Four days in Berlin with the Leica M10
My recent trip to Berlin proved to be a rejuvenating escape from a rather uninspiring winter.
I rarely take many photographs during the winter months as I prefer not to be outside in the cold and wet weather. Towards the end of January though, I was starting to feel that I had been neglecting my camera, so this trip away was exactly what I needed.
My recent trip to Berlin proved to be a rejuvenating escape from a rather uninspiring winter.
I rarely take many photographs during the winter months as I prefer not to be outside in the cold and wet weather. Towards the end of January though, I was starting to feel that I had been neglecting my camera, so this trip away was exactly what I needed. Spending a few days in new surroundings is the perfect antidote for getting out of a creative rut and the city's vibrant streets offered an abundance of opportunities for street photography.
I took the Leica M10 with a 50mm, a 28mm and a 15mm lens. The 15mm Voigtlander is tiny enough that I can afford to carry it around on the off chance I find a rare scene that benefits from the ultra-wide angle. I am still getting used to the 28mm field of view on a rangefinder but I am trying to use it more often, especially for interesting interior shots. As usual though, the brunt of my favourite photos from this trip were produced by my beloved 50mm Summicron.
The first day began at the iconic Hackesche Höfe area in Hackescher Markt. The walls are covered in graffiti and street art with small galleries dotted in-between. I wandered around the streets just before sundown to get a few interesting shots of the architecture and one friendly street saxophonist.
The next morning I visited the Berlinische Galerie, a bright and spacious art gallery featuring some outstanding paintings and photography displays. The exhibition by Rineke Dijkstra particularly impressed me with her portraits of young Bosnian girl Almerisa growing up in front of her lens.
Certain parts of Berlin I found more photogenic the more I passed through them. I loved the pastel colours of Alexanderplatz station and the television tower that could be seen from seemingly any street I went down.
Visiting the Jewish Museum was definitely the most poignant memory of my time in Berlin. The striking architecture and thoughtful exhibitions offered powerful imagery, the room full of cast iron faces especially moved me more than any other art display in recent memory. A very quiet and profound place, and somewhere I would recommend everyone visiting while in Berlin.
That evening I visited the Reichstag building, an architectural marvel that seamlessly blends historic significance with modern design. We took a lift upto the glass dome on the roof, and were treated with views of German parliament in session below us..
The next day, I ventured to the remnants of the Berlin Wall. The street art along the wall tells powerful narratives of both division and unity. I was impressed by how much of the wall was still intact and how many different art styles were represented.
I also visited the Brandenburg gate, where I wanted to get an original photograph of such a famous landmark. Noticing a street performer with a large rope and bucket of bubble mixture, I motioned him to throw some bubbles my way so I could attempt to line up the monument inside a bubble. Not easy with quickly changing wind, but I managed it eventually.
Finally, the Futurium Museum struck a different chord, with its focus on innovation and sustainability. The sleek designs and thought-provoking installations invited my imagination to wander. Photographing the interactions between visitors and the exhibits I was able to create a few interesting compositions, as well as a couple of great self-portrait opportunities.
Overall, I really enjoyed my short time in Berlin. This trip not only revitalized my creative spirit but also offered me new perspectives on city life and history. The blend of past and future, juxtaposed with the vibrancy of its streets, has left me inspired—a reminder that even in the quietest of winters, stories await just beyond the next corner.
My 10 Favourite Shots of 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, I have looked back on the trips I went on and the photographic opportunities the year provided.
These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them:
As 2024 draws to a close, I have looked back on the trips I went on and the photographic opportunities the year provided.
As milestones go, this year I shot my first engagement photographs, spent the summer shooting on film with my first medium format camera, was a guest on a street photography podcast, got featured on YouTube and Instagram a few times by my favourite street photography community “Framelines”, finally attended and loved the classic car festival “Goodwood Revival”, captured the northern lights and hit my goal of keeping this blog updated with bi-monthly posts (on average).
These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them.
In no particular order:
1 - Revival Swing Party
One of my highlights of the year was visiting Goodwood Revival. Being a big fan of classic cars and classic fashion, the whole day provided so much to see and many photo opportunities. This scene occurred at revival village during a DJ set of swing music. I was happy that I was able to capture the moment while maintaining a sharp and well composed frame.
2 - USEUM
After only being in Vienna for an hour, I noticed this nice patch of light against a fancy building. I nearly didn’t stop as we were rushing to the Leica store before closing. Took a couple of frames and moved on. Number 22 on the memory card and possibly my favourite of the whole trip. It rained torrentially for hours shortly after this.
The moral of the story - never walk away from the photo.
3 - Newmarket Chairs
I spent a couple of hours at Newmarket racecourse one afternoon in the summer. No races were on that day which meant I could peruse around the grounds and capture some still life shots. This was one I took of the afternoon light hitting the green chairs in the stands.
4 - Roy
My favourite purchase this year was a 1966 Yashica-Mat TLR that I picked up for very little money in an antique store. I was unsure whether everything would work properly so loaded some Kodak XP2 black and white film and took it down the river one weekend. While stopping for a chat with a local painter friend Roy, I took this quick portrait of him and it is still one of my favourite shots I have created with this wonderful camera. I later had this photo printed and framed and gifted it to Roy. He seemed to like it.
5 - Engagement
Two of my closest friends, Craig and Regan, got engaged last Christmas so I took them out for one afternoon in January for a laid back engagement shoot. It was a lot of fun, something I would like to do more of in the new year. I’m glad I could be part of their special moment and it feels great to see some of these photographs hanging up in their home.
6 - Maleficent
I took a trip into the city on Halloween night with hopes to capture the scenes of Londoners dressed up on October 31st. Though I was initially disappointed by the lack of celebration, I eventually found a group of people in costume in Trafalgar Square. This young lady caught my eye and graciously posed for a few street portraits lit only by the Trafalgar street lamps.
7 - Missing the Ferry
I have shot a few music gigs over the years but none with such dynamic lighting as this Luton’s Hat Factory. I was pleased to be able to capture these photos for Irish folk band Missing the Ferry. A great bunch of guys and even better musicians.
8 - Aurora borealis
I was lucky enough to see and capture the Northern Lights this year and only had to travel as far as the field behind my flat, to do it. I spent couple of hours out there with my girlfriend trying different angles and techniques while the colours changed. It was very cold and extremely dark but we came away with some great shots and memories that will last.
9 - UFO
We took a day trip to Bratislava during our Vienna trip in the spring. It was a lovely city to walk around for a few hours. Just before our return bus was due to arrive, I spotted this shot so crouched and waited for a while for the crowd to clear. I was lucky to capture this moment of a passer by pointing at the alien overlords about to exterminate us.
10 - Flaneur
I captured this last image at “Chap” magazine’s Grand Flaneur Walk in the spring. A wonderful event where people dress in their Sunday best and drink till they’re tired. It is probably my favourite photo of the year as I feel everything in the frame fits perfectly together.
Next year I would like to concentrate more on street portraits and how to take a good one, give mastering zone focusing for street another go, finally get a few of my projects printed off in a low-cost zine form and complete and publish one of the two current street photography projects I am currently working on.
Happy New Year and I hope 2025 is kind to you.
Luke
My summer on film with the Yashica-Mat TLR
Shortly after I published my blog post about choosing between a Rolleiflex, M3 or Summilux lens, I came across a lovely little Yashica Mat TLR in great condition, in a local antique shop. After annoying the shopkeeper by spending half an hour checking everything functioned properly, I purchased this beauty and decided this would be a good way to see if I liked the TLR experience before jumping in head first with a Rollei.
Shortly after I published my blog post about choosing between a Rolleiflex, M3 or Summilux lens, I came across a lovely little Yashica Mat TLR in great condition, in a local antique shop. After annoying the shopkeeper by spending half an hour checking everything functioned properly, I purchased this beauty for £110. A great deal considering it included the full case, strap and user manual, seemed to work perfectly and didn’t seem to have any lens fungus. A lot less than I would have spent on any Rolleiflex, I decided this would be a good way to see if I liked the TLR experience before jumping in headfirst with a Rollei.
The Yashica Mat was first introduced in 1957. I believe they continued producing them until the mid-seventies, with my serial number suggesting it was made in 1966. The Rolleiflex inspiration is clear - they operate in exactly the same way, from cocking the shutter with the winding crank to changing the aperture and shutter speed with the thumb wheels. I am very glad about this as I tried a Rolleicord and found it a lot more fiddly to operate. The Yashica Mat places everything in a sensible place and is a joy to use. Later models added a light meter and the popular 124G model comes in a blacked-out colour scheme. I prefer my version though, I really like the silver and black look and have heard these inbuilt meter’s are now inaccurate so I am happy using a handheld one. The earlier models are apparently built better too but the important thing is they all use the same lens - the brilliant Yashinon 80mm f3.5.
Before I talk about image quality, I want to mention my innitial thoughts about using the camera.
The reversed viewfinder takes a little getting used to. Actually, a lot of getting used to. I still find myself doing a lot of panning and swiveling when trying to get a composition just right - particularly when trying to get lines or horizons straight. I wanted a TLR partly for the different shooting experience and this viewfinder method certainly provides that. I find it is quite easy to see when something is in focus though I still use the magnifier almost every time to make sure and not waste a single shot.
Speaking of the film, I am finding myself enjoying the process of loading the 120 rolls, shooting without an LCD screen and eagerly anticipating the scans coming back. The tactile feel of the focusing dial, winding crank and the way the light catches the shiny surfaces and twin coated lenses all make me want to go out and take photographs, which is what a good camera should do. I shot a couple of rolls and sent off for developing and scanning, half expecting the results to come back out of focus, under exposed, not sharp or - worst of all - completely blank due to a fault with the camera. After a week or so’s wait though, I got my photographs and was not disappointed.
I hope you will agree, the results are astonishing for a 58-year-old cheap camera. I knew medium format film produces a much bigger negative than 35mm, but I was not prepared for the jump in quality since I last shot film with an Olympus OM10 SLR. To be honest, I was never really satisfied with the results from that camera compared to any digital photograph I have taken so I am very pleased with what I have managed to get out of this Yashica Mat.
To get results like this, I took every precaution to get the most out of every photo. All the shots above were taken on Ilford HP5+ or Kodak Portra 400 professional grade film, processed and scanned by the folks at filmprocessing.co.uk and edited from the TIFF files in Capture One. I shot overexposed a stop where I could as I’d read extensively that this is the best way to recover the most detail from these films. The Portra shots I found often had a green tint so I tried my best to remedy this while still keeping colours natural. After the first few rolls I also found that the lens tended to flare quite severely so first 3D printed a lens hood before upgrading to a Bay 1 Rolleiflex one. All these steps I think contributed to better results than the last time I shot on film many years ago. The extra 7 years of photography experience didn’t hurt either I suppose.
One thing I didn’t expect was how much attention this old camera would get from the public. When I first started shooting my Leica on the streets, I’d get the odd “nice camera” comment but that is nothing compared to the amount of people that have approached me to ask about the strange box with two lenses I have hung around my neck. I have found this interest and curiosity helps when asking a stranger for a street portrait as people love to see what their picture would look like from such an old and outdated camera.
All in all, I am very pleased with my purchase. I am very lucky to have found such a great example of a lovely camera and the unique experience of shooting it is only matched by the results it provides. The only downside is I am now thinking even more about upgrading to a luxurious Rolleiflex.
Leica SPC Podcast Episode
Earlier in the year, I was given the opportunity to be a guest on the Leica Street Photography Collective podcast, the world’s premiere street photography podcast for Leica Users.
Earlier in the year, I was given the opportunity to be a guest on the Leica Street Photography Collective podcast, the world’s premiere street photography podcast for Leica Users.
I spoke with Ricky - calling in from his home in Okinawa, Japan - about the history of street photography with Leica cameras, where to find inspiration, blending different photography genres together and the importance of personal projects.
It was a great experience, all thanks to Ricky for inviting me on.
You can listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify via the links below:
0:01 : Intro ; 02:00 : Still Life ; 11:15 : Human Subjects ; 19:00 : Relevance ; 23:00 : The Vivian Maier Effect ; 28:00 : When I started making photos ; 38:00 : Film ; 48:00 : My Process ; 57:00 : Projects ; 1:00:XX : Socials ; 1:05:XX : Solo ; 1:26:XX : My recommendations ; 1:31:XX : The Final Question.
Rolleiflex, Summilux or M3?
Just like most hobbyist photographers, I suffer from a nasty condition known as G.A.S or “Gear acquisition syndrome”. You could argue that photography is as much about the process of taking photos as it is about the finished result, so using gear that I find inspiring, is important to me.
Just like most hobbyist photographers, I suffer from a nasty condition known as G.A.S or “Gear acquisition syndrome”. You could argue that photography is as much about the process of taking photos as it is about the finished result, so using gear that I find inspiring, is important to me.
After saving up for many years I was finally able to purchase my dream camera a couple of years ago - the Leica M10. I have already created many happy memories and lovely photographs with my Leica and still relish going out shooting with it. This does not stop the thoughts of trying other camera systems out though. I am regularly tempted by a YouTube video or a nice photo I see online, to try something new and see what results I can get. There are so many cameras I would love to try but these ideas are at direct odds with my desire for a simple one camera, one lens life.
As we are now coming into summertime, I am starting to think about my big purchase for 2024 and what it could be. My thoughts and opinions often change but luckily for my wallet, I am not a very impulsive person. Over these last few months, off the top of my head, the cameras I have thought about buying are: Leica Q, Hasselblad 500C/M, Leica Sofort 2, Fuji X Pro, Sony A7 III, Leica T, Rollei 35, Leica M9, and Olympus OM1.
These camera obsessions come and go but there are three items that remain constant objects of desire for one reason or another. Two camera’s and one lens. All of them with the chance that they won’t live up to the hype and image I have built up in my head after so much research but all three that, hopefully, when I’m lucky enough to own them, I’ll create many memories with and hold onto for many years.
The only question is, which should I go for first?
Rolleiflex 3.5F
The Rolleiflex TLR. An iconic camera that many people will recognise. The huge 6x6 negative that come out of this thing, combined with the amazing Zeiss optics, produce such high-quality photographs in the right light. The shooting experience will be the biggest difference to what I’m used to - surely similar to getting used to a rangefinder after using a DSLR - and will hopefully train my creative eye in new ways. And just look at it - is this the most beautiful camera ever made? Surely a contender. I would love to own something of real quality that was made in the 1950’s or 1960’s that still works flawlessly today, I think the Rolleiflex could be it. My dream is to pick up a perfect condition 3.5F model and use it to capture classic car shows in the summer and street portraits in the winter.
Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH
The 50mm ‘Lux is a lens I have lusted after for many years. As a predominantly 50mm shooter, the combination of the world class optics, small size, fast aperture and attractive design, make the Summilux seem like the ultimate lens for me. I’ve also recently been drawn to its unique flare that can really make an image stand out when used correctly. This particular model - the aspherical version 1 - was made from 2004 until 2023 when it was replaced by the new (in my opinion inferior) version. Just vintage enough to be interesting but modern enough to stand up with any lens made today and produce better images.
When I first got my M10, I paired it with the Chinese knockoff of this lens, the TTArtisan 50mm f1.4. Though I am fond of the images I was able to capture with that lens, the size and weight always put me off carrying it and, to me, it looks so ugly on the front of such a beautiful camera. I really do love my 50mm Summicron but until I try it, I am always going to wonder if the Summilux is the perfect companion to an M for me.
Leica M3
The legendary Leica M3. One of the world’s most famous cameras. Responsible for many of history’s most famous photographs and is still renowned for its build quality, innovations it brought to the camera world and smooth and simple user experience. To own an M3 would mean owning a piece of history and to find out for myself if it really is the pinnacle of Leica rangefinders. This year marks the M3’s 70th birthday in 1954 so what better time to pick one up, while they are still being serviced and while prices still have not gone stratospheric! I’d pair it with my 50mm Summicron and roam the streets like Henri Cartier-Bresson, keeping both eyes open and composing shots through its gorgeous 0.91 rangefinder.
I really do want to add all three of these items to my camera cabinet but for now I’m thinking about what will get used the most, what will give me the biggest difference to what I shoot with currently and what I will be able to produce the nicest images with.
It might be a case of which one I come across for a good deal/good condition first.
Currently though, I’m leaning towards the Rolleifllex.
New Photo Series: “La Bella Vita”
I have put together my latest photo series consisting of photos I took over a few years to various parts of Italy.
I have put together my latest photo series consisting of photos I took over a few years to various parts of Italy.
They consist of black & white and colour photographs that show off the beauty and elegance of the wonderful country and the people in it.
You can check it out below:
5 nights in New York City with the Leica M10
I love New York. Having been lucky enough to visit twice before, I never feel like I am there long enough and always miss it when I come back. When the oppertunity came to take a very short notice visit to the big apple at Christmas time, I began dreaming of what sort of photographs I may get this time around.
I love New York. Having been lucky enough to visit twice before, I never feel like I am there long enough and always miss it when I come back. When the opportunity came to take a very short-notice visit to the big apple at Christmas time, I began dreaming of what sort of photographs I may get this time around.
It had been seven years since my last trip in 2016. Back then, I had just started using my Sony camera system, was getting quite into portraits and just starting to dabble in this newfound genre of “street photography”. My photography style, interests and gear have changed a lot since then so I looked forward to what I may be able to capture in the few days and nights that I had to walk around the busy Brooklyn and Manhatten streets.
I even made a short shot-list of photos that I wanted to tick off before leaving, full of ideas like “Oculus interior” and “Radio City portrait/silhouette”. I am glad to say I only left a couple of these unchecked, (still didn’t get to the MoMa museum) and I am quite happy with some of the results.
For whatever reason, I was really feeling black-and-white during this trip so shot everything with that in mind. I took 15mm & 28mm Voigtlander lenses with me but ended up using my 50mm Summicron for 90% of the trip.
The highlight of the 5 days was undoubtedly the Strawberry Fields gathering that I took part in on December 8th, the anniversary of John Lennon’s death. Not many people can say they have sang along to their favourite album with 100 strangers in Central Park. It was a special night that I will never forget.
New York is always full of characters and I was glad to meet professional tightrope walker Ryan (who I shot crossing the steam covered road) and smartly dressed crooner Edward (who kindly stopped for me on the way to a gig). I also saw a man playing an ancient-looking Chinese string instrument and a dog with the most amazing but sad eyes I’ve ever seen.
On the way home, we got to stop in the TWA lounge at the JFK airport - a classy retro styled bar and seating area that is famous for welcoming the fab four at the height of Beatlemania in the 1960’s, and keeping the same elegant decor ever since. It’s a place I’d wanted to visit for some time and was, hands down, the most enjoyable time I’ve ever had waiting for a delayed flight, watching torrential rain splashing against the windows whilst listening to The Kinks.
I set off for New York in 2023 expecting it to be the final time I’d visit. As usual though, the days passed all too quickly and I wished I could stay for longer. With its world famous streets and the scale of the skyscrapers - being in New York City feels like walking through a movie full of interesting characters where anything could happen. Every New Yorker has a story to tell and they are just waiting for their chance to tell it.
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of those people and streets. The city that never sleeps, never leaves me disappointed. I only hope I can find my way back again someday.
My 10 Favourite Shots of 2023
2023 was another enjoyable year for my photography journey.
I shot my first music gig, attended a few photography meet ups, completed a six month “1 camera 1 lens” challenge and rebranded this website.
These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them:
2023 was another enjoyable year for my photography journey.
I shot my first music gig, attended the first “Framelines” street photography community meetups, wrote a couple of well received blog posts, completed a six month “1 camera 1 lens” challenge, expanded/rebranded this website to feature more of my work, attended a workshop from one of the masters of the genre Mark Fearnly and also met one of my biggest inspirations Alan Schaller.
These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them.
In no particular order:
1 - Keeping an Eye Out
Taken on my spring trip to Venice, I love the dapper look of this Italian waiter and the shifty look in his eye. I tried to incorporate the foreground to frame the image and create a voyeur-like effect.
2 - Upstream Colour
After unboxing my 50mm lens, I went for a brief scenic walk and captured this scene of two rowers down the river. I like the way the waves make the water look like a blue piece of creased paper.
3 - Road Runner
I had a few images in mind before departing on my trip to New York this winter and I was glad to be able to capture this one of a pedestrian running across the smoke covered and headlight-lit road. Not an easy one to capture but an image that you can only get in NYC.
4 - Entrapment
Taken at a temporary art exhibition this spring. A very busy room with a real lack of available light, I was happy to get this shot when a gentleman crouched down in the perfect spot.
5 - Walking Through Hoops
After being inspired on a photography workshop, I was playing around with framing in boring looking locations when I came across this elaborate gate and waited for the perfect subject to walk into the gap. My thigh muscles paid the price, but the final result was worth it.
6 - Brave New World
Taken at the London Science Museum, I loved the design of this room and imagined being on a futuristic space hotel looking down on the earth below.
7 - Venetian Pigeon
I was composing a high contrast shot of the top of St Mark's Basilica in Venice when this pigeon entered the frame and I was able to catch him at the perfect moment about to take flight.
8 - Coronation Boy
King Charle’s III’s coronation was a busy affair with many lining the streets brandishing their Union Jack flags. I spent the morning walking up and down The Mall capturing history and noticed this smart chap in the middle of the bustle. Thankfully, this was taken before the heavy rainfall came and turned the place into a sea of dark umbrellas.
9 - Steps and Boxes
I noticed the minimal and beautiful design of this staircase and seating area in an Apple store in the city. I usually would not like the mess of the bottom section but feel the pleasing colours and original design of these seats, adds to the overall image.
10 - Finishing Touches
For a limited time earlier this year, there was a gigantic statue of the Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama outside Harrods. I went there with the idea of getting an interesting shot of her peering into the store windows at the shoppers but ended up preferring this photo of her painting the shop front.
In 2024 I plan to intentionally shoot a bit more regularly, continue taking street portraits. limit myself to B+W only for a a period, experiment with film again, organise a few portrait shoots, create and print a new low-cost zine and get a photo or project of mine featured on a prominent photography blog.
I guess we’ll see how much of that I can pull off this time next year.
Happy New Year everyone!
What I learned from hosting my first solo photography exhibition
One year ago, I was lucky enough to hold my own solo photography exhibition. It was something I wanted to do for years but didn’t expect to ever get the chance. The opportunity came about one evening at a newly opened art gallery …
One year ago, I was lucky enough to hold my own solo photography exhibition. It was something I wanted to do for years but didn’t expect to ever get the chance. The opportunity came about one evening at a newly opened art gallery, showing a few of my photographs to the proprietor. He liked them a lot, and proposed the idea of an exhibition, with live music accompaniment and the chance to sell my own prints. A date six weeks in the future was decided on and that was it - I was to have my own exhibition of my photographs. Now all I had to do was prepare for it!
I decided I would display the entire eighteen photographs from my first project “Alone at the Seaside”. This meant I would have to find somewhere to print them and frame them, as well as a way to display them all. I also had to think about how large I wanted these prints, on what kind of paper, what type of frame I wanted, how large and at what price I would be selling extra prints, how many book copies I should produce, what to write on business cards that I would leave for people to take with them on their way out and how I would design a flyer to advertise the event. I also decided this was a good time to design and launch a new website that I had been thinking about for months. Nothing like a bit of preassure to get things done.
After a few mishaps, I managed to find a professional local print house that was able print all of my pictures to a standard I was happy with. Finding suitable frames was a lot harder but I got very lucky and was able to get a great deal on a bespoke picture framing service in south London. Jonathan hand-made me some stunning black frames to showcase my pictures beautifully. I ordered a few book copies to sell and got a few extra prints made of the strongest photos for anybody that wanted one.
Things I learnt for next time:
Framing prints is the biggest headache imaginable - or it was for me. Print sizes are usually measured in inches while frames are in centimetres. Finding 18 well-made, identical, 20” x 16” black frames on a budget is not easy.
Advertising a photo exhibition is so niche that not many people will not care. Although I tried my best sticking my flyer up in many local notice boards and posted on many local online communities, I think my advertising only brought a few people. Most people that came were there due to word of mouth of browsers of The Gallery. I am happy with my efforts though and don’t think I could have tried many more advertisement methods in the timescale I had.
If there is not space to hang everything, make sure you have an alternative display method in mind. I ended up staying up late the night before polishing and tightening a dozen tatty music stands so my frames would look great and be secure.
You will sell fewer prints and books than you think, but it is always better to have too much stock than too little
Remember to take lots of pictures of the event while it is going on - time will go so fast that you will forget to do this. Make sure you also get some photos taken of yourself with your display as you will want to look back on this day in years to come.
Overall, I enjoyed hosting my first photography exhibition very much. It was a great day talking to people about my photography, hearing nice and constructive feedback and being able to show my work to friends and family, away from a small 6” screen. I would recommend it to anybody given the opportunity and hope I get to do it again someday.
Embracing one camera one lens - six months with the Leica 50mm Summicron Version 4
The greatest street photographers that I admire all tended to stick to one main focal length for most of their famous work. With a cabinet full of great lenses all fighting for a trip outdoors anytime I pick up the camera, this idea has appealed to me recently. But which camera and which lens?
The greatest street photographers that I admire all tended to stick to one main focal length for most of their famous work. They say this removes indecisiveness, keeps you more in the moment, enables you to visualize an image without looking through the camera, creates a concise body of work and kills the dreaded gear-acquisition-syndrome. With a cabinet full of great lenses all fighting for a trip outdoors anytime I pick up the camera, this idea has appealed to me recently. Less time deciding, more time shooting is the idea. But which camera and which lens?
I have long gravitated to the 50mm. I do like to experiment with a wider 35mm or 28mm and some of my most interesting pictures from last year have come from my 15mm lens. If I had to commit to one lens for half a year though, it would have to be a 50 and though I love my FE mount 55mm Zeiss, this challenge would have to be with my Leica. The TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 ASPH is such a well-built lens that produces amazing shots but there is one problem - it weighs a ton (aka 395g), so I was on the lookout for an alternative. After months of research looking for my perfect M mount 50, I saw a great deal on my dream lens that I could not pass up. Upon purchase I made one promise to myself - I will use this Leica Summicron with my Leica M10 exclusively for six months, to really put it through its paces, get to know how they perform together and concentrate more on the composition rather than which tools to use.
The first thing that struck me about the lens was the size and weight. Coming from the TTArtisan goliath, at only 195g the ‘Cron felt so small and nimble. It is so perfectly balanced on this camera, no more tipping forward to aching wrist if I carried it for more than an hour. I also love how it looks on the camera - the quintessential M camera combination with a lens coating that gives off a beautiful orange hue when shone in the right light. When I got it, I only had a 39mm filter in silver, but I really love the silver-black-silver look this combo gives off. Very vintage looking with many people asking if I am shooting on film.
The image quality should not need to be mentioned - the Leica 50mm Summicron has been a benchmark lens that all others are measured against since its inception in 1953. Though, being older than me (these were manufactured from 1979 - 1994 with my copy coming from 1984) I am still stunned how much detail there is and how vivid the colours are on my digital sensor. Sure, if I had to be picky, I would say the images from some of my modern Zeiss or Voigtlander lenses are even sharper with a bit more pop but I love shooting a lens with as much rich history as this one, in such a tight package that does not fall victim to many of the shortcomings often found in vintage glass, such as soft focus, washed out colours and excessive flare. Speaking of lens flare, the V4/V5 Summicron’s are often chastised for their shabby flare control, but I can honestly say I have only seen one or two images in these six months that were negatively affected by flare. I normally only attach the hood on very sunny days or just when I want the camera to look even more vintage, so I am glad I didn’t let all those naysayers put me off the lens for this reason alone - in my experience anyway, flaring is not an issue.
One thing I thought might be a bit more useful, would be the lens tab. I have long had this romantic notion of being able to get to know a lens so well that I can perfectly zone focus with the aperture wide open and get tack sharp shots. I am finding this more difficult than initially expected and I have realised the people I see using this method all use wider focal lengths like 35mm, 28mm or 24mm. I think 50mm is significantly harder to do this and I might have to practice a bit longer than six months to be as quick at focusing as lifelong 50mm shooter Elliot Erwitt.
I have really enjoyed this half a year taking out the camera and not wasting energy decided which glass to attach to the front. It is quite freeing and has led me to think about what's in front of me a lot more. Since I have had the M10 I have struggled a bit more than I expected with framing a scene using range-finder frame lines rather than a mirrorless EVF, but I feel like I am a bit better now at visualising what will be in my image and what I am cutting out. Occasionally I miss the separation of f1.4 and longingly check if prices for a Summilux ASPH have come down (they never do) but in reality, with the right placement and the ISO ranges of modern sensors, F2 should be enough in almost all situations.
Now that the six months is up, I feel myself being drawn to the 28mm again and giving it another chance. I am also thinking about getting my Summicron serviced to smooth out the focus throw a bit and get the mount changed for a 6-bit coded one (I’m a sucker for accurate EXIF details). If this does not cost too much and doesn’t take too long it might be nice to send it off over winter, ready to be shot again in lovely fresh condition in the spring.
For now, I love my 50mm Summicron V4, for me it is the perfect everyday street photography lens for a Leica and hope this is just the start of my journey of taking meaningful photographs with it.
Shooting my first music gigs with the Leica M10 and Sony A7
This year I got the opportunity to shoot my first music gig at my local live music venue, The Gallery. I have taken the odd candid shot of street musicians before but having the chance to photograph a whole gig was something was something that I had wanted to try out for a while.
This year I got the opportunity to shoot my first music gig at my local live music venue, The Gallery. I have taken the odd candid shot of street musicians before but having the chance to photograph a whole gig was something was something that I had wanted to try out for a while.
The act were a cockney singalong band called “Harmonica Lewinsky”. They performed a range of classic cockney knees-up tunes and Chas & Dave covers.
I used the Leica M10 with 28mm & 50mm lenses as well as the Sony A7 with an 85mm. Having the ability to freely move around the venue let me bring out all the strengths of these focal lengths and provided a nice mix of perspectives. Being a small venue however, I was always conscious of being in people’s way, so I tried to stay discrete and take as many pictures as I could from the front row seat that I had been given.
One thing I would have done differently after reviewing the images, is ask the lead singer to lose the portable fan attached to his microphone for a couple of songs. It bothered me at the time, and I know the full body shots of him would have looked a lot nicer without the fan covering his lovely guitar.
A couple of months later I brought my camera to a gig by the band “Missing the Ferry”. It was another great night at The Gallery, with the packed house signing along to Irish folk tunes. I tried to capture the jovial spirit in my informal photos, which the band were very appreciative of and ended up sharing on their social media.
I enjoyed trying my hand at music gig photography and need to find some more small venues to give it another go.
My 10 Favourite Shots of 2022
2022 was a good year for my photography, I completed my first photo project, launched this website, purchased my dream camera after six years of saving and held my first solo photography exhibition.
These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them:
2022 was a good year for my photography, I completed my first photo project, launched this website, purchased my dream camera after six years of saving and held my first solo photography exhibition.
These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them.
In no particular order:
1 - Elizabeth Line
The London Underground Elizabeth line finally opened up this summer. I was surprised it was quiet enough during the first week’s service to allow me to get this shot.
2 - Betty Boop
Taken at a classic car show in the summer. I was lining up a photo of Betty when the owner of the car opened the bonnet and gave me a beautifully clean background to compliment the black dashboard.
3 - Fleeing sheep
Taken out of a slow-moving vehicle in rural Ireland. I feel like the door hinges help to frame the running sheep nicely.
4 - Panama Jack
Taken at one of the cool new arcade-bars opening up around central London. I saw this stylishly dressed chap engrossed in the Pac-Man machine and couldn’t resist capturing the moment.
5 - Through the Spire
My favourite photograph of my “Alone at the Seaside” project, taken at Southend-on-Sea in March this year. I was testing out a cheap 24mm lens and laid down on the street for fifteen minutes waiting for the perfect person to walk through this structure. The wait and all the funny looks I got were worth it.
6 - Super Mario
The first weekend of trying out my new-manual-focus only Leica M camera produced this photo of my Nephew. When it was time to leave, he wouldn’t let me walk away and held onto my ankles. Without bringing the camera to me eye, I guessed the distance and pointed the camera down, managing to get him tack sharp and nicely framed between two legs. I also love his bright Mario shirt that I originally bought for his sister many years ago.
7 - Spiral
The Vatican Museum in Rome has some of the worlds most famous Art as well as some stunning architecture. I spent more time than I should have looking for the best angle of this grand staircase. This shot was one of the last ones I took from the very top when this mans son called for him and made him look up. Sometimes you need that little bit extra to push an image to something special.
8 - Elevated View
Taken at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer. I like how the flags and the trees frame this boy in the middle of the busy crowd. The fancy hat he was wearing was the cherry on top that made it my favourite of the day.
9 - Nun the Wiser
I was sitting outside the Vatican when this nun walked right by me and turned around for a brief moment. I love how the blues of her habit and bag and the whites of her face mask the pillars all compliment each other. I was very lucky that I managed to compose and nail focus in a split second.
10 - Boarding the Death Star
I’d seen this Canary Wharf tunnel pictured a few times online and knew I had to visit it at some point. I think the colourful windows are a recent addition and think the vivid colours and ultra-wide perspective add to this image to give it a futuristic feel.
Now I look forward to hopefully more great photos captured in 2023!
Capturing the people of the Diamond Jubilee with inspiration from HCB
The Queen celebrated her monumental Diamond Jubilee this Summer after 70 years on the throne. I am not a huge royralist but I am a big fan of watching the country come together once every few years to celebrate something positive, so decided to grab my Sony A7 and trusty 55mm Zeiss Sonnar F1.8 ZA lens and head out on the first morning of the festivities to see what I could find.
The Queen celebrated her monumental Diamond Jubilee this Summer after 70 years on the throne. I am not a huge royralist but I am a big fan of watching the country come together once every few years to celebrate something positive, so decided to grab my Sony A7 and trusty 55mm Zeiss Sonnar F1.8 ZA lens and head out on the first morning of the festivities to see what I could find.
Like every other street photographer on the planet, I am often inspired to go out and shoot by looking at the work of the godfather of street photography, Henri Cartier-Bresson. While on the train that morning though, it was one of his images that I had in mind most for what I would look for that day.
When sent to London in 1937 to document the coronation of King George VI, Henri decided to turn around and record the people watching this even rather than the procession and parade itself driving past behind him. What that gave us was this striking image of a crowd of working class Londoners of the time lining up to get a glimpse of The Royals and one bloke sleeping through it all.
85 years later, I left the house hoping to capture something similair.
”Trooping of the Colour” was the main event of this Thursday bank holiday. I got up early and followed the crowds to The Mall to find a good spot near the Palace. Many people had been camping overnight to secure their place at the front but I wasn’t concerned about a good view of the parade anyway.
There were already lots of TV reporters and crew when I arrived, interviewing different people there about their thoughts on the day. I think the abundance of TV cameras, press photographers and smart phones put everyone at ease and allowed me to get close to people.
I later looked further into Cartier-Bresson’s photographs from this day as well as his coverage from the 1977 Silver Jubilee and was surprised to find so many similarities of the images that I captured all those years later.
I guess for as many things that chance, there as just as many that stay the same.
My First Exhibition
My very first solo photography exhibition is just days away.
Over the last couple of months I have learnt a lot about printing, marketing and what it takes to make an event like this come together.
My very first solo photography exhibition is just days away.
I remember back in early 2016 when I first exhibited a few of my photographs in a local gallery, thinking “I could fill this whole place up with my own work”. Looking back now, I was 100% wrong as I now wouldn’t want to exhibit a single one of my best photos from back then and I had no idea the work that would go into such an undertaking.
From initially choosing the photographs to exhibit, to editing final versions of them, trialing a few different print-houses and eventually finding one I am happy with, having a LOT of bother with searching for the right frames before deciding to have them hand-make by a recommended frame maker.
I then decided to create a book and a website for the project also so spent the necessary time making these right.
After all that I had to then advertise the exhibition, putting up flyers and posting in as many local social media groups as possible.
Over the last couple of months I have learnt a lot about printing, marketing and what it takes to make an event like this come together.
I have almost everything ready now. I’m sure on the day it will look like just a few photo prints in frames being displayed but a lot of work has gone into it behind the scenes, thankfully assisted by my friends, family and wonderful girlfriend.
I do hope it all comes together on the day and I can stand proudly next to my art.
I am equally excited and nervous about Sunday.
Website launch
With my very first solo exhibition taking place, I am launching this website with it.
Please keep checking back for updates.
With my very first solo exhibition taking place, I am launching this website with it.
I plan to use it to display all my future photography projects, as well as host the store to purchase prints and use this blog to discuss future photography ideas and plans that I have coming up.
Please keep checking back for updates.