Portrait

The tractor driver.

Inspiration, Konica Hexanon 60mm f/1.2, Portrait, Teaching point

That warm glow imbuing every element in this scene is courtesy of the rising sun.

When photographing, it’s all about the light — you have to work to find it, and you can’t fake or photoshop it.  In this scene, it’s permeating everything: his face, the tractor, the clouds… like dabbles of fluorescent paint.

(please click on the image to view)

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

The jogger.

Inspiration, Leica 135mm Tele-Elmar f/4 (1966), Portrait, Teaching point

Illuminated by a glorious sunrise.

Even @ f/5.6, this 1966 Tele-Elmar 135mm is capable of producing some seriously shallow depth of field… the runner looks like he’s a cut-out figure pasted onto the scene.

By the way, I’ve tried using the Tele-Elmar at its widest aperture of f/4, but the rendering there isn’t as sharp.

This is definitely a daylight lens, but a great daylight lens.

Also, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that — despite the longish 135mm focal length — the Tele-Elmar has proven easier to focus accurately than many of my mid-range lenses.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica Tele-Elmar 135mm f/4 @ f/5.6.

The parade.

Inspiration, Konica Hexanon 60mm f/1.2, Portrait, Teaching point

Taken during the 2011 Santa Claus Parade, in Toronto, Canada.

The Konica Hexanon 60mm f/1.2, when shot wide open on the M9, yields a unique visual imprint that I find quite interesting.  It is, for example, quite different from what I get with the Noctilux f/1.0.

If anybody out there can articulate the differences, I’d be happy to read your thoughts.  To view a small (and not-so-rigorous) comparison between these two lenses, please see here.

(please click on the image to view)

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

Sgt. Russell’s funeral procession.

Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, LFI Master Shot, Portrait, Uniform

Taken earlier this year.

Sgt. Ryan Russell was a Toronto police officer who died in the line of duty on January 12, 2011.   He left behind his wife and two year old child.

The following week, a funeral procession was held in his honour in downtown Toronto.

Attendees were from all over North America.

Toronto is a large city, that is usually quite busy and noisy.  On this day, during the procession, the downtown core was eerily quiet.

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


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All images taken with the Leica M9 and Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f1/.4.