2018

The Lost Roll.

2018, 2021, Favourite, Film, Inspiration, Kodak Portra 800, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M2, Leica M2-R, Life's Little Moments, Portrait, Print, Scanner - Plustek 8200i, Within 200 feet of My House™

I had read about this sort of thing happening to photographers.

A forgotten roll of film, re-discovered years later.

I didn’t think it would happen to me, because I’m usually quick to develop anything I shoot.  Yet there it was, a roll of Kodak Portra 800 mysteriously sitting at the bottom of a drawer I had just finished clearing out.

How did that happen?, I wondered.

I’ve now realized it was one of my (in)famous test rolls.  Used up when I had gotten hold of another M2-R to check out. Most of my shots were severely underexposed because the shutter speeds were off.  I didn’t end up keeping that camera after getting back the first roll.  But there was a second roll, which became this “lost roll”.  It sat untouched, because I wasn’t home-developing colour film at the time, and it was too expensive to pay a lab to develop/scan another roll that was essentially filled with underexposed test shots.

The expiry date on the box says 2018, so I would have used it sometime between 2016-2018.

Yesterday, I developed it.  At home.

There’s a photo of my wife in it.  Two of our dog.  Some scenes from around the house.  A self-portrait.

It’s winter.  Maybe December?

The images are like ghosts from the past.  Frozen in time.  And they are staring back from just before the pandemic, the multiple illnesses in our household, and my job disruption.

Hello strangers. 

Nice to meet you again.

—Peter.

↑Leica M2-R, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4, Kodak Portra 800, and Plustek 8200i.

Cousins – Happy Easter, 2019.

2011, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, Beyond 200 feet of My House™, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 21mm Super-Elmar ASPH f/ 3.4, Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M10, Leica M9(P)/M-E (CCD Lives!), Nikon, Nikon 58mm f/1.2 NOCT, Nikon D3, Portrait, Prosophos Custom Lightroom Presets

↑Leica M10 + Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4.

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The Cousins, from years-gone-by:

Cousins, Easter 2018 (the only year we had a sunny Easter):

↑Nikon D850 + Nikon 28mm f/1.4 E.

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Cousins, Easter 2017:

↑Leica M9 (CCD Lives! – Prosophos Open Letter to Leica) + Leica 21mm Super-Elmar ASPH.

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Cousins, Easter 2015:

↑Leica M9 (CCD Lives! – Prosophos Open Letter to Leica) + Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH.

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Cousins, Easter 2012:

↑Leica M9 (CCD Lives! – Prosophos Open Letter to Leica) + Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE.

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Cousins, Easter 2011:

↑Nikon D3 + Nikkor-Noct 58/1.2.

The identity of Undisclosed Lens #7.

2018, 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1, Inspiration, Leica M10, Print, Q&A, Teaching point

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Undisclosed Lens #7 is:

The 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1 (Leica M mount)

The comparison test I posted yesterday revealed something unexpected: the minimum focus distance is greater than the advertised 0.7 m (either that or my Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH focuses closer than 0.7 m, which is unlikely).  I hadn’t noticed it until I ran the head-to-head comparison and found that I couldn’t get as close with the 7Artisans as I could with the Leica.

Other than that (disappointing) surprise, I have been satisfied with the 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1.  It’s an interesting lens that has polarized photographers’ opinions of it (although some have passed judgment without actually laying their hands on one).   The mini-controversy surrounding it was the main reason I wanted to post images without first identifying the lens.

Those who criticize this 7Artisans lens I think miss the point.  In my case, I bought it hoping for a dreamy look (for lack of a better phrase) that the technically more capable 50 ‘lux does not as readily provide.

Moreover, having previously owned the Leica f/1 Noctilux (a lens also known for its dreamy look), I would say that the 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1 compares quite favourably and it would, in fact, be my choice between the two.

—Peter.

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Examples of recent images:

 

 

 

 

Test: Leica 50mm Summilux vs. Undisclosed Lens #7.

2018, 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M10, Q&A, Teaching point

Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH vs. Undisclosed Lens #7.

(EDIT January 4, 2018:  I have revealed the identify of Lens #7 here.)

  • Both lenses mounted on a Leica M10
  • @ f/1.4
  • @ minimum 0.7 m focus distance (nonetheless, notice the field of view difference)
  • Identical default sharpening settings in Lightroom
  • No post-processing (nonetheless, notice colour differences)

 

Entire scene (please click on image to enlarge):

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100% centre crop (please click on image to enlarge):

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Which one is “superior”?:

Clearly the Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH.

Will I still continue to use Undisclosed Lens #7?:

Yes.  I value this lens for its “flaws”.

—Peter.

The Christmas Portrait, 2018 Edition.

2018, 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1, Beyond 200 feet of My House™, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica M10, Portrait, Prosophos Custom Lightroom Presets, Q&A, Street

This also happens to be Test Shot #3 of Undisclosed Lens #7, stopped down this time in order to get everyone in focus (the first two test images were shot wide open).

Of note, after only a day’s worth of experience with this lens, I was confidant enough to use it for a group portrait.

As an aside, we had a relatively warm Christmas week this year, hence the absence of snow.

—Peter.

↑ Leica M10 + Undisclosed Lens #7.

Oh the irony.

2018, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M10, Portrait, Prosophos Custom Lightroom Presets, Q&A, Teaching point

Today I finally figured out how to properly process my Leica M10 files (the irony is that last weekend I announced the end of this blog).

After months of experimentation, I created a custom preset in Lightroom that strikes a nice balance between punching up the contrast and colour, enhancing skin tones, and preserving detail.  The overall effect is subtle, which is what I want.

Most of the commercial presets I’ve tried result in cartoonish effects (specifically, with respect to colour shifts and detail obliteration) that are painted over with digital “grain”, so I’ve avoided using them.

Here is an example of my preset in action:

(click for a larger view)

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Here is another example:

(click for a larger view)

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I can’t wait to work with this (and possibly fine-tune it some more).

By the way, I want to thank all of you who took the time to write to me, both on this site and via email, with words of encouragement.  I am very grateful for your kindness.

—Peter.

Season’s Greetings… and…

2018, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M10, Print, Within 200 feet of My House™

For almost a decade I’ve enjoyed posting images and engaging in discussion with fellow photographers and photo enthusiasts on this site.

Truth be told, it wasn’t always a fun process, and I wasn’t always happy doing it.

I did however strive to be honest… with you and with myself.  I was wrong about some things, changed my equipment far too frequently, and often overestimated my abilities and influence.

And I documented it all, here.

Now I believe the time has come to stop posting.  Knowing myself, I will continue to have an intermittent presence online (I love the photography community far too much to completely stop interacting with all of you) but it won’t be here.

Thank you for your attention and support.

I hope 2019 is kind to you and your loved ones.

(And please remember to enjoy Life’s Little Moments.)

Season’s Greetings.

—Peter.

 

EDIT: December 29, 2018.

After a restful holiday and an almost complete recovery from illness, I’ve decided to keep this blog going for as long as I can.  Thank you again for all of your messages of support.

—Peter.

↑ Leica M10 + Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4.