Parasailing.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Konica Hexanon 60mm f/1.2, Portrait

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Konica Hexanon 60mm @ f/1.2.

H – A portrait.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 75mm Summilux (Canada 🇨🇦) f/1.4, Portrait, Teaching point

Look carefully at the rendering of the Leica 75mm Summilux (Canadian version)… it’s wonderful.

I sometimes struggle with this lens, as it doesn’t have the coatings of modern lenses and it is susceptible to flare. Physically it’s large too. And correct focus is notoriously difficult to achieve at f/1.4, because of the extremely thin depth of field (witness the focus here is on the near eye; by the time we get to the second eye, we are already out of focus).

But for portraits, I can’t think of a more appropriate lens in this focal range.

I should really do a Lens Report on this lens, as I’m often asked about it. But I haven’t been motivated to because the qualities of the 75 Summilux that I most value are not easily appreciated via test charts. Ideally, it’s best to just view images taken with it (however, when I wrote my report on the Leica 75mm Summarit f/2.5, I did include some comparison crops between the two lenses).

If you want to see more examples of portraiture with the Leica 75mm Summilux, please see here, here, and here.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 75mm Summilux @ f/1.4.

Happy Mother’s Day.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Print

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4.

Field of dreams.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M9(P)/M-E (CCD Lives!), Portrait, Teaching point, The Beautiful Game

I resisted the temptation to crop away the top and bottom portions and present this as a pseudo-panoramic horizontal strip… something about the original image (as presented here) appears very surreal, very much like a “dream”. Or perhaps a diorama.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 50mm Summilux ASPPH @ f/1.4 + 3 stop ND filter.

Worker, 1937.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Portrait, Teaching point

Actually, this was captured this week… but something about him made me think of a bygone era.

I also could have called this Worker 11, as it follows my previous 10 Worker images.

In the past, I’ve sort of criticized the 50mm Summilux ASPH as being “too perfect” of a lens, but I love how it has rendered him, and this moment.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4.

Dog days.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Portrait

Honey waking up, following an afternoon nap.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4.

C’s photo shoot, Part 4 of 5.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4, Leica M9(P)/M-E (CCD Lives!), Photo Shoot, Portrait, Teaching point

This was taken just prior to the sunset, as the light cast a warm glow.

All the previously washed out nuances of colour and texture in the environment seemingly emerge from nowhere and take on a golden hue — this is what happens at the so-called “golden hour“.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 35mm Summilux FLE @ f/1.4.

3 Generations.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 75mm Summilux (Canada 🇨🇦) f/1.4, Photo Shoot, Portrait

C’s photo shoot, Part 1 of 5.

C, you’re a natural…Happy 16th!

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 75mm Summilux @ f/1.4.

Camouflage (Honey)

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4, Leica M9(P)/M-E (CCD Lives!), Portrait

“Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed by blending with its environment.”

—Wikipedia.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 35mm Summilux FLE @ f/1.4.

Untitled.

2012, Favourite, Film, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M2, Leica M2-R, LFI Master Shot, Portrait

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M2, Kodak Tri-X 400, and Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4

This photo was chosen as a Leica Fotografie International (LFI) Master Shot.

The whirlwind.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 75mm Summilux (Canada 🇨🇦) f/1.4, Portrait

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 75mm Summilux @ f/1.4.

The twinkle in his eye.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 75mm Summilux (Canada 🇨🇦) f/1.4, Portrait, Teaching point

This one was challenging, but ultimately very rewarding.

He was constantly moving, with his back toward me most of the time, making a decent shot difficult (it’s always a struggle at this age when kids start getting mobile, but — on the positive side — they’re still “naturals” in front of the camera).

So, I tried a few times throughout the day to capture him… without success.

Then, at the time of the “golden hour“, he was once again looking out the window. As he turned here, and smiled, a shaft of soft light from outside acted as a gentle spotlight on his left face and shoulder.

As I couldn’t back up any further from where I was, I could just fit him within the 75mm frame lines. And I tried my best to hit focus, as this wonderful combination of expression, light, and composition would likely not repeat itself. Fortunately, it all came together.

A Life’s Little Moment to be cherished.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 75mm Summilux @ f/1.4.

Crazy hair day.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4, Leica M9(P)/M-E (CCD Lives!), Portrait

Preparing for a fun “school spirit” day ahead of them.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 35mm Summilux FLE @ f/1.4.

Commenting on the commentary (a follow-up to my post on Steve Huff’s site).

Favourite, Inspiration, Q&A

Two days ago, my “Photographing your family with the BEST photo equipment” article was featured on SteveHuffPhoto.com.

The piece generated much commentary, and I’ve read through all of it. Almost all of it was overwhelmingly positive but, surprisingly, a few negative responses emerged. I write “surprisingly” because I always choose my words very carefully and I know there wasn’t anything controversial or provocative in my post.

It was meant to be very positive, in fact.

But this is the internet age, where making a statement like “I like pizza” will generate a handful of negative responses. Arguing with the responders is not productive, of course.

You know, I realized several years ago just how inconsequential all the frantic machinations of daily life can be, when we don’t take the time to appreciate each other. The only important thing — the only enduring thing — when you strip away all the pretenses, is this:

“How we treat each other is the only thing that counts.”

So, instead of trying to respond to a few negative comments, I’d like to take the time to post a personal “thank you” — on this very site — to all of the wonderful people who got my post. For their very eloquent comments (some critical, but at least constructive) I’d like to specifically thank these individuals:

_____________________________

Neil Buchan-Grant

Ashwin Rao

Duane Pandorf

Colin Steel

Photozopia

Jonny

Harry

Danniel Schwartzkopf

William Jusuf

Joanne Puyat

Travis