Hollywood Activists Do Something RIGHT! Kodak Film Here to Stay!

I'm so glad to read that the director's group in Hollywood, which includes Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorcese, was able to convince (I'm sure with money as well as influence) Kodak to commit to continuing film supply well into the future.

Cold Shenandoah River, Shot on Kodak C-41 B&W Film

 

I don't know which films are going to persist, but I'm sure that some motion picture films will be useful to us still photographers as well. Good job, guys!

 

(Click Here) to read more on Indywire.

 

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Mystery

Mystery, by Reed A. George

 

Another image made with the Leica CL and Gekko 100 film. When exposing it, I knew that no film could represent the full range of light levels in the scene. So, I had to make a decision - would I expose for the interior, letting the outside light go to pure white (which may have been interesting), or expose for the highlights, letting the inside go black?

 

Obviously, I chose the latter. I love seeing the structure in the window glass and especially the buildings outside. I also like the mystery of the darkness inside.

 

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In Cars - On Composition

I believe that once you've learned the mechanics of photography - exposure, depth of field, focusing, etc., you can begin to look at the less concrete aspects of making good photographs. However, I think there are some concepts that bridge the gap between purely technical and artistic: lighting and composition, for example.

 

I shot a couple of rolls of Gekko 100 black and white film (donated to me by my good friend Dennis Gallus) last weekend. While doing the embassy row walk in DC, I shot two pictures from the Dumbarton Bridge. Here they are, side by side.

 

Two Compositions, by Reed A. George

Leica CL, Rokkor 40mm f2 Lens, Gekko 100 Film

 

Can you see the difference that the location of the cars in the scene makes? To my eye, the line of cars in the image on the left leads the viewer into and up the entrance ramp on the left. In the image on the right, the line of cars leads the eye in a curve to the right, and back to the bridge in the distance. Other than the placement of the cars, these images are nearly identical.

 

I feel that I have mastered the purely technical aspects of photography. Composition and lighting continue to challenge me, and perhaps always will. That's okay; it's part of the fun. I'm just scratching the surface of the higher "artistic" aspects of photography.

 

Here's a fun car shot, made the same day, from the new Metro Silver Line that runs from Reston, VA into DC.

 

Zoom Zoom, by Reed A. George

Leica CL, Rokkor 40mm f2 Lens, Gekko 100 Film

 

 

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My M9 is Back

I've written a couple of posts about the sensor corrosion issue and how I've responded to the news.

(Click Here) to read my latest previous post, regarding the fact that my M9 was checked out by Leica USA, and found to NOT have the sensor corrosion issue.

 

I am pleased to know that my sensor is unaffected, and appreciate the free checkup from Leica. I just got the nerve up to shoot a test shot of the sky, and confirm that the spots I saw before are gone. They are gone. Whew!

 

So, now that I know that Leica will make good on their promise to check and repair my M9 if the problem does arise, and have confirmed that I'm pleased with the results it's giving, I'm going back to just using it and enjoying it. I wasn't planning an upgrade to the M240 or anything else soon, so why should I now?

 

I did consider selling my M9 immediately upon its return from service. I don't think I'll do that. It's a wonderful camera, and I will just relax and start shooting it again.

 

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Contrasting Styles at the Japanese Ambassador's Residence

And one final shot from the new year event at the Japanese Ambassador's residence. I really like the feeling of this one.

Contrasting Styles, by Reed A. George

Nikon Df, Nikkor 35-70mm f2.8 AF-D Lens

iso 220, f4, 1/250 sec.

 

I could write a good fiction story based on this image. I love the reflected man in a business suit, with a female character, likely his wife, directly behind him, while two women in traditional kimono walk the corridor from the teahouse. There's some mystery in this image.

 

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Reflecting - Japanese Ambassador's Residence

Here's a shot I made at the new year's event at the Japanese Ambassador's residence:

 

Reflecting, by Reed A. George

Nikon Df, Nikkor 35-70mm f2.8 AF-D Lens

iso 100, f4, 1/250 sec.

 

I enjoyed the combination of the traditional Japanese style teahouse in the background and the pine-surrounded pond, and hot it contrasted with the man in business suit, and especially the suited man reflected in the glass at left of center.

 

I have another reflection image from the same scene - come back tomorrow!

 

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A Special New Year's Celebration With the Japanese Ambassador to the US

I was extremely honored to have received an invitation to attend a new year celebration at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador in Washington, DC a couple of weeks back. This was my first invitation to such an event, and I enjoyed it immensely.

 

Of course, I brought a camera along - the Nikon Df and 35-70 f2.8 AF-D lens.

 

The ambassador's residence is immense, impressive, beautiful. There is room for literally hundreds of guests, and even a full-size Japanese tearoom, situated on a small pond.

 

We lined up and got a chance to say hello and happy new year to the ambassador and his wife, along with other dignitaries.

 

Next was a set of very short speeches (the kind I like), followed by a Japanese sake toast (Kanpai!). Then, on to food and conversation:

Wrapping up with an amazing selection of Japanese sweets (actually, "semi-sweet" in comparison to Western desserts), this was a lovely event.

 

I have a good contact and friend at the Embassy to thank, Mr. Akira Tsugita. My wife and I really enjoyed this event, and hope to be invited again in the future.

 

In addition to these rather documentary shots, I did make two images that I feel are more expressive and interesting. You'll see those soon!

 

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