Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/07/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Mxsmanic wrote: > > I'd very much like to know his secret for focusing accurately at f/1 in fast > street photography. It scarcely seems possible, and yet his photos seem to > prove that it is. > There's no real secret: it's just a combination of techniques. - - Lots of practice at snap focusing. With the Noctilux, there's no time to rack the lens round from infinity, I place it a little ahead of the expected subject distance so only a small twitch of the ring is necessary. Don't twiddle with the focus if you think it's not quite there, take the picture anyway. - - If possible take more than one picture of a subject (sometimes a lot more). If you're using a difficult technique you have to accept a lower hit rate sometimes. - - For things like the Fastnacht pictures where people are moving predictably, I use a 'gating' technique. Preset the lens focus, put it to your eye and let the subject walk into frame, hit the shutter when the rangefinder lines up. You lose control over timing with this technique, so take lots of pictures. If there's room, start walking backwards in front of the subject, now you've got lots of timing control - - don't forget to look behind you every few seconds though! (Or get an assistant). You've got to try and stay in control of the situation, exposure should always be preset and rarely adjusted (use an incident meter or sunny 16 rule). Street pictures normally build up fairly slowly in front of you (over a few seconds), if you've got a clear idea of what the picture is you can prepare the focus and be ready for it. Did I already say take the picture anyway? You can correct or forgive gross errors in composition, exposure or focus; but if the timing's wrong the picture is junk. - -- Stephen Holloway http://www.deepturtle.com/steve/photos