. These are the themes that comprise C’est la Vie in B&W. Vladimir’s favorite area to photograph has been and continues to be Mid Market Street, with its bustle and wide mix of people. His photographs study the lives of the very rich, the very poor and everyone in between. Each image is powerful on its own, and when viewed in pairs the effect is breathtaking.

Vladimir’s cameras are an important part of his work and his craft extends to his custom Leica film cameras with their wood and brass. When asked about them, Vladimir states, “I would like to quote ancient Ukranian folk wisdom: If you want a wife who will always stay by your side, marry someone so ugly that nobody will want to touch her. I am married to my Leica M2’s. I chose them because I could see that Leica would never make anything better, and because they will be with me “Till death do us part,” I can modify them in any way that optimizes their fulfillment of their mission. Resale value is for whores. C’est la Vie.”


In addition to silver gelatin prints, a postcard set consisting of five photographs will be offered at the start of the exhibition and be limited to a small edition. Once the set is sold out, the postcards will no longer be available but other sets will be made available in the future.

There will be an opening reception on Thursday, May 7, 2015 from 6pm-8pm
The exhibition continues through July 2, 2015
Check out the Leica Gallery site for details www.leicastoresf.com/gallery/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/vladimir-panasenko-cest-la-vie-in-bw
You can also get a limited edition silver gelatin postcard print set at the show, which looks gorgeous.
I wish I could go, but sadly I cannot. I am intrigued by the statement “Resale value is for whores”, especially as these cameras have taken on a status now that makes them far more valuable than they were.
Thanks
JCH
That’s a very gorgeous camera and it’s really cool. Furthermore awesome images from Vlad. I’m curious what is the lens, it’s a shame, but i don’t know. Any info on that?
“Resale Value Is for whores” because he will keep them forever :)
For the lenses, I see a 35mm summicron, a 50mm sumilux, a noctilux and the f2.8 I am not sure. (possible a 50?)
Csaba: The top should be a 35mm Summicron and the 2nd one is a 50mm Summilux. Both heavily customised.
According to the SF Leica rep, Vladimir’s 50mm lens is a customised Noctilux.
What did he do to his lenses? (I don’t mean this as a criticism; i’m genuinely curious)
Why add the white paint? is it to recognize the position more easily in teh dark? Does he have poor eyesight? Is he relying on the edge of his eye to adjust his settings? Does the focusing tabs make it quicker or more accurate to adjust focus? Are all these M2’s the Same M2 with different pictures attached to the back? Or the same?
So many questions. Very interesting to read. But left me with too many questions to be satisfied.
I finally got a chance to go see this show and it’s really good. Great photos, and amazing editing.
now I’m getting older I often cannot see the numbers on speed knob or on the display showing frame number ,
If I added paint to my zorki I would get a good idea where I am without actualy reading the numbers ,
Thinking about three colours
So I know Vlad (that’s not the name I know him by). I have seen his darkroom and got to spend a few days while helping him with the last time he moved. Basically the marks are there not to look at but to feel. He plans the picture before he takes it and makes the adjustments behind his back. Also he’s is against cropping and only believes in developing the film to his taste, or so that’s what he told me.
I am truly happy to see Vlad get the recognition he deserves.After his many years of wandering the streets shooting pictures and living in Victorian artist poverty.
I see the lenses, MCron 35mm v3, MLux 50mm v2 E43, Noct 50mm f1, MElmarit 28mm v4. He used ND filter (?).