Vintage and more vintage.

Bit of a vintage all round day today. Optied for the 1936 Leica Summar 5cm lens today. Rather overcast so no real issues with flare.Dropped the rag top and had a drive through the Langtons to Market Harbour.

Popped in one of my favorite shops. Amy's Vintage You never really know what you might find or the colourful charaters you may meet. If you find yourself in Market Harbour, call in. Great little shop.

Seemed quite fitting that I should have a vintage lens mounted whilst in a vintage shop. Some kind of planatary alignment thing going on.

To illustrate I squeezed off a couple of random shots to show Amy the Bokeh of this little lens.

I think you would have to agree, the images have a 'vintage look' about them.

Straight off the chip no adjustments as per usual.

 In cam B+W

MR2 - Leica M9 - Summitar - Bokeh

Bit of a random collection of thoughts and observations in no particular order.

I have been using the Leica Elmar-m 50mm F2.8 ever since I bought it. Very happy with it indeed. Light, quick to focus, sharp and all the rest of if it. Like it so much I had considered reducing the number of 50mm lenses I have as only really need one. So before I said good bye I thought I would give an airing to the Summitar.

Took it out in the daylight today and shot some random stuff whilst joy riding in the 2.
Operating in fully manual mode and set white balance via a whibal card.

Maybe it is the fact this lens was made in 1949, but it really has a delightful warming effect on the colours in a vintage kind of way. Some would say it has a marmite Bokeh. Me, I like it. In fact I bought it for the Bokeh when I stumbled across it on the net.

Took some pics to try and illustrate the bokeh that can be rendered with this lens. But the surprise was the colours once viewed on a monitor. Maybe not to everyone's taste, maybe technically flawed by today's standard. Yet, it cannot be denied the lens gives a look that would be hard to duplicate in the modern world, photoshoppery or otherwise.

Usual rules of engagement straight off the chip no fiddling. Just as is.

Holy Grail

Happy new year. (only 4 months late)

Cannot believe it it is April 2016 and I last posted Dec 2015. I will have a word with myself..

However, come that mix of interests, cars and photography, I was happily, merrily going about my business when I stumbled upon the Holly grail of lightweight automotive porn. In one of my favorite photo locations. A planetary alignment of sorts. Dropped the anchors and reversed up.

Couldn't pass this buy. Jumped out and struck up a conversation with the owner. Turns out, first time he had brought it out since purchasing it.

I appreciate not every bodies cup of tea, but in my book, this is sex on wheels.

So what was it? I'm glad you asked. Could only be one thing really. Clue in the description, lightweight.

But, before we get to the pics, I have become an almost one lens photographer. I have shot primerily with the Leica 50mm 2.8 Elmar-m f2.8. Unsung hero of the Leica line up.However, I decided to change lens and strapped on the 50mm Summitar. Its bokeh is not really demonstrated in these shots but no matter. The shots were grabbbed abd the pixels burnt. As ever no fiddling about just straight off he chip warts n all.

So, with out further a due, I give you the Ariel Atom.

 

 

And my pretender inthe background.

knitone

Just like buses, nothing for 6 months then two posts back to back.

Out 'n' about on the Queens Road and came across this knitted pavement bollard adornment.

My highly honed powers of deduction lead me to believe the above may have something to do with
www.knitone.uk.com

Barrow Boxing Day 6 2015

Over six months since I have posted something here. One wonders where that time has gone, who knows but gone, it has.

So I find myself out and about on boxing day supporting a favorite race of mine. Just though I would throw up a couple of shots from the morning.

My favorite is the vegan runner shot juxtaposed with the cattle traffic warning sign. Made me smile.

The Nuns

Perhaps being chased by the Cat Woman

Off focus but the juxtaposition makes up for it.

Got to the spot in my chariot of fire

Pancreatic Cancer

So I find myself at the second Ben Manners Memorial Trophy 5 a side football competition. In aid of  Pancreatic Cancer research Fund PCRF
I was there to support and enjoy, however, there was no one to take official type photos. So here I am on a purely social event and all of a sudden now official photographer, no pressure then.

I am armed with a manual focus camera, a 35mm lens, no flash and who knows what type of indoor lighting.

First things first lets sort out the white balance. This was done  manually in camera using a WhiBal Card

Most shots were pre focused and then waited for the action to to come to me. I had the lens pressed hard up against the netting to try and remove it from the shot..
I then grabbed some informal shots. and finally the presentation to the winners from Ben's sisters.

Overall I am quite happy with the results given I had not arrived expecting to take 'the' photos.

I hope they meet the needs of those that asked me to take them.

So regardless of time, I ask you to raise a cup, mug or glass to Ben Manners.

All shots taken on M9 and Voightlander 35mm f1.4. ISO800.  If you are by any chance a regular, then you will already know these are straight off the chip no fiddling about.

Well done to all.

West End 8

One of the many annual running events came to town today. The West End 8. Start and finish at Syston Rugby Club. Quite a demanding course with many hills. I decided to pitch myself at the top of the very steep and demanding hill in South Croxton. Back in the day, I have ran this course myself, always felt like I was wearing my lungs on the outside.

Today I gave an airing to the little used Leica 90mm tele-elmarit f2.8. Seemed to work quite well. Set a manual white balance in camera, Pre focused, iso 200 no more than f4 and good to go.

Rattled off 80 odd shots.

Why is it the ones that make it look easy never seem to be in touch with the road?

Another one

Same hill very different faces.

Who looks comfortable? it's the floater again.

This is what support and encouragement looks like.

This is what commitment looks like.

The award for most colourful goes to.

Just for the hell of it, go on leave a comment.