[Leica] Monochrome album from Reykjavik

[Howard L Ritter Jr]

My wife and I have been in Iceland for the past week on a tour sponsored by Sky and Telescope magazine for the purpose of viewing the aurora borealis while visiting some of the highlights of this exotic and beautiful country. We’re staying on for a few days to see the capital, Reykjavik, in a little more depth and perhaps to take a day trip to somewhere we hadn’t been on the tour. We did a lot of walking today and this evening, and saw a few things I thought worth picturing. I had anticipated this, so I had my MM around my neck.

Please have a look at my album: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/hlritter/Reykjavik+in+Mono/ <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/hlritter/Reykjavik+in+Mono/>

(An album of auroral photos will soon follow.)

C&C appreciated, as well as picks of favorites. I have a strong preference for one of the images, but I’ll save revealing it until I get votes from some others. Hint: It’s an image with subtle humor, a serendipitous juxtaposition and Decisive Moment aspirations.

And I’d like to hear what others think about something I did on the walk today that seemed very natural, although I’d never done it before. I found the view from the outside in at several bars and restaurants tempting, so I just prefocused and took pictures through the window, sometimes putting the lens hood flat against the glass to eliminated reflections, and pushed the shutter button.

I immediately realized that I have mixed feelings about taking pictures this way. It has to do I think with the hard separation between photographer and subject, with denial of agency to the subject to respond or have a say in the matter. It feels too impersonal, too sterile and risk-free. You might say it’s like shooting fish in a barrel or hunting on a private game ranch. On the other hand, I did get some scenes that I like well enough to publish in the LUG Gallery. 

I wonder how others feel and whether any of you have taken opportunities to do this. I’d appreciate hearing your thoughts on it.


—howard