Opening at the NYC Public Library: "Public Eye: 175 Years of Sharing Photography"

From December 12, 2014 - September 4, 2015, the New York Public Library is hosting an exhibit of a selection from the library's enormous collection of photographs, collected since the 1800s. I saw the banner announcing the show on my visit to NYC last weekend, but the show had not yet opened at that time.

NYC Public Library, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, 50mm Summicron f2 v.3 Lens

iso 400, f8, 1/125 sec.

 

The exhibit will be arranged around contemporary themes from social media: crowdsourcing, image sharing, and street view. It will be interesting to see how these themes are interpreted and which images from such an expansive collection will be included.

 

The exhibit will be held at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Fifth Ave at 42nd Street, NYC.

 

(Click Here) to read more about it on the NY Times' blog "Lens."

 

I really hope that I can get back up to NYC before the show ends next September.

 

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!

 

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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

 

 

Preparing for a Month-Long Show at King Street Coffee in Leesburg, VA

Train Station, Harpers Ferry, WV, by Reed A. George

Leica CL, Leica Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 lens (ca. 1937)

Exposure unrecorded

 

I am busy preparing for a gallery showing of my work at King Street Coffee in Leesburg, Virginia.
 
(Click Here) to go to the King Street Coffee website. They host monthly gallery showings by local artists. I'm very happy to be given the opportunity to show my work there in the month of November.
 
My theme is going to be all pictures taken within an hour or so of Leesburg.
 
(Click Here) to see the images on my site, creativeobjective.com
 
My goal is to show some images from the area that might not be apparent to newcomers, and may entice people to get out and explore a little. The images were shot with a variety of equipment, and collected over several years' time.
 
I am limited by wall space in the coffee shop to ~8-10 images. I've got them selected now, and will set up my home framing operation today.
 
King Street Coffee will be hosting a gallery opening for me at Leesburg's "First Friday" event on November 2, from 6-9PM. Come by, have a cup of coffee, and chat photography with me!
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 
 

I Wish I Could See This Gallery Showing In Person - Gordon Parks, 100 Years Since His Birth

Gordon Parks (1912-2006) is perhaps the most famous African American photographer in history.
 
I can remember marvelling at some of his work in one of my first photography books, The Joy of Photography I think it was, when I was about twelve years old. Mr. Parks photographed a wide variety of subjects, including segregation of races in the United States. He also did some spectacular coverage of bullfighting, including gorgeous treatment of motion through blur in his photographs. That early exposure has stuck with me throughout my photographic life.
 
(Click Here) to read a brief biography of Gordon Parks on the American Photography Archives Group (APAG) website.
 
There is a gallery showing at Howard Greenberg Studios in New York to celebrate Mr. Parks' centennial. I am going to New York soon, but will be there on Sunday and Monday, the two days that the studio is not open. Bummer.
 
(Click Here) to read more about the gallery event.
 
In order to respect copyrights, I am not including any of Gordon's work in this post. If you love photography, you owe it to yourself to see it. A simple google image search will yield plenty to look at.
 
While I hesitate to do this, because my work isn't worthy, I'm going to include a shot of my own, inspired by Mr. Parks' treatment of the bullfights.
 

Calf Roping, by Reed A. George

Nikon D200, Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 at 200mm

iso100, f20, 1/20 sec

 
I didn't think consciously about Gordon Park while making this photograph at a local rodeo a few years back, but I can see the inspiration for it now.
 
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