Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/09/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]From: "Peter Dzwig" <pdzwig@summaventures.com> Subject: Re: [Leica] #326 & #327 > GeeBee wrote: > > Leica IIIf : 50mm Summitar : red filter : Kodak T400 CN > > http://www.geebeephoto.com/2005/05326.htm > > > > Leica M6 : 50mm Noctilux : Kodak T400 CN > > http://www.geebeephoto.com/2005/05327.htm > > > > > Graham, > > Not really sure about 326 at all. I presume that it is a version of 325, cropped > and with "a little light PS-work" done on it. I like the effect at the bottom, > which I presume to be unsharp mask and not the Summitar. It reminds me of > something though I can't quite put my hand on what. The detailing in the > maize/corn is great, but not "Leica glow". The sky sort of works for me. It has > similar effect to a heavily polarising filter, but too much so. But the overall > combination just doesn't quite seem to gel. > > It's great to see a IIIf being used creatively in the landscape though. > > > 327 is a whole different kettle of fish, though. What a risk with M6 + Nocti, > hope that it was firmly strapped round your neck! Very interesting angle on it, > literally. It captures life on board a narrow-boat better than the more scenic > views in other pictures. Not sure what I think about cropping the woman's body > though. Why was she leaning back? Her mouth open laughing? It'd be great to burn > in the plates a little more so that we could see what they were eating! > > All the best, > > Peter ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------- Hi Peter, It's not a crop I often shoot a scene both horizontal and vertical and I usually post the horizontal, being most peoples' preference, even though I usually prefer the vertical myself. Posting the second version was an attempt to squeeze a bit of extra mileage from a scene that I was really enthusiastic about when I took it but didn't quite capture somehow. I think the overall softness, probably camera shake, which I tried to correct with some extra USM was due to a number of factors. The red filter I bought for the Summitar is deep red and cost me 4- stops and I also needed reasonable DOF to get a smallish aperture to stay reasonably close to the foreground flower. This pushed me towards a slow shutter speed which I then compounded by swaying about as I hunkered down (too muddy to sit) for a viewpoint to give the flower added prominence. I offer all this by way of explanation and not as an excuse :-) I don't use camera straps and although I had a firm grip I did get a sinking sensation in my stomach as I leaned over the bridge and my imagination went through one of those 'what if' scenarios :-) The shot is full frame and even though the boat was moving slowly I did not have much time to frame the shot looking straight down on the boat just a few feet below. The woman is looking up at the idiot on the bridge with a camera. I could have cropped her head out but maintaining the 4:6 ratio would have meant cutting into the life jacket at the top of the frame or shaving some off the back of the boat. Thanks for looking. --Graham