Alan B
Frozen, Leica M11
Alex B
Chesham, June 2024, Q2, 1/4000s, f/5,6, ISO 100.
Andre H
Vianden Castle, Luxemburg, Leica M6 / 50 f2
Andrew C
Arthur H
Dave F
Church, Leica D-Lux
David R
Elaine J
Canoes, South Carolina, Lumix LS 100 II with a Leica lens
Arthur H
Challenged myself to use the Nocti 75m in January. A challenging lens for an M. But loved it
Location: London City.
Camera: Leica M10-P
Lens: Noctilux-M 1:1.25/75 ASPH
Brian OSchool Girls Outing, Having just had a visit from my six year old granddaughter with long blond hair I imagined a party of girls like her on a trip to Hyde Hall. Hence the title. M10 with Tri-Elmar at 50mm, iso 400 at f4.8.
Location: London City.
Camera: Leica M10-P
Lens: Noctilux-M 1:1.25/75 ASPH
Brian O
Dave C
Thinking. ISO 200. 1/160. f/6.3 Leica SL2-S 24-90, Silver Efex Pro3
Dave F
Church, Leica D-Lux
David R
Shadow Tower, Leica Q2
Dave S
Kickboxer, Leica SL 24-90
Elaine J
Evening Sunlight, Frinton-on-sea, Lumix and Leica lens.
Julian P
The Beauly Firth - 23 January 2025. Leica M240 21-35 Vario Elmar-R f/4 with settings 1/180s f/8 ISO 200
Ken G
Jaipur, Leica SL2
Malcolm R
First Light, Panasonic TZ60 with a Leica lens.
Phil C
Yellowstone in Winter, taken with the M240 and 75mm APO Summicron.
First Light, Panasonic TZ60 with a Leica lens.
Phil C
A garden visitor, Leica M, 50mm
Richard B
Je t’aime (Paris 2025), Leica M10M/Lux 50mm, ISO125, f/6.3,1/350
Tom L
Ken
ReplyDeleteAlex B excellent cropping, impactful, highlights maybe blown out though.
ReplyDeleteAndre H maybe needs a stronger centre of interest.
Andrew C calm and considered.
Arthur H one of my top 3, excellent composition and good use of differential focus. A strong shot.
Brian O quirky and delightfully muted shot.
Dave C I really like the impactful diagonal composition and tight cropping. Very powerful shot.
Dave F great lesson in balance of sky and subject. Superb detail in the clouds.
Dave R in my top three. Great contrast and really superb juxtaposition of the silhouette and the art for an arresting pic.
Dave S kick-boxer is adeptly capture off the ground, the fist obscuring the face detracts for me.
Elaine J this was the standout this month for me, delicate colours, strong composition and brilliant use of flare. Well done!
Julian P relaxed velvety pastoral shot. Maybe lacks a point of interest?
Malcolm R such rich colours and clever reflection. A delicious image.
Phil C well captured and good technique to make the background disappear. Maybe could be cropped in a little for more impact?
Richard B charming cameo. Why is the chap so dour. He is with a pretty girl in Paris!
Tom L as usual one of the top shots of the month. Crisp and clever use of the clouds for depth.
Alan B
ReplyDeleteLovely image of the frozen leaves, particularly like the subdued colours. My only thought is that the purplish coloured leaf at the bottom left of the image tends to draw the viewers eye away from the main subject.
Alex B
Great detailed shot which has a perfect range of tones. Black & White is perfect for the subject and I like the diagonal composition.
Andre H
Lovely image and it’s great how you’ve managed to retain detail inside the window.
Andrew C
Great simple composition and colours. Very much like the reflection of the trees in the water.
Arthur H
Love that shallow depth of field and the composition of this image. Perfect in Black & White.
Brian O
Great idea which certainly works very well indeed. The 28-35-50 Tri-Elmar is a great lens, love the idea of it; I’ve had two of the first version and one version 2 but all have eventually had trouble selecting the correct frame-lines; hope you have more luck than I did with it.
Dave C
Very, very nice; particularly like the composition.
Dave F
Really nice image with good tonal range and that dramatic sky.
David R
Fabulous, for me the only colour in the painting of Tower Bridge blends perfectly with whites and black of the rest of the image.
Dave S
Great moment of capture, together with the detail and tones makes this a superb image.
Elaine J
Very nice, particularly like the sun-star on the clock tower and I think you have just the right amount of detail in the background.
Julian P
Nice landscape with good detail, composition and the dramatic sky.
Ken G
Nice environmental portrait which really suits monochrome. The SL2 is great for this kind of shot and I’d be interested to know which lens you used.
Malcolm R
Certainly worth getting up early for to capture those great colours. Very much liking the reflections in the water.
Phil C
Lucky to get so near with a 50mm lens. Well suited to the square crop and I really like the shallow depth of field you have chosen.
Richard B
Wonderful, not only for the great portrait but also for the novel capture of the Eiffel Tower.
1. Alan B. Frozen - A very attractive image with beautiful warm tones. The inclusion of visible frost adds something extra.
ReplyDelete2. Alex B. Chesham - This image veers towards semi-abstract, yet retains plenty of context. Detail in the shadows is handled well. I’m guessing this is a Sainsbury store.
3. Andre H. Vianden Castle - The passage of time is recorded in the adapted masonry of the outer window. I like the framing of a window within a window - windows on time!
4. Andrew C. Canoes - This is new to me - dedicated docking bays in a jetty for canoes.
5. Arthur H. London City - A candid street scene. The seated figure is sharp yet focus is selective, falling away attractively to the foreground, ensuring there can be no doubt over the subject. Perhaps this is a characteristic of this fast lens.
6. Brian O. School Girls’ Outing - A fanciful idea, one that works. The upturned baskets appear to be playful, full of movement.
7. Dave C. Thinking - Extremely well executed using available light, and worthy of the choice of monochrome. The light and tones combine to powerfully convey the scene. The story is enigmatic.
8. Dave F. Church - Placing the church centrally in the frame is effective. While the shadow detail of the ruin is handled well, it is the drama of the cloudscape that adds something special.
9. David R. Shadow Tower - This graphic image holds the eye. The combination of silhouette and colour is unusual, compelling to my mind. The story is in question, an air of menace.
10. Dave S. Kickboxer - A great action shot, the young athlete caught in full flight; forceful, yet sculptural. The graphic background is a counterpoint. Is there room to increase the contrast between subject and background?
11. Elaine J. Evening Sunlight - The contre-jour lighting ensures the viewer’s eye falls on the structure, taken to the play of light in the glazing.
12. Julian P. The Beauty Firth - The hand of humans is not apparent in this wild scene, save (perhaps) for the planting of a solitary evergreen tree. Lovely warm tones predominate.
13. Ken G. Jaipur - I like environment portraits; they have much to tell. Here the subject holds great appeal. To my eye, though, he is a little lost at the bottom of the frame, subservient, with seemingly too much given over to the decorative background.
14. Malcolm R. First Light - This image is a reminder of the joys of venturing out early to discover a new day. Does it bode well? I wonder, ”pink sky in the morning…….”.
15. Phil C. Garden Visitor - I like the composition, also the stance of the wild ‘model’. The frost adds to the story
16. My Photo. Je t’aime.
17. Tom L. Yellowstone in Winter - So atmospheric and tonally beautiful. Renowned for being bitingly cold in winter.
Alan
ReplyDeleteA lovely study of autumn leaves, the hints of frost scattered here and there.
Alex
Who is in? The graphic shapes work well in black and white, the tight crop adds to the mystery. Works well and nicely seen.
Andre
An elaborate window, with what looks like some restoration. I imagine there is a story to tell. The muted tones work well here, you can see the details in the brickwork.
Andrew
Did you take these out on the water? I imagine adventure, or at least some fun await. I like the way the canoes add a splash of colour to the frame.
Arthur
I can imagine that is a challenging lens to use, or at least to use well as you have done here. Well worth the effort, the figure isolated from what I assume is quite a busy area, reduced to graphic shapes. Really nice.
Brian
I saw these while at Hyde Hall recently and can see what you mean, nicely caught and the caption adds to the attraction of the picture.
Dave C
At first I thought this was taken from above. The light is just falling in the right way on her face, a great street shot.
Dave F
The wide open skies, where was this? It looks dramatic and makes me want to visit the location. The detail of the sky really makes the shot.
David R
This is clever, the colour painting made me wonder if this had been dropped in, but I realise it’s the surrounding area that is in monochrome! The figures pose adds to the interest. Well timed and worth waiting for the right person to pass to make the shot.
Dave S
Caught in mid air. A powerful shot that captures the concentration and effort on her face. The clear background helps too.
Elaine
I haven’t been to Frinton for a long time, it was somewhere we went when the kids were little. This conveys that feeling at the end of a day on the beach, time to head home.
Julian
This is well framed, the landscape just moving in from the lower left hand corner, the rolling clouds adding to the beauty of the image.
Ken
A strong portrait. I like the way he is placed in the frame, the intricate backing contrasting with his stare.
Malcolm
Is that flood water? I hope there was no damage. The reflected sky works well, enveloping the houses and river in the middle of the frame, there is no escape.
Mine
Richard
How is it that Paris offers so much to the street photographer? I wonder what their story is?
Tom
A beautiful and yet wild landscape, no doubt full of dangers. Lovely.
Alan B: A lovely photograph with some very nice detail.
ReplyDeleteAlex B: That’s mine!
Andre H: An interesting record photograph.
Andrew C: A nice symmetry with good colours and reflections.
Arthur H: Excellent. Great leading lines and good control of depth-of-field.
Brian O: An interesting and quirky image.
Dave C: Good monochrome - I like the vertical offset - gives it some dynamism.
Dave F: Wonderful sky: I love sky detail. I would have liked to see a bit more detail in the church, as this your the main subject.
David R: Excellent work. Colour pop?
Dave S: Good dynamic image - you can almost feel the kick coming.
Elaine J: A nice end-of-day photograph, although I feel the flare takes away some of the detail in the main subject. The exposure has been handled very well.
Julian P: A lovely scene with a beautiful sky (I like sky detail). But I’m not sure what the main subject is - the trees, the lake or the sky.
Ken G: A nice portrait but I find the background a bit busy.
Malcolm R: Lovely colours and reflection.
Phil C: Nice work - nice detail on the robin and the out-of-focus background helps it stand out.
Richard B: A nice candid shot with the little detail on the wall (for your title, I guess). A nice range of tones, and a good use of a shallow depth of field.
Tom L: An excellent monochrome landscape - a good range of tones. Good detail in the trees and sky.
Alan B - Pleasing combination of winter and autumnal colours, showcasing shapes and textures around the central green/yellow leaf
ReplyDeleteAlex B - Welcome Alex - punchy image, diagonal letters on bricks invite us to speculate what is the word so impactfully displayed?
Andre H - age and artistry combine to frame the first window through which we see the light of the second. It all contemplates the ancient construction of the castle
Andrew C - well framed to create a simple but strong composition with the pair of canoes ready to launch into the calm waters that form the top half of the image
Arthur H - great use of the Nocti’s shallow DoF, adding impact which empathises the solitude of the man in black with his phone. A successful outing indeed with this lens.
Brian O - imaginative and fun image, nicely composed/exposed to realise the concept well
Dave C - slanted framing and strong lighting perfectly complement the subjects expression and posture to create a bold image
Dave F - portentous skies and wide format focus on the centrally planted church evoking both drama and permanence in this impressive landscape
David R - welcome David, fascinating image in which the contrast of shapes, lines and mono/colour have creatively conjured up an in intriguing picture
Mine
Elaine - the sunburst disrupts the symmetrical silhouette of the structure, bringing life to the setting sun which seems to transcend the static image - very well captured
Julian P - another great landscape, in particular the cluster of tress and clouds round the central third of the image complement each other in tones and textures
Ken G - framing and contrast give this a strong documentary feel, capturing a vibe that resonates from my own visits to India - historic buildings and prevalent but welcoming military
Malcolm R - lovely colours emphasised by framing which prioritises the reflected sky - tranquil and attractive
Phil C - well composed with the robin on the intersection of the thirds, good exposure/depth of field, and great timing with the bird turning its head to look into the camera
Richard B - great Parisien vibe, and title invites us to recall the days when “je t’aime” accompanied looking into the eyes of ones companion rather than their phone…
Nigel T - magical landscape, composition and tonal treatment elevate an already attractive scene to something special
Alan B.
ReplyDeleteGood record but a bit busy.
Alex B.
Good dynamic abstract.
Andre H.
Lacks contrast and saturation for me.
Andrew C.
I like the bottom half of the image, but would prefer less water.
Arthur H.
Strong dynamic framing.
Brian O.
Fun colourful image.
Dave C.
Mine.
Dave F.
A great sky, but church a little central.
David R.
Good use of colour in a monochrome image.
Dave S.
A good action shot, but lacking tonally.
Elaine J.
Liking the lens flare, but maybe a square crop.
Julian P.
Excellent, colourful landscape.
Ken G.
Good environmental portrait.
Malcolm R.
Interesting sky, a little underexposed.
Phil C.
Good use of a square format, like the positioning of the Robin.
Richard B.
Excellent romantic candid.
Tom L.
Good tonal range maybe lose part of the bottom.
Alan B - A stunning mix of colours.
ReplyDeleteAlex B - Like the lines narrowing into the right hand corner.
Andre H – This draws me right into the window.
Mine
Arthur H – Fabulous – nice use of lines to emphasise the person.
Brian O – Great – when you described it I could see it as you painted it.
Dave C – Super street portrait.
Dave F – Very dramatic.
David R – Love the mix of colour and monochrome.
Dave S – Nicely captured action.
Elaine J – The sunlight coming through the windows drew me into the building.
Julian P – A relaxing scene.
Ken G – That’s an intense stare – did he mind you taking the picture?
Malcom R – Well captured reflection.
Phil C – Beautiful, love the one eye stare.
Richard B – Very romantic.
Tom C – Very ethereal.
I didn't mean those comments above to be anonymous!
DeleteALAN B Frozen: Super! Delicate colours, good composition and very pleasing image.
ReplyDeleteAlex B Chesham: Good use of sunlight, angle a pleasing one & I like the ‘dot’ on the ‘I’.
Andre - taken on a circuitous drive through the woods on my way to work in Luxemburg city. Lots of ruins and plentiful woods. Much recommended.
Andrew C Canoes : A fine image from very little subject matter – but really interesting and well composed
Arthur H Nocti picture : Good selection of elements and strong composition_ pleasing use of the set.
Brian O School Girls outing: Excellent use of subject matter and technically very good, a nice allusion in the title.
Dave C Thinking: Strong lighting, but thoughtful pose, and figure has closed eyes.
Dave F Church: Good use of sky, but some light on the church façade might have enhanced the image.
David R Shadow Tower: The painting is a very strong element in this picture… but so is the figure / shadow, which adds a sense of mystery to the image.
Dave S Kickboxer : Good action shot, and the floor pattern really adds to the image. Bet it took a few pix to get such a good pose!
Elaine G Evening Sunlight: Backlighting has worked well here and the shadow on the buildings behind leaves little distraction.
Julian P The Beauly Firth: Excellent colour on the land, and a good sky – a well chose landscape view.
Ken G Jaipur: good portrait and interesting background. I would have preferred a greater length of figure and a litle less background; good as it is.
Malcolm R First Light : Sky and reflection work well together, and the buildings make a good interruption.
Phil G A garden visitor : This works very well as a composition, and with a 50mm to boot!
Richard B Je t’aime. What a delight this is! I really do not care if it was candid or carefully posed. It works well and could be from the great era of French candids.
Tom L Yellowstone in Winter : And so is this! So very much enhanced by the clouds of snow.
Andre, thank you. It was candid. I would never pose anything like that. Richard.
ReplyDeleteAlan B: Atmospheric seasonal shot. great as part of a story montage
ReplyDeleteAlex B: nice capture of structure and contrast
Andre H: Like the colour matching
Andrew C: Nice balance / harmony
Brian O: loved the story that prompted the photo
Dave C: Great composition and use of light
Dave F: Like the sky adding drama to the photo
David R: Love the BNW / Colour juxtaposition
David S: Nice action capture
Elaine J: Liked the sun burst and silhouette
Julian P: Liked the composition of the landscape
Ken J: Nice BNW that tells a story
Malcolm R: Nice colors of a morning scene
Phil C: lovely capture on the M
Richard B: Great street capture
Tom L: Evocative
Alan B: Much of what is frozen has been disguised. I see little that is unambiguously frozen. It is a very pleasing composition indeed.
ReplyDeleteAlex B: Stark in its intensity, but not a viewpoint or subject that appeals to me.
Andre H: Simple and satisfying. The two windows link together very well.
Andrew C: Well positioned for capitalising on the geometry of the mooring area.
Arthur H: A famed lens. I wonder what aperture was used for this. The widest? The image has impact,
Brian O: This is great fun. I like the title and possibilities for how to use the image in a story.
Dave C: Seriously, if this is a model being photographed I cannot see the relevance of a title “thinking”. That said,
Dave F: Isolated churches photographed like this put a lot of questions into the mind of the viewer. This one in particular. Well done for creating this unreal world.
David R: An unexpected juxtaposition.
Dave S: Capturing the lady off the floor is an essential element of the image. Dare I say it the lady hardly looks aggressive enough to be a kickboxer.
Elaine J: Pulling this off is not easy. But well worth the try and for learning more of how the camera copes in these conditions.
Ken G: This is a portrait that has the space to give it context. I find this really useful and a good talking point for photographic appreciation.
Malcolm R: The colour palette seems so natural. Whether you have had to do some post-processing or not you have got this spot on.
Phil C: Nicely contrasted between subject and background. I would have been very pleased to have taken this.
Richard B: A carefully crafted shot which I feel must have needed some participation of the two main characters. I do like the attention being displayed, and not directed at you.
Tom L: This needs some explanation. Steam or clouds or both. Winter certainly but without seeing a steaming pit, in the foreground or background it is unclear what is special to Yellowstone. It is an imaginative picture.
Thank you, Julian. No participation whatsoever - wholly candid. I had focused/metered on that famous viewpoint in advance, and then waited for people with a bit of character to enter the scene. I got lucky. 'Je t'aime' scribbled on the parapet was also a lucky coincidence. The picture is a heavy crop, of course.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete1. Alan B. A rich variety of shapes and colours, the yellow central leaf is the only one that is completely exposed to the camera lens. The small green leaf confirms that life goes on beneath the decaying surface.
2. Alex B. A unique selective viewpoint of a shop sign making the most of the sunlight and shadows. You have found the “ins’ now to search for the “outs”.
3. Andre H. What a curious window, the intricate carving is in total contrast to the rough infill surrounding it, perhaps it was taken from an even older building at some time.
4. Andrew C. The straight brown lines of the decking are nicely framed to contain just the two docking bays with the canoes waiting their next adventure on that glassy green river.
5. Arthur H. The dark figure comfortably posed amidst the white surroundings makes for a simple but very effective image (that tiny white triangle under his knee makes all the difference). Do the background elements add to the composition or would a tighter framing to eliminate it further simplify the image and make it even more powerful?
6. Brian O. Just listen to the chatter. Clever creative gardening and you have seen a link between it and your recent recent visitor and made a record that will remind you of the occasion.
7. Dave C. Rich graphic tones here. The skewed framing is different and makes the viewer wonder which way is up (not a bad thing!). She appears to be on her knees which only adds to the questions about the image.
8. Dave F. Terrific sky but shooting against the light has unfortunately placed the ruined church in deep shade.
9. David R. An unreal mix of colour and monochrome imagery but an eye-catching picture that fits the square format well.
10. Dave S. Perfectly frozen in mid-air with hair flying and yet she appears oddly static for such a fast moving sport.
11. Elaine J. Difficult lighting but the effect of the sun shining through the windows of the tower and the star burst by the clock are magical.
12. Julian P. A beautiful day, lovely countryside and a great sky, what more could you want?
13. Ken G. Smart military man in palatial surroundings, maybe a guard? Why include the half arch on the right ? being darker it competes for attention with the soldier.
14. Me. Phil asks if this is floodwater, the answer is yes it is the remnants of a flood in the local park which acts as a floodplain, the Gt Ouse crosses the centre of the frame.
15. Phil C. Always a pleasure to see these little chaps in the garden. He posed nicely for you.
16. Richard B. A special moment for these two captured not only on the girl’s phone but also by yourself. I wonder if they are Australian (it looks like a kangaroo on the mans cap). The graffiti on the wall behind them gives the title of the image and is a nice unobtrusive and appropriate touch.
17. Tom L. The combination of hot springs and snow make a remarkably atmospheric image made all the more dramatic by rendering it in monochrome.