wilfredo Posted January 7, 2007 Share #1 Posted January 7, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Two of my friends were ordained yesterday to the priesthood. Fr. Sari Ateek seen here administering communion, and Fr. Bill Ledbetter, before the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. The tool used was the Leica M8 (ISO 1250) it was great to shoot with a camera that no one pays attention to :-) Blessed Epiphany, Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 7, 2007 Posted January 7, 2007 Hi wilfredo, Take a look here Called to Serve . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
arthury Posted January 7, 2007 Share #2 Posted January 7, 2007 Very nice clear tones. I like them all. The lady seems to be looking at the priest with such interest ... must be a good-looking priest. BTW, what lens(es) were you using? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted January 7, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted January 7, 2007 Arthur, I'd like to think that the young lady is in a bit of a spiritual bliss, of the religious variety, but Sari is a very handsome young man with a beautiful wife (Episcopal - Anglican clergy marry). Some may be wondering about the women priests in the second picture; it is the practice in the Episcopal - Anglican Church to ordain both men and women. Cheers, Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted January 8, 2007 Share #4 Posted January 8, 2007 Lovely images Wilfredo. In the first one, there is a wonderful separation of subject from the background. Is that from the way the lighting is arranged, or is it a bit of PS adjustment? Either way, it works wonderfully. The overall B/W tonality is fabulous. Of course I am looking on a 72dpi screen. Have you tested the M8 for B/W hardcopy printing yet? If so, does it come up as well as the perceived screen display? Cheers, Erl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted January 8, 2007 Author Share #5 Posted January 8, 2007 Erl, I couldn't be more pleased with the prints I've made using the M8, I've gone as big as I can with the Epson 2200 Printer and I am in bliss. I've already put in an order for the Epson 3800 printer. I did some burning of the surrounding area to keep the focus on Sari and the Communicant. One of the things I've discovered using the M8 is that M8 RAW files burn better than anything I've ever done before on the screen, it is the closest to actual dark room dodging and burning that I have ever experienced. Cheers, Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canfred Posted January 8, 2007 Share #6 Posted January 8, 2007 Hi Wilfredo , I must say these shots have exceptional quality. Perfect tones and clarity. Seeing this I wonder how is it so many are bickering about this camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsteve Posted January 8, 2007 Share #7 Posted January 8, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Wilfred: Very well done. I have seen a few M pictures taken in church , but I would feel very guilty pulling out a camera in church, except for a wedding. After I get my M8, I should ask the Parish priest about it. Like the DMR files, the M8 files have a lot of substance to them when it comes to burning and dodging. They also have a lot of range to them. Your second picture illustrates this in the fine rendering of the ordainments on the Priests and Bishop. Buying a M8 took a bit of faith:) You had to have faith that the M8 was as good as the experienced people like Guy Mancuso and Jamie Roberts were telling you. Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted January 8, 2007 Share #8 Posted January 8, 2007 Wilfredo, I'm impressed by how apparently unobtrusive you were while shooting these photos -- not to mention how good they are both aesthetically and technically. Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmr Posted January 8, 2007 Share #9 Posted January 8, 2007 Wilfredo, congratulations to your friends - hope they liked your pictures, they're good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted January 8, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted January 8, 2007 Thank you all for the feedback. This camera is definately unobstrusive. I kept watching the photographer for the diocesan newspaper struggle with two bulky DSLR's and a tripod while I just positioned myself in the right spot with the little camera. Since I was standing with the clergy I blended in. Having the ISO control made all the difference in low light shooting. I would not have been able to get these shots with my M7 hand held. Robert, you are right, buying this camera was an act of faith and it came to me in the form of an Epiphany. I woke up the morning of December 26th having had a dream involving photography and with the thought that I should go and purchase the M8. My greatest moments of clarity come when I first wake up. I listened, and it worked out. I'm glad I didn't send it back to Leica after the over exposure problems. Your advice and Guy's has paid off. I really love what I can do with this camera. Cheers, Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted January 8, 2007 Share #11 Posted January 8, 2007 wilfredo - I agree -- These are wonderful shots, full of positive emotion, and in the case of the woman in front of Sari, my impression was of her spiritual upraising. In the Digital forum section members are speaking of still waiting quite some time for their M8s. Not only did you have your epiphany, but it came at a time and location in which you could follow through. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your Old Dog Posted January 8, 2007 Share #12 Posted January 8, 2007 Wilfredo, I'm gonna be one upset buck-a-roo if my B&W's don't look like yours when I am finally able to get my M8 !! I want it mostly for unobtrusive qualitys and it's apparent B&W abliltys. I have a Nikon D200 with full compliment of lenses for when I want to walk around feeling like Conan the Barbarian with Swords and amor strapped all over me !! LOL Very nice job on your friends pictures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamann Posted January 9, 2007 Share #13 Posted January 9, 2007 Well , in the right hands.....these are good shots Wilfredo, especially the second one. Wow.. a month ago you were talking about the M8 and now you have one and lept into the digital age with both feet....I hope you will still use your other M's or is that over? Thanks for sharing Regards, Leicamann Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_drabek Posted January 10, 2007 Share #14 Posted January 10, 2007 Sparkling images. Well done. DD Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share #15 Posted January 10, 2007 Thank you all for all the kind comments. I'm still holding on to the M7 but only God knows for how long. The more I use this camera the more I discover its value. Here's another shot of Padre Bill and his wife after the ordination liturgy. A very moving moment. Cheers, Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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