Leica Q - the image thread

[giuliomagnifico]

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Eyes on my light! by Giulio Magnifico, on Flickr

 

 

With macro ring "active" 

[RomeoBravo]

A shot for Elegant Magazine...

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[microview]

The last two: what a contrast!

[gbealnz]

LOL, indeed, not only the mono/colour difference too.

Both showing the 28mm perspective beautifully.

Both wonderful pictures.

Gary

[Leica Guy]

Since getting the Q, I've wanted to use it to photograph Broad-tailed Hummingbirds that visit the forests of Colorado in the summer after migrating up from their winter home in Mexico. The Q is a very versatile camera and after using it to take these photos, I think that is even more true. I have worked to develop a flash system using my Canon Speedlights as slaves and my Canon Macro Ring flash as Master firing the slaves all at the same time. The key is to operate all the flashes in manual mode and at low power settings. That ensures the light is a narrow pulse and easily stops movement of the wings which can beat as many as 80 times a second. Several of the images highlight the multiple flashes in the eyes of the bird. The other key is to set the camera so that all the light is supplied by the flashes. In this case the settings were shutter 1/250, ISO 100, Aperture f/10. I'll include a photo of the setup. You can see I also had a cloth background to help highlight the bird. One flash is dedicated to illuminating the background as evenly as possible. Yes, I used 5 flashes going off simultaneously to photograph these beautiful birds. The camera was not in macro mode. Has anyone else photographed hummingbirds with a Q?

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[david strachan]

Congratulations...fabulous pictures in one of the most difficult genres.

And you've made the camera work for you.

 

Love the first one.

 

Again, well done, they are beauties.

 

...

[zampelis]

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Since getting the Q, I've wanted to use it to photograph Broad-tailed Hummingbirds that visit the forests of Colorado in the summer after migrating up from their winter home in Mexico. The Q is a very versatile camera and after using it to take these photos, I think that is even more true. I have worked to develop a flash system using my Canon Speedlights as slaves and my Canon Macro Ring flash as Master firing the slaves all at the same time. The key is to operate all the flashes in manual mode and at low power settings. That ensures the light is a narrow pulse and easily stops movement of the wings which can beat as many as 80 times a second. Several of the images highlight the multiple flashes in the eyes of the bird. The other key is to set the camera so that all the light is supplied by the flashes. In this case the settings were shutter 1/250, ISO 100, Aperture f/10. I'll include a photo of the setup. You can see I also had a cloth background to help highlight the bird. One flash is dedicated to illuminating the background as evenly as possible. Yes, I used 5 flashes going off simultaneously to photograph these beautiful birds. The camera was not in macro mode. Has anyone else photographed hummingbirds with a Q?

 

WOW! Such amazing photos!!! The colours the sharpness! Such a joy to look! Thank you so much Dan! Great inspiration! 

[vikasmg]

Since getting the Q, I've wanted to use it to photograph Broad-tailed Hummingbirds that visit the forests of Colorado in the summer after migrating up from their winter home in Mexico. The Q is a very versatile camera and after using it to take these photos, I think that is even more true. I have worked to develop a flash system using my Canon Speedlights as slaves and my Canon Macro Ring flash as Master firing the slaves all at the same time. The key is to operate all the flashes in manual mode and at low power settings. That ensures the light is a narrow pulse and easily stops movement of the wings which can beat as many as 80 times a second. Several of the images highlight the multiple flashes in the eyes of the bird. The other key is to set the camera so that all the light is supplied by the flashes. In this case the settings were shutter 1/250, ISO 100, Aperture f/10. I'll include a photo of the setup. You can see I also had a cloth background to help highlight the bird. One flash is dedicated to illuminating the background as evenly as possible. Yes, I used 5 flashes going off simultaneously to photograph these beautiful birds. The camera was not in macro mode. Has anyone else photographed hummingbirds with a Q?

 

Amazing!  Do you have some kind of sensor to trigger the exposure at the right time?

 

- Vikas

[gbealnz]

Oh My Gawd, stunning, and way out of left-field from the "this would be a perfect subject for the Q" files too.

Triggering? How? Remote obviously, but via the app?
Gary

[stuny]

Congratulations - these are fabulous!.  I imagine it took some time to perfect your set-up.  Do you use autofocus, or since it's at f/10, just a zone focus?  I have a link to another photog who specializes in hummers.  I'll find the link at home and send it to you.

[Leica Guy]

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments. It’s a labor of love looking for new and interesting ways to use the Q.

 

Technical details I should have included:

 

I tried hard to use the Q iphone app to trigger the shutter. It does not work well and kept stopping connection to the wifi. I honestly tried and I’m not a novice at this, but I could not make it work reliably and consistently. I long for a shutter release cable. I ended up sitting very still by the camera with my finger on the shutter button. I tried to not move much which tends to scare the birds.

 

I prefocused on the feeder and at f/10 had aboit 2” DOF. I took many out of focus shots which I discarded quickly in LR.

 

The exposure is pretty easy to dial in. You first check the exposure with no flashes. You want it dark. The idea is you want the flashes supplying all the light. That way the short duration light pulse stops the wing motion. You dial up the power on the flashes until the right exposure is realized. One could adjust the aperture somewhat although that affects DOF and I was already so limited.

 

I used the optical sensor to trigger all the slaves from the Master Ring flash. One could also use cables between the flashes. Because I’m using Canon flashes they do not work in ETTL mode when on the Q. All I can do is trigger the flash using the Q shutter. From that point all the flashes are operating in manual mode with optical connection.

 

One more comment. Because of the 28mm focal length the final images are highly cropped. It means they are only around 1400 pixels on an edge. Its a testament to how sharp the Q is that they look so good at that resolution. Pretty amazing really.

[bags27]

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments. It’s a labor of love looking for new and interesting ways to use the Q.

 

Technical details I should have included:

 

I tried hard to use the Q iphone app to trigger the shutter. It does not work well and kept stopping connection to the wifi. I honestly tried and I’m not a novice at this, but I could not make it work reliably and consistently. I long for a shutter release cable. I ended up sitting very still by the camera with my finger on the shutter button. I tried to not move much which tends to scare the birds.

 

I prefocused on the feeder and at f/10 had aboit 2” DOF. I took many out of focus shots which I discarded quickly in LR.

 

The exposure is pretty easy to dial in. You first check the exposure with no flashes. You want it dark. The idea is you want the flashes supplying all the light. That way the short duration light pulse stops the wing motion. You dial up the power on the flashes until the right exposure is realized. One could adjust the aperture somewhat although that affects DOF and I was already so limited.

 

I used the optical sensor to trigger all the slaves from the Master Ring flash. One could also use cables between the flashes. Because I’m using Canon flashes they do not work in ETTL mode when on the Q. All I can do is trigger the flash using the Q shutter. From that point all the flashes are operating in manual mode with optical connection.

 

One more comment. Because of the 28mm focal length the final images are highly cropped. It means they are only around 1400 pixels on an edge. Its a testament to how sharp the Q is that they look so good at that resolution. Pretty amazing really.

What a scientist! What an explorer and creator. You are really an inspiration to us all. Thanks!

[Leica Guy]

What a scientist! What an explorer and creator. You are really an inspiration to us all. Thanks!

Thank you for the very kind comments. This forum energizes and challenges me. I love the high level of images so many submit and the very helpful attitude regularly expressed by the members. Clearly, the best forum in photography!

[microview]

Coreopsis: one of my favourite garden plants (OOC)

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[Uwe M.]

Three happy cows – somewhere in South tyrol

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[Yoki]

L1070197 by Yoki, on Flickr

[vikasmg]

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments. It’s a labor of love looking for new and interesting ways to use the Q.

 

Technical details I should have included:

 

I tried hard to use the Q iphone app to trigger the shutter. It does not work well and kept stopping connection to the wifi. I honestly tried and I’m not a novice at this, but I could not make it work reliably and consistently. I long for a shutter release cable. I ended up sitting very still by the camera with my finger on the shutter button. I tried to not move much which tends to scare the birds.

 

I prefocused on the feeder and at f/10 had aboit 2” DOF. I took many out of focus shots which I discarded quickly in LR.

 

The exposure is pretty easy to dial in. You first check the exposure with no flashes. You want it dark. The idea is you want the flashes supplying all the light. That way the short duration light pulse stops the wing motion. You dial up the power on the flashes until the right exposure is realized. One could adjust the aperture somewhat although that affects DOF and I was already so limited.

 

I used the optical sensor to trigger all the slaves from the Master Ring flash. One could also use cables between the flashes. Because I’m using Canon flashes they do not work in ETTL mode when on the Q. All I can do is trigger the flash using the Q shutter. From that point all the flashes are operating in manual mode with optical connection.

 

One more comment. Because of the 28mm focal length the final images are highly cropped. It means they are only around 1400 pixels on an edge. Its a testament to how sharp the Q is that they look so good at that resolution. Pretty amazing really.

 

Your patience and tenacity is as amazing as your photographs!

 

- Vikas

[RomeoBravo]

If you don't mind, I'd like your opinion on whether you prefer this shot in B&W (as it was published), or in color?

Thanks!

B&W

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[RomeoBravo]

If you don't mind, I'd like your opinion on whether you prefer this shot in B&W (as it was published), or in color?

Thanks!

B&W

Fashion-Magazine-Editorial.jpg

 

 Color...

 

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Edited June 30, 2018 by RomeoBravo

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[ropo54]

Color!