My Photography Workflow, Part 1.

Inspiration, Teaching point

Introduction.

I’m starting a series of posts discussing my thought process when creating photographic images.  I’m hoping it will be of help to those of you who are just beginning your photographic adventures, and also to those of you who are more experienced but wish to compare notes.  The idea for this arose last year when I was asked to discuss my images during the Leica Akademie workshop in Toronto.

I know many of you aren’t necessarily able to attend a Leica workshop and most of you aren’t able to travel to Toronto for a One-on-One Teaching session with me, so I thought presenting this information on my website, though not ideal, would at least make it more accessible.

Before I begin, I’d like to emphasize the following:

This is a work-in-progress, both literally and figuratively.  In the beginning there will be gaps between sections, because I won’t be able to write them all in one sitting.  As time passes, and as sections are completed, I’ll likely be updating and expanding each of them by adding more commentary, examples, and images.  Hopefully as I learn, I’ll revise.  I’d like the content to eventually strike a balance between being comprehensive and remaining practical.

With that in mind, the next post will be an overview of my five considerations, my “workflow” for creating photographic images.

—Peter | Prosophos.

Q&A: The Voigtländer 21mm F/1.8 Ultron.

Q&A, Teaching point

Voigtlander 21mm 1.8 Ultron

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Jon asks:

Hi Peter,

How are you?  I just wanted to get your opinion on the new CV 21/1.8. Any experience with the lens?  I know from reading your site that you’ve had experience with CVs. I’m salivating on the 1.8. I currently have the ZM 21/2.8 and its extremely sharp. Just wondering if its worth the upgrade (if one will consider that an upgrade).

I’ll be using it on the M9.

Thanks,

Jon

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Hi Jon,

I am well, thank you for asking.  I hope you are well too.

I haven’t used the CV 21/1.8 Ultron, but have seen some samples online.  Most of them have been on film, where it looks very good.  On digital, where you intend to use it, I’m not yet convinced.  The M9 samples online are few and far between right now (it’s so new!), so it’s hard to draw any conclusions.  On more than a few of the images that are available, however, I’ve seen a lot of chromatic aberration in high contrast transition areas. Admittedly, this is often seen with “exotic” lenses when shot wide open… hopefully this is not also present when the CV 21/1.8 Ultron is stopped down.

One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that Voigtländer lenses tend to lack a little of that “pop” — that micro-contrast — that I find with Leica (and often Zeiss) lenses, so I’m expecting the same here.  Whether the end result is acceptable depends on your perspective and needs.

By the way, the Zeiss ZM 21/2.8 is a tremendous lens…  as good as anything Leica produces.  If yours is working well, I would hold on to it regardless of whether you opt to buy the Ultron 21/1.8.

Hope this helps,

Peter.

The New Leica M (240) – Sample Images.

Inspiration, Teaching point

Seeking Light

My good friend Raaj has just posted some sample images on his site from the new Leica M (240).

As regular readers of my site know, I’ve posted extensively about CCD vs. CMOS sensor rendering at base ISO.  Notably, I’ve expressed concern that the move to a CMOS sensor in the new M(240) would equate with a loss in image quality at base ISO, while there would be gains made in high ISO photography, and in movie-making.

Are my concerns well-founded?  I don’t believe that question can be answered for certain based on web-sized images, but I’ll let you be the judge.  Incidentally, Raaj tells me he will try to post some scenes that were shot with both the M9 and M(240), using the same lens.  That will be most interesting to see.

—Peter.

The grocer.

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

For anyone in doubt about film having a different look from digital, look carefully at this image.

Noteworthy observations: the colours, the tonality.  There are other differences that I’ve never been able to put my finger on — call it the “je ne sais quoi” factor.

As an aside, I’ve always found that the Voigtländer Nokton 40mm, the lens used to capture this image, performs exceptionally well on film.

—Peter | Prosophos.

The grocer

↑Leica MP, Voigtländer Nokton 40mm @ f/1.4, and Fuji Superia X-tra 200.