Tinchohs Posted November 7, 2013 Share #1 Posted November 7, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi everyone. I am a regular reader of the forum, although not as much of a writer to it. My Leica MM has turned 6 months and I've started to look into my journey of black and white photography and the many ramifications it's had for me, among them my learning to see in monochrome and my first experiences with printing analogue Platinum prints from digital negatives. Never would I have guessed that this would be direction I would be taking as a consequence of acquiring this precious and challenging new camera. I'll be writing some more and sharing more images - not that many though. Something I've learned in this period of time is that my keepers rate is even lower than it was before Here goes the first image and my first thoughts. I'd be curious about how this process has been for others and what their learnings have been. Thanks. Martin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 7, 2013 Posted November 7, 2013 Hi Tinchohs, Take a look here Monochrom Diaries. Episode 1.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jorgerubia Posted November 7, 2013 Share #2 Posted November 7, 2013 Hola Martin Beautiful Image! The MM takes time and dedication. I initially over-worked the files, but only just recently began to actually realize for myself that I had to keep it simple and avoid the typical "over-cooked" processing that is so easy to fall prey to with the MM files - they are so malleable and can be pushed or taken into many different ways and looks. The possibilities with the files seem infinite and I tended to drift into too much processing just because .... well just because I could do it. I now keep the processing much simpler and am getting more "natural" results. But you seem to have done very well with that architectural image. It looks rich tonality and deep in mood. You have beautiful work on your site and your blog is really engaging. I wish you the very best in the new "way" of practicing your passion for photography. I agree that it is very difficult balance photography as an art form as well as a business. To some, like me too, it's a labor of love and making a living out of it or a successful business can be very frustrating and creatively stifling. Abrazos Jorge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinchohs Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted November 7, 2013 Hola Martin Beautiful Image! The MM takes time and dedication. I initially over-worked the files, but only just recently began to actually realize for myself that I had to keep it simple and avoid the typical "over-cooked" processing that is so easy to fall prey to with the MM files - they are so malleable and can be pushed or taken into many different ways and looks. The possibilities with the files seem infinite and I tended to drift into too much processing just because .... well just because I could do it. I now keep the processing much simpler and am getting more "natural" results. But you seem to have done very well with that architectural image. It looks rich tonality and deep in mood. You have beautiful work on your site and your blog is really engaging. I wish you the very best in the new "way" of practicing your passion for photography. I agree that it is very difficult balance photography as an art form as well as a business. To some, like me too, it's a labor of love and making a living out of it or a successful business can be very frustrating and creatively stifling. Abrazos Jorge Thanks Jorge. I appreciate your comments. I totally agree with the notion that the increased flexibility of the MM files has led me to over processing in the past. To me a greater challenge has been creating black and white portraits. It's rare that I do landscapes or architectural work, but it has somehow been easier for me than creating portraits that I like in B&W. I usually do my work around people as you might have seen, but I'm still not feeling great about my ability to capture skin tones that work for me in monochrome. I'll share some portraits soon enough. Take care. m. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jorgerubia Posted November 8, 2013 Share #4 Posted November 8, 2013 I agree, Martin. The skin tones have also been a bit of a hit and miss with me. I have just recently began using filters on the lenses - yellow-orange and light green. The results with the light-orange and the light green have been much more to my liking, but I still continue to explore filtering as we did in the days of analogue with more some degree of success - all personal preferences, I suppose. As you can see I am "new" at this site and my posting skills are not that great. Not sure if you got my reply to your Email. You asked about my origins and if I had a website. I am Spanish ( born Barcelona ) and I have a mish-mash of a website here: http://www.jorgerubiaphotography.com Abrazos Jorge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted November 8, 2013 Share #5 Posted November 8, 2013 It's a great shame we were not in touch when I visited Montevideo in March 2012. It would have been interesting to meet and talk photography! Fascinating that you are learning platinum printing - superb results but oh so expensive! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinchohs Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted November 8, 2013 It's a great shame we were not in touch when I visited Montevideo in March 2012. It would have been interesting to meet and talk photography!Fascinating that you are learning platinum printing - superb results but oh so expensive! Brian, too bad indeed. I always look forward to meeting other photographers. It helps expand the reach of my current local photographic community. Platinum is indeed in the expensive side, and most definitely more complicated and elaborate than printing digital. On the other hand, there is too me a very attractive aspect of being more hands-on, analogue and centered on the 'object' - the photographic print. For sure let me know if you are coming this way again. Take care. m. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinchohs Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted November 21, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I continue with my exploration of black and white, trying to make sense of what is that really moves me in a monochrome image. I seems to have found a set of common attributes to most of the images I like in black and white. I would love to know how this plays out for other people. What specific black and white attributes are relevant for you in these kind of images? Thanks for sharing. I'm hoping that this will further support me in making better images. Post: Monochrom Diaries. Episode 2. My journey leaning to see the world in black and white. | Martin Herrera Soler Documentary Assignment Photographer South America m. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcg Posted November 21, 2013 Share #8 Posted November 21, 2013 What an exceptionally interesting way of analysing and trying to explain a rational basis for what you like in the MM/BW images. I really would be very interested to see you develop the idea. I wonder whether it is at all possible to test it all, maybe by trying blind testing - looking at histograms of other people's images first and predicting whether those images will have that secret sauce that so appeals to you - and then whipping the covers off to see if you were right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted November 22, 2013 Share #9 Posted November 22, 2013 Interesting approach, Martin. And some fantastic work on your site. I don't mean to be cheeky, and please do not take this as such, but doesn't this just mean that you like high-contrast BW processing (btw, I happen to like it too)? Surely, the processing style can't be the only reason why you are moved by a monochrome picture... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinchohs Posted November 22, 2013 Author Share #10 Posted November 22, 2013 What an exceptionally interesting way of analysing and trying to explain a rational basis for what you like in the MM/BW images. I really would be very interested to see you develop the idea. I wonder whether it is at all possible to test it all, maybe by trying blind testing - looking at histograms of other people's images first and predicting whether those images will have that secret sauce that so appeals to you - and then whipping the covers off to see if you were right. It's an interesting idea. I'll try it sometime. I'm curious to see whether it actually does have a high correlation approached this way. When I'll do I'll let you know how it works. Thanks for sharing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinchohs Posted November 22, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted November 22, 2013 Interesting approach, Martin. And some fantastic work on your site.I don't mean to be cheeky, and please do not take this as such, but doesn't this just mean that you like high-contrast BW processing (btw, I happen to like it too)? Surely, the processing style can't be the only reason why you are moved by a monochrome picture... Not taken the wrong way at all. I think does it what it means. Perhaps the difference for me, somewhat new to photography, was that the way I was able to realize what was common about what I liked in all those images, was by looking at the histogram rather than by seeing the contrast attribute. As you say, of course it's not all that I like. And not every high contrast black and white image I like. They need to have all the other expected attributes on an image, independent if they are monochrome or not. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob3rt5 Posted December 13, 2013 Share #12 Posted December 13, 2013 I'm so delighted to hear about someone else that is actually making platinum prints from Leica Monochrom files. I really like your work and find your enthusiam infectious. Thank you for sharing- delightful! Robert Savard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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