Leica Photographers at Work

Over at Asia Heartbeat, Arirang, there are videos showing Leica photographers at work.

Asia Heartbeat

There are some nice videos showing photographers at work in South Korea. My favorite two are about Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey. They are #16, Incheon and #15 Life in Oceans Embrace. Alex Webb is also a featured photographer. A video crew follows the photographer around watching them shooting and interacting with the locals. There are no photography tips but a lot can be learned by watching closely. Especially important is the interaction with the subjects. Most photographers could learn some important lessons to improve your photos, it's not about gear. The videos are promoting South Korea, a very beautiful country, and are marketing at the best.

Leica M6 Sign

Walking around the streets in Santa Monica.

Leica M6 and 50mm 2.0

Found a nice reflection in the building marker. The metal was silver and the bricks are red but the image is better as a monochromatic image. Although the sign is in deep shadow I was careful not to under expose and add grain to the image. Looking at the sign the bricks appear darker but the are a brighter red color so they photograph brighter than they appear. Film is Kodak Tri-X.

Leica Gallery Changes

Leica M (240)

I understand Leica Gallery LA is having some financial problems. They have cut the position of gallery manager. I have met Annie Seaton a couple of times. I hope she lands on her feet quickly, it is difficult to get laid off and I wish her the best. The Leica Gallery is upstairs at the Leica Store in Westwood, LA. This is a Leica owned store. Makes me wonder about the sales at the store although there would be no connection between camera and art sales.

Leica M6 Church Pews

Taken at the mission in Santa Barbara, CA

Leica M6 and 50mm 2.0

I like to photograph quiet moments. There is enough detail to recognize the subject but not enough to be distracting. Notice the highlights are nearly the same on each pew. The top edge, small curves on the ends, diagonal highlights on the bench. Expose for the highlights and let the rest fall where it may. The short exposure latitude of Kodachrome helps.

Leica M6 Deep in the Forest

I was going through my boxes and found this image. I have no idea where it was from.

Leica M6 and 50mm 2.0

This was taken in the 80's and the negative was incorrectly filed. I was traveling a lot back then and I don't remember taking this image. The sun is streaming between the trees and was illuminating the area where the rainfall makes a path down the mountain. My wife sees a teddy bear in the light area at the bottom. Similar to looking at clouds. 

Leica M 240 Construction Zone

What a clean construction area.

Leica M 240 with 35mm 2.0

Nothing terribly interesting but a nice range of tones. That is me reflected in the door way, a la Vivian Meyer. After taking this image I turned around to a businessman who had been watching me. He said "Cool Shot" and walked away. Again, KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid. The street shooter motto.

Leica M 240 Old Mining Town

A run down mining town shopping district.

Leica M (240) with 35mm 2.0

The interstate has taken all of the traffic away and most people have moved to the city down south or to the housing development up north. The buildings are very colorful for being unoccupied for so many years. I wish one of the doors had been unlocked so that I could have photographed inside. Tried this image in black and white but there is more feeling in color. Maybe late in the day as a monochrome image. I used small strips of color on each end to keep the viewers eye in the image. Again an image of just lines and rectangles. Strong geometry rules in photographs.

Leica M6 Noctilux The Americans

Taken in Las Vegas about 10 years ago.

Leica M6 with 50mm 1.0

Of course I was thinking of Robert Frank when I took this image. His image is one of the iconic images of street photography. I wasn't looking for the image, the bus stopped right in front of me. In the moment I didn't think of Robert Frank but I have studied the image for so many years that lifting the camera and pressing the shutter was just a reflex action. Is mine as good, of course not. But there is nothing wrong with re-working classic images, and the more you recognize someone else's great images the more likely you might take one of your own.

Copyright Robert Frank

Leica M6 at Western Days

This was taken at a Western Days celebration.

Leica M6 and 35mm 2.0

Leica lenses do make images pop with color. While I was shooting at this event with my Leica my wife was shooting with her Nikon. Later when looking at the slides on the light table the Leica slides really did stand out with higher color saturation and contrast. I used to sometimes shoot Kodachrome at ISO 80 just to get a little more saturation.

Leica M6 at the Park

Quiet moment amid the noise.

Leica M6 and 35mm 2.0

He is just enjoying his sunday paper. I took this photo with and without the woman that is right behind his head. I like this version better. Also notice the man in the upper right conner in the same pose. Interesting how he is holding on to his bag with his feet, life in the big city. It is the little touches that make a photo interesting.