Seeing a photograph, having a scene play out in front of you and recognising it’s photographic potential has for the most part been something I have found relatively easy. There is however much more to an image than the moment of capture and so it was that over the course of last year I began to find myself reflecting more and more on the process that leads up to that point, the physical act of placing myself in interesting situations and environments.
I’ve spent countless hours of my time, not to mention quite a bit of cash seeking out what amount to fleeting moments in most cases. I don’t need to be reminded that to a large extent this is the essence of photography, searching, waiting, let’s be honest you just don’t find many impatient photographers!! Whilst I accept this, I also worked out that I needed to add another aspect to my photography, not one that relied entirely on chance, but one I could control, to a point….
I’ve no intention of moving away from beautiful landscapes, candid moments or those unnoticed details that only we photographers see. But, a more personal photographic exchange with people is something that has always fascinated and scared me in equal measure. It’s a fact of photography and life in general that at certain junctions you will feel the need to push yourself further, to challenge yourself by moving away from those things that make you comfortable and to take a step in to the unknown. That’s very much the motivation here……
In the last week I’ve taken my first tentative steps, it’s been exciting, nerve wracking and not surprisingly very difficult. But, “no pain, no gain” as they say and it’s never been more true!! You’ll be pleased to know I won’t be inundating you with my failures but in order to see any progression I’m going to need to force myself to show you images that may not be technically as good as I would like.
I have what I would describe as a finite vision for my photography in this genre, it’s one that is very much based around film and Medium Format. However, for convenience and while I find my feet I have chosen to proceed in digital as there is simply so much to learn. My task has been made a little easier by having some photogenic mates that are kind enough to help me and I’m grateful for that. I will be shooting with both inexperienced and experienced models though as things progress.
Now I’ve shared the thought process behind my direction and as I’m stuck with digital files in the short term, I thought it might be interesting to take a quick look at three versions of the same image, each processed differently. I have to say they all appeal to me to some degree. I’ve never felt 100% comfortable with colour images and as a large part of this experience is about moving out of my comfort zone it would be remiss of me to dismiss colour all together.
Equipment:
- Leica M9
- 50mm Summilux f/1.4 Asph FLE
- 80cm Reflector
More often than not I have the camera set to (Raw+Jpg), for a long time I shot the M9 in Raw only but I have much more faith in the M9 .jpg’s now and they were used in this instance.
Option 1: It’s no secret that I have a tendency to lean towards B&W imagery, I wouldn’t say I necessarily prefer it, more that I just find it so much easier to see things in monochrome. The first image has undergone one adjustment in Silver Efex Pro 2 and then some minor adjustments in LR4.
Option 1
Option 2: It’s not quite an out of camera .jpg but it’s pretty close. Some skin softening and a tweak to the White Balance in LR4. I don’t want to get in to a debate on CCD vs. CMOS sensors but I am 99.9999% certain to be sticking with the M9.
Option 2
Option 3: I suppose I could describe this as an almost experimental look, I sat down and for the first time worked on a colour image in LR4. Until the arrival of the Leica M Monochrom I wasn’t really a fan of LR4, being forced to use it has made me come to appreciate it much more. There are lots of editing options available, I have probably tried most of them!! Whilst I don’t think LR4 is as intuitive as Aperture 3, I do feel it is a more powerful processing tool. I’ve just added the Lightroom 4 Preset System from SLR Lounge along with the Exposure 4 Plugin from Alien Skin for some added creativity!!
Option 3
As I’ve said, this is a first step in a long journey, I’m always interested and encouraged by the feedback this website generates and as always I’d love to hear your opinions on my decision to attempt more work in this genre and processing in general.
Cheers
Jason
How much have you cropped these images, I feel a touch claustrophobic by the tightness. As for emotion I find image #2 to be very strong. Thanx
Hi Richard
I have not cropped the image and in truth I almost never do so. It’s taken with the 50 Lux which has a 0.7m minimum focus, although I suspect I was not as close as that. In fairness I can see how it could appear almost too close for some.
thanks, Jason.
Nice work,
- the first image is a fantastic B+W conversion to my mind. It’s the sort of thing I’m currently working on to try and achieve.
- The second image is nice, it feels light and ‘airy’ maybe a little ethereal? However the colour versions both make the sharp focus on her near eye, and blurring on the second more pronounced.
- I quite like the last image as well, I haven’t played with plugins much, but I think this look has a lot of potential, sort of graphic novel/sci fi like. Her skin is quite grey blue in this one which makes the overall impression colder. I don’t know if that can be pulled back a little? The shadow areas below her eyes look almost desaturated on my screen, while the rest of her face has some colour.
I would normally never comment on photos, however I’ve been following your site for a little while now, and have also placed an order for an ‘M’ and 35 + 50 Summiluxes in part based on what I saw here, which helped me convince ‘she who must be obeyed’.
With all criticism my view has been ‘those who can do, those who can’t criticise’.
I’ve provided the above only because you’ve allowed us to view 3 different end results together which I’m grateful for as it works to teach me a thing or two, I would find any of these images attractive if viewed in isolation (the subject helps!).
I hope you’ll post more in future.
Regards,
-Avesh.
Hi Avesh
Firstly, welcome to my site.
With regard to your considered comments on the options I presented,
Option 1 – This is where I’m most comfortable, if I had only posted one version of this image it would almost definitely have been this one. It’s really all about trying to achieve a richness and depth to the black tones.
Option 2 – I agree, I wanted to show this one because whilst I have tweaked it a touch the .jpg’s out of the M9 are pretty good and not everyone like’s to spend time in post processing.
Option 3 – For some reason I associate this type of look with the Leica M9, I think the area under the eyes is partly shaded and the processing has emphasised that. I think it has potential also but it’s far from the finished product, certainly I will persevere with it on some other images.
I’m flattered that you’ve taken the time to comment at such length and I hope you will continue to do so, opinion’s are certainly welcome here. If I played some small part in helping you make a decision to purchase the M and 35/50 Lux’s then I’m very pleased by that. It’s good to spend other peoples money, last week I helped someone get their hands on a Hex 60/1.2
I certainly don’t view anything you’ve said as criticism, in fact your reply is exactly what I hoped to get back from this post, it’s constructive and therefore most welcome.
There is certainly more to come of this nature, we can learn together.
Kind Regards
Jason
Hi,
I think a good way to judge the difference between the photos is to pay attention as to what you’re looking at.
I really like the BW image. My eyes get drawn to the eyes, the mouth and the hair.
On the first color image my eyes get drawn to the colors of the dress and much less to her face. That’s why I prefer the BW image. It draws the viewers attention alot better to the subject.
The second color image I don’t like at all. It seems very unnatural and somehow flat.
Please remember these are my personal opinions
P.S. I enjoy your blog.
Hi Earin and welcome.
I think what you’ve described is very logical, it also highlights one of the reasons that I personally find B&W images easier to take in. Without the distraction of colour, I find I am able to focus more clearly on the details. Obviously this won’t be the case for everyone but it most definitely is for yours truly…..
I take no offense in relation to the third image, it’s a work in progress and whilst aspects of it do appeal to me, that is just my opinion. Your opinion is of equal importance and most welcome here.
Thanks, I’m always pleased to hear that people are enjoying the blog, more to come.
All the best, Jason.
It’s often difficult comparing B&W against colour. Usually we are looking for one version over the other: to post somewhere, to print, to go in an album or portfolio. So while it may not be be that one is ‘better’ than the other, perhaps just ‘different’, there is often still a choice to be made. Which, again (as per your previous ‘How much is too much’ post), leads us to the subjective nature of photographic images.
Personally, I think that if you were to present any of the three versions without the others I would like them. However, because I can compare them … I like the B&W and I’m a fan of B&W, so I would normally lean that way. The lighting almost suggests a shot at night, perhaps with reflected light from a swimming pool. I also like the 3rd treatment, although the hair appears quite bright in relation to the rest of the tones … apart from her neck, which I think is probably a little too bright and draws the eye especially in this version. I know it’s not everybody’s thing, but I’d hit that with the adjustment brush. My other bias is that I really like warm colour, so for me Option 2 rates higher than Option 3. And for this particular shot I actually really like the colour, even over the B&W. It just seems to provoke a nice feeling, a warm summer day, a bit of sparkle. And them’s some nice tones you got going on there!
Hi Paul
Completely agree, there is no right or wrong, just choices and subjectivity.
It’s good to compare, we each see something different and I like the idea that someone else will see something I have not…
The shot was taken in the last moments of a setting sun, using a reflector for some additional punch. Your quite right with the neck on the third image, it would benefit from more work.
In relation to your comments on the second image, they are exactly the reason it appeals to me.
Cheers, Jason.
When I first saw the images the colour one jumped out for me, B&W second and dont really like the bleached one.
I dont have a preference for either color or B&W, for me it is what ever works best with the eye.
Im guessing an f number 1.4 – 2.8 because one eye is in focus and the other slightly out. Im wondering what it would be like if slightly higher f number to get both eyes in focus and then that would make the woman completely stand out from blurred surrounding making it more 3D effect. Otherwise a good effort with your photographic experimenting journey and thanks for an opportunity to comment.
Leica is growing on me
Regards
Rodney
Hi Rodney
I think the third image is certainly the most contentious and has the least popular appeal, there is something about it that I like though.
I took a series of shots here between f/1.4 and f/5.6 but as they were all very similar in look I selected the image taken at f/2, I like the leading eye in focus but its very subjective.
It’s certainly interesting to hear the views of others and the thoughts are certainly welcome.
If Leica is growing on you then you need to exercise extreme caution……certainly the lenses are without doubt the best glass you can buy in my opinion.
Cheers, Jason.
Careful Rodney,
I paged through this site a little while ago and now have an M and 2 Summiluxes on order. Definitely stay away from his ‘The Producers’, and ‘Scarily Good’ Monochrom posts. …
Hi Avesh
There is no harm in one more convert
It’s getting closer to the release of the M, the images from Ming Thein and Jono Slack have certainly reversed much of the negativity that surrounded the earlier examples we were exposed to. I have no doubt it will prove to be a great camera, but at the minute it’s not got my mojo going.
Let me know the minute all your goodies arrive!
Cheers. Jason.
Will do Jason!
I agree the previews are looking promising, I’ve been particularly enjoying Ming’s articles.
I’m hoping the M will arrive soon. ‘Soon’ being very much a relative term in Leica-land as I am beginning to appreciate.
I thought waiting for the Canon 5DIII was painful!
Still, good things take time I hear, I’d much rather they work as many kinks out as possible before the official release.
Avesh.
Well it’s a old adage but a very true one, all the best things are worth waiting for!
Nothing moves fast in the world of Leica but that’s not necessarily bad as you say.
Cheers