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 – Multiple shots of Baby V with my iPhone. Plus out my window on a truly crappy day with my Leica Monochrom.
On this day last year: Grumpy Santa.
NEW YORK NEW YORK – We attended a birthday party for Alberto Vitale, with my ever-present partner my Leica Monochrom and Noctilux lens.
On this day last year: Robert.
NEW YORK NEW YORK – Holiday parties. Shot with my Leica Monochrom and f.95 Nocticron lens.
On this day one year ago: In memory of Newton.
WASHINGTON CONNECTICUT – So this was my day to put my 135mm APO-Telit on my Monchrom. I’m not great with long lenses, but the compression of perspective actually creates an attractive effect on a snowy day like today. I’m using it handheld, which means shooting at high ISO to get a short enough shutter speed to deliver the sharpness that this lens is capable of. Because of the flat perspective it is very easy and reliable to stitch frames, so in my hands it becomes effectively a 50 to 135mm zoom.
Two frames stitched:
Three frames stitched:
On this day last year: vacant lot.
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 – More experimenting with odd lenses. Today I attached a Leica 280mm lens designed for the dearly departed Leica reflex camera to my Leica M via an adapter and used the M’s electronic viewfinder to focus an frame. This lens has a sensational reputation, which based on this brick wall torture test, it deserves. But it’s a handful and the Leica M’s EVF isn’t very good so it is quite hard to work with.
On this day last year: From a rooftop.
