Leica M3, Canon 50 f/1.5 LTM Sonnar, Kodak T400CN

f/8 @ 1/50

The tule fog enveloped us last week, making for moody and atmospheric mornings.  I flashed back to a series from two years ago I shot and wound up a roll of B&W in the Leica M3 hoping for a little of the same magic.  Ava seemed to match the somber mood of the morning and wore only her most petulant expression, but at least she was moderately still.  The Canon Sonnar resolved the light beautifully and gathered a few comments on its own.  People just aren’t used to seeing film cameras, even less ones from the 1950s.  It is a particularly pretty combo, the M3 and the chrome Canon, and makes me feel special just holding it.  But they’re no shelf queens and the two make images just as well today as they did 50 years ago.

walking meditation …

little napoleon …

portrait with slide …

full gallery here

A Leica, a 50 and a couple of rolls of Tri-X are all you ever need …

Leica M6, Canon 50 f/1.5 LTM Sonnar, Arista Premium 400 (Tri-X 400)

After the big day was done, Leon and Cindie treated everyone to a backyard BBQ.  Maggie and Alex opened up their pile

of loot and we even had a little cake for the kids.  We did some patio sitting, cold beer drinking and had a good old time.

Very happy to get a shot of all the kids together; we don’t get many opportunities like this very often.

Waiting patiently for the cupcake cake …

Who are those old folks ; )  If I’m lucky, that might be me someday …

Love that Sonnar signature, makes for a lovely profile shot of Lauren here …

I’ll be Leon couldn’t have imagined this some 20+ years ago when these two were in diapers.  I’m steeling myself for the future

and hoping it turns out as well for Naomi and Ava as it has for Lauren and Maggie …

I got the crazy weave lamp!  I think Maggie would have given up everything for just the lamp.

Another Sonnar moment, it’s just lovely how it draws the light …

Thanks to all back in the heartland, until we see you again.

Some more here

Ava in Crissy Field in fine, devil-may-care, wind-blowing-through-the-hair form …

Leica M6, KM 50 M-Hexanon f/2.0, Ilford XP-2

More Ava …

Ava at the Discovery Museum …

Ava and Naomi at the hostel … I dubbed this shot “Pine Cone Perkins sitting at the ivories” : )

and Ava sharing a tender moment with Kimberly …

And if you’re so inclined, you can see the full series here

Well, there wasn’t much drinking going on, us being mostly teetotalers and all, but

we felt like we were a world away in the Marin headlands over spring break.  This is

one of the buildings on the site, a former army base, that’s now been converted to an

artists’ residence and studio complex.  I’m not much of a landscapist, but the lovely

soft tones of the Portra film lend themselves nicely to the subject.

Leica M6, KM 50 M-Hexanon f/2.0, Kodak Portra160NC

We stayed at the Marin Headlands hostel over spring break as a way to jump start the summer and get out of city.  The hostel

is what you would expect – a little funky, a little ramshackle and full of interesting people from all over.  But though it’s just a few

miles from SF, it feels a world away once you get over the bridge and get down into the headlands.  Peaceful and quiet with miles

of trails to explore and beaches nearby.  Ask Kim about the racoons sometime ; )

The trusty Tacoma hauled our bikes and trailer so we could get over to the Presidio and take in the trail around Crissy Field and smell

the fresh ocean air.  Since Sausalito is just up Hwy 1, we made a day trip there and rode the trail along the bay.  Of course, when in Sausalito

one simply must get to Lappert’s for ice cream and rest assured we let no opportunity slip by.

There’s also a terrific hands on museum for the kids on the Marin side, the Bay Area Discovery Museum,

where I got a fun shot of Naomi up in the crow’s nest with the bridge behind her …

Leica M6, KM 50 M-Hexanon f/2.0, Ilford XP-2

And since I couldn’t resist the view, no matter how cliched the shot, I had to try framing the Golden Gate myself.  Do you prefer

the straight B&W …

or the cross tone?

Leica M6, KM 50 M-Hexanon f/2.0, Ilford XP-2

More to come, see the full galleries here

has such a porcelain glow that I couldn’t resist …

Canon 5D, Canon EF 50 f/1.4, natural light

1/60 @ f/1.8, ISO 1250

Canon 5D, Canon EF 50 f/1.4, natural light

1/60 @ f/1.8, ISO 1250

Ava looks for Tiger the minute she gets out of bed and rarely passes up an opportunity to chase him, pet him, tease him or attempt

to put a hat on him.  Amazingly, he remains compliant and remarkably well composed … up until the very last second.  Even then he

just gives her a little love bite or gentle smack with his paw before jumping up on something out of her reach or heading outside.  On

this morning, she crawled up on the bed next to him and got right up in his business.  They rolled and played for a good spell, allowing

me to grab the camera and get off a few shots.  The morning light comes in nicely from the window and the french doors so there’s always a

gentle glow in the room right after breakfast.  The wide open aperture of the 50 f/1.4 comes in handy to keep a decent shutter speed up without

having to max out the ISO. I’m finding the 5D’s high ISO to be fairly clean and easily managed in LR3, these files retained nice details and would

probably print well even up to larger sizes.  What the camera lacks in feel and features, it certainly delivers in files.  I suppose that’s all one can really ask for

and they’re a bargain today on the used market.

Leica M6, 50 KM M-Hexanon, LegacyPro 400

f/2 @ 1/30

Little Naomi tinkling the ivories at ArtBeast last month.  We met up with Isaac and Naomi for a playdate and

as usual I chased the kids around with a camera.  I hadn’t used the Hexanon in awhile so I thought it was due

for a workout.  Just a beautiful lens and a stellar performer as well.  Some people speak of it as a poor man’s

Summicron, but I don’t feel like I’m missing much.  Just as well, since chasing gear rarely leads to better art.

One mostly ends up with empty pockets instead of fulfilling art.

Leica M3, Canon 5cm f/1.5 Sonnar, Kodak BW400CN

f/2 @ 1/80, natural light

And one more …

I think both of these came out quite lovely, and the slight sepia gives them a little extra warmth.  I’ll post the straight B&W next

for comparison.  As usual, the Canon Sonnar lens really sings.  It excels at drawing people at wide apertures, there’s

warmth, smoothness and character to spare.  Foreground to background separation, pleasing bokeh and just enough sharpness

but no bite.  And of course the M3 maximizes the 50mm lens: it has the best viewfinder and focusing patch, is small, quiet and discreet

and puts the subject at ease.  After poking the giant gripped 5D and 24-70 (with hood) in Jill’s face all afternoon I’m sure she felt more than a little relief

when I put it away and picked up the Leica.  It’s like shooting an Olympic target match pistol.  The 5D is closer to a riot shotgun, about as heavy and just

as subtle.

great attitude, a nice change-up from the usual sweet kid shots.

Canon 1D Mk II, Canon EF 50 f/1.4

One more after the jump …

and his mom Krysty looking fab …

Would have loved to have had the 5D for these, but looking forward to seeing what I can do with it this year.  Still miss the Mk II though,

just no comparison between the two cameras.  One felt like holding a fine pre-’64 Winchester and the other feels like a Red Ryder

BB gun.  Or my dearly departed ’88 R100S and a Huffy Big Wheel.  Or my M3 and anything else : )

Leica M3, Canon 50 f/1.5 Sonnar, AristaPremium 400 (re-badged Tri-X 400)

probably f/16 @ 1/500