This represents a bit of a departure for me in the sense I shot it with a digital Leica M. I borrowed it a few weeks ago to see how the lenses translated into the digital realm. I was fairly happy with what I saw, and I shot in the DNG (RAW) mode for greater flexibility with the files.
I shot this on my way into work one morning...something I had in my head for some time as I watched the colors of the land shift as autumn got into high gear. A little morning sun, fog and color and it was pretty much what I had been hoping for. This an area I've driven by many times, used to be a dairy farm years ago. My father had taken me there as a kid to see the cows, and sample the chocolate milk, good stuff. Looking back at some of his older photos, I know he was always shooting farm scenes and such...he likely would have enjoyed this image. The first camera I picked up as a kid was my dad's Kodak Retina rangefinder, so I suppose the whole rangefinder obsession goes back to that point. Not a bad thing, really.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
caddy k641
So, this comes from what may be one of the last rolls of Kodachrome I shoot. It's pretty much becoming unobtanium these days, and doesn't stay in stock too long.
Shot with the Noctilux...and the lens has pretty much become my staple when it comes to using the Leica (and film for the matter) Although this afternoon, I had the opportunity to shoot with the new Leica M9, a full frame digital rangefinder. Something I have been waiting for since they announced the M8 a few years back. It should be very interesting to see how the Noctilux comes across on the new sensor in the M9, and if it performs well - I may have to bite the bullet here and look into a digital M a bit further.
Unfortunately, the usual arguments between digital & film still exist....but it's becoming apparent that each really has it's place, and as labs close down, we have less choice than we did a few years ago as far as developing goes. I do love the look of film, but there are some digital cameras out there that are producing files out of the box that look less brittle and hi-def than they have done in the past. Personally, this is a good thing in my eyes.
Shot with the Noctilux...and the lens has pretty much become my staple when it comes to using the Leica (and film for the matter) Although this afternoon, I had the opportunity to shoot with the new Leica M9, a full frame digital rangefinder. Something I have been waiting for since they announced the M8 a few years back. It should be very interesting to see how the Noctilux comes across on the new sensor in the M9, and if it performs well - I may have to bite the bullet here and look into a digital M a bit further.
Unfortunately, the usual arguments between digital & film still exist....but it's becoming apparent that each really has it's place, and as labs close down, we have less choice than we did a few years ago as far as developing goes. I do love the look of film, but there are some digital cameras out there that are producing files out of the box that look less brittle and hi-def than they have done in the past. Personally, this is a good thing in my eyes.
Monday, August 24, 2009
the chair2
On of the stranger effects I have encountered when using the Noctilux, especially when close to wide open - is the near illusion of the object appearing to be something you might see in a scale model set.
This is pretty much your typical garden variety folding chair, albeit one that was abandoned by the Passaic River. I am sure that it was left by a fisherman at some point and left to the environment. The funny thing is, not every object or image takes on this look. It's not something I can readily predict, or expect actually. I personally think it's quite cool when it happens though.
This is pretty much your typical garden variety folding chair, albeit one that was abandoned by the Passaic River. I am sure that it was left by a fisherman at some point and left to the environment. The funny thing is, not every object or image takes on this look. It's not something I can readily predict, or expect actually. I personally think it's quite cool when it happens though.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
cruise night
One of the fun (and challenging) things about shooting with a rangefinder, is not being able to see EXACTLY what you're getting image wise. On the one hand - you have a clear view of the subject the whole time with no mirror blackout like you get in an SLR, but on the other hand, you need to know your lenses well enough to envision what the result is going to be. Shooting film in a rangefinder is a nice change of pace for me, simply because I have to wait to see what I got. Instant gratification with digital cameras is great, but slowing down the process with film isn't so bad for me.
This is another Noctilux shot...but I know that when I took it, I didn't quite expect the result I got. This worked out better than anticipated, and it's nice when that happens of course. Shooting at dusk can give you some interesting color shifts due to rapidly changing lighting, and exposure times. I've always enjoyed using this to my advantage, as well as the ability to exploit the characteristics of some of the Leica & Nikon high speed optics.
This is another Noctilux shot...but I know that when I took it, I didn't quite expect the result I got. This worked out better than anticipated, and it's nice when that happens of course. Shooting at dusk can give you some interesting color shifts due to rapidly changing lighting, and exposure times. I've always enjoyed using this to my advantage, as well as the ability to exploit the characteristics of some of the Leica & Nikon high speed optics.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
chevelle rt
Been using an 85mm 1.4 Nikkor quite a bit lately on a Nikon D3, mainly for weddings and portraiture. I haven't shot much car detail stuff digitally in a few years, but I'd figure I'd give it a shot knowing what this lens can deliver. The Leica is loaded with Kodachrome right now, and I was feeling the need for some immediacy...so here we are. I was a bit lucky as the sun went behind some typical looming summer thunderheads. Flattened the light a bit, and allowed me to get the look I'm after. The D3 is really an excellent DSLR....Nikon really blew the doors open on this one.
The performance of the 85/1.4 Nikkor is excellent, although typical criticisms of this lens fall into the focusing category. It's a tad bit slow compared to some of the newer Nikkor offerings, but it's not a deal killer obviously.
The performance of the 85/1.4 Nikkor is excellent, although typical criticisms of this lens fall into the focusing category. It's a tad bit slow compared to some of the newer Nikkor offerings, but it's not a deal killer obviously.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
13rt
Another shot walking the beach, early morning and deserted. This appeared to be some sort of buoy or marker that someone had tied to a fence in the off season. Strange and cool.
Noctilux again, most likely wide open at f1.0 or 1.2. One of the characteristics that is usually seen with this lens is the dark vignetting at the corners when shot at wider apertures. The design of the lens dates back to the mid 60's when "fast" film was Tri-X, ISO 400. Since most users of this lens were using it at the edge of light in concerts or street conditions, the vignetting wasn't easily seen. In daylight though, it's more noticeable. I try to shoot with slow ISO films, allowing me to shoot closer to the maximum aperture.
Noctilux again, most likely wide open at f1.0 or 1.2. One of the characteristics that is usually seen with this lens is the dark vignetting at the corners when shot at wider apertures. The design of the lens dates back to the mid 60's when "fast" film was Tri-X, ISO 400. Since most users of this lens were using it at the edge of light in concerts or street conditions, the vignetting wasn't easily seen. In daylight though, it's more noticeable. I try to shoot with slow ISO films, allowing me to shoot closer to the maximum aperture.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
5rt
Noctilux again....on a late fall morning, empty beach. I have often thought about going to a 50/1.4 Summilux in the Leica system - either the pre-aspheric or the current asph lens. The current Leica 50/1.4 asph is considered by many to be the best 50 mm lens yet made in the 35mm format. But when I think about what I can do with the Noctilux, especially at wide open apertures - 1.0 or 1.2, I see no need for a different 50. While other 50's may be sharper, or have better color correction - the Noctilux is simply suited for the style of shooting I enjoy the most.
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