Category Archives: photography

the new Leica range!

Since really cutting back on my intake of automobile-related news and interests (more about the details of that at a later time) as of a few months ago, they have been replaced by a burning love for photography and cameras.  After recently buying my Leica M8.1, i have been turned on to the magical world of rangefinder cameras.  New and old.  Eventually I would like to buy a nice Leica M5 and fool around with film photography; however my primary love of cameras is around digital photography.  Part of this may be due to the fact that I am impulsive and need to see my photos within 24 hours, but mainly due to the fact that I really don’t have the time to dedicate to film photography.  Digital photography, while saturated in this day of iPhone-photographers, can still be beautiful.

Today at Photokina in Cologne, Germany; Leica revealed the new lineup of Leica M cameras.  The much anticipated ‘next step’ in the Leica M range is actually going to NOT be called the Leica M10; but instead called simply Leica M.

Bigger screen, video recording (in a Leica??), focus assist (in a Leica??), optional electronic viewfinder, 24mp CMOS full-frame sensor, and a familiar body with likely beautiful construction and materials as all Leicas generally have.   The M will cost $6950 in the US.

then there’s the Leica M-E; essentially the same camera as the outgoing Leica M9P, however recoloured in a beautiful anthracite and debadged to be a bit more stealthy!  Same exact specs as the prior M9P. Oh and the price has been slashed to $5450. 

will these make you a ‘great photographer”? NO.  Will this help inspire you to be more creative and understand the fundamentals of photography?  probably YES.  Well, at least the M8 has done that for me…..now, time to save up for a Leica M-Monochrome (announced as still in production).

Leica M-Monochrome (Leica MM):

src: L-Camera

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view001

the past week through my eyes…

tools:  Leica M8.1 and Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 (except for “doorway”, taken by a Leica D-Lux3)

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Side By Side

Digital photography and videography have completely changed the landscape of imaging in all realms of life; creative to scientific to archiving.  “Side By Side” is a documentary investigating what changes have occurred in the modern film industry to utilize the new technological developments brought forward to digital video technology and where that leaves the original reel film mechanism.   Reel film seems so bulky, inflexible, and archaic compared to what we can now do with digital film.

The ‘big time’ hollywood aspect of this documentary is a bit naff….especially with overblown and overdone filmmakers like George Lucas (rubbish)….however the topic is interesting.

In the end, the quality of the film is not determined by what kind of mechanism it was made on—-but the mind of the filmmakers/writers and the strength of their ideas.

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City Whispers.

…by my favourite photographer i’ve been recently introduced to the works of: Ray K. Metzker.  Thanks to Drew (MCB) for introducing me to his style and work! It is very inspiring.  This photo is currently my desktop background.

src:  smithsonian american art museum

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“Why The Leica M is so unique”

During my massive research spree prior to getting my M8, i spent several weeks reading forums, articles, and watching videos.  One of the most entertaining discoveries I made was a series of videos on YouTube by a lad named Kai Wong for DigitalRev.com.  Who would have thought that Jeremy Clarkson would have had a young bastard asian child!?  That’s pretty much what Kai Wong is—while most of the other camera reviews and videos are about as exciting as lifting the toilet seat up, Kai does something unique.  He instills his thrill and enthusiasm into cameras and photography in the same way that Jeremy Clarkson instills his enthusiasm into automobiles.

Since that time, I’ve found myself watching lots of DigitalRev videos hosted by Kai—not because I really want the cameras he is reviewing, but because I find the videos very entertaining.   Good on ya, Kai!  You may not be entirely original, but you’re doing a great job nonetheless.  (BTW, Kai also uses an M8 as one of his primary tools)

This is one of my favourite videos—which played a role (along with people like Drew from MotoringConBrio) in convincing me of the magical powers of rangefinder cameras.

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Introducing myself to the M8.

My Leica M8 is now fully capable, up and running with a Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 lens.   This is my first time ever owning and using a fully manual camera, and my first time owning and using a Rangefinder.  What a machine—-really find it a fascinating piece of equipment.   I just put it all together last night, and am still playing around with the settings.  Less than 24 hours with it, and these are my favourite photos thus far.   Lots more to come in the future, hopefully!

I have no idea what this Chinese cough syrup is made of…but it sure should looks hardcore:

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Assembling the Leica M9.

I’m still really excited about my Leica M8.1, however I always wondered how these cameras are made.  Leica always states these are hand  assembled, and this fantastic video shows the M8 successor, the M9 in its assembling phases. Very cool attention to detail, and this is part of the reason why their products cost so much.   The factory (laboratory?) is also very very german….which is a good thing!

Unfortunately the embedding function does not work on this video (not sure why)…but click through this link to watch: http://vimeo.com/6551861

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my new toy.

Leica M8.

I don’t even have a lens for it yet, but it is truly a beautiful machine.  Can’t wait to get a lens and get clicking!

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a week in the life (08.23.12)

As i get ready to pick up a new Camera, i’ve been shooting a lot with my Leica D-Lux 3, a fantastic point & shoot camera i’ve had for over 3 years now.  It still takes wonderful photos, and is super small.  Even after picking up my other camera this weekend (hopefully) i’m still gonna hang onto the D-Lux 3 as my pocket point & shoot.

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Bride and the 928.

These photos may be digitally altered/edited, but it doesn’t matter as they’re pretty damn cool.  I’m digging the minimalist stone background.  “Leda and the Swan”, as described:

“A modern reinterpretation of the Greek myth, the images capture a woman in an Escada wedding dress and a white vintage Porsche 928, photographed by Alex Rank within digital sets designed by adNAU’s Tino Schaedler.”

src:  behance

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foto of the day. DTM fight.

BMW M3 DTM vs. Audi RS5 DTM…..which is airborne!  From yesterday’s Spielberg DTM race.

src:  Audi Sport

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foto of the day. the perfect morning.

This photo does really make you wish you were there….i’m thinking cool temperatures, misty windy roads…..and an unknown location.

src:  gearheadsAndMonkeywrenches

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foto(s) of the day. NYC 1973.

I do love living in NYC, particularly in Brooklyn!  NYC has both stayed the same and changed so much over the last 30-50 years.  It is quite enjoyable listening to city old-timers tell their version of how NYC was in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.  Seeing photos is also great.  Here are 2 fantastic photos taken by Wil Blanche in 1973 of cars entering the Manhattan side of the Battery Tunnel towards Brooklyn as part of the Documerica project.  Can you recognize all the iron in these pics?  I get a good number of them….but a couple here and there which are just guesses!

As much as things change—-looking at these photos remind me of my experiences driving here every day.  So i guess not everything changes that much!

src:  hemmings

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drivers.

This is brilliant! all sorts of people driving all sorts of cars.  Andrew Bush has released a series of photos photographing drivers in their cars on the road.  Apparently there is a book available to purchase as well off his site.  Make sure you head over to his site HERE and check out all the photos, complete with captions of time and place.

src:  andrewBush (via the excellent Stipistop)

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Vettel and Alpine A110 (updated with original photos)

I had earlier in the week posted photos of Sebastian Vettel & an Alpine A110—-photos which I’ve found out have been ruined and over-processed by others!  Anke Luckmann is the photographer of these excellent photos and contacted to let me know that they were far from the original photos as were meant to be shown.

She has been gracious enough to send me the original photos from the photoshoot for GQ (Germany), which by the way are much nicer than the ones I had posted before.  So thank you to Anke and make sure to check out her site with more amazing photography by her on her site:

www.ankeluckmann.com

NOTE: If you are going to repost these photos, please repost 3 and then provide a link to this blog, as these were mailed to me by Anke for use on IEDEI.

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