EDITOR’S NOTE:
Those of you who frequent Prosophos will know Andrew Gemmell from his numerous contributions to the daily discussions on this site; he always offers an encouraging word and is the consummate gentlemen. However, what you may not know is that Andrew actually photographs! 🙂
Mr. Gemmell recently went on a whirlwind vacation and came back with a few images. No — strike that — he came back with a series of incredible images. Given the sheer number of them, I could have put together a Featured Photographer piece for him, but I had to remind myself that this series represents the output from a single vacation. I can only imagine what a future Featured Photographer post would look like…
I am fortunate to be hosting these images – thank you Andrew.
—Peter.
P.S. I’d also like to thank Mark Ewanchuk — he knows why.
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Andrew Gemmell writes:
“Hi Peter,
My wife and I have always enjoyed traveling. It was something we had always committed to when we married and traveling with our three daughters was always going to be on the agenda. Fortunately, we have been lucky enough to fulfill a major part of those dreams and we have just spent 5 weeks traveling the globe. Dubai, Rome, overland up to Stuttgart (via Venice, Lake Como and Schwangau in Germany). We spent a week in Paris, four days in London and finished our trip via NY!
Tiring is a word which comes to mind! Although exhausting…..it was incredible. To share an adventure like this with my daughters is something which will never be taken away now. To spend time out of the daily routine, talk about different cultures, the food and of course the history. To help them learn made this such a special trip.
Along for the ride was also a camera I have become very attached to, the Leica Monochrome. I took along a 50mm Summilux ASPH 1.4 and the 24mm Elmar 3.8 (definitely a keeper for me). It’s the only camera I have now after making a commitment to learn about using a rangefinder and also exploring the world of black & white only photography.
Although the photography was secondary to the experience, it is part of my life. Photography is about expression and all I aim to do is express myself and the subject in a meaningful way.
I hope you enjoy them.
—Andrew Gemmell
P.S. There are number of people who have influenced me. Yes, you in a big way. Your passion for this camera and style of shooting had me very intrigued. Of course the results speak for themselves, albeit it’s more about the passion of photography and the things you love which produce the results, not the camera.
Many people you have posted here, Hugues (love your work Hugues!!), Jason Howe, Ashwin and especially Kristian Dowling (his story telling ability and skill is to me incredible and an enormous influence). Thank you for sharing their work as it has a direct effect on me personally and how I approach this wonderful hobby we all love!”
Images courtesy of Andrew Gemmell.
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Thank you again Andrew for sharing these wonderful images!
—Peter.
Prosophos 
excellent!!!
Wow!
Thank you Semantic and Marilil.
Great images; top to bottom, wow! Hard to even pick a favorite, so two: the offset trees and track landscape and the final one, which seems the glimpse of a glimpse into another world.
Thank you Greg. That image is one which will be a print….for sure.
5 weeks was hectic though I will always remember this particular morning of the trip for it’s peace and serenity.
Here are two other images from that same morning……
I went and got some milk for my wife’s coffee this morning and noticed the light fog and it was just starting to lift. Drove like a madman home, “here’s the milk” grabbed the camera and left just in time!
I’m glad there was no milk in the fridge!
Lovely. Question though, spending five weeks travelling the globe with ONLY ONE BODY?. Didnt you fear what if it stopped working half way through?. I dont have the stomach for that. I alway carry two bodies with me
Hi Salim and thank you.
I did think about what to take beforehand (film was an option as was small pocketable camera or my old OMD-Em5) as well. However the more time I had leading up to this trip the more I felt I just wanted to take only this camera. Yes there is always that risk, though the benefits of it allowing freedom to think (not too much gear) outweighed this risk by a long long way.
If I’d had two bodies (assuming we are talking colour option) I am certain I wouldn’t have taken as many images I liked from the trip.
Same for lenses. Two was perfect.
Hmm I guess I can see your point. For me, my trusted M9 and the Leica X2 or My Fuji X100 as a Backup
Peter and Andrew,
No “thanks” necessary here–these jaw-dropping images deserve a suitable venue!
Congratulations Andrew; you are a true talent, and indeed a modest gentleman. It is definitely my pleasure to make your acquaintance.
-M.
Well yes there is some thanks due here Mark. This was your suggestion amongst the emails so thank you!
I also really appreciate your comments, feedback and support. Pleasures all mine!
As for true talent….no, was just vigilant of being aware of what was around me at the time! I’m sure my wife was thinking….”Why did you take a photo of THAT!”..lol
Really great Andrew! The nice thing you didn’t seek for cliches like monuments etc.
Thanks Luiz. You have certainly been an influence with those incredible images you have created!
It was a conscious decision that whatever I liked form this trip had to try and be unique (a project of sorts). So going in with that mindset made me look elsewhere when walking about.
Great images! The one just before the last one is like a snap shot out of John Wo movie…
Thanks Alex. Yes it certainly had some appeal.
Again I was very lucky here. Was walking back from Central Park early on a Sunday morning to our hotel. A local was feeding these pigeons, so they were all settled. I decided to see if something interesting might happen for a minute or so with them and 10 seconds later the man walked around the corner with his dog….and I got lucky!
Amazing how a split second can change an entire scene! Great work!
Andrew, Saw you on Facebook with all the great images daily.
These set of Monochrom images are really nice, congratulations!
Thanks for Peter featuring them. When view together as a set, they all give me another level of resonance.
Best regards,
Michael.
Hi Michael. Thank you. As you travel you have individual images pop up on the computer and then you have to “move on” fairly quickly. Was nice to get home and have some time to review them.
Absolutely beautiful images Andrew, you should be very proud of these indeed.
Thanks also to Peter for sharing these and being such a positive influence on so many of us.
All the best, Jason.
Thanks Jason. Thank you for your contribution and inspiration to my thought process……and gear updates:-)! Have a great trip when that time arrives and will be looking forward to hearing about it.
Wow…thank you everyone!
Peter thank you again for sharing these. I can not put my finger on it, though did not seriously consider posting these, like this until suggested. Of course their was SH site, though I have been more thinking of print vs. post! So thank you and I am happy I can offer your readers something further than thoughts (well…these images are my thoughts I guess).
As I mentioned in my note, I really enjoy the emotion and quality of your images (and precision :-))! Taking elements from yourself, Mark, Hugues, Jason, and all of your featured and guest photographers has really been a big factor in my own thinking.
Now…time to clean the sensor and shoot some film!
Beautiful work Andy. The only problem is now I have to run out and buy a Monochrom 🙂
To have been away with family for 5 weeks and come home with that many ‘keepers’ is truly impressive. You’re certainly in your stride with the camera and lens combination. May I also heavily applaud your processing of the Monochrom files. I do not often see final images from this camera that – to my eyes – truly utilize the richness of digital and maintain the flavour of film without going into the HDR / over processed area….I guess ‘tasteful’ would best sum it up.
Fantastic images aside I also enjoyed seeing what the 24 Elmar could do. This is a lens I have contemplated as the 46mm filter size fits my other options. Would love to know if you felt the 3.4 aperture was enough for darker shots or was it the high ISO of the Monochrom that balanced things out (when shooting in darker conditions)?
Thanks Jason. The big asset of the Monochrome is what you can do with the files to play with the tones to your liking. The files are full of depth if you wanted to go to an extreme and so there is a lot you can do in between. Some of the grain look will be due to ISO setting on this camera or sometimes I might add a slight bit of of grain.
The Elmar’s 3.8!! And yes there were times it was a bit limiting so a Summilux 1.4 would have been nice:-(!
Even with ISO as good as it is, I still do not think it’s good enough in reality (IMO) to compensate that many stops and retain quality in poor light!! Just over 3 stops from 1.4 to 3.8 is a big difference. Size of the lens is great and it is certainly staying put. I know it’s limitations now so that’s fine.
Cher Andrew !!!
I applaud with both hands, and my heart also this beautiful set of images!
I know all these photographs … your images! They are all outstanding , and I really like this type of photos … Pure , simple, with attention to composition and framing always very neat ! I like to feel that you really thought and think your image … This is typical of a man who mastered the subject!
Each of your pictures in one way or another , tells a story !
Really a big BRAVO Andrew !
While the set is strong! But I have my favorite here!
No. 3 ( a picture, I ‘d like to count in my humble collection! ) No. 6 No. 7 No. 13, and the last one ….
I ‘m glad you ‘re had a great trip with your whole family ! ( Back with so many great pictures , having children and your wife at your side is really a feat ! LOL .
Thank you to our friend Peter for all the “evil” that gives a great site and maintain its work every day!
Warm regards .
Hugues .
PS : thank you Andrew for your comment on my photographic work …
I ” perfected ” , and I have to continue to grow again and again … But thank you !
Merci beaucoup Hugues for those kind words!!
You are certainly an inspiration Hugues….no doubt about it.
I hope you have shown Peter and Mark that image from the Metro with the man following the lady down the stairs! A classic and timeless image. If you haven’t you’ll have to send it now :-)!! Gents follow this one up in particular!
(As to some background I have been lucky enough to see Hugues, Jasons, Michaels and others work on a Monochrome FB page we have posted to).
Happy shooting in that lovely city of yours and I will make a point of returning one day.
Regards
Andrew
Simply Awesome
Andy, WOW! You are really a great talent! I love those photos. There are many which are truly excellent. My preferred one is the sixth from the top – on a beach.
How did you shoot the third photo from the top? Did you shoot that from the door of the bus (I mean did you ask a driver to open the door for you?) or how did you manage to shoot from such a position? I am very curious 🙂
I also like the ground position of the fourth photo. I guess you were shooting that while using zone focusing. When I use OM-D, I like shooting some photos from the ground (thanks to the tiltable screen) but I have not tried that yet with my film leica. I guess a good composition may be a matter of luck.
Ondra
great shots andrew!
keep at it, and consider starting your own site.
Thank you Nickolas. I’ll leave the websites to the professionals like Peter, Mark, Jason and others….
Thank you Ondrej. Still working on the talent part. It’s an ongoing process!! The main reason these came along well as a series was that I was in an environment which was new, enjoying a change from normal routine and just made sure I had a camera handy 90% of the time.
Third from the top was whilst on the “Hop On Hop Off” bus in Rome with no roof on the top seating. Noticed we had stopped for longer than usual, looked over the side, saw the reflections and decided to take a photo!
The fourth was in Piazza San Marco, Venice. The pigeons own Venice and tourists are secondary!! There were so many of them and all behaving the same as you walked through them. As for the image it was more about the white jacket and the man which caught my eye. Just felt if I got lucky (and to be honest to take this type of image that is all you can do) and had the settings correct (stopped down, zone focusing, etc) there may be something interesting. Took 3 images and liked the last one!!
I sold my OMD (great camera and fantastic lenses) and like you enjoyed using that feature. I did use my 50mm lux on it, though focusing is tough and also there was a form of “smearing” on the edges I found and this was due to the sensor/lens combination, rather than normal bokeh. Ming Thein has taken some nice images with this combo though for me I prefer to use a lens which is designed for the camera, so didn’t use it often. Much prefer to focus on the RF than EVF.
this series is incredible. i am actually in shock. henri cartier bresson comes to mind. and mind you, i am extremely discriminating when it comes to photos. i don’t drop that name loosely. at all. i want to rush out and get the leica monochrome. you sold me. thank you for sharing.
Well Michael…I don’t know what to say! Thank you and really appreciate your kind words.
The reality of it is that I can only wish and dream for that comparison to become a reality…..I recently read a short series of thoughts from HCB.Very interesting person and very vigilant at observing everything around him.
It’s a camera I enjoy and want to pick up, but it’s certainly not for everyone.
Love your work btw….some very stunning and intense portraits and that wet plate look to some of is really effective.
I like to buy a wide 21mm Super-Elmar or 24mm Elmar.. Can afford only one..which is better? Is the 24mm better for street photography & 21mm more for landscape ? Previously i bought 35mm summilux but i find it not wide enough for my liking < nice & sharp but….
Hi Paul
Sorry I can’t comment on the 21mm though from what I have been told they essentially the same build and the 21mm in particular gets enormous praise for image quality. 21mm just a little too wide for me personally if I had to choose from just one of those focal lengths. Would love to use it but 24mm for me is better to own.