In a dark bar with a D700 and 14-24mm f/2.8 zoom. ISO 6400

Single light source in the corner

The other night I was roaming around looking for something to shoot.  No quite sure where to go or what I was going to do.  Suddenly I happened upon a wildly “edgy” bar I had been to once before.

On the earlier occasion, I took a series of photographs of the bartenders.  Luckily I had my Leica M8 and the Noctilux 50mm f/1 lens.  Although my Noctilux has a slight back focus issue, it performed well, given the very dark ambiance of the bar.   And remember, with the M8, we are talking manual focus.  In a very dim bar. The photo below was taken that first visit.

Leica M8 with Noctilux 50mm f/1 lens

On the recent visit, I hadn’t prepared for a return visit.  As a result I ended up with the D700 and the 14-24mm f2.8 lens.  Because this lens is only capable of f/2.8, I dialed up the ISO to 6400, hoping that I could compensate for the lens’ relatively lack of wide aperture.  I half expected the auto focus to struggle and that I would have to go to manual focus.  Well, this didn’t happen.  After I turned off the AF assist light, I went strictly low impact.  I used the D700’s spotmeter with “aperture priority” and f-stop 2.8.

Post processing was minimal.  Noise reduction was turned off.  I took the liberty of processing some of the b&w in a high contrast style.

Bottom line, the D700’s performance, including its high ISO capabilities and the extremely fast and accurate auto-focus,  makes it a joy to use.  The only downside was the sheer size of the combination when compared with the M8.

Caged

Cropped from above

Random scenes from San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf

Night or day, with or without people, the area around Fisherman’s Wharf is photo rich.  It all depends on you and your camera.  The secret to satifying photography is taking photos.  Under all conditions.   And with a bit of experimentation thrown in for an interesting perspective.  The more you shoot, the better you will become (with a bit of hardwork, experience and luck).

Photos taken with a Leica M8 and a Noctilux 50mm f/1 or a Summilux 75mm f/1.4 or a Summicron 35mm f/2 lens.

More photos with the Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1 while at Tokyo Disneyland

As mentioned in my past posting about my photos with the Noctilux at Tokyo Disneyland, it can take some experience and luck to take good photos at night with a manual focus camera and a slow focusing lens while the subject is moving.   And handheld with no flash.  Sounds pretty tricky huh? It can be.  The key to your skill is to practice, practice, and more practice.  The more you use your equipment in less than ideal conditions, the more adept you will become.

These photos were taken with a Leica M8 with Noctilux 50mm f/1 lens.

Using the Leica Noctilux during Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade

Last week I visited Tokyo Disneyland and had the opportunity to view the nighttime Electrical Parade.  I decided to use my Leica M8 and Noctilux 50mm f/1 even though the M8 and Nocti are not within their comfort zone in the anticipated environment.  After all, the Noctilux has a “long throw” focusing ring so it is not quick focusing.  And the Electrical Parade is moving thus requiring constant refocusing.

While everyone around me used flash, I used the low light capability of the Noctilux to take these photos.  There I was with moving subjects as various distances from my location and focusing on the fly.  (Remember that the M8 is a manual focus camera.) With the Noctilux wide open at f/1 and its very narrow depth of field at that aperture, I didn’t expect the best results.

Yet it turned out ok.  In past years I had tried other kits at the same venue including the Canon 5D and the results were not stellar.  Ok photos but not closeups of the moving floats and dancers.  This time it was different.

The images have been cropped.  And of course, these photos are natural light.  A flash was not used.  Think about that.

Erawan Shrine – black and white or color?

One of the dilemmas photographers face is black and white or color?   In colorful locales such as the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, the vividness of the colors is hard to ignore.  There is a richness that is best conveyed in color.  However, black and white can work provided your composition,  imagery, and richness of detail are compelling.

Photos were taken with a Leica M8 and either a Summicron 90mm f/2 or a Noctilux 50mm f/1 lens.

Amphawa Floating Market – Stalking with the Noctilux.

Sometimes the difference between a successful street photographer and a not so successful photographer is a matter of finding a location from which you can observe other people and their activities.  If you’re constantly in motion, walking aimlessly, then it can be difficult to settle on one image or scene that you wish to capture with your camera.

Look for a location that affords you a good vantage point,  settle in, and take in the ebb and flow of the movement around you.  Blend into the environment.

If you sit or stand long enough, you will begin to visualize images that could lead to a very successful shoot.

Several months ago, I was at the floating market at Amphawa, Thailand.  Walking the boardwalk,  I found a bench from which I could observe the people walking by.  I sat for a few minutes, looked around and decided that the large pots in the foreground might be a good subject what with the late afternoon sunlight and strolling people.  I sat there for about five minutes, took a handful of photos and then I moved on to another location where I did the same thing.  And so on.

When I first sat down people noticed me taking photos including the vendor on the left side of some of the photos.  After a minute or so, she paid me no mind.  I had blended into the scene.

The above photo was taken with a Leica M8 and Carl Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/2.8 lens.  The following photos were taken with a Noctilux 50mm f/1 lens.

Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1 and Summilux 75mm f/1.4 lenses, food and bokeh

The Noctilux is known for its low light capabilities, very shallow depth of field and a creamy dream-like bokeh that is the realm of very few lenses.  My Noctilux is a third generation version and is capable of brilliant images although a slight issue with back focus can make it difficult to nail the perfect focus.

The Noctilux also holds its value so that if you buy one, you can use it for as long as you want and yet be able to sell it for what you paid for it.

Check out Edwin Puts’ thorough review of the f/1 version of the Noctilux on his “TAO of Leica” website.  His site is a real treat.

However, I also enjoy the Summilux 75mm f/1.4 which is known as a portrait lens.  It has razor sharp focus with good  bokeh and like the Noctilux, the ability to isolate the subject from the background.  And its much easier to focus.  It doesn’t have the extreme low light capabilities of the Noctilux but f/1.4 is nothing to laugh about. And this lens also retains its value.

The first two photos were taken with the Noctilux.  Note that the top photo was mainly lit by candlelight.  The bottom three with the Summilux. There is some distortion and “smearing” of the bokeh  in the Summilux photos caused by the curved shape and thickness of the glass counter.

All photos taken with a Leica M8 and Noctilux 50mm f/1 lens or Summilux 75mm f/1.4 lens.

Farmer’s Market near Jatujak Market in Bangkok

Under the roof is an open air market

Across Kamphaeng Phet Road from the Jatujak (or JJ) Market is a terrific farmers market that focuses primarily on all types of Thai food and the ingredients to make Thai food.  In addition to fresh and live seafood, there are large sections of prepared foods for takeaway and fresh vegetables and fruit.  It is know in proper English as the “Marketing Organization for Farmers”  (MOF) Market (but never ask for it by its English name as no one will know what you’re talking about).  It is locally known as the Talat (market) “Or-tor-kor” which derives its name from the Thai initials for MOF.  There is also a sizable food court with most dishes ranging in the 30-50 baht range.

It’s a great place to take photos as the structure itself is tall-roofed with great sightlines.

You can get to the market by crossing Kamphaeng Phet Road from Jatujak.  This can be done above ground or by walking into the MRT Kamphaeng Phet Station and crossing underground and then up on the other side.  I recommend this second option as there is no traffic to be concerned about underground.  This link will show you the location of the market and its proximity to Jatujak Market.

The photos were taken with a Leica M8 and Noctilux 50mm f/1, Carl Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/2.8 and Summilux 75mm f/1.4 lenses.

Fresh seafood

All kinds of Thai food

Khao San Road in Bangkok, a great place to hang out.

Khao San Road is usually the first place in Bangkok that young backpackers visit as its “ground zero” for travel to other parts of Thailand and Southeast Asia.  Not only can you find low-cost travel opportunities from Khao San, you can also talk to others of many nationalities who may have recently traveled to the same destinations that you’re interested in.  And you even find a travel mate.

It also a great place to find accommodations of all prices so that it’s pretty easy to find lodging suitable to your budget.  However, it’s more than just hotel rooms.  There are many restaurants, cafes, pubs with differing themes.   Just find a place to hang out and watch life pass you by.  And all on your budget.

There’s plenty to buy there and you won’t be disappointed in the prices.  Because Khao San is home to budget travelers, the prices of goods also reflect that.  I was there recently and I found the prices for clothing, other personal affects, souvenirs, and other items as good as anywhere in Bangkok.

I recommend that you visit Khao San even if you’re not a budget traveler.  There is definitely a buzz in the air there.  A real energy in seeing many nationalities in one location, all stationary for a few days, before they move on to their next stop.

All photographs taken with a Leica M8 and Noctilux 50mm f/1 lens.

An evening stroll in Kobe. With the Leica M8 and Noctilux 50mm f/2 lens

One of the advantages of the Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1 is its ability to gather the last bit of light in less than ideal conditions.  Of course it’s also known for being one of the world’s fastest lens with an ability to create an image similar to a painting, and, of course,  its “bokeh”.  In these particular photos, I’m relying on its low light capability.  Not so much in the first photo but definitely in the last two where the conditions were very dark with some background light to isolate the beautiful girl.

The Noctilux has some deficits.  It can have a problem with back focus,  the lens is not needle sharp at wide open and it can be  difficult to focus.   However the results can be worthwhile.