Inspiration

You can never go back: De Mello and the D70.

2017, Beyond 200 feet of My House™, De Mello Palheta Coffee Roasters, Favourite, Inspiration, Life's Little Moments, Nikon, Nikon 50mm f/1.8G, Nikon D70, Portrait, Q&A, Teaching point

↑Nikon D70 + Nikkor 50mm 1.8G.

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“You can never go back.”  So the saying goes.

Today I dusted off an old camera I haven’t used in years — the Nikon D70.

The D70 was the first DSLR I ever owned, and it’s the only camera I never subsequently sold.

I’ve carried it through the streets of Toronto, in all sorts of weather.

We’ve also traveled together to New York City, Paris, and Athens.

A few of the people I’ve photographed with it are no longer with us.

But I was reminded today that, indeed, you can never go back.

—Peter.

Cafe Reading, revisited.

2017, Beyond 200 feet of My House™, De Mello Palheta Coffee Roasters, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4, Leica M9(P)/M-E (CCD Lives!), Portrait, Q&A, Teaching point

This is a candid shot, taken just moments after the original Cafe Reading photograph (which, in contrast to this one, was posed).  I had just informed V  that “I got the shot”, and she immediately relaxed and started to flip through the pages of a book.

So I photographed her, because I knew that this was the better image.

I don’t often set up photographs, but when I do I will wait (with camera in hand) for the moment that follows, because what follows is usually better than any idea I can dream up.

(Technical:  Taken on a rainy morning, with the soft light working its magic.)

—Peter.

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

One eighth note.

2017, Favourite, Film, Filter (Yellow), Inspiration, Kodak Eastman Double-X (5222), Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M3, Print, Scanner - Plustek 8200i, Within 200 feet of My House™

Technical: 1/8 sec (handheld).

For a long time, I’ve wanted to photograph the headstock of this guitar, at a certain time of the day when a faint stream of light makes its way through the back window of our house.

I’ve never bothered trying with my M9, because I knew it wouldn’t quite get it.

So yesterday I tried with my newly-acquired M3, as I was testing it for the first time.

To my eyes:  it got it.

—Peter.

↑Leica M3, 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4, and Kodak Eastman Double-X (5222).

Kata’s Chocolates (De Mello).

2017, Beyond 200 feet of My House™, De Mello Palheta Coffee Roasters, Favourite, Foldio2 mini studio, Inspiration, Leica 90mm Summicron APO f/2, Leica M9(P)/M-E (CCD Lives!), Print, Teaching point

Kata dreams up the yummiest things 🙂 .

As an aside, I want to thank my lovely wife R who was the stylist for this shoot, and my good friend Mark for introducing me to the Foldio mini studio (this nifty portable contraption has been quite useful for product shots like this).

(Technical:  M9 + 90mm Summicron APO + Foldio2)

—Peter.

↑Leica M9 (CCD Lives! – Prosophos Open Letter to Leica) + Leica 90mm Summicron APO.

The Starbucks Photo Adventure/Workshop/Tour Announced!

Inspiration

Steve Huff is hosting a second Palouse Workshop in June.  It should be great.

But… did you know that Mark is coming to Toronto next month?  He’s joining me for the first ever Starbucks Photo Adventure/Workshop/Tour.

That’s right, two dorks with cameras, inside a Starbucks.

Maybe we won’t even make it to Starbucks…. we may just settle for a coffee stand inside of a bank or bookstore or something.

Anyway, it promises to be a blast!

What’s included:  The cup you get when you buy your own coffee.

The cost:  The opportunity.

Bring your camera, your enthusiasm, a bus token, and a switchblade.

—Peter.