Off-Stage at the Music Festival

I shot these images at a recent music festival (River and Roots, in Berryville, VA). I find myself interested in photographing more candid settings with the friends I've made in the local music scene. Of course, I still photograph them on-stage, but I really like hanging out, sharing thoughts, and capturing moments off-stage as well.

 

It's interesting to me that through the festivals that I regularly attend, as well as the bands that I've now known for several years, I'm watching people develop, families come into existence and grow. That continuity makes it even more fun.

 

I shot all of these with my wartime Leica IIIC and 5cm f3.5 Elmar, on Tmax 100 film.

 

 

Hope you enjoy the shots.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Quick Test of my New Wartime Leica IIIC

 

Wartime Leica IIIC

 

A few years ago, I purchased a beautiful Leica IIIC wartime model (ca. 1942) from a friend of a friend. At the same time, I got an uncoated LTM Summitar 5cm f2 lens (1939). Both the camera and lens turned out to be favorites of mine. The wartime IIICs are characterized by a little step up on the top plate, where the rewind lever sits. Therefore, these cameras are sometimes referred to as "steppers." I always have my eyes open for these models, both because the wartime IIICs are usually in better shape than postwar cameras, due to issues with chrome plating after the war, and because they really are little pieces of history. They don't come up for sale all that often.

 

Recently, I saw the camera above on one of the forums, another wartime IIIC from 1945-46, with a matching Elmar 5cm f3.5 collapsible lens from 1945. I paid a little more than I should have for it (not really bad though, as these cameras go for very little money these days). I had to have it serviced by Youxin Ye to get the slow speeds working, but that's really an investment rather than a cost. Youxin also recovered the camera and cleaned up the Elmar very nicely. It's now all fixed up and working well.

 

In order to just do a quick test of this new camera and lens, I popped in a cheap roll of Walgreens 200 speed color print film and gave it a shot. You'll see that this film is quite grainy for 200 speed, but otherwise I guess it's okay. All of these were shot with the Elmar that came with the camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tried to use a variety of shutter speeds to make sure the shutter's operating properly. I don't see any problems here at all.

 

So, I've now got a second wartime Leica and matching Elmar 5cm f3.5 lens. Checking with the expert on these cameras, Jim Lager, who I met through my membership in the LHSA (International Leica Society), I learned that this camera was most likely sold to an Allied soldier at the end of World War II. The serial number indicates that it was made late in the wartime camera production era.

 

Surprisingly, I've now found an even higher serial number IIIC on the same forum, and purchased it. The seller tells me that this one fires well at all speeds, so hopefully it won't need the same level of service as the one pictured here. Again, this younger stepper IIIC was probably sold to a US or Allied soldier at the very end of the war. I'll share pics when it arrives.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

 

My Image Selected For the Process: Photography Show at Athenaeum in Alexandria, Virginia

 

Transit to Hockey Practice, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Elmar 5.0 cm f3.5 Collapsible Lens

iso 1250, f3.5, 1/45 sec

 

This image, shot as part of my Whole Lotta Leica column in January, was chosen to be part of the Process:Photography exhibit at Athenaeum Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, from February 28 - April 7, 2013.

 

Process:Photography focuses on the interplay of photographic technique, equipment, and the resulting image. Sounds pretty much like the focus of this blog, huh? There is a wide variety of equipment represented, from high tech microphotography (using fluorescence microscopes), to flatbed scanners, to plastic toy cameras.

 

I think my image appealed because of the combination of old, less than perfect optics in my ca. 1938 Elmar, matched with the latest in digital imaging technology in the Leica M9. I have to admit, it looks pretty good printed at 20" x 30".

 

Athenaeum is a gorgeous, open exhibit space in a historic building in Old Town, Alexandria (201 Prince Street).

 

(Click Here) to see Athenaeum on the web.

 

There is an opening reception, which I unfortunately cannot attend, on Sunday March 3 from 4:00-6:00 PM (free).

 

I will be there for the "Artist's Show and Tell" on Sunday, April 7, at 2:00 PM.

 

If you're in the Northern Virginia / DC area, please drop by and say hello!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Whole Lotta Leica - January Results - Elmar 5c f3.5 on the Leica M9

Winter Shopping With Mom, NYC, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 Lens (ca. 1938)

iso 640, f6.7, 1/250 sec

 

Back on January 9, I wrote about a new project I'm taking on this year, to help me explore the interface between equipment and creativity in photography. It's called "Whole Lotta Leica," and in this project I'll match up a different "normal" lens (35-50mm) with my new Leica M9 each month.

 

(Click Here) to read my post introducing the project.

 

January's lens selection was a 1938 Leica Elmar 5cm (50mm) f3.5 LTM lens.

 

I got out for three separate shooting sessions with this lens during the month. The first was right near home, at the Udvar Hazy National Air and Space Museum. On a cold winter day, it's a pretty good place to end up.

Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum Building, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 Lens (ca. 1938)

iso 160, f16, 1/160 sec

 

 

Space Shuttle Discovery, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 Lens (ca. 1938)

iso 320, f4.8, 1/90 sec

 

You can see from these two shots that the old Elmar has some haze and scratches. Any light source directly in the field of view flares. I did not use a hood, which may have helped considerably. However, it is quite sharp, and focuses accurately on the M9.

 

My next outing was a little street shooting in Washington DC. I went to Chinatown, which is always good for a shot or two.

 

Making the Noodles, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 Lens (ca. 1938)

iso 320, f5.7, 1/180 sec

 

Here again, you can see the haze at work on those lightbulbs, but otherwise it's a perfectly acceptable image.

 

Now here's where the Elmar shines, in my opinion - gorgeous, warm reds.

 

Chinatown Shop Window, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 Lens (ca. 1938)

iso 320, f5.7, 1/180 sec

 

The detail in this shot is quite impressive. I think the color rendition is hard to beat, even with modern lenses.

 

While in DC, I went to the National Portrait Gallery. The building is extremely nice, and has a huge open courtyard which separates the portrait gallery from the attached Museum of American Art. The courtyard is a great place to hang out in winter - nice, bright natural light, but with the convenience heating.

View to the Courtyard, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 Lens (ca. 1938)

iso 1250, f4.8, 1/90 sec

There is a nice water feature, where the water runs over segments of the flooring in the courtyard. Even though it was sub-freezing outside, the kids loved running and playing in the water.

Playing in the Water, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 Lens (ca. 1938)

iso 1250, f5.7, 1/125 sec

I even gave the Elmar a little workout shooting from the hip, using zone focusing.

Winter Cheer by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 Lens (ca. 1938)

iso 640, f6.7, 1/180 sec

My third and final outing for this month with the Elmar was in New York City.

 

The first shot in this post (above) was again taken with zone focus, walking up behind a mother and daughter out for a winter walk.

 

Hockey Practice Transit, NYC, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 Lens (ca. 1938)

iso 1250, f3.5, 1/45 sec

 

The image of the hockey player waiting on his train was selected for an upcoming gallery show in Alexandria, Virginia. Focused on exactly my interest, how equipment informs and shapes photography, the show at Gallery Athenaeum will be a lot of fun.

 

(Click Here) to read about Gallery Athenaeum. The show will be from Thursday February 28 to Sunday April 7.

 

I'm very excited to be part of the show.

 

Photo Instructor, Zim, from NYC Photo Safaris, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 Lens (ca. 1938)

iso 640, f5.7, 1/640 sec

 

While in New York City, I took a field seminar with NYC Photo Safaris, led by our instructor pictured above, Zim.

 

(Click Here) to go to NYC Photo Safari's website.

 

We met in Central Park for a four hour discussion and shooting session. I must say that Zim and I come at photography from completely different angles. A pro for over 20 years, Zim is a real authority, and I am certain that she knows how to get "the shot" better than I. Her advice for our group was to trust P mode on your DSLR, as the camera companies have spent years and millions on making exposure work for us. She also prescribes only zooms. She really did not understand why I'd be carrying two manual cameras, the M9 and my (film, really?) Pentax K1000, with prime lenses. At one point she said "Why do you people do this to yourselves?"

 

I ended up using my pocket camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3, for most of the class. It has a wide angle zoom, autofocus, etc. It fit much better with the style that Zim wanted us to explore. I learned a lot from Zim in a short time. It is differing opinions that challenge us, make us better. It was a friendly, constructive tension at all times. I recommend Zim and NYC Photo Safaris - just be sure to take along an automatic camera.

 

The shot of Zim above feels nice to me. I think it exemplifies what the old Elmar can do. You'll notice the light source is well outside the image, avoiding any flare or haze effects.

 

To see more of my pictures taken this month with the Leica M9 and Elmar 5cm f3.5, please visit my set on flickr.

 

(Click Here) to go to the Whole Lotta Leica set on flickr.

 

In terms of usage, I would say that the Elmar is challenging. Here are a few thoughts from my experience:

• First, you have to keep the flare in mind at all times when composing. Sometimes, it adds to the shot. Other times, it can ruin the shot.
• The f-stop adjustment is very fiddly. On my copy, it's also tight, so you'll literally break fingernails trying to change aperture. You'll notice that many of my shots were made at a single f-stop as a result.
• You have to be mindful not to collapse the lens on the M9, as it can hit the sensor. I cut up a 35mm film canister and made a little ring to put around my lens, to make it impossible to collapse. That would be a disaster.
• If you're out for numbers - high quantities of technically competent shots - this is probably not the best lens. If you like it's unique qualities, it's irreplaceable.
• This was a standard lens for Leica cameras for many years. Many great (understatement) images were made with the Elmar 5cm f3.5 lens.

 

I hope you find this useful and interesting. It's going to be a blast re-exploring all of these nice lenses!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com