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

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

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.

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

probably f/16 @ 1/500

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

Got to go to Bolinas for the weekend with Phil and some Sacramento friends.  We stayed at a friend of a friend of a friend’s house – gratis.  I had no idea Bolinas was such a weekender’s destination, with rentals going for a prince’s ransom.  Our host never met us yet allowed her house to be opened up and enjoyed by total strangers.  We cooked and ate, made a roaring fire, walked along the headlands and woods and generally lazed about like we owned the place.  Thanks to Sabine and Jonathan for being generous hosts, Rich for inviting me and Phil for driving.  I missed the girls terribly but the fresh sea air and quietude made for a nice break.   Here’s hoping we’ll be invited back again.

Individual shots here

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

1/60 @ f/4, opened up

My best friend Phil Hinson – we’ve known each other for 23 years now and been there for each other through thick and thin.  If you think think they make them any better than this man then you’ve got a fight on your hands sir.

Taken in Bolinas, CA on Sept. 11, 2010.  And if you think you need more than a M3, a fast 50 and some Tri-X to get good pictures then you don’t know much about photography either.

Leica M3, Canon 50 Sonnar f/1.5, Tri-X 400

1/500 @ f/11

On the way to Pigeon Point lighthouse and hostel at a beach near Pescadero, CA.  We’re going to the Point Montara lighthouse hostel next week.  Can’t wait to smell the ocean air.

#1 – Summaron in color – A raw/vegan restaurant and junk shoppe in Nevada City, CA

Leica M3, Leitz Summaron 35 f/2.8, Kodak Gold 400

f/2.8 @ 1/50

#2 – Sumamron in color – Covered bridge at Bridgeport, CA

Leica M3, KM 5cm Hexanon-M, Kodak Portra400NC

f/11 @ 1/500

#3 – Sonnar landscape – Lake Berryessa, CA

Leica M3, Canon 5cm Sonnar f/1.5, Tri-X 400

f/11 @ 1/500

These aren’t my usual fare, but I wasn’t in my usual element.  Kim took me on surprise trips to Nevada City and Lake Berryessa and I had the chance to be a strolling tourist taking pictures of whatever caught my eye.  I’m not much of a landscaper but I like the B&W shot particularly.  And since this is my blog, I can post what I want – so there : )

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

f/4, 1/100

I chose another film shot for the sendoff.  I’m fairly well chuffed about the whole thing, as our friends the Brits would say.  I’m looking forward to the next session for sure.

The links to the galleries

- Film B&W

- Digital B&W

- Digital color

And even free stuff!

link