Leica Forum

That is so ugly it's almost pretty.  

When I'm using a Leica it seems really fast to me, but probably seems ridiculously slow to anyone around me.  I'm another old film guy: loaded my first Nikor reel in 1961 and did my first important Leica shoot in 1968 when my Dad let me use his IIIc and Hektor 135 to shoot pictures at a Jimi Hendrix concert. I still have that piece of film, and when my Dad passed his camera equipment came to me as well. It's kind of amazing to hold realize this was over half a century ago.  The biggest changes in how I shoot with a Leica are the result of losing the need to wind the film and cock the shutter before the next shot. With the IIIc and IIIg I got good at the technique of winding the film without using my thumb, that is, by (it takes a lot longer to describe than to do) engaging the film advanced knob with the side of my right index finger starting at the base of the index finger, pressing the side of the finger against the knob, and pulling the finger rearward in a single motion, winding the knob with the side of the index finger in the process.  When I got a dual stroke M3 the film advance lever felt revolutionary to me.  But with all that, I didn't really shoot more film, I was just ready quicker for taking the next slow shot. I'm an old medium format guy as well (Mamiya and Hasselblad), and also revel in large format (4x5, 5x7, 8x10), stuck on a tripod, under a view cloth, with a loupe, making tiny adjustments. Slow shooting kind of comes naturally. Lens cap: shirt pocket, left trouser pocket in a pinch, always and forever. I never have to look for the things, let alone buy replacements, so far, at least. Having the meter in the camera sped things up a bunch too. I've been a Gossen user practically forever. Proficiency with a handheld meter shaped how I use the in-camera meter, usually on spot, sometimes on multi-zone or highlight weighted, never on center weighted or even worse, averaging.  All of this adds up; I'm a slow shooter, and of relatively few shots.  I don't think of myself as a flower photographer, but it seems that every year when the first perennials appear in our yard, I'm out there taking pictures. Yesterday I had the M11 out with the Macro-Elmar 90, the double-helicoid Macro Adapter M, and the Visoflex 2. Shooting handheld. Set the focus for the image size I'm after, then move in and out to make it sharp. Wide open aperture. High shutter speed. Gorgeous blurred backgrounds. Because it's such a dynamic situation, constantly in motion, in and out of focus, as I move in and out, as the flowers sway, as I try to keep the framing right, this is when I tend to fire fairly rapid bursts of single shots. No freezes yesterday. Pulled some shots into Fotos. Everything worked beautifully.  Sorry to hear you're laid up, Ikarus. It's tough for anyone as actively inquisitive as a photographer to be stopped by something. Lee Friedlander did a wonderful book entitled "Stems" when he was stuck in his house recuperating from knee replacement. It's all still-lifes of plants. Beautiful work. The poor guy must have been going crazy. I met him once, when he received an honorary degree. He wore his camera as he marched in the academic procession, taking pictures of the assembled crowd as he marched in.  So yes, having my roots in Analog photography and chemical darkroom work unquestionably shaped how I use a digital camera. I'm glad for the advancement, but especially grateful for the continuity. 

Corvette Z06 - Vlux 4

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Skeptisch bin ich da auch  immer… und wenn ich mal ein Bild,gemacht mit dem Iphone 13 auf dem  iMac 21 Zoll Bild anschaue  und vergleiche mit einem Foto mit meiner Knipse Panasonic LX 100 ( 20 MP) in gleicer Größe auf dem IMac.   Dann ist da schon ein sehr deutlicher Unterschied… zugunsten der Lumix.  Aber sicher werden die wenigsten Bilder, mit Smartphones gemacht, irgendwie vergrößert und noch seltener auf Papier gebracht.