After grappling with photography since 2006, I have come to realise when its a job, and when its a hobby. If you do it for a job, you don't have to like the content that you capture. You simply have to do it. If you do it for a hobby, you can do it anytime, or not at all.
when its time to shoot, that's the time you know you love it.
Picking something from the archive.
City of Punakha, Bhutan, October 2017.
Shapes, colour and texture all come together to create an amazing set. With the softness of plants set against the backdrop of mosaic tiles, even in the absence of colour, the image still stands out as each of their elements are still clearly visible. Well maybe due to the fact that is monotone too!
]]>
Food
Well, I have never been one to take photos of the food I consume, I usually barge into the plate, and contemplate later. I must share about two dishes that is staple for Bhutanese. It is the Chili-Cheese & A-Zay (pronounced as A-ZAAAAY). I most probably got the spelling wrong here. These two dishes would not normally be served to foreigners, but after we requested for our guide to give us some chili, he told us about this two. Ever since that meal on the 1st or 2nd day, he would ask that every kitchen we visit, we are given a set of chili-cheese at least. It is really good.
They fry an assortment of chilies (mainly jalepeno's), and add Yak Cheese and another type (sorry I can't recall). Stir it into rice, pasta, and voila! Super tasty snack! Add it to your vegetable dish or fried chicken, and voila!
A-Zay is much spicier, which is my favourite. Its main ingredient is dried chili, and again cheese. Pounded together with onions and garlic, its a dry version of chili cheese.
Scenery
Images would work better eh?
Another trip that I have gone full film, without the convenience of a digital camera (except for the iPhone). Lugging my Fuji GF670, Leica M2 with 3 lens and the simple Point and Shoot Olympus Mju II (3.5/35mm), I hope I caught the essence of the places I visited. Halfway through, the Olympus developed a fault where it failed to focus. It still took the shot, much to my horror as i ended up with 40% of images out of focussed. This is an absolute disaster. I would have to switch it off and turn it back on for it to resume normal operations.
The city is calm, no crazy vehicle horn, revving of vehicles, cows and tractors blocking the traffic are non-existent, and everybody is well dressed and quiet.
While in a simple playground in Paro City, I watched on as these two little girls shared a moment together in the shade, sharing their snacks. They didn't speak, but simply smiled and laughed their hearts out. It could have been a very simple gesture that they did for one another, or it could be their chance to share a snack after a long time. Or it could also be the fact that this was their most important thing to do all day - meet a friend.
This was to be my last image in the only roll of film that i had with me in the factory. I got out of the van too quick to think about bringing a spare roll of 35mm film. This was shot on the Legacy 100 film, way too slow an ISO for this indoor scene, hence the moving arm. Nonetheless, a very important image to remind me that we take many many things for granted. Paper being one of them.
These are handmade papers, made by hand using pulp from the stem of a plant, and cured into sheets that are made into notebooks and envelopes. I bought set of notecards and envelopes as memories, but they are not cheap!
I had the right lens (Zeiss 25mm/2.8 for this, but little did I know that i only had a few more frames before I finished the whole roll.
I brought 3 cameras for this trip, and on hindsight I should have kept this to two extremely reliable cameras and avoided point and shoot cameras that i have not tried and tested for such occasions.
To-be-continued....
]]>I have always enjoyed abstract, and sometimes you really need to be able to compose well with a certain focal range to aid this. Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. In general, a tighter lens makes it easier (personally for me), but this time round I did it with the Konica 35/2UC. This lens and a roll of Fuji Color 100 (C41)
I did this trip with the Leica M2 coupled with the Summaron 2.8 & Zeiss 25/2.8, the venerable Fuji GF670 and the Ricoh GXR & 28mm module. That is quite a stash for a short trip like this, but they all had their strengths and it was extremely tough to decide on which to bring, hence I brought them all.
This one with the GF670, on Acros 100.
Ba Be National Park, 240km north of Hanoi. Lovely place to relax and unwind. Ba Be means '3 lakes', where the clear and calm waters were a joy to be around in (and swim).
Cropped from a Hexar AF, and shot on Delta 100 (I think) film, this is not in Indonesia, but in Singapore. Which is a few hundred kilometers away from Indonesia, where the forest fires, peat-lands have been burning for months. Wind conditions have brought the haze all the way north towards Malaysia, as far as Penang.
The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) went as high as 280, and has been hovering at 120 on a daily basis. This is not acceptable.
This image has the PSI rated at about 120, where a few years back, the highest PSI was 401.
]]>- Sebastiao Salgado, 2014, From my Land to the Planet, Contrasto Books.
The first line of the book that hit me like a blue whale travelling at 30 knots. From here on, I know that this is a book that will guide me in my journey of photography.
]]>I need practice to find a consistent way to process and edit Kodak's Portra 160. It is an excellent film where I have seen fantastic results from other photographers, yet I am struggling with my results.
Technical Specifications:
Nikon D3s, Nikon 105mm 2.8 AFD Micro
]]>
Technical Specifications:
Nikon D3s, 105/2.8 AFD, RAW processed with Adobe Lightroom.
]]>Sitting on the Manfrotto tripod, the RZ67 Pro mounted with the Sekor 110/2.8 C lens, this setup is stunning. Many people give this camera the thumbs down due to the bulky dimensions, but I am one of the naysayers. This is an excellent camera.
The way it works, it beats the Hassalblad 500CM hands down. I can rotate the film back, change aperture and shutter settings with ease, not to mention that I can use either hand to focus with the twin knobs.
Loaded with Acros 100 & Provia 100F, these are two of my favourite shots from the session with Rakiv.
This image was conceived after the initial idea had to be scrapped due to City Hall being too crowded. This image contains two very important elements in the work of the late Mr Lee, where he mooted and executed two (of many more) valiant ideas - a) Multi-storey living b) A Garden City. Farewell Mr Lee. May your passing inspire the people of Singapore to live out their lives as One United People.
Mr Lee was Singapore's first Prime Minister, serving with passion and determination since 1962. He was 91 during his passing on 23 Mar 2015. The nation mourned for 7 days, where we saw Singapore come together in honour of him, visiting him during the Lying-in-State at the Parliment House in City Hall, Singapore.
He will always be remembered.
Technical notes: Mamiya RZ67 Pro, 50/4.5 Mamiya C-Sekor
Kodak TriX rated at 1600, developed at 800 with Ilford DDX.
]]>
This next two images are done on Ilford's FP4 (125 ISO) film. This is 35mm film, developed myself with Ilford's DDX developer. Pardon the water marks and dust from scanning please.
The film seems to be slightly blotchy, thick and grainy, but it works. It actually works! I thought I had 3200 film in my M2, but it was actually 125 ISO FP4. I had a shock when I ejected the roll, and left it hanging for a couple of weeks before I developed it. I think as a control measure, I would have to retry another roll, this time rate it similarly as 1600, developed as 125 as a comparison. I believe this film would actually work rated up to 1600!
There is no post-editing work done on these two images, and they are showed straight from an Epson V600 scanned at 2400dpi.
]]>
Costing about S$12/head with an additional $2 for a bicycle, this is a quick way (2hr ride) to get to the town of Desaru.
The 18km journey from the jetty to the town is a joy to ride. Road quality is good, but traffic is kind and polite. Malaysians are courteous drivers, who respect your space and are generally kind to road users. This is of course my personal view, and your mileage may differ.
]]>
Acros 100 | DDX | YashicaMat 124
This image has an important story to tell. In this one little square, I see the destruction of animals, while humans stand and watch. Well, mainly because it is the humans who are destroying everything.
We waste plastic, water, metal, basically everything in our path is abused by the lust for money and 'growing the economy'. Yet we bitch about the weather, about how hot it is. We suffer the force of nature in thunderstorms, earthquakes and typhoons, yet we refuse to acknowledge that we are the Fault Lines.
Its time to take action.
]]>
Acros 100 | DDX | YashicaMat 124
Its been some time since I gave this super value for money medium format camera. This shot seems a little off focus, but what the heck! If the YashicaMat had a screen like the Mamiya RZ67, this would be a kick-a** TLR (Twin-Lens-Reflex) camera. Even at f3.5, its fast (aperture wise) with ISO 100 film.
]]>These Vans (my second pair from the Company), are delicious.
I bought them through an online portal, or rather iPhone App (Carousell). This means I could not test for actual fit. I did however, try on a pair of Vans at their local retail outlet, who by luck, did not have this model on hand. They even claimed they did not bring in the high rise versions at all. I resorted to contacting Vans.
Too much talk. Here's an image.
The eyelets, quality of the stitching, robust canvas and high quality shoe-laces all shout value for money. I paid S$140, that rounds off to roughly US$114. Pricey for a pair of sneakers, but if you compare these to my Converse (high rise versions), these are worlds apart. The soles are rugged and would take a beating anytime. No wonder they are the World's #1 Skate Shoes.
Oh yes, I must speak about the laces. I am a sucker for good quality laces after I tried the laces from Red Wings. Those Red Wings, even after 3 years of daily wear, they never, never once got untied just by walking. Never. I doubt these Van's ever will too.
The sneakers are light, fit extremely well and rugged all at once. My Red Wings, you may take your well deserved rest on alternate days.
Here is a recent assignment to record Victoria's graduating class, well just at least just before she heads of to Primary One! Its amazing what kids at this age learn and are capable of at their age. I don't think I could do what they are doing during my time.
]]>
Black & White images have the advantage of expressing abstract images in a stronger way. The lack of colour seems to amplify the need for dimension, angles, lines and shapes. Shot with the GRD4, a simple point and shoot camera that is a wonderful tool for street work.
]]>
This small camera is truly underrated and appreciated. Its unobtrusive size and looks holds a truly powerful engine that not many cameras possess. The GRD series by Ricoh has unmatched speed. In camera speak, its not about the ISO ratings, nor the shutter speeds. What it has, is the ultimate joy of freedom of speech (thoughts) in this sense.
The advantage of using this camera is the fact that you can shoot extremely fast. How does it work?
First off, the menu layout and controls of the Ricoh system is awesome. It allows you to customise the settings at a few touches. You can store your favourite settings in less than 5 clicks. Aperture Prority, ISO settings, Colour Settings, Image Ratio (16:9, 1:1 etc). These can be stored in the Custom MY1-3 settings, which you can dial in at the main command dial even before you switch on the camera.
You can, in Off Mode, playback your images without switching on the camera.
You can shoot Macro shots like these in a deep breath.
You can buy this camera at S$300 (2nd hand) or about US$250.
If you have been pondering about this camera or system (Ricoh GXR) series, stop wasting your time. Buy it, and use it. Now.
]]>
Delta 100, Mamiya RZ67 with 110mm/2.8
]]>
Ala-Kol Pass, Kyrgyzstan, central Asia. 3820m above sea level. The turquoise colour of the water is attributed to the minerals found in the glacier water. Shot on Portra 160, 6x7 format of the Fuji GF670 medium format camera.
]]>
Delta 100 | Konica Hexar AF | Yellow Filter | DDX
Dog Day's Out!
Ghim Moh Market, July 2014 with the Leica M2 and Summaron 35/2.8 and Delta 100 souped in R09 1:50.
I realised that R09 gives Delta 100 a good dose of contrast as compared with Ilford DDX. Nice!
]]>
This is Seng Boon and Li Fang who own a fruit stall at Ghim Moh Market. They kindly posed for me after I told them that I was photographing the Market as a hobby. Seng Boon plays table tennis, and is active in the neighbourhood centre as a volunteer. This was shot two days prior to his 'Hair for Hope' haircut session, and I am going to get back soon for a shot at his new hair-do :)
Shot with the Mamiya RZ67 Pro and the Sekor 110mm/2.8, with Acros 100 with Ilford DDX. This is lovely lovely film, but if you would like a little more grain, I personally find that Ilford Delta 100 has a better balance of grain.
]]>
The Boss, Ghim Moh Market
Finally, back to shooting with my Mamiya RZ67 Pro. This is a lean, mean shooting machine. This was shot on Fuji's Acros 100 and the standard lens - 110mm / 2.8 Sekor. It is a kick-ass lens. It may be their 'standard' lens, but this is a fantastic starting point with the RZ67 if you have been eying your paws on a medium format.
The word around town is that the Mamiya RZ67 is too heavy for street work, too slow to focus and clumsy. I beg to differ.
- It is only slightly clumsy, IF you are not familiar with its functions
- The focusing screen is the best in class, bar-none
- Work with only the RZ67 and another 35mm RF in your bag and you are all set for street and wonderful portraits
This shot was on F8, no filter. Very minor edits in Levels via Lightroom, but nothing more. Scanned at 2400dpi via the Epson V600, It is a killer combination. All you need to do is load it up, and rock and roll!
]]>
I'm busy!Thaipusam, Singapore, 2011
Shot during Thaipusam 2011 in Singapore. With the Voigtlander 28/1.9 and the M2, I armed the pair with TriX or Ilford Delta 400 and hit it. This was pretty much a grab shot, but I love it to bits, though its not in focus at all.
]]>
Butt of the joke
Clarke Quay, Singapore.
]]>
Backlog of reading, Commonwealth Town, South-West of Singapore | Olympus 35RC
Recycling of newspapers by our 'Karang-Guni' men. They go house-to-house, block-to-block to collect daily items that people like us throw down the chute. They are our citizens who do all the dirty work for us. It is back breaking work.
Papers weigh alot, and they work alone, shifting all these with their trolley up and down our 20 - 40 storey blocks. They in turn sell these to the few recycling companies.
]]>
Ghim Moh Market, South-West of Singapore.
Quite a common scene in the mornings, where these pooches get their morning walk, and have to wait patiently for their parents to have their breakfast or buy their groceries. You see, pets are not allowed in establishments that sell/serve food.
Shot with the Ricoh GRD4.
]]>
Shot with the Olympus 35RC. Absolutely stunning lens and viewfinder. Who would have thought that such a small and unobtrusive camera built about 30-40 years ago would product such quality today.
]]>
Also with the GXR and 35/1.4SC. The camera is fun to work with, 'intuitive' is an appropriate word for the Ricoh GXR, and for their software as a whole for that matter.
After using the GRD4 for about 1.5 years, going to the GXR module does not break me into a sweat. It is exactly the same! Their function of saving the setup in their MY1-3 system is fantastic. I can save settings such as Colour Mode, ISO rating and most importantly, Exposure Mode. All these translate to one thing - Speed.
]]>
GXR with the Voightlander 35/1.4SC
]]>
Shot with my recently acquired Ricoh GXR M-Module with the Zeiss 50/1.5ZM.
I guess in life, not everything needs to be in-focus, true to itself. There are times where obscurity and randomness will help enliven your life.
]]>
Lines
Shot with the Nikon 180mm/2.8 AFD on my Nikon D3s.
]]>
Konica Hexar AF, yellow filter Fomapan 100.
Another great little camera in my arsenal. The metering system, auto-focus and rendering of the lens is stellar.
]]>
Olympus 35RC. Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, this little camera is extremely value for money with exceptional quality.
]]>Uncle Teo wakes at 0400hr daily to tend to his stall. This is one of his two units in the Holland district. As he rotates operating between these two, he tasks himself with this stall each Monday. The remaining days are operated by his staff, who also brews excellent coffee. This particular set was shot on a Monday, 0600hr. Though early, they have a regular stream of visitors, and they do not need to repeat their orders, because its all remembered by heart!
If you enjoy a cup of thick, strong coffee, this is the place.
Uncle Teo is in the striped polo T-shirt while 'Uncle' is his able assistance who brews a cup that will shame the baristas of Starbucks. After slurping all these coffee and tea in the years that I have been partronising them, I finally have a portrait of them! Soon, I will invest more time and get a real portrait, with my Mamiya RZ67 and the 110mm/2.8.
If you are visiting Singapore, here are some tips on how to order coffee/tea in our coffeeshops/markets/stalls in the neighbourhood.
Coffee with milk + sugar = Kopi
Coffee with sugar only = Kopi-O
Coffee with milk, no sugar = Kopi-O Kosong
Coffee no sugar, no milk - Kopi Kosong
Coffee light, with milk = Kopi - Poh
Coffee thick, with milk = Kopi Kau
Coffee warm (not piping hot) = Kopi Puay-Shiow
If you would like tea, just replace the Kopi with 'Teh'. These phrases and 'codes' are regular jargon that we use to simplify the order taking process. You can use this method with Indian/Malay stalls as well. Amazing eh?
In this humble little stall, fitting three full grown men is a tough feat. One will wash the cups, another will collect the money and take the orders while the other will brew. The various common tools are all within arms reach. Those silver cans hanging on the wall are actually milk tins that are still used today to 'take-away' hot drinks. This is an excellent eco-friendly method to sell coffee instead of the plastic or styrofoam cups used in the modern cafes.
Coffee stalls like these, usually sell toast and eggs to go as a breakfast. Uncle Teo on the other hand, is a little different in his management technique. In order to maintain his standard of coffee, he rarely does provide soft boiled eggs and kaya toast in his stall as it is a rather time consuming task to boil eggs and prepare toast. To me, this is a wise choice. Though a tough one.
That strainer you see in the front of the image is actually the 'sock' that strains off the coffee powder.
On the average, they sell about 300-500 cups per day, washing them multiple times each shift. It is a tough, tough task.
On the left, is the massive boiler that keeps their stock of hot water. The top rack, is their stock of 'new' styrofoam cups that their customers insist for them to use instead of the usual plastic carriers and condensed milk tins. On the table, you can see the ground coffee and sugar, where the 'Order Taker' will prepare the order with specific 'codes' and 'signs' for the brewer to do. This could be a simple sign such as a cup with a spoon of sugar and milk. This denotes a 'Kopi' order. Another code could be two spoons, showing that the order is double.
There are two cup sizes. I personally prefer the smaller one, as it has a better coffee - water ratio (stronger coffee) YUM YUM! The cup on the extreme right has electrical tape stuck to the handle. This marks the cup as belonging to this particular unit number in the market. This is because each market can have 4-6 different coffee stalls. In addition to the regular coffee & tea, canned drinks such as Coke and green tea are available. Adding to that, beer and cigarettes.
Need some coffee?
Look out for part two of this story in about 3 weeks!
(This series was shot with the Leica M3DS, Zeiss 50/1.5 and the Zeiss 25/2.8 with Kodak Tri-X)
]]>
Pushed into a corner / GRD4 / Lightroom 5
]]>Featuring the soundtrack of 'How sweet it is (to be loved by you) by Marvin Gaye, circa 1964, Motown Records.
]]>
Olympus 35RC with Delta 100 and Ilford DDX.
This little camera amazes me. its small, yet extremely powerful with its F2.8 lens. the built in meter is accurate, and though the focus patch is a little hazy, its short focus throw makes up for it.
]]>
This next shot was done on the fly, and was overexposed by 2 stops. I pulled it back via Lightroom 5, and I must say its really kept the details well.
This next one was also a quick snap, so whoever says that a medium format camera is not suitable for street work, should rethink that remark!
These are all on Acros rated at 100 with DDX. I reused the solution for 4 rolls, and I must say I am impressed enough to do it more often as this saves me developer and to a certain extent, water.
]]>
]]>
Here's a peak at the camera first, while I find more time to do a in-depth user review.
These two shots are scanned via the actual print itself, and reduced to about 500kb via Photoshop. No post work is done, and the scans look pretty close to the actual print.
The gentleman is a tea-leaf collector I photographed while in Sri Lanka. Shot on Ilford's Delta 100 and the Zeiss 50/1.5 ZM Sonnar, this exemplifies why I swear by the Zeiss glass. Simply put, this is fantastic glass. Period.
This next shot is via the Ilford PanF50 film (35mm). This is my current craze of slow speed film. The contrast is dope. The grain while fine, has a certain draw to it, adding a depth to the shot I find difficult to explain.
Shot with my first Rangefinder camera, the Leica M6 Classic with the Summicron 50mm Version 4.
Ilford Delta 100 film is outstanding. If you have been wanting to work with this film, please do not hesitate. It is smooth and with great tones. This is shot with the Mamiya RZ67, on the 110mm/2.8 Sekor.
]]>
Shot with the Mamiya RZ67 Pro on Arista EDU 400 film rated at ISO200. While the film may not be very consistent, it really nice nice tones when you get it right. For the price, it really gives great value for money.
]]>
]]>
]]>
The main concern for me was composition. With 35mm film printed on 8x10 paper, you would actually get your image cropped off. This is a no-no for me. This is because my style of framing is pretty tight, and I ensure that what I want is in the frame. Here's the catch - to print the full image on a 8x10 paper, you would have to downsize the print.
This example is from a 35mm.
This example is from a 6x7 negative
Oops. I guess I will have to scan these prints for uploading instead of using the iPhone!
Finally brought out my Nikon F100, coupled with the Nikon 35/2 AFD, reverse mounted with the Nikon BR2A set.
With this setup, I was able to get double magnification (I think, it could be more though). With the BR2A, you can only use lenses with the F-Mount and an aperture ring. This means that the new G (gelded) lens will not work with the BR2A. The wider the lens, the higher the magnification.
You will need a tripod and a focusing rail as your lens first element will be about 20mm away from the subject. For this shot, it was about 10mm away. Yes, 10mm!
This shot was not cropped and shot on TriX rated at ISO400.
]]>
Shot with the Hexar AF, with Fomapan 100 (I think) or Delta 100.
He was working on painting the stretch (about 400m) of bench before 11am, where the crowds will stream in. Though on a Sunday, he was extremely professional and told me that 'he had to do it so it looked good'.
]]>
I enjoy the fast lens (f2.8), and the fully programmable settings such as leaving the film leader out and the programmable ISO settings.
Some technical specifications of this camera that make it stand out from the crowd;
- 35mm F2 lens
- Auto focus is fast and accurate
- Programmable ISO, Film Leader left outside function
- High speed flash sync 1/250
- Exposure compensation
- Takes 46mm filters
- Good grip
The shot above has been edited slightly in Lightroom 5, but the negative has nice details and tones to begin with, hence this contrasty shot. For a US$500++ camera, this is really good. It is not surprising they compare this lens with the Leica Summicron 35mm. I too use the Summaron 35mm 2.8 LTM, and I must say that the Hexar is really bang for the buck.
Again, this shot with the leaves are edited in post with Lightroom 5, and I love the contrast from this set up. It only requires minor editing for me to get the 'look' I want to achieve, and I am really stunned at how this set up allows me to concentrate on my photography.
The basis of shooting film (especially black and white) is that I can focus on the joy of photography, and not having to fiddle with the menus of the DSLR's. I like the simplicity that film offers.
as this camera is a borrowed copy from a friend, I may just end up getting one myself! It compliments me working with an M-Mount (for example the M3 with a 50mm), or the Mamiya RZ67 Pro (medium format). I have had this Hexar with me for about 5 days, and I have burnt through about 4-5 rolls (I think).
I have yet to see the results from this camera with slide film, and that will be in the works in the coming weeks. Also, stay tuned for a post on my time with the Fuji Klasse W, which died on me, and has suddenly revived itself!
Meanwhile, please go out and shoot some film!
]]>
Though I first started photography with a Nikon FM2 with a zoom lens back in Feb 2006, it never crossed my mind to begin developing my own film. I thought it was too troublesome, too cumbersome to do it myself. Alas! I would have saved myself tonnes of cash and gained much more skill and self-confidence if I started it out in the very beginning!
The lust for black and white photography led me to begin this journey, and I must say it is extremely satisfying.
I love the grains.
I love the contrast.
I love the grey tones.
I love the feel of loading the film.
I love the rolling of the film negatives into the canister as I bulk load my own film.
I love removing the negatives from the reel as they are exposed to the light after fixing.
Okay, I digress!
Back to the Fantastic Four.
I have found my favourite focal lengths and lens combination! For those not into this hobby, this is equivilant to finding Noah's Ark in the hobby of photography.
The lenses are - (pictures coming soon!)
- Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 SC
- Zeiss 25mm 2.8 Biogon
- Zeiss 50mm 1.5 C-Biogon Sonnar
- Leica 35mm 2.8 Summaron M-Mount
I mate them up either with a Leica M2 or M3, after having sold my M6 to fund for (get this)......frames for oil paintings in my living room. I had no choice, something had to give!
Anyway, I shoot with alot of estimation when I use my M3 with the 25mm Zeiss, but it works.
This Fantastic Four set, gives me a variety of options in terms of image output and quality. Though I must admit that sometimes I am hard pressed to siphon out which lens shot what image. With the 25, its a little easier to gauge, but with the 35/50, that needs a little more effort, especially when they are shot with the same film/scene.
Regardless, I hope this finding will press me to shoot more, and buy less. I think this is by far the most important factor. We spend too much time sourcing for gear, and when we find it, we are over-rawed with its technical aspect, and ignore the true art, the art of seeing.
In my recent trip to Europe, I brought with me everything except the little speed demon of the Voigtlander. I shot mainly with the 35 as it offered a perfect 35mm viewfinder that the M2 offers. If there was a Leica M that comes with a 25mm viewfinder, oh my! Would I so have to get that!
No matter how hard I try, I cant seem to bring myself to sell off the 25mm. I have owned prior to this Fan'Four, these lenses -
- Nikkor 85mm HC F2 Chrome LTM
- Voigtlander 28mm 1.9 LTM
- Leica Summar F2 Collapsible LTM (2 copies)
- Voigtlander 50mm 1.5 Chrome LTM
All of which, have left the stable. In return, I use my Fan'Four in conjuncture with my trusty speed demon, the Ricoh GRD4.
To find out more about the individual lens review, please stay tuned for another detailed post :)
]]>
Shot wit the Summaron 2.8 with Delta at ISO400.
My recent purchase of a Leica 35mm 2.8 Summaron (M-Mount) has reignited my joy in shooting with the 35mm focal range. I always found it 'not punchy' enough as compared to the Zeiss 25mm 2.8 or any wider focal ranges. The main advantage of shooting 35mm is that it is very versatile where it can produce portraits, environmental portraits, close ups (depends on lens capability), shots of buildings and some architechure, group shots of people and images of people on the streets doing their 'thing'.
If you have a 'fast' 35mm like the little Voigtlander 35/1.4, you will get relatively good/useful bokeh. Though not as sublime as the bokeh from the Zeiss 50/1.5 Sonnar, it would still produce fairly useful bokeh in enhancing your subject with its OOF (out of focus) depth. There is though, no denying that a 50mm or longer focal range will be more appropriate in portraiture.
Shot with Ilford Delta 100 and developed with Rodinal.
The other reason for switching back to 35mm FOV is that working with an M2, the 35mm framelines are clean and clear. Usually will 'wing it' during composition when I shoot with my Zeiss 25/2.8 on my M2, but the vertical alightment is difficult to adjust accurately. This is where the Voigtlander comes in.
It is fast, has a focus tab, and has a certain vintage and raw character to its images. The price is so 'right' to boot.
Exposed with the Sunny 16 Rule ( more like 'guess the exposure mode') for me, I had to adjust a luttle on the Levels & Curves to get the tones out. But, oh my, this is one reason why I enjoy the thrill of film. Its tones!
I think this is from a roll of Delta 100 souped in Rodinal as well (same roll as the above) but with tweaks in the contrast via Lightroom 3.
I have been neglecting my 50mm focal range for at least 4 months after I realised the joy of shooting wider lens such as the 28/1.9 Voightlander (which I sold), and the fantastic Zeiss 25/2.8 ZM. The other draw of the Voigtlander 35/1.4 is...the lens size. Its weight is fair, and I would rate it very well built for its price point.
Lets explore a little more on the 'character' of this little beast. More often than not, we want a lens that is sharp across all apertures. This is not easy to achieve in lens construction all the time, and you will have to pay a price for it. The VC 35mm has a load of character where you either love it, or loath it. For me, I have found it extremely hard to let go for it gives me a certain flair in my images that I cant seem to not do without.
Look at the top of the images where the leaves seem to fade and all those jargons of abberations and cromatic stuff comes into play. I love it!
If you have been wanting a fast 35mm on the cheap, or a light little lens for your daily use and do not mind character in your images, take this little Voigtlander.
]]>I bought this little monster of a 'point & shoot' camera back in Oct 2012. Its small size is decieving, and it true power lies in its engine. Its like a Daihatsu with a souped up BMW M3 engine.
The egronomics is fantastic. The sensor is fast, grainy when you need it, and good enough for prints up to A4, though I personally have not tried it, but this is one of my goals for the month of March 2013. I shall post results from that very soon.
The B&W modes have a tone to it that shouts 'contrasty' and 'punchy'. This is based on the High Contrast Mode B&W, which I initially foun very tough to 'like'. When I first started using it, It seemed harsh, and too much blown out areas to work in. I have since changed my mind about it. I love it.
I have not added grain in post processing, but it mimics film really well. Its the ease of editing it via Lightroom 3 where I have a preset for this GRD4 tones that I really dig. All I need to do is shoot the scene at my favourite MY1 setting, edit it in post, and volia!
I love the rawness that the GRD brings out from a scene. Its like doing film, but in a much quicker way without the exposure setting, and just shooting a scene in a wink of an eye. The GRD4 brings me pace, lighting pace. It allows me to exercise my freedom of sight, rather than the slower adaptation when I shoot film.
Another advantage of shooting with the GRD is the fact that people dont really care for what I am doing - which is sometimes pointing this little monster at their face.
I simply look harmless/useless when I use this camera, as compared to my Nikon D3s or even the F100. I have to admit that after since I shoot with the Leica M-mount cameras, I have seldom brought the D3s along for street shoots. My usual choice of weapons for street are still the M-Mount and this little GRD4.
If you have been thinking about getting the GRD and have some time to spare, do wait and see the results from the rumoured GRD5, where they intend to increase the sensor size as well as some ergonomics.
Then you really will start rocking :)
]]>
Pushing on a little further....
All these are shot with the Ricoh GRD4, with edits via Lightroom 3, pushing the dark areas via the Levels & Curves, as well as pushing the brightness and contrast.
The loss of details in the shot may not be for many. But as I shoot and test out the various 'looks', this sort of treatment has a special effect, adding a level of impact to the eyes and mind. I like it.
For those of you who are interested, the settings on my GRD4 goes something like this -
B&W High Contrast
Contrast Mode to Maximum
Sharpness to Maximum (I think)
In post edits, I increased the Levels & Curves, fooled around with the Brightness & Contrast as well.
The Summarit handles better than the Summaron due to the short focus throw, and large focus tab. It may not look as cool as the Summaron, but its slightly smaller, and equally well built.
The Summarit is sharp. This roll of Delta 400 shot at 800 and developed with TMax has nice tones (personally preference) here. From this test roll, I would say that the Summarit is more contrasty, and equally as sharp as the Summaron. The little Voigtlander would be left behind in this aspect, though the VC has its special character, but only shot wide open.
I admit that I would have to run more real world test of both lens wide open.
I worked much quicker with the Summarit. Swinging the focus from 0.7 to Infinity is quick, and with practice, almost lightning fast as an auto focus lens. This shot above was obtained as I bumped into them just around the corner of the block. I had to focus real quick, and it would be considered a hyper-focused shot somewhere between 1m - 1.4m, at about F5.6.
It never has been my favourite focal length, the 35mm. I started Rangefinders in 2010 with a 50mm Summicron, and have favoured the 50mm for the longest time. It has only been recently that I realise how useful the 35mm range is, as I can switch from regular street scenes, buildings to portraits.
The truth is, I didnt have as as many keepers from the Summarit as the Summaron. Maybe its all emotional. The lust for a small built, chrome vintage 35mm is what I really want.
]]>Most of the shots from the Summaron are at F4-11 as I was worried the light would drop and I would have to cease shooting (GOSH!) I rated my film at 800, developed in Ilford's DDX (I think), either that or Kodak's T-Max.
I simply love the tones for the second shot. I also like how the straight lights are straight.
A little caveat though, I found it tricky to work with. The lens focus throw was a little odd for me, where from 0.7m to Infinity, it was an awkard big swing. The newer Summarit 35mm/2.5 in comparison has a shorter focus throw, and seemed more contrasty. I shall have another post for the results from the Summarit later this week.
This Summaron is small, pretty fast at 2.8, and looks pretty darn cool on my M2. Framing this 35mm with my M3 also gave me pretty good results -
Again, I like the tones, and this is straight from the scan.
Had to throw in some edits in Lightroom for this one as the darks were not dark enough.
I have not worked with colour on this lens yet, and I hope they are 'contrasty' enough, else a vintage feel would be excellent too.
]]>
My RZ currently has two lens, the fast 110mm/2.8, and the 50/4.5. Both are exquiste. Here's a secret, I intend to bring the RX kit to my 2 week trip to Europe. I think I have lost some marbles, for the weight would be at least 8kg. Paired with an Leica M2 and 35/50, not to mention the film, I'd need to hire a donkey.
Here are some recent shots from the 110mm with Acros 100 shot at 200. Oh man. This is my favourite 120mm emlusion.
Even when pushed to ISO 200, this film retains its grains. This was developed with R09 (Rodinal eqivilent), and I used much less agitation than I normally would. I am so pleased with this new found technique that I shall employ it for my future rolls that I push.
Photography aside, I love her markings. She looks like a mimic of a Pitbull (breed of dog), and she looks lovely. I think this was shot at F4, and all I did was pull the levels ever so slightly so that the leaves got a little more toned up.
I love the mirror slap of the RZ. The firm clicks of the aperture, the fantastic viewfinder, and the wonderful glass. The only gripe I have is how clumsy the RZ is on the streets. It like taking a baby elephant in your arms and walking around all day. It just will not sit still. Its weight flops all around, the strap lugs are a pain to work with, and sometimes do fall off if you are not careful. The safety clip on the clasp tend to release itself.
However, the quality of the glass is outstanding.
Go get one of you have been pondering.
]]>
Unlike the roach, the damselfly and dragonfly have the exact opposite skills. They can hover, spurt, sprint, rotate 360' degrees in the blink of an eye. They are an absolute joy to watch.
Notice how they adjust their wings to resting mode upon their landing. Its like a helicopter after its blades de-powers.
On a softer side, we have plants and flowers. With their colours, you start to enjoy the gift of nature. All you need is some time to pause and reflect from the daily grind.
Colours. Textures. Lines.
Nature has them all.
Its time we take a huge chill pill to enjoy them, rather than speed around in our cars and type on the computer all day.
I first laid my eyeballs on this bag via a blogsite on camera bags. This gentleman chucked a big *ss camera into it, and it fit like a glove amongst other things. It called out to me. The simple lines, tough looking zippers and fantastic colour. I always wanted a nice green bag, and this really caught my eye.
The bag is sleek, easy to use, and really more functional than a 'pretty bag'. Not that its ugly or anything, far from that I should say. It just works. That is crucial as I hit the gym, go to work, and sometimes hang out on the streets photographing anything that moves. The two zipper compartment is lined with hard as nails YKK zippers and pullers. The red straps you see on the leather 'things' are extras (you pay extra for them), and they are used to store items for example another pouch or a sleeping bag. Yup, its pretty long, so you can cut it according to your needs. Its too nice to cut it, so I'm just gonna leave it as that for the moment.
The front pocket is great for storing quick to get items such as wallets and your portable music equipment. Its not really expandable, so maybe a regular novel would be the thickest item you would like to shove in.
Thanks to the wonderful Ricoh GRD4 macro mode, I am able to capture a close-up of the huge and rugged zippers and pullers. Rock on!
This was too sweet to pass on photgraphing it. I just had to. I love the colour combination.
This tag was awfully familiar and I know just where I saw it in my bag collection. Its on my Domke F2 canvas bag which are From my Domke camera bags which are coincidentally made in America too!
Made of 1000d Cordura material, its really nice to the touch, and gives you the assurance that its gonna last you awhile before you can say 'give up on me'. Read up more on the specifications of the bag here via Topo Designs.
I ordered mine online direct from Topo Designs as I did not have a local distributor in Singapore (Asia). Lucky me! Mark Hansen of Topo Designs shipped out this bugger of a bag within 2 days, and I got my itchy - scratchy hands on it within 1.5 weeks.
This is a cool design that allows you to shrink the bag if you dont need that wide a base length. The base when fully extended, fits my adidas running shoes comfortably. It will also sit my Nikon D3s camera, albeit without any form of cushion.
This is built to last and kick ass at the same time.
A really nice thing to have when you need to hang carabinas or some other funky stuff.
Rock on!
This image of the back of the bag when you shoulder it. The D Rings at the bottom left and right will come in handy if you need to add a waist strap to stablize the bag while trekking.
I have free stickers, and they are way cool for my Moleskin notebook for my travels :) Thank you Topo Designs! The extra zip pulls I bought for my Eastpak bag were too hard to resist...I just had to get them.
Here we go springing into action in hot Singapore!
]]>
Street life in Singapore is not as interesting after visiting vibrant countries such as Bangladesh and India in 2012. It seems docile in this city state of Singapore. Better known as the 'Little Red Dot' of Asia, we literally look like a red dot on the map. If you even spot it, that is.
Check out how we visually destroy your joy of washing your hands. I mean come on, cant we have some peace?
Singapore is obsessed with 'educating' where we claim we are all educated people, with fancy Degrees and education certifications that ensure jobs and a good salary.
The 'Mad Rush' for life, thats what I would rather call it.
Chinatown, Singapore.
Little India, Singapore.
Double exposure on my Leica M2.
Singapore is known for being a 'Garden City', a vision that has led us to become a leader in creating a City in a Garden.
This is a simple 'no frills' bus depot where you can catch a coach ride to neighbouring Malaysia. The cost is S$2.80 for a trip across the Causeway where you can visit Malaysia as a day trip or longer.
We are so small that we have to reclaim the seashore to build housing. These two buildings are built by the Housing Development Board (HDB) for residents. Each 'flat' ranges from 2 - 5 rooms, costing an arm and a leg.
So we have to find a cheap way to relax. One of the favourite pastimes for the elderly would be to have a game of chess at the void decks or local community clubs (CC). This one was shot at the infamous Chinatown square area.
]]>
First off, some notes on my trip for easy reference.
- Dhaka Division
- Sylhet Division
- Total of 8 Days 7 Nights
- Internal travel via inter-city trains
- Dhaka > Sylhet (6-7hr)
- Sylhet > Srimongol (3hr)
- Srimongol > Dhaka (6hr)
Gears used for this trip.
- Leica M2 with Zeiss 25mm 2.8, 50mm 1.5 Sonnar & Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 SC
- Ricoh GRD4
If you prefer for a quick look at a set of photos from this trip, this video clip would be a good summary :)
If you would like to visit this wonderful country for photography, I would advice you to go for it only if you will promise not to treat them as photography subjects, but as individuals who deserve so much respect for their wonderful culture. Trust me, it is amazing. They ask of you as neighbours, and not as tourist. They buy you tea and if you smoke, they offer you cigarettes. They ask you questions such as where your home is, what are you doing in their country etc. They honestly wonder why you want to visit them. What is the answer?
After one day there, I immediately realize why.
They are extremely nice people. Period.
Do you know how it feels to be poor? Do you know how it feels to be happy? Do you know how it feels to be poor AND happy?
Bet you dont (especially if you live in Singapore).
In their hands, are crappy drawings I did for them with a simple charcoal stick. When I say crappy drawings, I really mean crappy. Look at their faces. Do they care? Not a damn. They are over the moon with this simple gift.
A simple cup of tea like this costs about S$0.30. Does it taste good? You bet your last dollar it does! Its DAMN GOOD!
If you meet an English speaking Bengali who has time to spare, he will actually offer his time to talk to you about Bangladesh, and you. Yes, you! They are honestly interested to find out about you and your life. They will even offer to buy you tea. They do not earn that much, yet they offer this as part of their culture, their tradition. The tradition of being nice is not very common around the world. Accept it, and learn from it. Try to imagine this in your country. It may not be very possible.
They are skilled in many ways. Mechanics, tailors, electricians, technicians, cooks, you name it. This little boy (below) was helping his father tend to their carpentry shop in Dhaka City. This was somewhere close to the Kalumpur Train Station (intercity). Shot with my M2 and 35/1.4 Voigtlander.
After my meal at a stall along the main street fronting Kalumpur Station, I could not resist photographing his unique beard. The food was good. Their service is sweet too. They seem to know what you want (wash your hands), tea etc, and that makes it a very heartwarming meal, unlike the mechanical meals we usually have at home.
Kalumpur Train Station, Dhaka City. You dont have to worry about finding transportation after alighting, because they would normally find you instead :)
They have this air of simplicity around them, which makes you appreciate how they can live their lives without the need for computers, cable television and SMART phones.
This is a scene you will not find in Singapore anymore after we built the city into a metropolis. He could not be any older than 11 years of age, yet he tends to his own stall selling livestock. The white basket contains chicks, which I think are bought as pets before they are used for food as they get matured.
These are hand painted, not machined onto canvas or some other wasteful materials that the modern world does. This is a hardwearing state, who seems to me, cares more about the environment than the 'educated' people around the world.
I shall stop here for Part One of 'Wing it in Dhaka!'
See you soon.
]]>
Here we go!
This camera is amazing. Its such a fairly priced camera with a simple lens (80mm 3.5), and it rocks. Really. I find myself hard pressed to consider coughing up seven times this amount for a Hassalblad 500cm. Yeah, the argument is that you will have a Carl Zeiss Planar, but come on, this rocks!
Ah, the outcome of shooting expired Delta 400 Pro film. This expired in 1999, and I bought 10-15 rolls off the guy. Developed at ISO 200, I think its stands out on its own. It has a character, and I intend to follow through with the other rolls to see what kind of images I can create. Nevermind the 'ugly' marks, I think it has something special to offer.
This is from Tri-X rated at 400, or so I think.
I like the rendering of this lens. It has a slight swirl at times, which is unique.
Till the next time, see ya!
This religious ceremony held yearly at the Sri
Due to the human congestion (yes, the temple and surrounding areas were packed to the brim), I didnt get to photograph the firewalking. I did however, get to speak to a volunteer, Mr Rajoo, who spent the days prior to the festival right up to the end of the session, providing a beverage specific to the devotees. Its called Mooru.
A mixture of plain yogurt, salt and curry leaf, it dispells body heat (you get heaty after walking over the coals), and it soothes your heart.
Served ice cold, it was a cool welcome in the heat of Singapore. Devotees slurped it down in huge gulps, relishing its refreshing flavour. I of course, took a cup. It was....not my cup of tea though. It was salty. If it was sweet, I would have no qualms, but it was indeed refreshing!
Women and children are not permitted to firewalk. Seen here waiting under shelter from heavy downpour in Singapore, the ladies wait patiently for their husbands who are attempting to complete the firewalk. In all, about 3,800 devotees did the walk. Year on year, an increase in attendance is recorded.
Devotees who wish to partake in the firewalk have a set of rules to observe prior to the ritual. These are some of a few I knocked off a colleague -
- Forty days prior to the walk, they go Vegetarian
- They refrain from sexual relations, even with their wives
- They sleep on the floor, with no mattress, and without their wives
- Begin fasting, reducing their meals to 1-2 meals a day
- Stop using vulgarities, cursing and loosing their tempers
- Pray daily
**All images shot on Leica M-mount, with a Voigtlander 35/1.4 SC or a Voigtlander 28/1.9 with Kodak Tri-X rated at 1600 ISO.
]]>]]>
View specifications of the camera via Ricoh. In short, this is a very quick camera that has good image quality, fantastic menu settings that you can calibrate to your needs/wants, and is extremely stealthy.
Built
Its small, yet feels extremely good in your palm. The design of the grip is nothing that I have seen in other cameras, not even the Panasonic LX5 or the Canon's. From what I read, it is remodeled after the famous GR1 (Ricoh's famed 28mm compact camera). View its specifications here.
Operations
Its lightning fast. The menu has three main tabs for you to scroll through. The advantage of this little camera is the personalized settings you can pre-set for yourself. You have three to choose from (MY1, MY2, MY3). You can customised everything about 'shooting'. This is amazing. It gives you the ability to operate on the fly, quick and nimble, just like Mohammad Ali. Let me explain a little further. Lets say you constantly shoot in Black & White mode, with your favourite ISO setting of 400, and on the Shutter Priority Mode. Consider it done. Now add a little sharpening to the pictures, and lets say you prefer for a little more contrast than its assigned setting. Done. You wish for all these to be in JPEG, 4:3 format, at 10M Pixels. Done.
Save this setting to your preferred MY setting (for me its MY1), and you are all set to go.
Hang on. You wish to change the setting on the go. Done.
Flick the ADJ knob while you shoot and you get to access the quick menu tab, where you can now make adjustments to ISO, White Balance, Colour Mode. This does not affect your MY1 setting so long as you do not Save it. Carry on shooting, and the moment you change to another MY mode, it resets those edits, reverting back to your initial MY1 setting.
Snap Mode
This is a fantastic feature where I think, makes the GRD (or Ricoh) for that matter, stand out in the competition. I admit that when a point and shoot comes to mind, Ricoh does not stand for much. The marketing could be lacking, but this camera should have its head held high for setting a cult following.
You can preset the focus distance from as short as one meter, increasing to 1.5, 2.5, 5, and Infinity. What does it do?
It just snaps. It works, period.
Regardless of the focus mode, it will snap its focus at 1.5m (depending on what you set it on). This saves the Auto Focus motor to attain focus on your subject, yet take the shot. This is ingenious. No other camera comes close, well except for a Nikon F3HP or a Leica M2, where fully manual cameras excel in their 'tactile feeling'.
It becomes an extension of your arm, with the capability to meter a scene (quite accurately, I should say), yet focus in dim light of street lamps.
It makes a fantastic street/walk-about camera that works quietly, and discreetly.
]]>
Today marks the tenth day of working with the Ricoh GRD4. I bought it after much consideration, where I had to offload a lens from my collection to fund this purchase. Well, loosing a lens for a digital camera sounds like a 'financially sound' and 'viable' move, does it not? not really if you take into account the 'value' of the lens. In other words, the depreciation value of the digital Point & Shoot camera would be higher than the M-mount lens I sold.
What I gained was far more important.
I gained 'shooting time' with the GRD4. Its small, its light, its fast. Apologies, I would have to rephrase that, it is lightning fast. What do I really mean by this?
The advantage of the GRD4 over its competitors is the speed and user-interface. Of course, this is subjective to personal assessment. As a 'shooter', its advantages far outweigh the option of having to focal lengths of lenses sitting in the dry box or bag, idling its life away.
That does not look 'fast' Ben. What makes you say the GRD4 is fast? Its a stationery object Ben!
How about this?
Or this?
With a 28mm f1.9 equivalent lens, this wide angle fixed focal length CCD sensor is paired with a lovely user-interface and colour modes. The B&W settings are lovely at low ISO's of 100 - 1600. It goes up to 3200, but I find that my threshold at this moment is 1600, till it gets a little messy in the tones.
With this setting, I have zero edits for this .
For this moment at least :). All edits were done in-camera settings till I get a better 'feel' for the camera. This should take me another 2 weeks before I start experimenting a little further with the camera.
I admit that my initial reaction to this baby was that I disliked it. Yes, I did. Why did I spend S$750 for this small sensor of a camera, where I have been enjoying the likes of film and a Full-Frame sensor of my Nikon D3? Why?
The simple fact is that I CAN SHOOT MORE. That's it.
Pardon me while I come back tomorrow for another update on the GRD4. I need some sleep. So that I can shoot more tomorrow :)
]]>
A high contrast scene like this one below, gives it an edge over shots that have high detail.
Shaky shots have a certain aura to them. I love them for they give a very different feel to a shot. The regular shots that are well composed and technically superior, seems too 'good to be true' all the time. It does not inspire me as much as shots like this.
Daido Moriyama has inspired me. Trying to get my hands on some of his books seems impossible for a man with a small wallet. His gritty and well timed shots are simply breath-taking. Apologies for I cannot link his photos here, but a simple Google with his name will pull you fantastic images from the Japanese.
Its time we appreciate shaky shots that have a certain flair to them. What is this alluring aspect, you ask. I cannot give you a definite answer, but I see it as a form of expression. This is something that has eluded me, and continues to do so. I am hard at work to achieve it, and I hope you find your 'calling' too!
This shot below must have been badly exposed (silly me) in the first place. I cant remember if I shot this at ISO1600 with a Yellow Filter or did I shot this at 800. I really have no recollection.
Being random and open to creativity allows for us to enjoy photography in a different light. Maybe its time I push my boundaries a little harder :)
Before I released the shutter, I said to myself 'are you sure?', but I did it anyway. Looking back, its what I said or did before I even considered taking this photograph. What made me want to compose it the way I did? why did I choose these two buildings amongst other things? Why did I single them out?
Regardless of what is said about 'the equipment does not matter', it does, to a certain extend. Why? I personally feel that its about simplicity. Simplicity and convenience allows your mind to work freely. To be able to have a greater sense of concentration. Imagine this - A fully manual camera that requires exposure settings and manual focusing. As compared to a Point-and-Shoot camera, where you can set it to 'Idiot Mode', where everything from focusing to exposure calculations are automatically selected. This allows you for freedom of speech, or should I say, 'freedom of creativity.'
This thread is not about equipment, but I personally feel it does play a part in allowing you to express yourself freely in certain situations.
To shoot at random, requires you to think and act much faster than you normally would. If you include the need to calculate exposure and focus, it is actually extremely quick. Not everyone will understand this concept, especially if you have not experienced a camera requiring full manual controls. This shot should be with a 35mm, at about 9pm, under street lighting.
Why didnt I 'fail' this shot? To answer you, well, I was exploring. I wanted to 'see' quick. To see quicker, I would not only have to react quicker (with a fully manual camera), but more importantly, be spontaneous. That, would be the single most important outcome.
This shot was taken quite awhile ago, please excuse how its scanned as its was with my old portable scanner. I'd like to focus on the composition, and the content of the shot. It is a regular street scene, with an old man on the far left of the screen, looking no where in particular that will help in creating the 'mood' of the shot. As for the gentleman walking towards the camera, well, it just makes it an even more ordinary photograph of a normal day on the street.
I have seen many street photographs that have a certain 'story' and flair to the content. This form of engagement is alluring. I'd like to work on it.
A more recent shot from my collection, this is more like it eh! The truth is, I was waiting for the moment. Personally, there is a difference for me to wait for a scene to happen, and for me to 'snap it' when it happens. Its a different method of photography, and each have their merits.
In another scenario, we could opt to pose the subject. But that kills the 'street factor', don't you think? Its not that its wrong, its just....a different method.
This is one of those 'snap it now' moments, without any form of viewing it through the lens. I remember this was done with a 50mm lens, and with the obvious handshake, many would have 'failed' the shot. I didn't. In fact, I love it for its act of randomness. Its the freedom I want to showcase in this shot.
The obvious difference between a subject posing and one that is not aware of the camera has tremendous effects on a photograph. I have lost track of my intention of this post :)
Now, where does 'my freedom to see' go from here?
Sometimes, a random shot can be extremely refreshing!
People term this camera a studio camera, where its labelled as too clumsy and heavy to work outdoors. I beg to differ. Its a pure machine. The viewing glass is magnificent, the focus knobs are well placed, not to mention that they have two, one on each side of the camera. This is very good for various people who like to focus with either hand and not be constrained.
Yes, I agree that its a tad heavy as compared to the Hassalblad 500cm. Well, thats a camera with a 6x6 format, this Mamiya is a 6x7 with a rotating back. What does a rotating back do?
It allows you the convenience of rotating from Portrait to Landscape orientation with a flick of a switch and a twist of your wrist. The already kick-ass viewfinder then has an auto masking ability to show you its current orientation. How cool can it get?
Comments for this camera can get pretty harsh. About its unwieldiness, bulk and its electronics. Costing an average of US$800 for the lens,body and a film back, I'd say it gives the Mamiya 6,7ii and even the Hassalblads a good run for their money. Yes, you may say that its not fair a comparison, where the Mamiya 7 is a Rangefinder, and the Hassalblad is a...well Hassalblad.
The focus for this portrait could be a little off, but look at the contrast of this lens! There has been no Post Processing done on this image. Granted that the Acros is a relatively high contrast film, the detail is stunning.
Now, who says this is has to be a studio camera? :)
I lug it on the streets without a monopod or a tripod and it kicks-ass just fine.
If I remember correctly, this should be shot on Ilford's wonderful Delta 400 film, processed with Ilford DDX.
How about some colour? Here's a sample shot with Provia 100F, I think this is shot at F8.
I love slides mainly for their colour accuracy, but the cost of developing them is driving me insane. Nevermind the cost of the film itself. The details of this film is lovely, and if the exposure is accurate, it really gives digital formats something to think about.
]]>
As I dont shoot much with the Yashica, I cannot justify my lust for a Hassalblad 500CM. I guess the Yashica at this point in time suits me just fine. Its light, relatively fast, and easy to pack.
The feline above had some post processing done to bring out the colours a little more, but the lens has done great wonders in the out of focus areas (bokeh).
The leaf shutter is quiet and accurate. Even though its built in 1960's, this camera really rocks!
This is great as I would be able to manage all my writings together with the photos linked on Zenfolio, with ease.
Lets see how this goes.....