landscape photography with m240

[LeicaPassion]

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I think you meant Michael Kenna. His work is extraordinary. I just met him recently. Nice chap. I believe he's from near your neck of the woods.

 

Michael Kenna is originally from England where he studied printing. He worked for Ruth Bernhard before launching his independent career. Michael has his own stylistic approach, which many attempt to copy but fall short in my view. His prints may be small in size but they are large in visual depth. They simply glow. He is a delightful gentleman.

[250swb]

I think you meant Michael Kenna. His work is extraordinary. I just met him recently. Nice chap. I believe he's from near your neck of the woods.

 

Yes of course, especially stupid as I had a book open in front of me checking on print sizes in the index!

 

As for Adams print sizes Jeff yes of course he did some large prints, his estate did even more, to fit all sizes of wall.

 

The corporate foyer and the gallery are not dissimilar, they allow people to view large photographs from a distance stood in the middle of the room. Multiples of people can view an image all at the same time, more if they each have somebody looking over there shoulder as well. The contrast is in the work of Michael Kenna, or say Minor White, where only one person can look at the photograph at a time, giving that person their own unique experience of the image in their own space and the photographs own space. Fortunately the quality of a photograph is not judged on size.

 

Steve

[erl]

Steve, I respect your observations about size, but I suspect you are assuming the flip side of the coin tobe the preferable. You are reading as though it 'must' be small to be good. I know that is not what you mean, but it is reading that way, much as my comments are reading as it must be 'large' to be good. Of course that is not what either of us mean, I know.

 

I think all sizes can be acceptable. Good has nothing to do with size. I think we will agree on that, but my point (in part) is that when done well, size reveal qualities which otherwise may not be well revealed.

 

Two things (at least) are missing in this discussion. Some sample sized prints in front of us and a couple of pints to lubricate the discussion. I think then we would find some more common ground.

[Jeff S]

The first print I ever saw on a large scale was an Ansell Adams print. It was of some boulders apparently rolled from a mountain down to the tripod.

 

I presume you saw his well known Mt. Williamson from Manzanar.

 

Like many photos, not just landscape, there can be very different experiences seeing a small versus a large print of the same image….a much larger discussion that demands examples for real appreciation.

 

Framing and matting size, and type, introduces a whole different discussion.

 

Jeff

[erl]

Yes Jeff, that is the one. Life changing for me. It was about 1957 when I saw it. It was part of an exhibition titled "The family Of Man". I still have the calalogue from that exhibition.

 

I also agree that matting and framing can be important, mainly for smaller works.

[Likaleica]

The Family of Man did it for me, too. Wynn Bullock had a great photograph in that exhibition.

[erl]

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Allow me a brief moment of brag.

 

Back in 2000 a follow on exhibition of "The Family Of Man" (originally brought together by Edward Steichen) was started, called "Family Of Man 11". It ran for five years, each year collecting the top 100 images from around the world for that year. At the end of five years there were 500 image, ultimately forming the exhibition and published as a book.

 

Of the 500 images selected over 5 years, 36 were mine. The highest selection score.

It was an honour to be rated amongst so many talented photographers.

 

End of brag. (not often one get's the opportunity )

[Likaleica]

Well deserved. Bravo!

[250swb]

Steve, I respect your observations about size, but I suspect you are assuming the flip side of the coin tobe the preferable. You are reading as though it 'must' be small to be good. I know that is not what you mean, but it is reading that way, much as my comments are reading as it must be 'large' to be good. Of course that is not what either of us mean, I know.

 

Yes of course, but it doesn't work if you want to put the alternative side of the argument and end up coming down 50/50, it defeats the purpose.

 

It's the lack of a reason for printing big that is the core of the argument, where large size is a knee jerk reaction to making the image appear more important, rather like shouting to get a weak idea across.

 

There is an intellectual process in the composition and post processing of the photograph, there should be an equal intellectual process in deciding how people subsequently look at the photograph. Scale works in many subtle ways.

 

Steve

[erl]

Yes Steve, I think we are coming closer and closer. I think to the point where I won't even attempt to disagree, at least not tonight. Tired.

[AlanJW]

Novoflex offer a light monopod that is essentially a collapsible Leki skiing/hiking pole with a standard tripod screw on top that can take either the camera, a small ball head or a nice wooden knob. I rather like using it.

Leki itself makes a walking pole with a tripod screw and wooden knob. I have one and it is very useful.

[Keith (M)]

Normally one considers a wide-angle lens to be first choice for landscapes but when I bought a 135mm APO-Telyt earlier this year, I set-off on a walk to see what I could achieve in terms of 'long-lens landscapes' . The process made me look at the familiar scenery with 'fresh eyes'. Given the right viewpoint, I was very pleased with the results. Example below and other 135mm images can be seen here. Now the 135mm accompanies the 21mm and 28mm on country walks etc.

 

PS - all hand held...

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[jaapv]

Leki itself makes a walking pole with a tripod screw and wooden knob. I have one and it is very useful.

Probably exactly the same thing. It is not in the current Leki catalog. They may have farmed it out to Novoflex

[erl]

I am not first and foremost a landscape photographer, but when indulging I do tend to go the other way with lens choice. Habitually I find my preference opting towards tele type lenses rather than wide angle. Commonly on my Leica's I use 90mm and 135mm for landscape. I guess it is just the way I see.

[jmahto]

.... Now the 135mm accompanies the 21mm and 28mm on country walks etc.

 

PS - all hand held...

 

I started with 135 with 28 and 15 for casual hikes but after getting superlight tele-elmarit 90, my 135 stays at home.

[sharookh]

I would suggest a MF system or a DSLR.

 

Have a look at this: Canon Professional Network - Don McCullin Feature

 

Although I'm sure you can use an M, I'm not too sure if it's the right tool for landscape, although many have used it successfully.

 

I use my DSLR or a Hasselblad.

 

And more recently .................my iPhone in panorama!!!!!

[kdriceman]

The M is a light-tight box you can fix to a tripod...

 

 

Subject to some constraints, some of which may apply to some landscape photography. The M, M9, MM and probably all M mount cameras suffer light leak around the lens/mount interface. It is pretty well documented on the LUF and is not noticeable normally, but on long exposures with light beating down on the top of the lens, the light leak shows up. Easy enough to fix with a hair band or gaffer tape, but there nonetheless.

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/showthread.php?t=314052

[Gary Clennan]

I shoot a lot of landscape with my M240 and it is has more/less worked out great. With the sensor and Leica glass, the results can be amazing - especially in print. There are a ton of positive aspects but here are a few points I have found challenging:

• Live view implementation. The M240 does not allow the option to zoom in and scroll around to see what is in precise focus. You can only zoom in to the center of the image. If you want to see if an object is in perfect focus, you zoom in and then point the camera directly at the object, focus, and then return to the framing you desire. Not very practicable.
  
• Long exposures. The longest exposure possible is 60s at ISO200. Increase ISO and you need to reduce your exposure time. This hasn't been a big deal to me but there have been a few times I would have liked longer than 60s.
  
• Automatic dark frame subtraction. I can't recall exactly when this happens (perhaps > 1s) but for longer exposures it means a fair bit of time waiting in between shots. I would like the ability to turn this feature on or off.
  

In all reality though, these are just minor issues. One can (and should) be able to shoot great landscapes with any camera. Have fun!

[chris_tribble]

Now the 135mm accompanies the 21mm and 28mm on country walks etc..

 

I'm with you on this and have discussed in other threads. For me the magic combination is the 135 A-T + 35 Summicron Asph. Light, compact, lovely colour rendering and both so sharp.

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Hallo,

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