High Contrast, Asian Style - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 Sample Image

 

Asian Restaurant, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

iso 400, f2.8, 1/1000 sec.

 

I'm loving my new LX100. Lots more to come.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Mike Selsky - Leica Photographer, Winner of LA X-Vario Challenge

Image Source: http://blog.leica-camera.com/photographers/interviews/mike-selsky-hunting-for-the-strange-and-obscure-in-los-angeles/

I like to read the Leica camera blog, where they regularly feature interviews with other Leica photographers. I like to see what I have in common with others, as well as our differences. The latest is an interview with Mike Selsky, fine art photographer in Los Angeles. Mike recently won the Leica X-Vario City Challenge there, which earned him a free X-Vario.

(Click Here) to read about Mike's approach to photography and his interests.

Mike's regular camera choices are a Leica M6 TTL film rangefinder, and Monochrom, Leica's black and white-only digital rangefinder. His lens of choice is the 50mm Summilux Aspheric (f1.4). This is similar to my favorite rangefinders, the M6 TTL (titanium version, in my case) with matching Summilux 50mm, and the Leica M9 (which allows me to shoot both black and white and color).

Mike seems to be a wanderer, saying:

"I enjoy exploring California with a friend, planning road trips with vague photographic goals in mind."

We also have that in common.

Mike makes images that ask more questions than providing answers. Mystery is important in his style of photography. I find it a challenge to make the questions engaging enough to draw the viewer in. You don't want a response that just says "I don't know what that is." or "Why did you take a picture of that?" Sometimes, it's better to elicit "What am I looking at here?" or "How did you make X look like that?"

One final thing Mike and I have in common: we both value the effort that goes into making a great image. For me, an image is much more valuable to me personally if I know that it was a difficult one to capture. Mike says:

"My favorite images are the ones that took the most effort to make."

Mike seems to be enjoying the new X-Vario that he won in the challenge. Congratulations to Mike. I look forward to seeing more of his work.

(Click Here) to visit Mike's blog, 2WK.

One additional note. Mike mentions that with the Monochrom, he exposes for the highlights, and brings lots of detail out of the shadows in post-processing. A quick look at his blog indicates that he underexposes a lot with that camera. A little too much for my taste. I think he needs to bring up the shadows quite a bit more in many cases. Just a little critical thought on his work.

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Cole Thompson on Vision

Image Source: http://www.photographyblackwhite.com/finding-vision/

 

I recently read a great post on Cole Thompson's blog, about how he found his own vision. Cole started the journey with a portfolio review where the reviewer simply said that he was copying Ansel Adams. He told Cole that Ansel had already done Ansel, and he was never going to do it better than him.

 

This set Cole on a journey to find and develop his own vision, which he describes in a set of ten steps.

 

(Click Here) to read the whole post on Cole Thompson's blog.

 

A few of the elements of the post I like best are:

 

1. He printed 100 of his most loved images, then sorted out those that he personally loved (not those that others happened to love). Then, he set his mind to pursuing more images like those.
2. A direct quote: "I had to remind myself that this was not a race or a contest, I was not competing against others...I was competing with myself."
3. Cole's vision didn't come to him in a flash, but in a moment of realization: "Vision was simply the sum total of my life experiences that caused me to see the world in a unique way."

I also like Cole's assertion that your vision is not necessarily associated with a particular look or style. You can bring your own vision to anything you set your mind to.

This is a very well-written piece, and one that makes me think more about why and how I pursue photography.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

My Picture Chosen to Announce Larry Keel and Sam Bush at Lock'n Festival!

Larry Keel and Sam Bush, Keel Photo by Reed A. George

 

I guess my new black and white concert style must be working at some level. I was contacted by Larry Keel's agent, inquiring about the picture on the left above. They wanted to see color versions, but eventually chose to use the monochrome one.

 

I'm really happy that Larry liked the image enough that it's of some use to him! I'm more than happy to contribute a little to someone who gives so much to us fans.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Subtle Color Can Work, Too

 

Persimmons, by Reed A. George

Leica M4-2, Leica Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 Lens

 

 

It seems that use of bold colors to make a strong statement is popular these days. It is one of those concepts that you read about in nearly every book about photography and composition. Like the idea of using simple, basic compositions, bold color can really add to the punch of a photograph.

 

However, sometimes I don't want my photograph to punch the viewer. I prefer something a little more subtle.

 

Lens choice, lighting type, exposure, and post-processing can all affect how bold or subtle your color is. In the shot above, I used my old LTM Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 lens, which is a master of gentle constrast and subtle colors.

 

(Click Here) to read an article on digital-photography-school.com about using subtle colors. There are some good example images in that post.

 

The way you choose to use color and composition says something about you as a photographer. As in regular life, if your style is in-your-face, punchy, bold, that begins to affect your overall reputation, how people think about you. I believe your photographic, artistic reputation is similar in this respect. I would not expect Monet to paint a bold, red, orange, and black abstract. I would also not expect Picasso to paint muted water lilies. It's worth thinking about your own style, rather than blindly following the instructions to make your images punch your viewer. At least not all the time.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

We Don't All Have to Focus on One Style to Be Successful! Leica Photographer Carlos Rene Perez on the Leica Blog

 

Image Source: http://blog.leica-camera.com/photographers/interviews/carlos-rene-perez-a-life-creating-art-for-arts-sake-part-1/

 

Developing a personal style is one of the more difficult creative tasks for some photographers, perhaps even harder than learning the technology and mechanics. I have read and been told over and over that in order to really make a name for yourself, you must specialize, focus on a type of photography.

 

Carlos Rene Perez, whose exhibit "Absence and Presence" is currently on display at the Leica Gallery in NY has not followed that recipe. Taking inspiration from sources as wide as "Family of Man" and Gordon Parks' photographic poetry, Perez has remained a generalist. In addition to being a successful commercial photographer, his personal style has remained wide.

 

Perez was born in San Antonio, Texas, but moved to NYC in 1974. His first exposure to Leica was at the age of 18, when he saved up enough to purchase an M2. Now his standard kit is an M7 with 21, 35, and 50mm Leica lenses.

 

(Click Here) to read the full article and see more of Perez's work.

 

I personally cannot focus on one type of photography or one type of equipment. I've tried. Maybe there's hope for me yet.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

 

From the Leica Blog - Emilie Rosson on Photography and the Leica X1

 

 

Emilie Rosson

Image Source: http://blog.leica-camera.com/photographers/interviews/emilie-rosson-an-emerging-photographer-on-a-mission-of-joyful-self-discovery/

 

The Leica Blog has an interview with emerging artist and photographer Emilie Rosson, exploring her creative thoughts, and her preference for the Leica X1.

 

(Click Here) to read the full post on the Leica blog.

 

I found this article interesting for a few reasons. First off, Emilie is not an accomplished success, with funds to buy any camera she wants. In fact, while she obviously enjoys the 2nd hand X1 that she currently uses, she admits to really wanting a Leica M9. She is also uncommon in that her style is still developing; she's not yet focused on a specialty. In fact, she says that she's currently into portraits, architecture, macro, flowers, and has an emerging interest in street photography.

 

While Emilie is a self-diagnosed cynic, that does not come through in her images. In fact, they're somewhat joyful. Emilie explains that photography provides her a measure of freedom from her own cynicism.

 

As a bonus, there's a link to a short video on street photography in the blog entry.

 

Read the whole story. I find it to be a refreshing break from my own concept of the typical Leica photographer.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

On Style, and Photographing Over-Photographed Subjects

 
 

Lotus Leaf and Water, by Reed A. George

Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-85mm f2.8-4 at 85mm

iso 100, f/16, HDR

 
I read a nice little post on thefixedfocus.com this morning about style. Specifically, it deals with flower photography.
 
(Click Here) to read the post on thefixedfocus
 
I remember several years back saying to one of my photographer buddies that I should stop taking flower pictures. My reasoning was that it had been done so much, so well. Does the world need any more flower pictures? Even good ones? Well, I think if they're REALLY good, then the answer is "yes."
 
I still shoot flowers and other overly-photographed subjects, like lotuses (above). I just think the hurdle to making a successful shot is higher with these subjects.
 
So, yes, I was wrong. I still shoot flowers. I even shoot pets on occasion, which I think is even more over-done.
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com