Leica S3 workflow recommendations

[Pieter12]

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An example of an S 006 image with Portra dye clouds added (and a burnt-out highlight that needs to bee dealt with).

 

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Edited May 3 by Pieter12

[davidmknoble]

Each artist chooses their own style.  I enjoy both 35mm film and 120mm film, and a little of chicken and the egg, but I prefer to get most of the work done in camera on the S system, which involves using filter systems and slows down the work.  However, my personal style is to make the image look as natural as possible as I would agree many digital images today are over processed.  Digital is much easier to manipulate in post processing than a darkroom, but I also scan my negatives and voila, is the same.

So my preference is both film and negative with a little of both mixed in.  While digital is much more current, I like the backup of a negative to complement the backup of digital.  Just my preference.

[John McMaster]

18 hours ago, Chris Akin said:

You'd have to shoot medium format film to compete with what the S3 provides

The original Leica Monochrom was the first camera I had that could rival medium format B&W film for tonality, the S series outdoes it for colour IMO.

john

[Chris Akin]

It definitely qualifies. 

[Pieter12]

5 hours ago, davidmknoble said:

but I prefer to get most of the work done in camera on the S system, which involves using filter systems and slows down the work.

I only shoot DNG and I treat it like a negative, with fine-tuning or interpretations are made in post. I can't imagine fine-tuning an image on the little camera monitor. Do you work tethered?

Edited May 4 by Pieter12

[davidmknoble]

7 hours ago, Pieter12 said:

I only shoot DNG and I treat it like a negative, with fine-tuning or interpretations are made in post. I can't imagine fine-tuning an image on the little camera monitor. Do you work tethered?

No.  Partly experience, and partly the histogram.  I’m shooting out on the coast in the sand and salt.  But, I use filter systems, just like I would with film - color or black and white.  I just meter differently.  My goal is to not have to resort to masks and other digital things, but just contrast, color, etc.

When I said I like it to be natural, I am referring to saturation levels of colors in post.

Edited May 5 by davidmknoble