I remember when I first got the camera, I would shoot a frame or two almost everyday, no matter how mundane. However, sometimes I would catch a few good ones that would really make my day. My favorite subject was my son... I would just watch him goof-off with the camera ready. Looking back at some shots from last couple of years... boy, how fast he grew. I want to make an effort to remind myself to keep shooting a couple of frames a day, because it's the sum of those little moments that would make the memories great.
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Yesterday, I read a letter by a famous photographer, Sergio Larrain to his nephew in 1982 about how to become a photographer. The first paragraph struck me the most: "First and foremost, you have to have a camera that fits you well, one that you like, because it’s about feeling comfortable with what you have in your hands: the equipment is key to any profession, and it should have nothing more than the strictly necessary features."
I think that mirrors how many feels about their Leica cameras. Besides being nice to look at and hold, it does one thing and does it really well. Without all the bells and whistles and offer full manual control to the photographer, one simply concentrate on the shot and the camera just get out of the way. To read the full letter, it's [HERE]. The holidays have come and gone, and I've enjoyed the brief hiatus from work and even from photography. Oh, there were the occasional pick-up-the-camera-for-a-snaps, but I didn't think too deeply about it at all. Here an image that got me thinking more as I was reviewing the images. Warning, random thoughts coming... Technology today has made communication so easy. We've not only improved how easy it is to get in touch with a person, the quality also improved, often including video teleconferencing. However, it's no substitute for actually being with that person. The picture shows my nephew (in the background), who's living with us now, and on the iPad is his mom trying to talk to us. No doubt, I bet she would much rather be here with us instead of seeing her son on the iPad screen... Physical presence trumps all. My brother also visited us from China during this winter vacation. Even though we didn't really go to anywhere special or cool, and he got quite sick while staying with us... There is still a special sense of comfort of having him here that I cannot describe.
I guess it comes down to not taking each other for granted, especially with the people around you today. So, remember to put the camera down for a while and just enjoy each other, a note to self ;-) No images to share with this post... because the Rolleiflex SL66 was dropped off with Harry Fleenor of Oceanside Camera Repair. The camera was last serviced in 1980 :D
I was eager to order a couple boxes of TMAX400 120 films and was in the middle of my first roll when the mirror locked up, preventing me from winding the shutter crank. It happened once before when I first got it, but I thought it was just me doing something wrong because I didn't know how to work the camera yet. Somehow I was able to get it to unlock, but not the second time. After a week of researching online, it appears to be a fairly common problem with these vintage cameras, probably due to some springs losing tension or just needed some lubrication. While I was examining the camera with a flash light, I noticed a few of pinholes on the shutter curtain as well! So, now even my half finished first roll is in jeopardy as well... I'm not sure if I should even get it developed with only 8 exposures. My father-in-law also dropped off a stainless developing canister, so maybe I'd give it a try to develop myself? Have I gone off the deep end? It sure is fun, though :) I wonder... how many photographer/enthusiasts end up shooting a lot in their backyards like me. Sure, it's great to go to exotic locations or wander around busy city street to feel the adrenaline rushing, but sometimes you just want to lay back, enjoy time with the family while snapping some memories. I still have the 28'Cron mounted with the new hood (from 35'Lux ASPH pre-FLE). Someone asked me if I'm noticing vignetting around the edges with the new hood... it's really hard to tell, because in my experiences the 28'Cron always had some vignetting when shooting wide-open. It's one thing that I liked about this lens. Now, I'm not seeing "extra" vignetting than usual... if that helps. I suppose I could bring out the tripod and make some test shots, but that means I'd be pretending to be some technical qualified photographer, which I'm not :P Anyway, I love the feel of the smaller lens and I have not noticed any detrimental effects on the final image.
This little camera has almost nothing going for it, except for its retro look. The LCD viewing screen so horrible that I can barely use it to frame shots. Apparently, it is always on ISO100 and the fastest shutter speed I've seen is 1/6 of a second. Autofocus does work, but I think the minimum distance from subject is at least 1 meter. I think most cellphones today take better pictures. That's what you'll most likely to read in camera gear forums. I often read about people's comments compare this camera/lens to that camera/lens, about how one gear is overly priced for its specs (mostly targeted at Leica), and how one cheaper camera performs better than an expensive camera, etc... It just makes me think, if that's all we cared about, doesn't it take the fun out of photography?
There's no way to measure the fun factor of this little camera. With all its handicaps, I find it challenging and rewarding to be able to produce a good looking shot from it. "Limitations breed creativity", a wise person has said before. You need to know what your gear can do, then work within those parameters to capture the best image you can. Here are some shots I took this morning while walking my son to kindergarten. So, whatever cameras you have, go out and shoot! The above shot is actually an outtake from our trip to the Valley of Fire State Park. I took the shot from the passenger side window while my wife drove. The clouds were very interesting that day and I liked the setting sun falling on the red rocks. However, after we came home and when I reviewed the images, it didn't feel that special to me so it ended up on the cutting floor, so to speak. Then... I was trying out some of the VSCO Film Presets and happened to pick this image to try it out on a landscape shot. I simply went through a variety of film presets and when I landed on the "Fuji FP-100c Negative --", I was immediately attracted. Perhaps it's the mixture of warmer color, contrast, and even some nostalgic link in my mind, but it really spoke to me. Here's the unprocessed version: I'm still unsure about the idea of using film-look presets because most of the time I still prefer the color straight out of the camera. I guess they're just another tool in the bag, and it's nice to have something to play with when working with an image that's lacking certain "je ne sais quoi" ;-)
Just another summer weekend... I was eager to use the newly acquired lens and get to know it better. Come to think of it, today was quite eventful. My son finally got over the fear of putting his head in the water, and right after he did it, he looked up at me and I was able to capture his smile. He also just recently learned to ride his bike without the training wheels, and today he took his virgin voyage around the block during our evening stroll. It's fun watching him grow up. To see all the things he get anxious about, able to overcome them, and finally learn to enjoy them. When was the last time we, as adults, did something out of our comfort zone? Real proud Papa here... My wife and I often joke about how he doesn't grow up fast enough, but once in a while, we feel exactly the opposite, as last night was one of those times. 5 years, blinked away. I know, the idea of a preschool graduation was kind of ridiculous to me, too. However, while we sit there and watch them do their performances, I couldn't help but think about how much they've grown in just a few short years. Indeed, they have reached a milestone in their lives and it's worth celebrating. The theme was "When I Grow Up...", so each kid has to stand in the spotlight and tell the audiences what they would like to be when they grow up and why. It was funny how many police, firefighter, and ballerina to-be there were. As they grow, and gain their life experiences and individuality, how innocent these times would seem to be. There is so much more waiting for them. Youth is wasted on the young... I hope they'll never grow up. Full set can be viewed [HERE]. Went to camping for Father's day weekend, a revisit to Camp William in the Azusa mountain. The above shot is far from reality (heavily processed tones and vignetting), but it's closer to how I remembered it to be. Funny thing, our memories are... how to show a picture to someone to elicit the same mood and feelings I had when the shot was made? I guess there's no real answer, and that's why some pictures we love as the shooter can be very different from the ones liked by the viewers. Anyway, the full weekend shots are available in the personal gallery [HERE].
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AuthorDavid Young Archives
May 2023
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My Journey into Leica...
A path not to be taken lightly, not without reservations, and not without dedication, but the results can be sweet, OH SO SWEET! This is a documentation of my trials and tribulations into the world of Leica Rangefinder Photography, and I hope you'll enjoy coming along with me.