WARREN CONNECTICUT – Out with my Leica Monochrom today. I captured a backlit tree line – actually three frames stitched. And a store in New Preston run by a close friend. Also a stitch.
On this day last year: X rated at the Public Library. This was too good to be true.
WARREN CONNECTICUT – So here’s an experiment. I’ve been shooting almost solely for the last six weeks with my Leica Monochrom, a digital camera that shoots only in black and white but offers enhanced resolution and a distinctive film-like look (after some processing). It’s fall here and I’ve been working against the grain, generally a good idea, and shooting the New England foliage in black and white. I thought that I’d show you what the foliage looks like both ways today. First a black and white image taken with my Monochrom and a Leica 28mm Elmarit lens, and then an images taken in color with my M9 and the same lens. First the black and white:
After spending a bit of time with this I’ve decided I like it – it has the grittiness of a 1940s image shot on orthochromatic film.
Here’s the color images, taken a half mile from the first image and in color.
Not bad. Captures the moment but a bit pedestrian. For now I’m sticking with the Monochrom.
On this day one year ago: Thames Street.
WARREN CONNECTICUT – Back to a perfect display of fall foliage. Wildly colorful. And here I am shooting with my Leica Monochrom. In black and white. I’ve got a new lens, a Leica 28mm f2.8 Elmarit Asph. This lens is extremely compact making the Monochrom almost pocketable. It reputation on the Leica street is that it almost offensively sharp and high contrast, making it difficult to control in high contrast situations. I thought it might work well with the Monochrom’s flatish looking files, and it does. Here are some samples. Note that I’m using a yellow-orange filter here to darken the sky.
On this day last year: Chuck Close.
WARREN CONNECTICUT – Still photographing fall color without color. There was a moment of sensational light at sunrise. Captured with my Leica Monochrom and 50-year old Dual Range Suumicron (18mm Super Elmar in the case of the third image). These are some of the best images that I’ve gotten so far from the Monochrom.
On this day last year: Fall arrives.
WARREN CONNECTICUT – Still here. Warren. This is the best time of the year for this little patch of the Berkshire foothills. It’s foggy and rainy but I managed to shoot some foliage and record a tractor pull moment from the Warren Fall Festival. Leica Monochrom.
On this day one year ago: Central Park Reservoir. This in a single image captures why I’m selling my medium format kit to really specialize on my Leica. Once I get up on a tripod everything turns static and predicable.
WARREN CONNECTICUT – It’s the leading edge of leaf season up here in rural Litchfield County. Colors are fabulous. Of course I’m shooting with my Leica Monochrom, a black and white only camera, so I’m going to have to get creative. Autumn foliage in black and white. Pretty excentric, hun?
Here’s today’s effort. 
Jim Dow stadiums. From our collection in the office.
WARREN CONNECTICUT – More trees at our place in Connecticut – at least they aren’t birches. In the warm light at sunrise there’s a hint of fall color – a trailer for coming attractions. I’ve been shooting with my Leica Monochrom recently but went out this morning with my Leica M9 and 90mm Elmarit lens. I struggled with this lens yesterday but got better results today. Maybe it just takes practice. I focused my attention on a park-like area to the West of our house – an area that we created by mowing the underbrush in a stand of major maples and oaks. This is what they looked like in black and white and color:
On this day last year: One child policy.
