Lord Fluff Posted July 12, 2011 Share #21 Posted July 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Leica photographers are notorious for over-exploiting the use of shallow depth of field because of the high quality gained from the first class Leica engineering. This is a mistake. Beautifully put and one for all of us to remember - and I'll be the first to admit guilt in this in my own work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 12, 2011 Posted July 12, 2011 Hi Lord Fluff, Take a look here Leica Noctilux 0.95 Unplugged. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Lord Fluff Posted July 12, 2011 Share #22 Posted July 12, 2011 The NOCT WILL NOT make any images more saleable, and those seeking a return on investment will only achieve that in their own state of mind. Again, very nicely put. In fact for commercial assignments I would imagine the whole-frame bubble-flare would ruin more shots than it would make too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted July 12, 2011 Share #23 Posted July 12, 2011 One thing I always ask me about pictures like this, is how good would they have been with the Lux. I mean how much of the DOF and "dreamy" nature of the shots is the Noct providing. The OP is an excellent photographer. If he shot all these pictures with the Lux would they look alot different ? the perenial question Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted July 12, 2011 Share #24 Posted July 12, 2011 One thing I always ask me about pictures like this, is how good would they have been with the Lux.I mean how much of the DOF and "dreamy" nature of the shots is the Noct providing. The OP is an excellent photographer. If he shot all these pictures with the Lux would they look alot different ? the perenial question Which is pretty-much the same question I asked in post #13. See Leicashot's reply reply in post #19. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddp Posted July 12, 2011 Share #25 Posted July 12, 2011 Some really fantastic work in here...the lighting, execution - everything really came together. I know you mentioned all of these were shot wide open, but the EXIF data on the flickr images seemed to vary. Is that a function of the M9 (or software) not being able to recognize 0.95 as the aperture? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted July 12, 2011 Share #26 Posted July 12, 2011 Which is pretty-much the same question I asked in post #13. See Leicashot's reply reply in post #19. ah, you keep me on my toes sir! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggriswold Posted July 13, 2011 Share #27 Posted July 13, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) You really know how to take great photographs... impressive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted July 13, 2011 Share #28 Posted July 13, 2011 Besides having a great eye, yours are the first series I've found that were all in focus. But it's your choice of placement, modeling, light - all so very good that this is work that Leica could use in their promotional material. Thanks for the great visual experience. -- Pico Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted July 13, 2011 Share #29 Posted July 13, 2011 An impressive set of pictures; thank you. It is pleasing to see a photographer using an extreme lens in appropriate lighting. The rendering is beautiful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicashot Posted July 13, 2011 Author Share #30 Posted July 13, 2011 Some really fantastic work in here...the lighting, execution - everything really came together. I know you mentioned all of these were shot wide open, but the EXIF data on the flickr images seemed to vary. Is that a function of the M9 (or software) not being able to recognize 0.95 as the aperture? No the 0.95 is not record and recognized correctly, and the recorded aperture varies according to each shot, weird but its just how it is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicashot Posted July 13, 2011 Author Share #31 Posted July 13, 2011 Besides having a great eye, yours are the first series I've found that were all in focus. But it's your choice of placement, modeling, light - all so very good that this is work that Leica could use in their promotional material. Thanks for the great visual experience. -- Pico thanks Pico. I did manage to get the hit rate up to 90%+ with calibration and the 1.4x magnifier but prior I really struggled. I also focus bracket, meaning I take a few frames of each shot at slightly different focus distances to ensure I get something. After some time with the lens you truly get the feel for it and focus becomes very fast and easy; much easier than the f/1 version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyyy Posted August 2, 2011 Share #32 Posted August 2, 2011 great pics, thanks for them. i think, this kind of photography focusses the perception of focus. it's a case of hobson's choice. for the photographer, the model and the connoisseur. this combination of camera and lens forces us to that. and it shows great perfection and experience when you as photographer can deal with it. and you can. and i enjoy that kind of perfection. cheers from leicaland. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
photoart Posted August 5, 2011 Share #33 Posted August 5, 2011 Wonderful images Kristian! Now I´m must going out try to shoot some of these kind of people pictures with my Summilux 50 ASPH at f1.4 After that I´m sure, I don´t need a nocti but I need this evidence to attest to myself You´re a great photographer! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosophos Posted August 5, 2011 Share #34 Posted August 5, 2011 Beautiful images. Stunning, really. Peter. P r o s o p h o s | A running photo-blog of my thoughts, projects, and inspiration. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imperfiction Posted August 6, 2011 Share #35 Posted August 6, 2011 Great shots indeed! I really love shallow depth of field myself and as mentioned already I am very guilty of exploiting it. I was never able to get such quality shots from a Canon 0.95 I had for a while and I admire your shots for actually cutting the Noctilux straight, translating its advantages into great shots. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicashot Posted August 7, 2011 Author Share #36 Posted August 7, 2011 Thanks all. The Noct is an amazing lens and its value seems to be creeping into absurdity. While this is the case I urge those wanting this lens without the means to purchase, not not drool over it's capabilities, but instead, improve your own using what you already have so that once you're able to acquire this lens, your skill set will be able to capitalize from it's potential in low light, and in its capability to isolate subjects from backgrounds. While this can be a fantastic lens to shoot with, it can be very frustrating for those who are not equipped with the right skill set. By this I don't mean, practice with fast lenses, but the skills necessary to ensure that great quality pictures are taken (regardless of isolation), whereby the background is just as important as the focus point, ensuring an overall great picture, and not just something boring you're trying so desperately hard to make look creative by using the Noct's isolating ability. This lens really does put pressure on the photographer to exceed their limits and push their boundaries of creativity. If you don't believe me, look at Flickr. It's full of examples of 'test shots' where the photographer was concentrating more on the bokeh than the overall picture. There is a lot one can do in the field to ensure the Noct is used well, and the first thing I'd avoid is shooting it, like every picture is a test shot. I suggest shooting it like every picture may be your last. With such an expensive lens, I think this attitude isn't so far fetched Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 7, 2011 Share #37 Posted August 7, 2011 Wonderful images Kristian! Now I´m must going out try to shoot some of these kind of people pictures with my Summilux 50 ASPH at f1.4After that I´m sure, I don´t need a nocti but I need this evidence to attest to myself You´re a great photographer! +1 Since you share with us mostly studio photographs at the highest level, it would have been interesting to see the same pictures also a fraction of a second later, after you had turned the aperture to f:1.4 and maybe also to 2.0 respectively. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmond_terakopian Posted August 7, 2011 Share #38 Posted August 7, 2011 Thanks all. The Noct is an amazing lens and its value seems to be creeping into absurdity. While this is the case I urge those wanting this lens without the means to purchase, not not drool over it's capabilities, but instead, improve your own using what you already have so that once you're able to acquire this lens, your skill set will be able to capitalize from it's potential in low light, and in its capability to isolate subjects from backgrounds. While this can be a fantastic lens to shoot with, it can be very frustrating for those who are not equipped with the right skill set. By this I don't mean, practice with fast lenses, but the skills necessary to ensure that great quality pictures are taken (regardless of isolation), whereby the background is just as important as the focus point, ensuring an overall great picture, and not just something boring you're trying so desperately hard to make look creative by using the Noct's isolating ability. This lens really does put pressure on the photographer to exceed their limits and push their boundaries of creativity. If you don't believe me, look at Flickr. It's full of examples of 'test shots' where the photographer was concentrating more on the bokeh than the overall picture. There is a lot one can do in the field to ensure the Noct is used well, and the first thing I'd avoid is shooting it, like every picture is a test shot. I suggest shooting it like every picture may be your last. With such an expensive lens, I think this attitude isn't so far fetched Very nicely put. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicashot Posted August 7, 2011 Author Share #39 Posted August 7, 2011 +1 Since you share with us mostly studio photographs at the highest level, it would have been interesting to see the same pictures also a fraction of a second later, after you had turned the aperture to f:1.4 and maybe also to 2.0 respectively. Studio photos? I don't remember shooting any of these in a studio? The reason I didn't post images at f/1.4 or beyond is because the pictures begin to look very similar to a Lux ASPH, and if you're going to pick up this large bulky lens over a Lux, you really shoot shoot it at f/0.95. Granted, 0.95 isn't the most appropriate aperture for every picture, but I initially took a lot of these images for a specific video review on this lens and most people only care about seeing 0.95 images taken from this lens, and you can probably see why. Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
photoart Posted August 9, 2011 Share #40 Posted August 9, 2011 +1 Since you share with us mostly studio photographs at the highest level, it would have been interesting to see the same pictures also a fraction of a second later, after you had turned the aperture to f:1.4 and maybe also to 2.0 respectively. Unfortunately that wasn´t possible at this time, the most images in my portfolio are done with a medium format system and f4 lenses . But a noctilux or a f1.4 lens for my studio portaits ....it´s worth to think about it I think the noctilux is the best lens for exactly that, what is Kristian showing here on his Flickr portfolio, outdoor/ on location full body people portraits. And the special look at f0.95 give them a little extraportion of a dream look, surely more than a Summilux 50 ASPH can do. But the noctilux hasn´t made this beautiful pictures, that was only the hard work of Kristian and his models. The noctilux only helped them doing this, maybe a little bit better than a Summilux 50 ASPH can do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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