1) Alan
"Wells to Walsingham Light Railway Train"
Leica Vlux 20, f/3.3, 1/320 sec, ISO 125, 250mm
2) Bernd - Photo coming later in the month
3) Bill
‘Joe’ Taken with an Olympus OMD E-M10 with a bespectacled (M3 version) 35mm Summaron f2.8 lens (70mm equivalent on M4/3) which I was tempted with but decided against buying in Jem Kime’s Manchester camera store.
4) Cris
Notting Hill Carnival, Leica SL + 50 Summilux M
Notting Hill Carnival, Leica SL + 50 Summilux M
'Still Life' taken on an M240 and 5cm Summilux. We had drunk one bottle of champers before taking the photo with an un-opened bottle!!! (only joking, non passed our lips)
6) David K - No image this month
7) Dennis
Mount Bromo evening taken on TL with 18 - 56mm lens.
7) Dennis
Mount Bromo evening taken on TL with 18 - 56mm lens.
8) Duncan
'TW with his best pipe' … reading in the shade of a sunlit shrub. Last week spotted and made an acceptable offer for a c.1955 vintage Canon 85/1.5 LTM lens c/w hood. TLS member Tony Winkless obliged by agreeing to a portrait session in his garden. The bright sunlight was diffused by the shrub and shadows were filled in via a large Lastolite reflector on TW’s LHS. Leica SL / Canon 85/1.5 plus LTM to M, & M to T adapters; ISO 200 1/1600sec f1.5. Very pleased with the 62 years young lens’ full aperture performance … and much cheaper to buy than e.g. an 85/1.5 Summarex.
9) Elaine
Rumbling Kern
10) Keith
Watching and waiting... M (240) / 90mm Summicron APO
11) Malcolm
Ebb & Flow: Panasonic TZ60.
12) Mike B
"Black and White, with a touch of Grey"
This is one of the entrances to St. Stephen's Cathedral, a baroque church from 1688 in Passau, Germany, dedicated to Saint Stephen. It is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Passau and the main church of his diocese.
It was taken with the contrast between the ornate black and white patterned doors and the stark white facade.
M240, ZM 35/1.4
13) Mike E
La Granja de los Animales (George Orwell): A few well-chosen words of criticism for the unlovely Nicolás Maduro, supreme dictator of Venezuela. Demonstration in London’s Trafalgar Square taken with the Leica SL and 23mm Summicron-TL. I am currently testing the SL with a range of crop TL lenses. So far so good.
"Black and White, with a touch of Grey"
This is one of the entrances to St. Stephen's Cathedral, a baroque church from 1688 in Passau, Germany, dedicated to Saint Stephen. It is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Passau and the main church of his diocese.
It was taken with the contrast between the ornate black and white patterned doors and the stark white facade.
M240, ZM 35/1.4
13) Mike E
La Granja de los Animales (George Orwell): A few well-chosen words of criticism for the unlovely Nicolás Maduro, supreme dictator of Venezuela. Demonstration in London’s Trafalgar Square taken with the Leica SL and 23mm Summicron-TL. I am currently testing the SL with a range of crop TL lenses. So far so good.
14) Phil
Nothing but flowers: Leica M-P, 28 Elmarit
15) Richard
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London. Leica Q (Summilux 1:1.7/28mm lens), f/1.7, 1/30th second, ISO 3200 - artificial light (no flash), hand held. The splendour and magnificence of this world-famous, Victorian concert hall shines into the 21st century. Taken at a BBC Prom concert, August 2017.
16) Shaun
Modern Art: I spotted these two sat on a bench in the Hepworth Modern Art Gallery in Wakefield looking totally bored, well modern art isn’t for everyone. They were sat in a foyer and it was very very dim lighting and I couldn’t get too close so I had to shoot at a fairly high ISO10,000 at 1/30th Sec so after a little cropping there is some grain evidence but in an attractive way like film photography…well I think so anyway. Leica M10 with Summicron-M 1:2/35.
17) Theodore
My local island airport- Leica Q
18) Tom - No photo this month
19) Tony - No photo this month
20) William
Moon and Flowers. Leica M10 and 24mm Elmar. I just about got the moon into this. The light on the flowers is from a wall light above.
1 Alan: ‘Wells to Walsingham Light Railway Train.’ Chosen camera angle creates good dynamics; attentive driver and visible steam creates good steam loco atmosphere. However, tight framing has omitted part of the cab whistle and the loco’s important front section is ‘incomplete’. A wider focal length setting could have created a more complete record … but as it is a pleasing record.
ReplyDelete3 Bill: ‘Joe.’ Good framing, composition and facial expression … and selected wide aperture has produced pleasing OOF background. Unfortunately the cheekbone shadow patterns have created a distracting ‘mask’ effect around the eyes … which might have been eliminated by use of a reflector? The lens is a cracker but the goggles are a little cumbersome.
4 Cris: ‘Notting Hill Carnival.’ The lady’s oversize aviator specs and expressive tongue create a bit of a Marmite portrait … does not appeal to me but it does convey the carnival atmosphere.
5 David F: ‘Still Life.’ Expect you had fun experimenting with this but it’s ‘lacking’ as a ‘still life’ composition. The cheese board is partly out of frame and the discarded / toppled glass appears too contrived and distracting. The elements are present to create a decent still life with a good storyline … but unfortunately the arrangement and framing are not optimized.
7 Dennis: ‘Mount Bromo evening.’ The rather small image is a pleasing composition but maybe the sunset highlights would benefit from toning down.
9 Elaine: ‘Rumbling Kern.’ Interesting surf patterns and unusual colours; cliff face shadow detail could be recovered in post processing to good effect.
10 Keith: ‘Watching and waiting.’ Appears a little too over exposed and soft but maybe that was the desired result? I’d like to see more locomotive detail e.g. the wheels.
11 Malcolm: ‘Ebb and Flow.’ Pleasant scene, good exposure, good tones and good composition … all fine but does not really excite. I’d enjoy the scene more in stormy conditions … or with a figure(s) walking on the beach.
12 Mike B: ‘Black and White with a touch of Grey.’ I looked at this for a long time because it’s a very interesting piece of architecture and the door pattern is very striking. Unfortunately, interesting and significant architrave detail in the ‘whites’ has been lost … but could be recovered with additional post processing … and the slightly diverging verticals could be corrected. A crop around the architrave and just above the broken-arch pediment could give greater emphasis to the wonderful door … further enhanced by potential detail in the ornate architrave.
cont'd …
13 Mike E: ‘La Granja de los Animales’ Very colourful protest record photograph … but so much to take in and absorb. Maybe a smaller group would be easier on the eye? Not an easy subject.
ReplyDelete14 Phil: ‘Nothing but flowers.’ Image has excellent flower detail which is partially drowned by the bland sky and wooden structure. A crop from the girl’s feet to the trees , excluding all of the sky, would concentrate on the most pictorial part of the image, revealing more of the interesting flower detail … and emphasising the girl enjoying same.
15 Richard: ‘Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London.’ A well exposed and very colourful scene which makes me want to see more of the hall. I’d prefer to see an even wider panoramic composition - which could be achieved using multiple stitched images.
16 Shaun: ‘Modern Art.’ The rather obvious grain is a little distracting … and the grain is surprising because ISO 10000 should be within the M10’s high ISO capability. Unfortunately the girl’s face is not sharp … maybe due to the slow shutter speed? An interesting character study image.
17 Theodore: ‘My local island airport.’ The aircraft hanger reflection detail in the engine cowling needs further post processing to enhance the image … and thus make a better match to the title.
20 Willliam ‘Moon and Flowers.’ If the shadow detail in the sky and the foliage was ‘lifted’ just a little,… and the flower highlights ’toned down’ just a little … the image would be transformed. A very well seen composition with good potential.
Another interesting set of images to comment on. Image sizes are again rather variable. Personally I prefer a more level playing field with all images conforming to PAGB recognised PDI size format … thus maybe preventing future annual exhibition PDI size anomalies and projection difficulties. The evenings are drawing in and I’m looking forward to trying some more nocturnal photography. We’ve never had it so good photographically as regards ease of night time imaging with so many digital cameras having usable high ISO capabilities.
1,2,3 image selection is delayed … pending Bernd’s image arriving.
Best wishes to all.
dunk
1) Alan - Wells to Walsingham L.R.:
ReplyDeleteThe angle works well. Just a pity that it is cropped too tightly at the top, missing some of the detail.
2) Bernd - Still waiting!
3) Bill - Joe:
A decent trial shot, but probably needs a bit more attention to detail for it to be a classic portrait. I do love to see these experiments with different glass.
4)Chris - Notting Hill Carnival:
A colourful portrait but, for me, not in the same class as last months entry Cris.
5) David F - Still Life:
I am full of admiration for your resolve to crack ‘still life’ David, which is a genre that I am now loath to attempt having failed miserably in the past. I don’t think you have quite pulled this off. The cheese board appears to be floating ( it’s not all in picture either) and surely the bottle should be open with a glass half full of wine. A good exposure and pin sharp. The cheese looks inviting!
6) David K - No image:
7) Dennis - Less is More:
This doesn’t quite work for me Dennis. It’s a good shot but I find the horizon and potentially very interesting light too low in the image, leaving just a blank sky and the tall tress to add interest. Maybe a different position (if possible) may have aided the composition.
8) Duncan - TW with his pipe:
Nothing to say other than this is a delightful image.
9) Elaine - Rumbling Kern:
I like the lead in from the ridge line but find the contrast a little harsh. The shadows on the cliff might also benefit from a lift.
10) Keith - Watching and waiting:
The image could well do with a small exposure adjustment, and whilst I can appreciate that you have given both the driver and fireman space to look into, I’m not sure about the actual crop. I feel it falls between two stools and would benefit from either a tighter crop or a much wider shot to show more of that beautiful steam loco.
11) Malcolm - Ebb & Flow:
A very pleasant if unexciting scene.
12) Mike B - Black & White with a touch of grey:
Mine
13) Mike E - La Granja de los Animales:
An interesting journalistic shot but seems a little unbalanced.
14) Phil - Nothing but Flowers:
A charming shot that would benefit from a lift to the shadows.
15) Richard - Royal Albert Hall:
This evokes so many happy memories of when as a young surveyor in London I benefitted from a colleague and member of the Corps of Honorary Stewards at the Royal Albert hall and I was given free entry to a choice of concerts and events each week.
With a fixed focal length you were clearly limited as to composition when in this instance a wider view would have been beneficial.
16) Shaun - Modern Art:
Sharp but noisier than I would have hoped from the M10/ Summicron. It must have been a scintillating exhibition.
17) Theodore - My local island airport:
This leaves me wanting more Theodore, either more of the aircraft or of the reflections in the paintwork.
18) Tom - No photo
19) Tony - No photo
20) William - Moon & Flowers:
It is pity that the lighting of the flowers is so uneven William, and that they are so tight to the left hand margin, although I understand that you wanted to include the moon. Maybe a step back (into the pool?) might have helped.
1. Alan: Wells to Walsingham Light Train.
ReplyDeleteI love the way the driver is leaning out of the cab. You have also caught the steam coming out very well.
2. Bernd: No image.
3. Bill: Joe.
Nice portrait. Works very well in black and white.
4. Cris: Notting Hill Carnival.
Very well caught with a connection to the subject.
5. David F: Still Life. This makes me feel hungry and thirsty. This means that the photo works very well, as intended. Nice lighting.
6. David K: No image.
7. Dennis.: Mount Bromo.
Lovely light with the sun just peaking over the mountains. The trees are perfectly placed.
8. Duncan: TW with his best pipe.
The lighting is also great here and you have captured this perfectly. I think I know what this chap’s personality is like from this photo.
9. Elaine: Rumbling Kern.
Great colours in this just like the slides of old. The portrait format works very well for this landscape.
10. Keith: Watching and Waiting.
Another great train shot like Alan’s. The guys in the cab and the steam make this.
11. Malcolm: Ebb and Flow.
I like the patterns of the water around the rocks. You have to shoot at just the right moment to capture this, which is not easy.
12. Mike B: “ Black and White with a touch of Grey.
Normally I would think that black and white would work best in a shot like this. In this case colour works better and captures the cream and grey and the various textures very well.
13. Mike E: La Granja de los Animales.
A photo with a message very well captured. Such subjects are difficult but your composition works very well.
14. Phil: Nothing but flowers.
Lovely composition here too. The frame of the ‘shelter’ takes the eye beyond the young lady to the flowers she is looking at.
15. Richard: Royal Albert Hall.
The shapes and colours work very well here. Well done with 1/30th of a second.
16. Shaun: Modern Art.
Well spotted and a nice composition. She with her phone and he with his thoughts.
17. Theodore: My local island airport.
The flat diagonal angle of the aircraft is just right to match the name on the side. Good composition of a difficult subject.
18. Tom: No image
19. Tony: No image
20. William: mine.
1 Alan. A pretty little engine, the 1/320 sec has solidified the steam in the bottom corner. What kind of wagon is No6 ?
ReplyDelete2 Bernd. No image
3 Bill. I have not been to Jem’s shop yet, must make the effort to get up to Manchester one of the days. A good shot of Joe presumably with just the shop lighting. The 35mm Summaron (f3.5 version) is one of my favourite lenses - and not one that I associate with differential focussing, it works well here.
4 Cris. A colourful and expressive well framed and caught portrait that shouts of carnival but focus is not quite there.
5 David F. It is surprisingly difficult place a group of objects such as these in such a way that they appear natural and not formally arranged. Here the background is uncluttered and there is a clear line of sight to the label on the (unopened) bottle, both good points. I’m not so sure about the horizontal glass being held in place by the grapes and the missing corner of the board could easily have been avoided.
6 David K. No image .
7 Dennis. The beams of light on the mountain sides are spectacular and the silhouetted trees with their delicate foliage provides some foreground interest although I would have liked to see them rooted in the ground. A simple image of a magic moment.
8 Dunc. Good relaxed portrait of TW, I did not know he was a pipe man. The f1.5 separates him nicely from the background but that lighter vertical (easily missed) does jar.
9 Elaine. What a strange landscape, where is it? On the Northumberland coast says Google. The foreground rocks seem to flow (seaweed perhaps turned brown by the low sun). One of those places to explore with a camera.
10 Keith. Possibly not quite the right moment with the two men looking in opposite directions, The chap in the cap is very relaxed suggesting that not a lot is going on.
11 Me.
12 Mike B. Certainly a stark contrast between the ironwork of the door and the white walls. The flat light does mean that much of the detail in the ornate stonework is being lost however.
13 Mike E. The Orwell connection is obvious enough but it is not clear what they are all protesting about. Interesting choice to present in colour a group of people dressed in black.
14 Phil. Nice evocation of a child’s (a smaller Coomes?) view of the garden at its best in mid-summer, the shelter does a good job of framing the picture.
15 Richard. Dramatic and highly colourful showing well the capability of the camera in less than ideal circumstances.
16 Shaun. His shorts are a work of art in themselves. They could almost be in the dentist’s waiting room. One of those great slice of life shots that the Leica was made for.
17 Theodore. They say the part is better than the whole but here I’m wondering if perhaps there is a better part. The shady side of the deep red nose overwhelms the image. The reflection of the hangar and other planes (in brighter sunlight) shows more promise - but maybe that is what you wish to tantalise us with?
18 Tom. No image.
19 Tony. No image.
20 William. Splendid night shot. The lilies are dramatic against the mystery of darkened garden relieved by the faint glow from the clouds and the full moon.
1. Alan. I like the concentration on the driver’s face. The framing is a little too tight to my mind. I would have liked to see more of the train.
ReplyDelete2. Bernd. "Photo to come later”.
3. Bill. The portrait is clear and nicely separated from the background and works well in B+W. You seem to have put him at ease.
4. Cris. A “cheeky” pose. Nice saturated colours.
5. David F. The composition works. Perhaps the lighting could be improved. Food photography is a real challenge, but I think you’ve done well.
6. David K. No image.
7. Dennis. Tonal recession - plenty of atmosphere. I like the feathered trees in silhouette.
8. Duncan. Lovely. Great composition strengthened by effective the selection of focus and aperture.
9. Elaine. The light and colours are a treat.
10. Keith. Works well in B+W. The crew are key in holding interest.
11. Malcolm. I like the shapes framed by surf. Would this work in B+W?
12. Mike B. The contrasting linear and curvilinear shapes are effective. Perhaps a different light with shadow lines would have improved perspective, serving to model the porch.
13. Mike E. Well captured. A busy, engaging scene that works well against the neutral stonework in the background. I have more than once wondered what it would look like in B+W.
14. Phil. A frame within a frame. Great colour and contrast. The position of the girl is deliberately off centre but only just. I guess this is a candid shot, so you had no choice, but I feel it would be improved if she was clearly to one side, or absolutely centred.
15. Mine.
16. Shaun. An engaging shot and very much in our time. Two-somes can be difficult to frame. You did well not to be spotted.
17. Theodore. An unusual composition and viewpoint. I like the saturated colour. Did you use a polarising filter?
18. Tom. No image.
19. Tony. No photo.
20. William. Impressive with a real feeling of light and depth - so different. It’s a winner to my eye!
1. Alan (Wells to Walsingham): Excellent subject but I think the crop is too severe, particularly at the top where the whistle is cut off.
ReplyDelete2. Bernd (no image):
3. Bill (Joe): Interesting idea to test lenses in the shop. In this case the classic soft rendition of the old Summaron is delightful. B&W works well.
4. Chris (Notting Hill Carnival): Attractive and very colourful shot which I think is spoiled by the lips and tongue — the focal point of the shot — being slightly out of focus. Like others, I much preferred your shot from last month.
5. David F (Still Life): I too am lacking when it comes to still-life photography but I love this one. It is sharp, colourful and, as William says, makes one thirsty and hungry. Well done on this, David.
6. David K (no image)
7. Dennis (Mount Bromo): Good composition and attractive pastel shades. Curiously, this appears to be a very small file size.
8. Duncan (TW with best pipe): Lovely portrait, Duncan, which works particularly well with the chosen aperture, showing accurate subject focus offset by attractive but subtle foreground and background bokeh.
9. Elaine (Rumbling Kern): Delightful detail and colour rendition but I can’t help wishing we had landscape format for such an interesting shot.
10. Keith (Watching and Waiting): I am a sucker for train shots and this footplate shot of Sir Keith Park draws in the viewer as usual. It is rather spoiled by the highlights (particularly on the driver’s head) which could have been toned down a little.
11. Malcolm (Ebb & Flow): Interesting seascape which is enhanced by the cooperation of the wave circles, well composed.
12. Mike B (Black and White): Nice architectural theme but I felt deprived by not seeing the top of the window. Perhaps, also, a little too bright overall.
13. Mine.
14. Phil (Nothing but flowers): Lovely composition, Phil. The foreground figure and the framing set off the flowers perfectly.
15. Richard (Royal Albert Hall): Spectacular indoor shot, well exposed and executed, impressive colours.
16. Shaun (Modern Art): This image works well, love the expression on the man’s face. The high ISO on the M10 is no hardship.
17. Theodore (My local island airport): Nice closeup of the plane although the background clouds look a little overblown. Convincing colour from the Leica Q.
18. Tom (no image):
19. Tony (no image)
20. William (Moon and flowers): Interesting night shot with effective impromptu lighting. Good to see the moon hovering above as a counterpoint to the petals.
Keith
ReplyDelete1.Alan
Very nicely framed, although personally would like to see more of loco.
2.Bernd
3.Bill
Very good portrait from a casual test shot! Hope you sent Joe a copy.
4.Cris
Love the colours but not sure the expression works in any context..
5.David F
Good attempt at still life, although food shots seem to be coming a genre with all the cook books about. Half full glass and unopened bottle - not sure.
6..David K
7. Dennis
Lovely light. Somewhat ‘split’ composition for me - silhouette of trees or hills?
8. Duncan
Super portrait that is a credit to both photographer and sitter.
9. Elaine
Very interestinng location. Love the colours and foreground, but image slightly marred for me by ‘black triangle’.
10. Me
11. Malcolm
Love the patterns around the old stakes. Taken at the right moment.
12. Mike B
Another well framed image. A slight increase in contrast of the detail would help viewing as I am straining to study the detail (this is probably a ‘me’ problem only!)
13. Mike E
Lets hope it made a difference. Excellent reportage shot.
14. Phil
The more I look at this the more I like it. The lighting, the composition and colours are delightful.
15. Richard
Very nice shot enhanced by the colours.
16. Shaun
Superb “Leica” image! The contrasts between the two people is great, and perfect in b&w.
17. Theodore
I see what you were seeing - imaginitive. I don’t think the light was with you to pull it off to best effect.
18.Tom
19.Tony
20. William
Well seen and very well taken! The colours are superb with the light source you were working with