Been Spending Time On The Dark Side

[tokengirl]

I recently crossed paths with a "like new, hardly used" Leica M6 and decided to invite her home with me.  So for the past few weeks, I have been fooling around with a changing bag and a bottle of Rodinal.

I am noticing that I am taking pictures that I would not really have thought to take with the 5DMkII.  Could it be the rangefinder is causing me to "look" at the world differently?  In any case, I am enjoying myself.  It is giving me great pleasure to NOT look at the LCD panel on the back of the camera to see if I "got it".

Here is a bit of what I've been doing, I am interested to hear what you all think.

Tri-X


Rollei Retro 80S


Rollei Retro 80S


Tri-X


T-Max 100


Ektar


Fuji Reala

[RSL]

Toke, Some fun stuff in there. Yes, the film M is a joy to work with -- until it comes time to mix developer, stop, and fix, and set up a washing tank. I keep thinking I miss my M4 -- until I remember what it's like to develop film using a dark bag, tank, and the sink.

[John R Smith]

Claire

Isn't it nice to see some proper grain? And you can't beat that beautiful Leitz glass. Nice pictures, all of them.

John

[seamus finn]

Lovely stuff.

[tokengirl]

Thanks all.

Claire

Isn't it nice to see some proper grain? And you can't beat that beautiful Leitz glass. Nice pictures, all of them.

John

Yes!  Glorious grain!

Now about that beautiful Leitz glass... I'm going to tell you a little secret, but don't tell anyone, OK?

It's a Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2.  Really excellent value for anyone who just can't spend the $$$$$$ for the real thing but wants the buttery bokeh of the 35 Lux.  The only problem is that it's HUGE, really intrudes in the viewfinder.

I also just got a Voigtlander 25mm Color Skopar (delightfully tiny little thing), I'm shooting the first roll with it now.

[wolfnowl]

I tend to subconsciously link Leica and B&W... the colour images are fun, but I prefer the former in your post!

Mike.

[John R Smith]

Now about that beautiful Leitz glass... I'm going to tell you a little secret, but don't tell anyone, OK?

It's a Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2.  Really excellent value for anyone who just can't spend the $$$$$$ for the real thing but wants the buttery bokeh of the 35 Lux.  The only problem is that it's HUGE, really intrudes in the viewfinder.

I also just got a Voigtlander 25mm Color Skopar (delightfully tiny little thing), I'm shooting the first roll with it now.

Nice one, Claire. You managed to deflate my fond (supposed) ability to detect Leitz or Zeiss lenses at thirty paces. Nothing wrong with the Voigtlander ones at all, though, they have been reviewed very positively by those who should know.

John

[Rob C]

I recently crossed paths with a "like new, hardly used" Leica M6 and decided to invite her home with me.  So for the past few weeks, I have been fooling around with a changing bag and a bottle of Rodinal.

I am noticing that I am taking pictures that I would not really have thought to take with the 5DMkII.  Could it be the rangefinder is causing me to "look" at the world differently?  In any case, I am enjoying myself.  It is giving me great pleasure to NOT look at the LCD panel on the back of the camera to see if I "got it".

Here is a bit of what I've been doing, I am interested to hear what you all think.

Claire, forgive me if I'm not too bright tonight - all today, in fact - but I can't decide if your shots are all from the Leica or if some are from a Rollei?

Perhaps a bit too cryptic for this time of day.

I assume that the 'chairs' one is a rangefinder shot...

Rob C

[jasonrandolph]

You've got some nice stuff there.  I especially like "The View from 21".  Film or digital doesn't matter to me, as long as you have fun and make images that are the product of your creativity, and I would say you were quite successful in that respect.  Well done.

[tokengirl]

Claire, forgive me if I'm not too bright tonight - all today, in fact - but I can't decide if your shots are all from the Leica or if some are from a Rollei?

Perhaps a bit too cryptic for this time of day.

I assume that the 'chairs' one is a rangefinder shot...

Rob C

Sorry if I wasn't clear, they are all taken with the M6 and Voigtlander Nokton 35mm.  The caption above each photo is the type of film used.  Rollei (Maco) is making some really nice B&W films these days, and the nice thing about them is that they are very flat.  I don't mean "lacking contrast", I mean physically flat, as opposed to T-Max 100 for example, which has a nasty curve across making it harder to get a good scan on a flatbed type scanner (I have the Epson V750).

[tokengirl]

I tend to subconsciously link Leica and B&W... the colour images are fun, but I prefer the former in your post!

Mike.

I too prefer the B&W.  But  a little color once in a while is fun.  I'm not sure the umbrella would be worth shooting in B&W.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Claire,

Those are all quite delightful!

But I must object to your terminology: Ever since I switched to digital I've been telling people that I "went over to the dark side." I mean, it's obviously not "real" photography if you're not ingesting or inhaling some toxic chemicals somewhere along the way.    

But do please show more of these as you have more fun with your "real" camera.

Eric

[fredjeang]

Now Claire, no more Silver Effex Pro but the real grain versions.
As I see that you are in testing different films, you might give a look at this: http://www.gigabitfilm.de/html/english/menu.htm
If you want big big, I mean big (resolution), that's the one to get.

cheers.