Through the Looking Glass.

2016, Favourite, Film, Inspiration, Kodak Tri-X 400, Leica - Kanto, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M3, Portrait, Scanner - Plustek 120
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently  And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”
―Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass.
–
Through the Looking Glass

Sparkle.

Inspiration, Nikon, Nikon D810, Portrait, Q&A, Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART, Teaching point

There’s something about the way the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART renders… photos from it just sparkle, for lack of a better word.

At this point, I think I may even prefer it over the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART, but I haven’t shot enough with either to draw any definite conclusions (though the fact that I might be favouring a 35 over a 50 is saying something, given I’ve traditionally been a 50 shooter).

Either way, both of these Sigma ART lenses are phenomenal.  I can’t wait until springtime to get outside in good light and really play with them.

—Peter.

Sparkle

Lens advances and nomenclature set-backs.

Inspiration

Sony refers to the aspherical elements in their newly released G Master lenses as:  XA (extreme aspherical).

That’s a curious choice of nomenclature because it hints at the marketing of any future lens advances.

Perhaps eventually we may see “super-extreme aspherical” or “awesome-extreme aspherical” lenses.

Or they may just make the leap to “super-awesome-extreme aspherical”.  That would be super and awesome and extreme.

Either way, what’s missing this time around are the racing stripes.

(sorry to pick on Sony, as it seems like all the manufacturers are going crazy with lens nomenclature these days)

—Peter.

 

 

 

 

Test Shot Portraits #1 and #2.

2016, Favourite, Film, Inspiration, Kodak Tri-X 400, Leica - Black Chrome Special Edition, Leica - Kanto, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M3, Portrait, Q&A, Scanner - Plustek 120, Teaching point

Test shot portraits: the first in harsh artificial light last night; the second in natural light earlier today.

The focus is where I wanted it in the first, but I can’t say that about the second image (it is slightly front-focused).  Perhaps I’m out of practice, perhaps my eyesight is starting to fail me, perhaps the rangefinder (or lens) is off.

I have no idea, because this is film.

And that’s the beauty of it.

—Peter.

Kanto Leica M3 50mm Summilux Black Chrome Test Shot 1 Prosophos

Kanto Leica M3 50mm Summilux Black Chrome Test Shot 2 Prosophos

Pier to Nowhere.

2016, Favourite, Film, Inspiration, Kodak Tri-X 400, Minolta Autocord CDS III 75mm Rokkor f/3.5, Print, Scanner - Plustek 120

“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever… it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off–then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.”

―Herman Melville, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale.

Pier to Nowhere