Just down the street from the red door I recently published.
Leica M6 and 35mm 2.0
This image is mainly comprised of blocks. The window, door frame, the brown door, the black door, the pavement, yellow strips bisecting the pavement, the trash can, the white blocks on the black door, the sidewalk bricks. Finally the bricks curving over the window for framing. The plants make a nice repeating element.
Leica has also introduced the M Magazine.
Leica M Magazine
I downloaded this new magazine on my iPad and I must say I'm impressed. I always thought the the LFI, Leica Fotografie International, was a great magazine. I have over 20 years of issues. But it is quite expensive and as such is only read by the diehard Leica users. Hopefully this new magazine will bring more users into the Leica flock. It is a free download from the iTunes site and the link is at the top of this article. I hope Leica keeps it free because it is great for people who are researching a Leica purchase.
Here are the new goodies.
Well it’s Photokina time so here is a look at the new products that would interest the Leica street shooter.
Leica M-A, Leica M Edition 60, Leica M-P
The cameras left to right are the Leica M-A, Leica M Edition 60, and the Leica M-P. The Leica M Edition 60 is strictly a collector camera that does away with the LCD for reviewing the images. In place of the LCD is the old style wheel for setting the ISO. With only 600 made worldwide there is no reason to consider it as a shooter. It will sell for $20,000. The Leica M-A is a film camera that has dropped the light meter, and battery. It has no electronics at all. The MP which is the current film camera will remain in the line up. It will sell for $4750. The Leica M-P was released recently and was no surprise. It will sell for $7950.
Leica Noctilux -M ASPH Silver, Leica Summilux -M 35mm 1.4 ASPH
The Noctilux-M ASPH 0.95 and Summilux-M 35mm ASPH 1.4 have been given the silver treatment and will sell for $11,350 and $5,450 respectively.
Leica Summarit Line, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 90mm
The entire Summarit line has had it’s optics updated. The Summarit-M 35mm 2.4 ASPH is $2250, Summarit-M 50mm 2.4 is $1950, Summarit-M75mm 2.4 is $2150, and the Summarit-M 90mm 2.4 is 2350. The Summarits are really nice lenses that are small and really sharp.
Taken in Custer, SD.
Leica M6 and 50mm 2.0
Custer is in the Black Hills of South Dakota not far from Mt. Rushmore. It is the gateway to a state park of the same name. The park is very popular with nature photographers and is beautiful year round. I was walking up and down the side streets photographing everything when this home appeared. Straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The door is a deep red that recorded as black in B&W film. I like the small touches like the flamingo in the flower pot.
This was taken late in the day after a heavy rain.
Leica M6 and 50mm 2.0
Photography is all about the quality of light. Taken in the middle of the day in bright light or in the morning in the shade this image would not have been worth exposing. This image is all about emotion. When you look at this photograph you think about a similar moment that has been in your life. That is what makes a photograph successful. You connect with the moment. A fully inflated balloon would have ruined the feeling that is being evoked. More string would have been distracting. Nice balance to this image.
We just don't get doors like this in the states. Taken with a Leica M6 with a 50mm 2.0 lens. There is no saturation push in photoshop, that is a leica signature red.
Leica M6 with 50mm 2.0
I wish that I could explain composition like this. Listen close to what he is saying.
Joel Meyerowitz - What you put in the frame.
Back in the day you were a real photography geek if you had a B&W viewing filter. What it does is simulate a scene as if it were taken with black and white film. It is not just a neutral density filter. The filter alters the contrast so that you can visualize the scene in B&W. They come in gray and a yellow, similar to a K2 black and white filter. Today with digital you can just take a photo and have the preview simulate B&W. The purpose of the filter is to train your eye to better visualize a scene and determine what will work at what will not work. You could shoot everything and delete later but this filter helps you grow as an artist. Do you have to use this filter? You certainly do not but it is worth a try to see if it helps.
Viewing Filter
This is the grip for the Leica M6. It is part #14405. It adds a nice finger hold without adding much to the size or the weight of the camera. A small chrome key folds out on the bottom of the grip for attachment to the camera. It folds back flat for use. I purchased mine new for about $100 and thought that it was a bargain at the time. It really has a nice firm feel when attached to the camera and the baseplate can still be removed with the grip attached. If you like to carry the camera with the strap around your wrist the Leica grip gives you a little more feeling of security.
Leica advertisement from 1959
Leica M3