It was a sunny afternoon. I managed to get some nice photos. Noticed have to be careful to avoid lens flare with the Zeiss ZM 28mm and R72 filter. Might improvise a lens hood for the lens next time.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Infrared Photographs
Took a few pictures at the weekend with a Hoya R72 infrared filter on the M8. Went to Oughterard Cemetery, notable for being the burial place of Arthur Guinness, he of the brewery and famous beverage.
It was a sunny afternoon. I managed to get some nice photos. Noticed have to be careful to avoid lens flare with the Zeiss ZM 28mm and R72 filter. Might improvise a lens hood for the lens next time.
It was a sunny afternoon. I managed to get some nice photos. Noticed have to be careful to avoid lens flare with the Zeiss ZM 28mm and R72 filter. Might improvise a lens hood for the lens next time.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Film Photography Podcast
I am really enjoying listening to this podcast. It's a refreshing change from the usual photography podcasts which I also enjoy.
Film Photography Podcast
It is at times laugh out loud hilarious and could equally pass as light entertainment or comedy. Well worth checking out.
Film Photography Podcast
It is at times laugh out loud hilarious and could equally pass as light entertainment or comedy. Well worth checking out.
M8 Infrared Photography
The much talked about sensitivity of the M8 to infrared light, got me thinking that it would make a good camera for infrared photography. In fact it makes an excellent camera for infrared photography. Metering works fine with the filter in place. View for composition obviously unaffected due to rangefinder window. Results very impressive.
Definitely my choice for shooting castles and ruins against skies with a few fluffy clouds.
Definitely my choice for shooting castles and ruins against skies with a few fluffy clouds.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
The Keepers of the Light
Reading an interesting book at the moment. I heard about this book some time ago (while listening to the excellent History of Photography podcast by Jeff Curto. It's not your usual podcast, its actually a recording of his university lecturers). Astute readers of my blog may notice the slight resemblance to the title of this blog!! Anyway, it's called The Keepers of Light: A History and Working Guide to Early Photographic Processes. It's no longer in print, but used copies are readily available. I got mine from Amazon
Sunday, April 3, 2011
So maybe gear is important, just not in the way you think it is
I started this blog with the intention of not discussing gear too much and concentrate more on the concepts and philosophy of photographic. However sometimes its hard to separate the process from the equipment. I have come to a recognition that the gear influences the photograph. Not so much by its specification, but on the influence it has on the photographer.
My first digital camera was a Canon Powershot A75. It was a 4 megapixel point and shoot with a viewfinder. I remember buying it in order to take more pictures of the kids. It performed this task admirably. Until yesterday it was still working fine, and was used regularly by my 8yr old son to make movies of his toys and photograph the cat. The sensor has gone and now every picture is blown out or comes out in weird magenta.
It performed admirably, but as my photography progressed its limitations became problematic. I purchased a Nikon D80 digital slr camera. It allowed me to take pictures with out of focus backgrounds and make enlargements without pixelation. I learned more about photography: by practice, joining a camera club and reading up on theory. I took technically better pictures. However something unexpected happened, I took less and less pictures of the kids.
This trajectory continued, with different cameras and lenses in between. The most significant being a Leica M6 film camera. Recently I took a step back and re-evaluated what I am looking for in photography, which led me to sell my Nikon D700 and lenses and to buy a Leica M8.
Since acquiring the camera it has come along everywhere in my jacket pocket. Over the weekend I found myself taking lots of pictures, especially of the kids.
I think with the dSLR photographing turned into a planned concious activity. I would go out, rucksack on back, to photograph. With the Leica, I just put the camera in my pocket, just in case I see something I would like to photograph. It sounds insignificant, but in practice it's a world of difference.
My first digital camera was a Canon Powershot A75. It was a 4 megapixel point and shoot with a viewfinder. I remember buying it in order to take more pictures of the kids. It performed this task admirably. Until yesterday it was still working fine, and was used regularly by my 8yr old son to make movies of his toys and photograph the cat. The sensor has gone and now every picture is blown out or comes out in weird magenta.
It performed admirably, but as my photography progressed its limitations became problematic. I purchased a Nikon D80 digital slr camera. It allowed me to take pictures with out of focus backgrounds and make enlargements without pixelation. I learned more about photography: by practice, joining a camera club and reading up on theory. I took technically better pictures. However something unexpected happened, I took less and less pictures of the kids.
This trajectory continued, with different cameras and lenses in between. The most significant being a Leica M6 film camera. Recently I took a step back and re-evaluated what I am looking for in photography, which led me to sell my Nikon D700 and lenses and to buy a Leica M8.
Since acquiring the camera it has come along everywhere in my jacket pocket. Over the weekend I found myself taking lots of pictures, especially of the kids.
I think with the dSLR photographing turned into a planned concious activity. I would go out, rucksack on back, to photograph. With the Leica, I just put the camera in my pocket, just in case I see something I would like to photograph. It sounds insignificant, but in practice it's a world of difference.
Lenses on the M8
50mm Summicron is real nice on the M8. The 1.33 crop factor means it's more of a portrait lens than when used on full frame M6. It's not however as dramatic a difference as I thought it might have been. More of a 'tight' 50mm.
I borrowed a Canon 35mm 2.0 LTM to see how I would like the focal length. On the M8 it behaves like a 'loose' 50mm, giving just that bit more coverage than expected. I am going to try it out on the M6 today and see how the classical 35mm focal length suits me.
On the M8 I think I might prefer a Summicron 40mm, which might be the perfect field of view for me. It seems to be the forgotten lens in the Leica line up, so prices seem reasonable. The 35mm just doesn't feel tight enough on the digital M, at the same time it isn't usefully wide enough. Thinking at the moment 28-40-50 would be a good combo, rather than 28-35-50.
So todays shooting will be brought to you my the M6 and 35mm and the M8 and 50mm.
I borrowed a Canon 35mm 2.0 LTM to see how I would like the focal length. On the M8 it behaves like a 'loose' 50mm, giving just that bit more coverage than expected. I am going to try it out on the M6 today and see how the classical 35mm focal length suits me.
On the M8 I think I might prefer a Summicron 40mm, which might be the perfect field of view for me. It seems to be the forgotten lens in the Leica line up, so prices seem reasonable. The 35mm just doesn't feel tight enough on the digital M, at the same time it isn't usefully wide enough. Thinking at the moment 28-40-50 would be a good combo, rather than 28-35-50.
So todays shooting will be brought to you my the M6 and 35mm and the M8 and 50mm.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
April Fools
Well I didn't receive my Invisible Camera , at least not that I know of.
Did however receive a delivery of a Leica M8.
Following up from my previous post I sold by Nikon D700, Nikon 14-24 and Tamron 28-75 lenses.
Will write an in-depth review once I have used it a while.
First impressions so far:
- It's re-assuringly like my M6. A little bit bigger, but not noticeably so. Still fits in the pocket of my fleece jacket.
-I use it just like the film version. Set aperature on lens, set shutter speed on camera (a few more in between stops on the dial which have to get used to). Shutter feels similar. In 'normal' mode the motor drive kicks in straight after the picture is taken, which takes getting used to. It's a bit disconcerting. Changing to 'discreet' mode means the motor drive waits until you remove your finger off shutter. In this mode the shutter makes a soft pleasant click and the separation from the motor whirr is an altogether more pleasant experience
-It suits the purpose of carry along camera much better than the D700 did.
Still have a few euro left over from the transactions. Going to keep it until figure out what I need more urgently.
Did however receive a delivery of a Leica M8.
Following up from my previous post I sold by Nikon D700, Nikon 14-24 and Tamron 28-75 lenses.
Will write an in-depth review once I have used it a while.
First impressions so far:
- It's re-assuringly like my M6. A little bit bigger, but not noticeably so. Still fits in the pocket of my fleece jacket.
-I use it just like the film version. Set aperature on lens, set shutter speed on camera (a few more in between stops on the dial which have to get used to). Shutter feels similar. In 'normal' mode the motor drive kicks in straight after the picture is taken, which takes getting used to. It's a bit disconcerting. Changing to 'discreet' mode means the motor drive waits until you remove your finger off shutter. In this mode the shutter makes a soft pleasant click and the separation from the motor whirr is an altogether more pleasant experience
-It suits the purpose of carry along camera much better than the D700 did.
Still have a few euro left over from the transactions. Going to keep it until figure out what I need more urgently.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
It's not the camera, it's you!
After blogging about why it's not about gear, I inevitably didn't listen to my own advice and looked at the gear.
In my defence, so far I have been mainly selling equipment.
I have decided that the reason I have some cameras and lenses gathering dust in cupboards is that I just don't get along with them. Intrinsically there is nothing wrong with them and they are all capable of producing good photographs. They just rarely get the chance to do so. Rather than trying to change myself to suit the equipment, I have decided to change the equipment to suit myself.
I have a set of underlying rules I am broadly adhering to: buy something/sell something - no new equipment without making space in the cupboard! The total money invested must not be exceeded - the transactions must be self financing, without the need for further investment
In my defence, so far I have been mainly selling equipment.
I have decided that the reason I have some cameras and lenses gathering dust in cupboards is that I just don't get along with them. Intrinsically there is nothing wrong with them and they are all capable of producing good photographs. They just rarely get the chance to do so. Rather than trying to change myself to suit the equipment, I have decided to change the equipment to suit myself.
I have a set of underlying rules I am broadly adhering to: buy something/sell something - no new equipment without making space in the cupboard! The total money invested must not be exceeded - the transactions must be self financing, without the need for further investment
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Daguerreotype Portrait Studio
Just found a website for a 'modern daguerreotype portrait studio' in California. If I ever get to that part of the world again I will commission a family portrait.
There is something fascinating about a daguerreotype, much more so than any other type of photograph.
More information on all things daguerreotype at The Daguerreian Society website
There is something fascinating about a daguerreotype, much more so than any other type of photograph.
More information on all things daguerreotype at The Daguerreian Society website
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Bootstrapping - motivating yourself to take pictures
Ever so often I go through a period where I don't feel like taking photographs. Sometimes for no reason, or sometimes some minor set-back justs puts me right off.
One way of breaking this hiatus is to get some new gear, a new googah to inspire. This way leads to an empty wallet and a cupboard full of dust catchers.
Another way is to look at other people's photographs, any photographs. Inspiration inevitably follows.
The best way for me is to go to that cupboard of dust catchers and choose any camera and lens, especially one that hasn't been used in a while and set a target to shot a set number of photographs of anything in the next week.
One way of breaking this hiatus is to get some new gear, a new googah to inspire. This way leads to an empty wallet and a cupboard full of dust catchers.
Another way is to look at other people's photographs, any photographs. Inspiration inevitably follows.
The best way for me is to go to that cupboard of dust catchers and choose any camera and lens, especially one that hasn't been used in a while and set a target to shot a set number of photographs of anything in the next week.
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