Project: Walnut tree in the yard (wide angle lenses)

[Danner]

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2 hours ago, crony said:

Yes. - This is what I tried to show ... The background is more or less a plane, 2D. But when other objects are in the picture, like the white Mercedes, you have more spatial structures.

Not a big deal, but this can happen ... ---

I was thinking that the Mercedes was moving and got stretched during the 1/50 second focal plane shutter travel period?

[crony]

1 hour ago, Danner said:

I was thinking that the Mercedes was moving and got stretched during the 1/50 second focal plane shutter travel period?

This may have contributed a little, too, as can be seen from the spokes of the wheels.

But it has more to do with the side of the picture. And it also shows with the blue OPEL on the right.

Edited June 3, 2021 by crony
addition

[Jean-Michel]

6 hours ago, Cobram said:

Dear Jean-Michel, I was a little bit worried about technical aspect... and your comment reassured me. Maybe I'm just too much engaged in LUF technical sections where almost every one is talking about megapixels, lens resolving power, LoCa 🙂 , etc... And after all hot threads regarding quality of the equipment I was getting more and more worried about mine modest M-E220 (only 18 MP 🙂 ) and cheap Color Skopar 21mm F4...

Hi again,

Since your camera does not have live view the option of a shift lens is a non starter; you would have no way to see the image framing. I had a Color Skopar 21 (purchased in film days) and used it quite often with my M9. I used Cornerfix to deal with the “Italian flag” issue. For most images, you can print your 18 mp files up to 20 by 30 inches and get excellent results. I sold that lens when I purchased the WATE. 
I of course have no idea of your objectives in your project. Is it a simple survey of walnut trees in a village? Or is it a story about the people and their relationship with the trees? In the latter case you may want to use more than a single image per home, and perhaps include words from your village neighbours. 

In any case, just get started and see where it leads Don’t fret about equipment, use what you have.

 

[Jeff S]

Or you could shoot side-by-side pictures of each person/family and tree(s).  The people photos could still include tree(s), but with emphasis on the people, while the second photo could be more expansive.

Jeff

[jaapv]

5 hours ago, crony said:

Yes. - This is what I tried to show ... The background is more or less a plane, 2D. But when other objects are in the picture, like the white Mercedes, you have more spatial structures.

Not a big deal, but this can happen ... ---

Yes, but strangely the blue van is distorted and blurred as well. And nothing wrong with the other parked cars.

[crony]

29 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Yes, but strangely the blue van is distorted and blurred as well. And nothing wrong with the other parked cars.

Hi, I made another crop, showing a poster, too, 830K upscaled to 1024. This can give an idea of the sharpness.

There are many factors: camera, lens, hand-held, not forgetting yours truly ...

 

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The stretch effect, on the left ... :

 

 

... and on the right :

 

Holding the camera upright :

 

I think, my observations might be helpful when deploying the Heliar. - This is no VOIGTLÄNDER bashing. I own and use (currently) 9 VOIGTLÄNDER lenses ...

UWA effects can have their side-effects ... 

[jaapv]

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It is perspective distortion, and as such not a lens fault, but a result of the natural perspective at such wide angles. You can use it to good effect, like here on the Ultra-Wide Heliar 12 on the M9. I would say that Voigtlánder is the king of extreme rangefinder wideangles presently.

 

 

 

 

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[easy_action]

This sounds like a really interesting project.  We have walnut trees so I am familiar with the problems of photographing family next to/underneath them!

With an ultra-wide at ground level you will inevitably have to tilt the camera up to frame the tree.  I think that getting the camera a couple of meters off the ground (with a ladder for example), is a good suggestion to reduce the effects of distortion and give the images a more natural look.  The amount of space between the camera and subject is also important.  If possible I would try not to get too close, and keep the families away from the edges of the frame.

Of the lenses you list I only have recent experience with the Voigtlander 15mm Heliar v3, which I really liked.  No negatives at all that I can think of, just that I didn't end up using it very much.  I did once briefly own the Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 - I guess the L mount version is the newer f/4 ART lens which is probably better on higher resolution sensors.  A zoom might be a practical help here, but I wonder if maintaining the same field of view in every photo for your book would be better.  Give a more coherent feel to the images?

 

[a.noctilux]

As lonely photographer (most of time), I don't have assistants to carry around my photo equipments.

I don't need to say that PC lenses ( even a couple of them in various focal lengths 😇 ) are much more portable and smaller than a ladder.

[Cobram]

Dear @a.noctilux, @easy_action, @Danner, @jaapv, @crony, @Stef63, @Jeff S, @Jean-Michel, @250swb, @mmradman, @CapoLuciano

Thank you All for your comments, ideas and positive feedback. 

I realised I was too narrow thinking regarding this project. I was obsessed with "the perfect photo" of a walnut tree + family. As many of you pointed out, lenses are less important... I shall focus on the story, vision, creative angles etc.

I think this thread is still interesting. I would like to discuss creative ideas/suggestions. Your comments are welcomed.

As thread topic is not anymore related to M-lenses, can you@jaapv help me with redirecting this thread in another, maybe more appropriate LUF section?

p.s. I spoke to my wife about this project few days ago and asked her to be my "assistant" with second camera. I think another "view" will make final photos more appealing.

[a.noctilux]

With your assistant, second camera and second thinking( my wife has such good ideas I can not refuse ), you may begin now with what you have 👍.

[ianman]

2 hours ago, Cobram said:

I think this thread is still interesting. I would like to discuss creative ideas/suggestions.

I would suggest taking a look at the work of Jeanloup Sieff who used a 21mm almost exclusively I believe.

One idea that comes to mind as I write this that is directly influenced by him... take a photo of the tree & print it on A2 (or quite large anyway). Then have the people hold the photo of the tree with them standing in front of it, you won't need the whole tree in the final shot.

Another that could work... depends on the size of the tree and it you need to get it all in... take pictures of the people and hang them in the tree (the pictures, not the people )

Edited June 7, 2021 by ianman