Face painting.

I’m giving away 50 rolls of 35mm Kodak Tri-X 400 B&W film (36 frames/roll) to the person who can show me – in a single image – why he/she loves film.

This of course is open to wide interpretation. In essence, I’m looking for an image that emotionally moves me, because you were inspired by the medium (as well as the subject matter) when you created it.

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The rules:

Submissions may be made only after you contact me first via the contact form below (Reason: I don’t want to get spammed by publishing my email address).
Each submitted image must be web-sized – approx (800 – 1100) x (500 – 750) pixels.
The image must have been created by you (it doesn’t matter when – no time restriction).
The image should be shot using film (B&W or colour).

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That’s it!

Now, you may have noticed that in the contest image above (taken on my driveway this morning ;)) there are ten rolls to a pack, and there are ten packs, so that should equal 100 rolls of film. However, 50 of them will automatically be given to my friend Mark Ewanchuk — just for being a good guy :).

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The fine print.

I will have permission to post the winning image on Prosophos.com, but you will get full credit and maintain 100% ownership of your image.
The deadline for submissions is at midnight (Toronto time) on September 5, 2013.
Only one submission per contestant.
I will be the judge, and my decision is final.
Offensive images will be disqualified. What’s offensive? I will decide.

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How to collect your prize.

I’ll send it to you via post mail, anywhere in the world. Or, if you can make your way down to Toronto, I’ll hand-deliver it to you and buy you a cup of coffee 🙂

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Let me know if there are any questions, otherwise, let the games begin!

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Contact me for permission to send an image:

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Leica 24mm Summilux.

Inspiration, Leica 24mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Q&A

No comment, yet.

Images to follow.

The Sony RX1R… is gone.

Inspiration, Q&A, Sony RX1R, Teaching point

In summary:

The Sony RX1R has great image quality, but is not so great at capturing the “decisive” moment. Too slow. Too many button presses in manual mode. Too much of a clunky computer, not enough of a camera.

If you’re into static scenes, posed shots, or letting your camera do the work for you in auto mode however, it just might be your ticket.

Although I created many images with the RX1R, I’m only posting one or two more.

—Peter.

Compared to the Leica M9, the Sony RX1R…

Inspiration, Q&A, Sony RX1R, Teaching point

…feels like a toy.

…is not an extension of my hands and eyes.

…is slower.

…is equipped with a Zeiss lens-CMOS sensor combination that produces files that are not as sharp (or microcontrast-y) as the M9 with top Leica glass (the dpreview tests I posted last week were correct).

…is equipped with a Zeiss lens that cannot handle back-lighting as well as modern Leica lenses.

On the positive side, the RX1R:

…is lighter and smaller.

…produces nicer B&W conversions.

…has more dynamic range.

…is equipped with a Zeiss lens that produces smoother bokeh vs. the Leica 35mm Summicron (or Summilux FLE).

…is equipped with a Zeiss lens that focuses closer than the Leica lens equivalents.

These are my initial thoughts.

—Peter.

Sony RX1R.

Inspiration, iPhone, Q&A, Sony RX1R

It’s here.

↑Sony RX1R arrives (image taken with iPhone 5).

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I’m going to take a break for a while, away from daily posts and, ummm… I don’t know — photograph? 😉

—Peter.

Leica M9 sharpness vs. Sony RX1R, Nikon D800E, Fuji X100s.

Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

The website Dpreview, the “original” internet hangout for camera geeks and enthusiasts, has a useful studio scene comparison tool that allows one to pit camera against camera. I was using it today to compare Sony‘s new RX1R (the new AA filter-less version of the RX1) vs. the old trusty Leica M9. For fun, I also included two current cameras that have generated much enthusiast interest: the Fuji X100s and the Nikon D800E (admittedly, the Fuji X100s is the only camera of the bunch that doesn’t use a full frame sensor, so it’s sort of the oddball in this sensor grouping but, to me, it’s relevant as a portable and formidable photographic tool).

Here is the overall studio scene, as seen on Dpreview:

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And here are the (left) side 100% crops of the above scene, from each camera, focusing on the label of the Martini bottle (see the red arrow above):

(please click on this image to view at MAXIMUM size and sharpness)

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(Note: the crops above vary in size, depending on the megapixel count of each sensor.)

See anything, possibly unexpected here, regarding sharpness?

Finally, here are the centre 100% crops , focusing on the Queen of Hearts card in the original scene:

(please click on this image to view at MAXIMUM size and sharpness)

Using the Dpreview comparison tool, one can obviously pick and choose other portions of the scene to make comparisons about sharpness, texture rendering, etc. I’ve chosen two areas that I believe are representative of lens sharpness performance (corner vs. central) with respect to these cameras (the feathers in the far right of the scene are also worth checking out).

—Peter.

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If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing my open letter to Leica.

___

Leica M9 vs. M240 (CCD vs. CMOS)… here we go again.

Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

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Something happened this week that compelled me to write this.

A well-known Leica guru and ambassador published a review of the Leica M240 and — unsurprisingly — praised most things about it: the new features, the new CMOS sensor, and (gasp!) even the EVF add-on.

The thing is, as I was looking at his sample images, my honest reaction was: his previous Leica M9 photographs looked better.

My visitor statistics on Prosophos.com tell me one of my more popular posts this year is: M240: More Thoughts. Moreover, if I type the search “Leica M240 vs CCD” on Google, that same post and my Leica M240: Final Verdict post are currently the top two search results. In fact, any combination of the search terms “Leica M240/CMOS vs. M9/CCD” on Google will yield one of my posts on either page 1 or 2.

I realized all this today, and wondered: Why?

My best guess is that many of you see what I see, that the Leica M9 beats the M240 in the only thing that counts: image quality.

And no amount of cheer-leading for the latest and greatest will change that.

So I’ll keep photographing with my antiquated M9 until the successor to the M240 arrives. And when that happens, if Leica sticks with a CMOS sensor (which they most certainly will), hopefully they’ll have enough sense to strike a deal with Sony.

—Peter.

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If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing my open letter to Leica.

___

100% feedback on ebay.

Q&A, Teaching point

So what does it mean when you see a “mint” Leica M3 listed on ebay from a seller who, after thousands of transactions, has 100% positive feedback?

It means you’re pretty safe to buy this M3, which is advertised as perfect — including the “vulcanite” covering, which is described as “original and complete”.

Right?

Well, have a close look:

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Do you see it?

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Look carefully at the back door covering – it actually differs from the rest of the camera. Therefore, it’s not all original.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what’s wrong with this camera, which has been put on sale for a premium, because it was “owned by a collector who kept it in its box” for the last 50+ years.

Right.

Bottom line: It’s difficult to know who to trust on ebay — so be careful.

—Peter.

My camera of the year for 2013: Leica M9.

Q&A, Teaching point

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The Leica M9.

Yes, it’s still that good, nearly four years after its introduction.

(that’s an eternity for digital cameras)

And yes, that’s just my opinion, hence the word “My” in the title.

As of this date, 99% of the images on this site have been made using this iconic camera.

I’ve been tempted by the Nikon D800, the Sony RX1, and the Leica M Monochrom (I haven’t been tempted by the Leica M240), but I keep reaching for the Leica M9.

—Peter.

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If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing my open letter to Leica.

___

Why I photograph.

Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

I photograph to remember

I photograph to forget

I photograph to see

I photograph to disappear

I photograph to celebrate

I photograph to mourn

I photograph to share

I photograph to be selfish

I photograph to be

—Peter.

Opinion: Leica X Vario.

Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

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The newly released Leica X Vario has “it”.

What’s “it”?

…Image quality.

This camera has image quality in spades. All of the sample photos I’ve seen just ooze micro-contrast, sharpness, jaw-dropping colour, etc.

The Leica M8 had”it”.

The Leica M9 had “it”.

Heck, the Sony RX1 has “it”.

The Leica M240 will never have “it” (sorry, I couldn’t resist).

Am I tempted to get this camera?

Surprisingly, yes.

Will I get this camera?

No.

All the documented shortcomings — slow zoom lens, slow auto focus, no built-in viewfinder (forget the price for now, I mean, this is Leica so you know what you’re in for) — ultimately conspire against this camera, at least for my kind of shooting. I’m too addicted to the “decisive moment” and the rapidity of rangefinder shooting.

But, man, have you seen the sample images? The colour?

Wow.

—Peter.

1-on-1 Teaching sessions suspended.

Q&A

I will no longer be offering 1-on-1 teaching sessions for the foreseeable future. This includes both photography walk-abouts and computer post-processing sit down tutorials.

Instead, I will be focusing on personal projects.

—Peter.

My “hide and seek” image stolen.

Q&A, Teaching point

I just found out my Hide and Seek image was stolen by this other blog. No written request for permission, no compensation, no… nothing.

I know what I want to do, but I’d appreciate any advice from you, the loyal visitors of my site (unless you’re the one who stole my image :)).

[UPDATE: I’ve just left a comment on the other site requesting that my image be removed.]

[UPDATE #2: The image has now been removed.]

—Peter.

Why I ditched the 50mm Summar.

Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summar Collapsible f/2 (1937), Portrait, Print, Q&A, Sports, Teaching point

Recently, the trend amongst some Leica shooters has been to purchase vintage lenses and mount them on modern digital camera bodies.

There’s no doubt about the appeal of many of these old Leica lenses: they offer an alternative visual fingerprint, are more compact, and may be had at a low purchase price as compared to their modern counterparts.

Given all this, why did I “buck the trend” and return the 1937 50mm Summar Collapsible f/2 I had in my possession last week, after only 24 hrs of use?

Because there’s always a trade-off.

In the case of the 50mm Summar, the problem is its jarring bokeh:

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More and more these days, I seek out lenses that help me to tell my story, not ones that (unpredictably) impose their own.

In the examples above, the lens is interfering with the visual narrative by drawing attention away from the (intended) subjects and onto its vertiginous background blur.

Admittedly, when conditions are right, the 50mm Summar performs acceptably — perhaps even admirably:

↑All images: Leica M9 and Leitz (Leica) 50mm Summar Collapsible f/2 (1937).

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Even when this old 50mm Summar exhibits relatively tame bokeh, when I compare other aspects of its performance (including microcontrast) to, say, my 50mm Summilux ASPH, there’s just no contest.

—Peter.

My favourite 100+ images.

Inspiration, Q&A

I’ve updated my main website page to include just over 100 of my favourite images.

I had always thought that this year, which marks 5 years of using Leica rangefinders, I would post my 5 favourite images. The trouble is, I’m still too emotionally attached to most of them to be objective.

—Peter.