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

that would make him really pop off the background …

Canon 1DsMKII, Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L

f/11 @ 1/125, ISO 200

Considering my fumbling around with the equipment, the time constraints and this being the first time Chris and I have worked together, I’m reasonably happy.  There were a couple of shots where he hit his mark but the light just didn’t work out, maybe we’ll get the chance to revisit those shots over break.  I think I’d take the 17-35 and work it a little closer too, for these to really jump I should have been right in his face.  We also needed a big old boombox with some Rage Against the Machine and Black Flag, but you can’t always get what you want, etc …

Canon 5D, Canon EF 35 f/1.4 L

1/50 @ f/1.8, ISO 1600

The 5D makes such nice files, even at high ISO.  Add the 35L into the mix and it’s hard to go wrong.  I can complain a little about the off center focusing with the 5D and large apertures but it’s really a studio and landscape camera.  I press it into service like a sports/news shooter and it keeps up as well as it can.  Not everything can have the 1D series features.  The new mirrorless cameras look like a lot of fun to shoot, but I’m going to keep waiting and see if I can wear out my current bodies.  For the next round though, I expect to be looking for something smaller but with just as much capability.  If the mirrorless cameras aren’t there, then I guess I’ll be forced to get an M9.  Now that will be slumming in style : )

more

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

more …

See the full galleries 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

Leica M6, Canon 28 f/2.8 LTM, Ilford XP-2

Sitting outside Lappert’s ice cream in Sausalito, enjoying the super premium (read: extra fat and calories) treats, I was mainly watching

Ava as she was well into her “no nap today, up past bedtime, out on vacation and I’ve got an audience” wild and crazy antics when

who should stroll into the frame but this picture perfect gentleman.  Usually I wait for any extraneous characters to clear out of the composition

but I decided to let him stay.  Of course, he totally makes the shot.  As I said, I’m no great shakes as a street shooter but maybe this is the

inspiration I need to break out of my box.

This shot was from just a moment before, and it’s still a keeper for the interplay between Marc and Ava, but when you compare the two

there’s a clear winner.

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

Canon 1DsMKII, Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L, ISO 800

f/2.8 @ 1/100, natural light

striking a pose …

giving Dad some sugar …

She happily chewed on everything in reach and entertained us for hours.  I was just watching her eyes the whole time, trying to remember

what it was like to have a little baby again.  It’s a shocking reminder that while I still think of Ava as my baby, she’s about to turn three

and a long way from layettes and snap up jammies.

Those big baby eyes taking in a new world around her …

And my favorite, dads and daughters …

I usually don’t go for the “old tyme” treatment, but I thought I’d give these just a hint of sepia; I think it looks nice.  Click here for

the full sets in color or in B&W.

See the full set here