Guest WPalank Posted April 8, 2011 Share #1 Posted April 8, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Dear Leicaholics, I just returned from about three and a half weeks in Ethiopia, two and a half of which were spent in the South Omo, Konso and Kaffa Regions traveling in a Land Rover over some of the roughest and most mountainous terrain I’ve ever experienced (sometimes up to 12 hours a day). Anyway, one thing that makes my trip unique is not only did I bring my M9 and three Summilux ASPH lenses but an 80 kg waterproof hard case (the case dry weighed about 35 kg) containing a Broncolor Portable A2R pack with Mobilite 2 Strobe Heads, light stand and back-up system. I used a Broncolor RTS radio trigger to fire the strobe as the pack already had a radio receiver built in. My decision was to use it as my fill with light modifiers in many daytime shoots as I knew the sun would be treacherous. All in all it was quite challenging with temperatures reaching 100-105 degrees Fahrenheit on some days and nowhere to look for shade. The reason I brought the system with my M9 was at 1200 w/s I could become or overpower the sun if need be. My compositions with local villagers were not compromised by the position of the sun. Also, if need be, I could get a little more pop in the shade and process the images the way I wanted. After thoughts: After one particularly grueling 12 hour day where we never touched pavement, I thought my system would be trashed even though I packed it quite carefully in the hard case with pluck and pick foam. I also used the folded soft boxes as protective padding. the second I loaded a battery into the pack it worked first time every time with no strobe breakage. The case also survived 6 airline trips with the luggage gorillas (two of which were international flights). The M9 with lenses also survived as well and are still focusing spot on. I would have posted a different title, “Leica M9 in Ethiopia with Portable Strobes”, but it would have left no room to warn people my post contained three images. Dear Moderators, I would like to keep the discussion in the M9 Forum as I want to stimulate discussion on using the M9 digital camera and extending the dynamic range (or not) using a portable lighting system and the inherent problems being without electricity for days. I also brought all the gear into the cities of Harer and Lalibella, but have had only enough time to quickly run through the images. Here is a link to the Omo Images on Flikr: Ethiopia I - a set on Flickr Cheers! 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/148579-m9-in-ethiopia-3-images/?do=findComment&comment=1640163'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 Hi Guest WPalank, Take a look here M9 in Ethiopia (3 Images). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stuny Posted April 8, 2011 Share #2 Posted April 8, 2011 William - I shudder at the thought of the weight and bulk of your lighting kit, especially since we do carry-on only travel (Well, if it's a SCUBA trip we do check a 20 kilo large bag), but it certainly paid off with stunning results. I never even thought about the problems of trying to match the sun as you did. Terrific. BTW: One of the best novels I've read in years takes place mostly in Ethiopia over a 20 year period and I most strongly recommend it: Cutting for Stone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplomley Posted April 8, 2011 Share #3 Posted April 8, 2011 Simply Incredible! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
proy Posted April 8, 2011 Share #4 Posted April 8, 2011 Quite superb photos. You are a true artist. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted April 9, 2011 Share #5 Posted April 9, 2011 William, Congratulations for your amazing and stunning work! Superb accomplishment IMHO. Best, K-H. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted April 9, 2011 Share #6 Posted April 9, 2011 William, the work is stunning! Gorgeous, tactile, but completely personal. Amazing! Congratulations! I particularly like the shot of the guy in the backwards baseball cap. You could'a borrowed his lights, I bet! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WPalank Posted April 9, 2011 Share #7 Posted April 9, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you Andy, Jeffry, proy, K-H and Howard. Stuart, thanks for the suggestion, I will look into the book immediately. Howard, the ball cap was there to moderate the incredible heat. Even with sun block I was becoming lobsterish. Plus, the Giants are World Champs finally. The reason I wore it backwards was the Broncolor RTS in the hotshoe kept bumping into the bill. Thanks also, axelman, jaap and Juseno. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
viramati Posted April 9, 2011 Share #8 Posted April 9, 2011 William. Have checked your fickr set and without doubt this has to be about the best work I have seen since following this forum. Classic leica work and it looks like the lighting rig really paid dividends. I would be interested in some of your PP as it looks like you may have used some sort of modified bleach process effect that I sometimes use in 'Nik color efex pro' Once again many, many thanks for sharing your inspirational work Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
57andrew Posted April 9, 2011 Share #9 Posted April 9, 2011 A truly memorable set on Flickr. My absolute favourite is "Boy with cows". Warmest congratulations. I spent a few weeks in Ethiopia but all I came back with was photos of birds - but it was a birding holiday! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morfeus Posted April 9, 2011 Share #10 Posted April 9, 2011 Great images William. I will be in Ethiopia from next Saturday on and your pictures made me even more exited to go there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
likalar Posted April 9, 2011 Share #11 Posted April 9, 2011 William, The flickr set is stunning. So many strong, very lasting images. Congrats to you. Will there be an effort at exhibiting some? Prints will be amazing! Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
macusque Posted April 9, 2011 Share #12 Posted April 9, 2011 Superb work! Thanks for sharing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted April 9, 2011 Share #13 Posted April 9, 2011 These and your entire FLIKR set are extraordinarily beautiful. provocative, inspiring. I congratulate and thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted April 9, 2011 Share #14 Posted April 9, 2011 I really like the "Ethiopia" series. Perfectly controlled lighting - so hardly classic Leica work! If it takes 1200 joules to get full control of the lighting with a M9, think how much it would take with a film M at 1/50 sec:D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
viramati Posted April 9, 2011 Share #15 Posted April 9, 2011 Yes I suppose I didn't mean classic in that sense I meant in the human approach to the subjects that sort of contact that you seem to be able to get with the leica Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WPalank Posted April 9, 2011 Share #16 Posted April 9, 2011 Thank you David, Andrew, Macusque, Peter and John for taking the time to comment. Larry, thanks so much. Yes, prints were the objective of this trip. Morfeus, I might have caught you too late. If you are heading to the Omo and Hammer tribes be very careful. The Hammer Historical Society (I think that's what they called themselves) in Turmi has just recently been pulling photographers arbitrarily (I was the second one my tour operator knew of) and calling us special Professional Photographers. They tried to extort $3000 from me to photograph after the fact. I gave them a big fat "f*ck you" while my driver argued for about an hour in Ahmeric. We finally got it reduce to just under $100 which my operator paid for. According to a sheet of paper, they could charge up to $20,000 if they felt like it which was typically meant for Film Crews. My tour operator owner then called an emergency of the Ethiopian Tour Operators and they are currently working with the Ethiopian Diplomatic core in Addis Ababa as we speak. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mofotoman Posted April 10, 2011 Share #17 Posted April 10, 2011 Remarkable Flickr set. Clearly alot of effort and talent went into producing the beautiful images on Flickr. I look forward to the book. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 10, 2011 Share #18 Posted April 10, 2011 Sticking with gear rather than photo discussion, what were your thoughts on using the 75 (2 photos) versus the 50 (for the other 61)? Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WPalank Posted April 10, 2011 Share #19 Posted April 10, 2011 Sticking with gear rather than photo discussion, what were your thoughts on using the 75 (2 photos) versus the 50 (for the other 61)? Jeff In Abyssinian Angel I wanted more compression in the background so I chose the 75mm over the 50mm. Also, what you don't see are the thirty or so people surrounding me. In the case of the crocodiles I just wanted to be closer to the subject. The 50 is my favorite walk around and I'm somewhat of a lazy shooter. I hate changing lenses. Also, Purple with the two Mursi women was shot with the 24mm Summilux ASPH. I have corrected it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjames9142 Posted April 11, 2011 Share #20 Posted April 11, 2011 The hassle with the extortionists gives a hint of the the ethical problems involved in this kind of photography. whose stock in trade is exoticism. That said, I think you have side-stepped this issue. The strobes may have solved a lighting problem, but the whole formal thing with the subjects, where they have to take their time and compose themselves, has resulted in some terrific pictures of remarkable people. They seem so alive and in their skins...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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