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.

Leica M6 Another London Door

Just down the street from the red door I recently published. 

Leica M6 and 35mm 2.0

This image is mainly comprised of blocks. The window, door frame, the brown door, the black door, the pavement, yellow strips bisecting the pavement, the trash can, the white blocks on the black door, the sidewalk bricks. Finally the bricks curving over the window for framing. The plants make a nice repeating element.

Leica M Magazine

Leica has also introduced the M Magazine.

Leica M Magazine

I downloaded this new magazine on my iPad and I must say I'm impressed. I always thought the the LFI, Leica Fotografie International, was a great magazine. I have over 20 years of issues. But it is quite expensive and as such is only read by the diehard Leica users. Hopefully this new magazine will bring more users into the Leica flock. It is a free download from the iTunes site and the link is at the top of this article. I hope Leica keeps it free because it is great for people who are researching a Leica purchase.

Leica Photokina 2014

Here are the new goodies.

Well it’s Photokina time so here is a look at the new products that would interest the Leica street shooter.

Leica M-A, Leica M Edition 60, Leica M-P

The cameras left to right are the Leica M-A, Leica M Edition 60, and the Leica M-P. The Leica M Edition 60 is strictly a collector camera that does away with the LCD for reviewing the images. In place of the LCD is the old style wheel for setting the ISO. With only 600 made worldwide there is no reason to consider it as a shooter. It will sell for $20,000. The Leica M-A is a film camera that has dropped the light meter, and battery. It has no electronics at all. The MP which is the current film camera will remain in the line up. It will sell for $4750. The Leica M-P was released recently and was no surprise. It will sell for $7950. 

Leica Noctilux -M ASPH Silver, Leica Summilux -M 35mm 1.4 ASPH

The Noctilux-M ASPH 0.95 and Summilux-M 35mm ASPH 1.4 have been given the silver treatment and will sell for $11,350 and $5,450 respectively.

Leica Summarit Line, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 90mm

The entire Summarit line has had it’s optics updated. The Summarit-M 35mm 2.4 ASPH is $2250, Summarit-M 50mm 2.4 is $1950, Summarit-M75mm 2.4 is $2150, and the Summarit-M 90mm 2.4 is 2350. The Summarits are really nice lenses that are small and really sharp.

Leica M6 Country Door

Taken in Custer, SD.

Leica M6 and 50mm 2.0

Custer is in the Black Hills of South Dakota not far from Mt. Rushmore. It is the gateway to a state park of the same name. The park is very popular with nature photographers and is beautiful year round. I was walking up and down the side streets photographing everything when this home appeared. Straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The door is a deep red that recorded as black in B&W film. I like the small touches like the flamingo in the flower pot.

Leica M6: Sad Balloon

This was taken late in the day after a heavy rain.

Leica M6 and 50mm 2.0

Photography is all about the quality of light. Taken in the middle of the day in bright light or in the morning in the shade this image would not have been worth exposing. This image is all about emotion. When you look at this photograph you think about a similar moment that has been in your life. That is what makes a photograph successful. You connect with the moment. A fully inflated balloon would have ruined the feeling that is being evoked. More string would have been distracting. Nice balance to this image.

Leica M6 London Door

We just don't get doors like this in the states. Taken with a Leica M6 with a 50mm 2.0 lens. There is no saturation push in photoshop, that is a leica signature red.

Leica M6 with 50mm 2.0