Re: [Leica] Exploring Leica

["Jeff S" <segawa@netone.com>]

Hi Scott,
These days, I think what I appreciate in a photo includes (1) good framing
(2) good timing (3) a visual richness which perhaps has less to do with fine
grain and optical sharpness than it does with contrast control, and rich
tonality.

I guess I've seen (and taken) one too many color photo on an overcast or
rainy day, and started to wonder why so many photos had that "rich,
saturated" look, often at the expense of being very dark, but so few really
captured the look of brilliant sunlight, or if they did, the shadows were
inky black, revealing little of the detail that attracted me in the first
place!

With this in mind, I'm fussing with faster-than-usual (for me) films, and
looking for tonality and worrying less about grain. Fellow LUGers have
suggested I try Tmax and either highly diluted Tmax developer, Xtol or Press
Max. I'm starting off with Xtol, partly out of interest in it's less-toxic
nature. Recently, I'd also tried, with no particular reason, Tmax 100 and
Delta 100, processed in Tmax developer or 1:50 Rodinal, and have gotten
pleasant results, though nothing exceptional-looking. Impression is that my
highlights bleach out too soon, and shadow detail has been very tricky to
preserve; with more systematic experimentation, I hope to achieve the best
tonality possible for my chosen film, and acheive results a whole lot better
than "nice" :-) More on this situation as the experiment progreses; if I can
stop sneezing and sniffling long enough this weekend to run some tests, I
will.

Jeff


From: Scott Busby <busby@illuminet.net>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Friday, May 01, 1998 6:51 AM
Subject: [Leica] Exploring Leica


>Greetings All,
>
>  I'm a new member to the group as well as a new Leica owner.  I have
>pursued the art of photography for the last 25 years.  Although
>previously a pro, I forsook pleasing others to please myself
>photographically.
>
>  I haven't used 35mm cameras in nearly 20 years focusing primarily on
>medium format and occasional large format photography.  Quality, image
>sharpness, big negatives, and superb equipment has always provided me
>with the technically fine photos I desire.  However, as I have gotten
>older, I've grown less inclined to drag out the heavy, cumbersome
>equipment.  As a result, my interest in photography as diminished.
>
>  With that said, I should tell you that because of this, I've sold all
>my Hasselblad equipment and purchased a couple of M6s.  I decided that I
>would simplify my photography and pursue the spontaneity the M6 allows.
> I am becoming familiar with the Leica line (I was always aware of
>Leica's incomparable reputation) and I'm starting to build upon
>accessories.
>
>  Herein lies my problem.  Simply, I've completely lost touch with the
>35mm world.  I want to maintain the quality of images I've come to know
>with larger negatives.  Since I've solved the camera issue, I want to
>move on to materials.  Here's where I lean toward your experiences.
>
>  I primarily shoot black and white.  With medium format, I use strictly
>Ilford FP4 and either D-76 or FG7 for my developer.  I use several
>different brands of fine printing papers (I like them all for different
>reasons) and process them in Dektol.  I never bracket exposures and a 12
>exposure roll will yield 12 unique and different images.
>
>  Now that you know a little of how I do things, the main questions:
>
>1.  In black and white work, what are the film preferences and developer
>combinations favored by the group? Why?
>
>2.  In color, what are the preferences?  Are chromes preferred over
>print film?
>
>3.  When enlarging images, what is the acceptable limit?  I've never
>enlarged a MF neg beyond 11X14. I know the answers to the above
>questions will determine this.
>
>  No need to reiterate the merits of the Leica or it's various lenses.
>I'm already convinced of them.  I just want to know how you as
>photographers capitalize on these merits to there final end.  I don't
>limit myself to any one type of photography.  Anything and everybody is
>fair game.  My techniques are habitual, but I want to explore.
>
>  Lastly, I don't depend on photography for my livelihood.  I'm strictly
>an amateur and I'm the only one I have to please.  I don't want to
>deviate from the main topic of Leica, but rather explore its use through
>your experiences.  Your comments will at least provide me with a point
>of departure.  Oh, and BTW, the list is a great tool.  I've already
>learned a great deal.
>
>Thanks
>Scott
>