Dancing to Woody Pines on a Tuesday Night

Yesterday's post was about my friends in the band Mink, playing at Jammin' Java on a Tuesday night.

 

After Mink, Woody Pines hit the stage. I had to leave early, but did capture these shots of people having a good ol' time dancing to their music.

Dancing to Woody Pines, by Reed A. George

Nikon Df, Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AF-D Lens

iso 1600, f3.2, 1/60 sec.

Bounced flash (Nikon SB800) on manual, ~1/32 power

 

I was about to walk out the door as the band started, but the music was pretty infectious. Noticing that people had started to dance, I shot several images of them silhouetted against the stage lights, without flash, and with my 50mm f1.4 lens. None of those images really came out very well.

 

Then, I decided to move in closer with the 24mm, and add just enough flash to illuminate the dancers in front of the stage. I reduced the expose I'd already set for the previous shots by decreasing my iso from 3200 to 1600, and set the flash on a lower power manual setting. I was quite pleased with this result.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Leica at the Sunday Afternoon Jam Session - Including Whole Lotta Leica Lens for July - Summitar 5cm f2 Collapsible

I went to a jam session at Jammin' Java, a great music venue and coffee house here in Vienna, Virginia.

 

(Click Here) to check out Jammin' Java.

Margot MacDonald, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM

iso 800, f2, 1/125 sec.

 

I took along my WLL lens for this month, the Summitar 50mm f2 collapsible. Here's a shot from that lens.

 

 

Jam Session, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Summitar 5cm f2 Collapsible LTM Lens (Coated)

iso 640, f2, 1/160 sec.

 

It was pretty dark in there, with bright afternoon light coming from the front windows, but very little additional light inside. It made for some dramatic lighting for those standing in that window light, just plain darkness for the others.

 

I was glad that I had thrown my Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM lens in my bag on the way out. I used it a lot more than the Summitar. Here are a couple of examples.

 

 

Nina, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM

iso 40, f1.4, 1/90 sec.

 

Margot MacDonald and Tony Moreno, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM

iso 1250, f2, 1/90 sec.

 

 

Bass, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM

iso 800, f1,7, 1/125 sec.

 

Margot MacDonald, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM

iso 800, f1.4, 1/125 sec.

I thoroughly enjoyed the session, and met a few new people.

 

For more images from the session, (Click Here).

 

I have always really liked my Summitar. However, the Canon f1.4 really came through for me. I think the Summitar is a street photography lens, not so much a low light, wide open shooter. I have shot it in dark spaces a couple of times recently, and am not really that happy with it wide open. At f5.6 or smaller, it excels. That wasn't going to happen at the jam session.

 

Guess I've got to get the Summitar out on the street this month!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com