Wouter photoblog | Wouter Brandsma photography

Not much to come

08Nov09

Most amateur photographers want to become better photographers, right? I saw a thread at Rangefinderforum.com that actually might interest those who think that better photography is related to a new camera or that some magic wonder might eventually happen. The OP in his thread mentions he wants to become a better photographer, but is also too lazy to drag a SLR. That digital point & shoot cameras don’t offer him the tools and results he wants. That analogue is a lot of work(?), but he also would like to have a Leica to find out what all the fuzz is about. Seriously? He or she really doesn’t know it in my opinion.

Come on. Photography is not about buying the latest cameras. Is not about having a Leica or a compact camera to keep it in your pocket. Or a ridiculously priced Leica point & shoot camera. Photography is about getting out there and take as many photographs you want. When you want to become a better photographer or become better in a particular discipline of photography, you get out there and practice. Practice a lot. And the good thing about practicing is that you actually don’t need the latest camera, you can do it with any camera.

Rather learn how to see compositions. Make your photographs more interesting. Try to envision virtual shapes in your photographs like triangles or spirals (or whatever) that will help the viewer unconsciously to guide their eyes through your photographs. See the effects of using open spaces. Some try to teach you things like rule of thirds and so, but I think it is still better to get out and practice. Make the pictures you want and try to understand after that why some work and some don’t. Happy practicing!

All photographs by Wouter Brandsma

Filed under: 2009, Photography | 9 Comments
Tags: B&W, learning, Photography, practice, practicing, Sunday rant

Keeping my thoughts wide open

05Nov09

As promised, here is my second part of some photographs I took with the Leica M8 (see part one here). And should I mention something serious about this camera and the used lenses? Partially I think I should and partially I think I shouldn’t either. Why? Well first the serious part then. Even though it is a dream camera it still costs a lot of money. I mean really a lot of money. And yes, prices are dropping since the M9 was released. But the magic is still the lenses I think. And boy, these lenses come at serious prices.

And then the less serious part. I didn’t test this camera, I tried it, and to be honest we kept it at auto. I just scratched the surface to get some feeling of using a rangefinder camera and trying very fast lenses. I could have tried the Epson R-D1 too, but Cam, the sweetheart, insisted that I should try the Leica. And I don’t regret it. I loved the experience. And I loved using these lenses that screamed to be used wide open.

So what about these lenses? Leica lenses come at different flavors. Noctilux, Summilux, Summicron, Summarit, Elmarit, Elmar. The Noctilux lenses are the really fast ones. These lenses have a maximum apertures of f/1.0 or even f/0.95! You will find these only with 50mm focal lengths. And on the other side you will find the Elmar lenses. These are the slowest lenses, but by no mean bad lenses . Many users like to call their lenses Nocti’, ‘Lux or ‘Cron. I think they do so, because the owners have some sentimental relationship to their lenses. See it as a term of endearment (to quote Cam). And lets face it, Summilux or just ‘Lux sounds so much sexier than Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM. Interested? Then check Stephen Gandy’s CameraQuest for all the details and history of these lenses.

Would I want one? Yes, I would like to have a rangefinder, be it Leica or Epson. In the end they are still simple to operate cameras. The finder is large and bright, unlike with most SLR’s. I found manual focusing very well implemented. The finder provides the frame lines for three focal lengths, but these aren’t really accurate. Those who use external optical viewfinders for their compact sensor cameras know what I mean.But if you prefer accurate framing and if you like to have a sense of the depth of field you might be better of with a SLR.

So what is the part of all the attraction? I think to a large extension it is the unpredictability. Not the unpredictability of the system when it comes to the technical aspects, although some complained about that too. But more the end result part. When you shoot wide open it is quite difficult to really nail the focus and although you can have a feeling of the outcome and the depth of field by experience, you really know what you did until you see the end results. But that does bring excitement too. You can shoot an entire day and feel miserable after you see the results or you feel thrilled and stoked, because you’ve done everything right.

The lenses are exceptional. The quality is very high and in particular the wide angle lenses are much smaller and better performers than the SLR counter parts. I just loved the feeling of the Summilux lens and using the smooth focus ring.

But will I ever own one? Although it is my dream camera, likely not. The price, in particular the lenses, surpass my monthly income.

I would however still love to use M-mount lenses. And Voigtländer or Zeiss might be fine too for me. Some say they are 90% of the quality of the Leica lenses, but so are also the prices. Would I use such lenses with a rangefinder? I just don’t know. The M8 might eventually still be too expensive, even after a couple of years and a M9.2 or M10 announcement. Currently do the micro4/3 cameras provide an option to use these lenses too in combination to LCD screen or electronic viewfinder framing and focusing. It is just that I don’t like the 2x crop factor. And to be fair and honest, the new Olympus E-P2 looks like an ugly duck with that external EVF.
But maybe the new Samsung NX10 will be able to use these lenses too. This camera will have a 1,5x APS-C sized sensor. And will more manufacturers join this new competition? Sony mentioned being interested and they are the intellectual owners of the Hexar heritage! And maybe more will follow too.

All photographs by Wouter Brandsma

Filed under: 2009, Photography | 17 Comments
Tags: 35mm Summilux f/1.4, 50mm Noctilux f/1.0, B&W, Leica, Leica M8, M8, Photography, thank you Cam, wide open

A special moment

03Nov09

Yesterday I felt honored and privileged to photograph with my friend’s Leica M8 and two gorgeous lenses. Yes, the camera is something totally different then anything I have used for photography. Top finish and wonderful and bright rangefinder with bright frame lines. And I have to say that this is my dream camera. Do you read me John?

But the lenses made all the differences. Yesterday I used a nineties 35mm Summilux f/1.4 and a 1975 pre-production 50mm Noctilux f/1.0. Both lenses screamed to be used wide open which I of course did.

Shooting wide open at dim light isn’t easy. I know that now all to well with my Canon 10D and legacy lenses. But it helps that the finder is so bright.

Kevin is used to waiting and this isn’t the first time his legs are photographed.

I tried to focus on the cigarette and admittedly almost succeeded.

I think I like the fall and shooting wide open, which is even better with such a gorgeous Summilux.

And when we went to the Ginkel Heath, one of the drop zones during the start of Operation Market Garden on September 17, 1944, the light became just perfect. The monument is to commemorate the young men who died there.

All shown photographs in this post were taken with the Summilux. In my next post I will also show some photographs taken with the Noctilux.

All photographs by Wouter Brandsma

Filed under: 2009, Photography | 35 Comments
Tags: 35mm Summilux f/1.4, B&W, Leica, Leica M8, M8, Photography, wow

French connection

31Oct09

Today my friends Kevin and Cam from Paris visited my place in Holland. It was such a lovely day talking about life, sharing ideas and thoughts and being occupied with photography.

Despite the fall season we had a dry day and we had a walk in the neighboring town of Wageningen. They met my aunt and uncle, tasted Dutch old cheese, and I showed them my favorite locations for landscape photography.

All photographs by Wouter Brandsma

Filed under: 2009, Photography | 30 Comments
Tags: 10D, B&W, Canon, Canon 10D, Frenc connection, Kevin and Cam, meeting, Nikkor 24 f/2.0, Paris, Photography, Sigma DP1

Short update

29Oct09

Some of my friends have been really busy the last time. So was Cristian Sorega of the Ricoh GR-Diary working on a Ricoh GR Digital III book project. While another, Mitch Alland, posted his impressions of the same camera at the rangefinderforum.

Adobe released a beta of the Lightroom, version 3, which can downloaded at Adobe Labs. I tried it with some of the DNG’s from the Ricoh GR Digital III and I could see a definite difference between version 2 and the new beta version. The images aren’t soft anymore. Some great new features are the grain and new vignetting with highlight and color priority. And finally Adobe changed the option of grayscale into black&white!

And best of all. Some great Flickr friends from Paris will come this weekend to my place. Will do an update later this weekend.