NEW YORK NEW YORK – This is a day of pre-holiday running around, so my head is not into the visual. My eyes are unengaged. Shopping lists abound. This was a day for my Leica Monochrom and 1959 Dual Range Summicron lens. I shot only at f2.0 today where this lens has a somewhat lower contrast signature. Here are a couple of “look ups”.
On this day last year: Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.
NEW YORK NEW YORK – I’m keeping up the thread on old lenses. I went out today with my 1959 Leica Dual-Range Summicron. I’ve shot this lens extensively in the past two years, but almost always at f5.6 and higher, a range where this lens behaves like a modern Leica lens (its character is very similar to the current 35mm Summicron). Today I resolved to shoot it at f2.0, where it has a lower contrast, more dreamy quality. Here is one from the street:
I also resolved to try the 1937 Carl Zeiss Sonnar on my Monochrom relying on close focus and guessing at longer focus distances. Here you go.
Here’s another with four frames stitched:
On this day one year ago: 86th Street.
NEW YORK NEW YORK – Another rainy day. I spent some time this morning at Thornwillow Press’s shop at the St. Regis ordering Christmas presents for various family members, an experience captured with my Leica Monochrom and 50mm Luxochron lens. Later I took in the crowds at Rockefeller Center in the rain, again with the Monochrom but with my 24mm Summilux lens.
On this day last year: glassware.
NEW YORK NEW YORK – Today is a tale of a 75 year old lens, a 1937 85mm f2.0 Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar. After some significant effort I have finally gotten it to work on my Leica M bodies. Here it is with the statue of Sherman on the Plaza. I’m struggling slightly trying to master this lens (everything is backward on it) so I also shot fog our our window with a conventional Leica 21mm lens to make sure that I got a shot for the day.
On this day last year: 919 Third Avenue.
NEW YORK NEW YORK – I walked up the East River today in my commute home from midtown, shooting with my Leica Monochrom and 35mm Summicron Asph. lens. This is a great, classic focal length on a Leica. Not much going on on the East River though.
On this day last year: Caroling.
NEW YORK NEW YORK – A couple of look ups with my Leica Monochrom and Leica 18mm Super=Elmar M lens.
On this day one year ago: Francesca and Basil.
NEW YORK NEW YORK – I got up early and walked down Park Avenue — my morning commute — to a day of meetings. I got sunrise out our window with a Leica M and 280mm lens (which is fussy to use because focus is critical and it demands good tripod technique), more sunrise on Park Avenue with my Leica Monochrom, and a grid within a grid out the window of a conference room later in the day with my iPhone. I’ve posted them in reverse order because I like the grid image best.
On this day last year: The Grenadines.
