Portrait

In praise of blurry images.

2012, Inspiration, Konica Hexanon 60mm f/1.2, Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Nikon, Nikon 58mm f/1.2 NOCT, Portrait, Teaching point

Sometimes I choose to post a blurry image.

Admittedly, most of the time it has been generated as a result of user (me!) error.  Occasionally, I’ve planned it.  Regardless of how it’s arrived at, there is something about it that has caught my eye.  Invariably, somebody will condemn it by pointing out the obvious: “it’s blurry”.  End of story.

Or is it?

Sometimes, the out-of-focus-ness is adding more than it’s taking away.

Sometimes, the emotive intent of an image is made sharper precisely because it is blurry.

You’ll find some samples below.  They’re all blurry — and they all have left an indelible impression on my mind.

[And you?… do you have a favourite blurry image?  I’d love to see it…]

—Peter.

(please click on the images below to view)

↑Nikon D3S and Nikkor-NOCT 58mm @ f/1.2.

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

↑Nikon D3S and Nikkor-NOCT 58mm @ f/1.2.

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

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

Spring is here! (Jump for Joy)

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

Spring officially arrives today — its earliest arrival since 1896 — but unofficially it arrived in Toronto over a week ago, as we’ve been under the spell of unseasonably high temperatures.

Better yet for photographers, the light is back again…

(please click on the image to view)

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

2nd man out (Cinematic).

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Portrait, Teaching point, Voigtländer 40mm f/1.4 Nokton

The coalescing of moving figures into a foreground-midground-background composition, the interaction with the observer… the split-second alignment of it all before it vanishes like a dream.

I live — photographically speaking — for moments like this.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Voigtländer Nokton 40mm @ f/1.4.

The passionate breakfast (Cinematic).

2012, Inspiration, Portrait, Teaching point, Voigtländer 40mm f/1.4 Nokton

I spotted these two when I met Dominic for our 1-on-1 Photography Teaching Session, and they generously allowed us to intrude upon their intimate morning meal.

Winter is thawing, spring is arriving, and the light is finally returning… and you can see it on everybody’s face.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Voigtländer Nokton 40mm @ f/1.4.

French braid (Cinematic).

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4, Portrait, Teaching point

I waited until the right moment to click the shutter.

The viewer is being pulled into this image by the vortex of intertwining arms that are, in turn, intertwining the young girl’s hair.  Similar patterns can also be seen in the white sweater and background window treatment.

(please click on the image to view)

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

Alex’s wedding, revisited (Cinematic).

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Portrait, Voigtländer 35mm f/1.2 Nokton

I was recently reviewing the images from Alex’s wedding, and I realized just how much I like this one.  It’s composed in a special way, and it seems to capture the genuine joy she felt and radiated out to her guests.

As often happens when an image speaks to me, I started viewing it as a frame from the continuous film of life, so I decided to re-crop it and give it the cinematic treatment.

One special frame from a special day in your life, Alex.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Voigtländer Nokton 35mm @ f/1.2.