Portrait

Sammy’s Service Centre.

Leica 35mm Summarit f/2.5, Photo Shoot, Portrait

This is Sam Koundouros, the owner of Sammy’s Service Centre, an independent automotive repair facility located in Toronto.

(please click on the image below)

(Photo above taken with the Leica M9 and Leica 35mm Summarit @ f/2.5.)

Sam is one of those rare business owners who knows how to communicate with his customers – with respect and honesty.

And this photo isn’t part of a paid project.  I’m actually posting this as a “thank you” to all the wonderful people at Sammy’s who work hard every day making sure the vehicles are running properly.

I first learned about Sammy’s through a recommendation from a neighbour.  So strong was the recommendation that I chose to have my new vehicle, which is still under warranty, serviced by them instead of my dealer.  I haven’t been disappointed.

I have been to Sammy’s several times since then and have dealt with many of the service personnel and, without exception, they have all been professional, competent, and extremely courteous.  All of them.

I have never received this kind of service at any of the auto dealer service centres I’ve dealt with in the past, including Honda, Toyota, and even BMW.

I really can’t believe how good this place is, but it is.

If you want to learn more about Sammy’s, have a look at their website here.

Boy and breakfast.

Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summicron f/2, LFI Master Shot, Photo Shoot, Portrait, Print

There was something about the way the natural light filtered through the window and shone upon the figure of this boy, who was quietly busy buttering his toast.  The crispness of the white table cloths juxtaposed with the dark and textured bricks also caught my eye.  And the orange juice looks as vitally orange as it did the morning this photo was taken.  Normally, the mixture of natural and incandescent light sources creates a white balance nightmare, but thankfully not this time.

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

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Leica M9 and Leica 50mm Summicron @ f/2.

Pat from Jackson-Triggs.

Leica 50mm Summicron f/2, Photo Shoot, Portrait

Pat is an amazing tour guide from the Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate winery, situated in Southern Ontario’s world-renown Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region.

The Jackson-Triggs winery is a state-of-the-art facility that is both functional and beautiful and when you take a tour there, you will be greeted by friendly and knowledgeable staff.  Every facet of the wine-making process will be explained, beginning outside in the vineyard, moving inside to the production facility, and ending with a (yummy) wine tasting at the Grand Reserve Tasting Bar.

If you want to experience a wonderfully humerous and educational guided tour of the winery, do yourself a favour and seek out Pat next time you find yourself at Niagara-on-the-Lake.

(please click on any of the images below)

Both images taken with the Leica M9 and 50mm Summicron @ f/2.

The haircut – a 3 stage act.

Konica Hexanon 60mm f/1.2, Nikon 58mm f/1.2 NOCT, Photo Shoot, Portrait

These were taken yesterday (Leica M9 and Konica Hexanon 60mm @ f/1.2):

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Act 1: Scared.

Act 2: Trusting.

Act 3: Relieved.

And, just for fun, I’m including an additional shot below.  It was taken almost exactly one year ago (Nikon D3S and Nikkor-NOCT 58mm @ f/1.2):

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