Would members of Circle D please add your comments below, or email them to me along with a vote for your favourite photograph.
1) Bill A
One Leicester: Leica X1 iso 400 f5.6 1/80th
2) Bill S
Spectator Sport: Leica 1c and I think a 35 Summaron on HP5. It is in Piccadilly Gardens Manchester
The Skopar test: First shot taken with my new 35mm 2.5 Skopar on M8. Natural light wide open. Taken for no other reason than to see what it was like wide open at close distance.
4) David F
Land, Sky and Steam: M8.2 35mm Summarit M
Are They After Me? It was taken with my M9 with a 50mm Summilux
f/1.4 Lens - exposed for 1/90 second at f/6.7 (ISO 160)
6) Duncan K
City of Truro & tender: A friend's Gauge 1 model railway. Leica X1 , 1/30 sec f12 ISO
800. City of Truro was the first steam loco to exceed 100mph on 09 May
1904. This model exceeds that speed according to the owner ... after the
scaling is taken into account
7) Elaine J
Barcelona
8) Jim C
The TIG welder: Panasonic DMC L1 D
Vario Elmarit. Ambient + a small filin Flash. TIG welding Duplex
Stainless Steel to class 1 standard.
9) Malcolm R
Ghosts: R6, 35mm Summicron, HP5+ ID11@1+1 The Pavillion, Wrest Park, Bedfordshi
10 Phil C
Space race: Leica M6, 35mm Summicron, Kodachrome - An unusual race during an open day at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight.
Comments and votes from members of Circle D gratefully received.
First off congratulations to Phil for last months win and thanks too for your hard work in making this circle run.
ReplyDeleteLots of good images to see this month, best batch we have had I suspect, well done to all.
I agree with Bill, this circle is free from constraints, ie Colour or B/W. The wide subject range is interesting, and no one chasing a Silver cup, I'ts all about real Photography.
ReplyDeleteWell done Phil, and it was a brilliant picture.
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ReplyDelete2 The interaction is spot on, the older child running and the young one watching are well placed and the timing of the shutter could not be better. The flare is a natural result of shooting into the sun and of no concern to me.
3 How can you go wrong with such a beautiful model, Nil Points, this is just cheating ;-)
Beautiful expression too and light and dof to perfection. Could hardly be better.
4 Just for a moment I wondered what the point was, then it struck me! A delightfully planned and executed shot.
5 A well seen and thoughtful shot, the “Police” sign makes all the difference.
6 A superb model which to my uneducated eye looks far more modern than 1904. The photo is an excellent technical record of the makers work and I am sure he was delighted to have a print.
7 Strong contrasts in light have been well handled which, coupled with a strong composition makes an interesting photograph, perhaps a person in the empty fg would add more scale and interest.
8 The flare from welding is difficult to deal with photographically, this is well handled and makes an fine record of the process.
9 This is, for me, a nostalgic image, light and yet thoughtful. Ghosts is exactly the right title which occurred to me before I read the author’s narrative. It packs nostalgia and asks questions of the viewer.
10 What a strange scene, obviously an astronaut in his NASA coveralls yet with flags on upturned garden ponds and a scattering of people on a wet day; and what is he holding and doing with what appears to be a rubbish picker and a tiddler net. The whole thing smacks of the asylum. It makes me want to know what the heck is going on.
1. The old leica saying 'May the Light be WIth You' certainly rings true in this shot.
ReplyDeleteThere is really nothing that can be said about it other than - Simply Stunning Bill.
2. A classic leica shot full of atmosphere. Perfect timing and exposure capturing that moment in time. The more I look at this image the more I can't help feeling that much would have been lost if it had been taken with digital kit a more clinical image would probably ensued and much of the charm decreased. As Bill A says the small amount of flare is of no concern, all a part of the charm in so many ways. Great capture Bill and great choice in using classic kit to make it.
4. I must admit I too missed the salient at first glance but as I scanned down all became clear.
A well spotted piece of shadow art, brought about through thinking outside the box to create something more unusual. The only thing I would suggest is cropping about half the sky area out, would still set the scene but would draw the eye more easily to the salient area. I also think it would benefit from a small boost to contrast, given that the day would have appeared quite sunny and bright, given lengths and strengths of shadows the image appears a little flat.
5. The irony of the 'vandilism' with the sign to the Police presence was well spotted here. Its a shame about the scaffold pole but little that can done about that being there, other than carrying around an angle grinder in you gadget bag and cutting it away - could add to the vandal theme I suppose! Well seen.
6. A good record shot of the model engine which the owner will be delighted to have a copy of.
Captures all the salient detail well and the lighting nicely controlled. Its a shame about the damage to the paint on the wall in the background though, the larger white areas tend to catch the eye.
Dunc has done the best job he can.
7. Very well handled difficult high contrast scene. Balance of exposure between shadow areas, the very brightly lit fountain and the building perfect, detail retained throughout. You must have been a real early bird to get a street scene here so quiet! Well done.
8. There is always something fascinating about seeing a welding operation and doubly so on stainless material, thats a real skill. You have done very well in retaining detail across the image, given the intensity of light coming from the torch. A great record of a craftsman at work.
9. An interesting shot that is thought provoking, darkroom alchemy or a clever display at a museum/house come into mind especially with the 'see though' aspect of the man. Whichever it simply works.
The subtle tones all adding to the mystery.
10. Whacky races or what. The overcast conditions, mixture of umbrellas and cropped trouser wearers, crazy games, oddball items and random people all add up to one thing, the British Summer Fete! The low contrast feel to the image adds to the mystery of what on earth is happening and what are the people on. My only suggestion would be to crop out/eradicate the red 'tent' on the right.
1)
ReplyDeleteThe new X1 looks to be working well. Wonderful light and what seems to be a slightly wet road surface just adds to the density of colour.
2)
Great to see an early Leica being used in a digital circle, yes the picture always comes first, but part of that is the way in which we use and react to different formats of film and camera. Plus of course the characteristics of the chosen lens and film. This is just perfect and is a classic Leica shot, the figures interact with one another and yet are far apart in the frame, the flare just adds to the power of the photograph. Wonderful picture.
3)
A lovely portrait and seems the lens you decided on was money well spent. Nice one.
4)
This is very clever and works well. Certainly a new approach and one that the subject appears ideally suited to.
5)
Yes, very well spotted and apart from the already mention pole this works well and brings a smile to the face.
6)
A good clean shot the model engine, well executed and I’m sure the model owner would love to have a copy.
7)
The three items in the frame are well placed and draw us into the shot, I’d agree with Bill that a figure may have added something, then again, the it works as it is.
8)
A tough shot to get right, but this gives the impression of the work and I like the similarity in tone across the frame, it all seems silver to me. Good shot, though I’d be tempted to shave something off the left hand side of the picture to concentrate the eye.
9)
This is well spotted and the framing of the “ghosts” works. By taking them away from the surrounding room we have to conjure up our own story, and there are plenty of ways to read this frame. Perhaps she has had enough and is about to strangle her husband!
1. This is a cracking urban landscape, the sunlight, reflective building and wet road combined with a well chosen viewpoint make for a pleasant image of a scene which under other conditions would not have been noticed.
ReplyDelete3. Very nice and a very cooperative model, well posed and caught. Carping, the background needs toning down a little.
Those lenses are very good, I'm sure you are pleased with it.
4. Very different, well done to see and capture this. It could be very easy to dismiss it a a boring landscape.
5. Great subject for colour, and yes that Police sign does make it. Well seen and framed.
6. Record shot with a difference. The great dof of the average digital camera lends it self to this type of detailed image. The lighting is suitably flat. No doubt about it those X1's can certainly deliver the goods.
7. This is a well framed record shot, the difficult lighting has been well handled.
8.I feel this is a very difficult subject to record well and a good effort has been made here. I wonder what it would have been like without the fill-in flash?
9. I like this, I'm left wondering what its all about.
10. What a strange race, the image encourages the viewer to look at it more closely to try to understand it. The ancient earthworks add to the intrigue. I considered cropping some of the bystanders but decided the add to the atmosphere. That red tent though!
1.
ReplyDeleteSuperb picture - strengthened by the lorry (and its headlamp reflections) and the damp road surface
2.
Classic Leica-style photograph, made stronger by being in B&W
3.
Super picture with a lovely relaxed model
4.
Clever shot, which did take a moment or two to work out. Good positioning and timing
6.
Good shot of the model engine with ideal lighting and detail
7.
Excellent street scene picture, which might perhaps have benefitted from some figures present
8.
The lighting is spot on and it produces a good 'work place' style photograph
9.
A clever photograph with the 'right' title. It is difficult to work out what is happening
10.
The race depicted is certainly unusual. I am not sure whether the 'space man' has won or is still racing - not helped by the rather disinterested spectators
1. Spectacular, the sunset makes the most of the glass monoliths and the dampness of the A594 helps the reflections on the road as well.
ReplyDelete2. A well seen subject, a modern Lowry? The light sky does compete with the fountains and I would consider taking it out of the frame if possible and perhaps putting a little extra contrast in the buildings behind the fountains.
3. Great portrait - what more can be said?
4. Well spotted, a different take on "Great Railway Journeys of the World". Nene Valley?
5. A good record shot of the graffitti (or is it Street Art?) turned into something just that bit extra by the juxaposition of the Police sign.
6. God's Wonderful Railway in miniature, the low taking angle makes it look very realistic.
7. Not sure about this one, the foreground statue really needs some extra light on it but additional exposure would burn out the buildings and fountain in the background - tricky.
8. Another difficult exposure this time helped by the flash. very well handled and framed.
10. Shades of Tony Ray-Jones here.Oddley dressed people doing strange things and being watched by a (very) sparse crowd holding umbrellas. Totally lunatic and somehow apppealing.
1. 'One Leicester' : Excellent building colours and accurate exposure ... interesting cloud colours ... good verticals ... excellent sharpness. Technically and pictorially an excellent picture.
ReplyDelete2. Spectator Sport: Interesting contre jour photograph but the lens flare at the top of the picture is distracting ... and the wet paved area appears to be tilting? The character running between the fountains is intriguing ... was he caught in a sudden squirt or is he braving them deliberately? Difficult exposure. Pictorially, I think the photo might work better by cropping the RHS to eliminate the distracting diagonal gutter? and place the runner nearer the edge of the frame ... also by cropping the foreground up to the child's feet ... and there is more detail that could be digitally rescued in the highlights ie in the fountains.
3. The Skopar Test: Charming portrait ... well exposed and sharp ... a treasured portrait for the family album and certainly proves that the lens is a high class optic.
4. Land Sky and Steam: The pictorial elements are very subtle but very well caught . Interesting composition and I am wondering exactly where you were standing David to capture the 'image' .
5 Are they after me? : Amusing composition and very well spotted.
7. Barcelona: Immediate thoughts are that there is lot more detail in the dominant foreground statue/monument which could be visible if accessed via post processing. I find this a rather too busy image ie too many elements and none of them recorded to best advantage ie fountain cut off by the statue ... statue base cut off at the edge of the frame and the chosen camera angle/placement ... building obscured by the fountain and statue. But my main concern is the lack of detail in the statue maidens.
8. TIG Welder: Excellent well exposed record shot . The image documents the welding process including the H&S superbly. Good enough for a magazine cover shot.
9. Ghosts : Interesting silhouettes?which have a ghostly presence ... The image makes me realise how fashions have changed over the last few hundred years ... well exposed but I am not sure about the framing ie if the best angle has been chosen ... the distracting black triangle in the bottom RHS corner could be cropped out.
10. Space Race: A very busy picture with rather too many elements ... the figures on the RHS and LHS of the picture could be cropped/ excluded thus concentrating more on the litter operative and the young girl and the onlooker .
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ReplyDeleteJust when we thought that Leica had made a leap forward with the M8& 9 they give us the X1. In the hands of a master Photographer out pops a Picture that says Wow.
The colour and details are as the man said “ I don’t believe It” Well done Bill A.
2.
Then we have a 1C from Bill S. turning the clock back, with a real Leica picture. The balance is perfect, both are in the right place. The Silhouette of the man gives the picture movement. I think these two pictures say why we use Leica cameras.
3.
What a model, the pose, soft lighting and the smile make a picture that must be a favourite with Mum & Dad.
4.
Now this is very clever. Is it a model or a full size Engine either way it’s a brilliant original concept.
5.
The framing increases the impact of what ? a street graphic, part of a Theme Park? A fairground ride ? It makes a great picture, could be the start of a collection.
6.
The angle and height of the shot gives the first impression that it’s full size, That is down to the man with the finger on the button. It would be interesting to know if the track was elevated. Another great picture with an X1. and what is the Model worth?
7.
Elaine, I downloaded your picture in Photo Shop. Used the lasso tool on the figure. feathered at 20 pixels, tweaked it in levels and all the details of the figures were visible.It was only last week that I friend of mine gave me a lesson of how to dodge and burn as we did in the days of darkrooms. I don’t know if the contrast was too high or my screen needs adjusting. Excellent picture of statue balanced by the building and fountain.
8.
Me ------------- the Tig welder.
9.
This is a mystery to me, It’s one of those pictures that I wish I had taken. It’s quite unique’ it’s certainly holds my attention. Please tell us more.
10.
This is what happens when you fly Ryan Air. They land at the wrong Airport or country, your baggage is either lost or damaged and you can’t find a trolley. What is it about??
Ref., The Picture of the TIG welder Lighting. The on camera flash (DMC L1) + Vario D Lens with a UV(C) filter certainly helped the balance of the Arc UV(c. ) The white Top on the welder was was a tad Over Exposed. Correction In Photo shop. Lasso Tool selected, Feathered @ 25 pixels, tweaked in levels to show the texture of the material.
ReplyDeleteThis technique was as used by a Photo friend who is a Wiz Kid with P/Shop tricks. Electronic version of Dodge/Burn in the Darkroom. I can switch the computer on and off, that's the level of my skill. i'ts handy when you can phone a friend.
Regards to all. Jim Cook
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ReplyDeleteSuper photo, I like the sun reflexion on the building. Great photo.
2.
Very nice shot, not too sure about the bottom right corner.
3.
Beautiful ‘model’, well posed and exposed too.
5.
Not sure about this, the graffiti by itself would be good but the pole and the ‘police’ sign for me do not work.
6.
The photo could be of a full size engine, very impressive, excellent detail.
7.
Nicely balanced photo but for me a holiday record shot.
8.
This reminds me of a HC-B industrial photo, maybe B&W would add to the photo.
9.
Fascinating shot well exposed and composed, I think that the lady is not really necessary though.
10.
Too fussy, no focus point for me.
For those interested my photo, Land, Sky and Steam, was taken on the LS visit to the Nene Valley Railway in October and I was on the train, second carriage behind the engine as it went towards Peterborough in the afternoon about 15.00.
Really good to see so many comments this month!
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