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How to be happy when there’s nothing really to be happy about (playing with camera)

1956 Chevrolet One Fifty

I found this while walking around(with a camera), yesterday evening.

1956 Chevrolet One Fifty-front-2 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

I wasn’t planning anything. Didn’t know what I’d find. So, I only had one lens …

1956 Chevrolet One Fifty-front by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Yup. You guessed it. Vintage Canon FD 50mm f1,4….

1956 Chevrolet One Fifty-rear by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

…mounted on Leica SL2-S, which is quickly becoming my favorite body.

1956 Chevrolet One Fifty-driver's seat by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

I also took some videos. (Still working on it on FCPX. Hopefully I will finish it by the end of today.)

Switching from still photos to video, then back to still, this body is the easiest (most intuitive), fastest (most efficient), even someone like myself who’s one of the most clumsy photo / video hybrid shooter, can do it without screwing things up.
 
Took some photos and video today, with SIRUI 75mm Venus.

Video editing will take a while. (Not going to finish it in just one night.)
But, I did edit some photos.

Color graded with LUT.
HORSES-1 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr


SOOC image looks like this.
HORSES-SOOC by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

After color grading
HORSES-2 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Before (SOOC image)
HORSES-2-SOOC by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

What I had in mind, while doing the color grading, was “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (1969)”.
No, I didn’t do color grading while looking at the screenshot of the movie.
It’s too crisp, too “digital” look, if you have a screenshot image of a ’69 movie.

I kind of wonder, maybe SOOC image of “HORSES-2” is better than the color graded version…
(Yes, it is “slightly” over exposed, but, it was a mid day afternoon, in a blight, sunny day. Without Oakley Si-M frame with dark gray lens, it would have looked more like SOOC image…to the naked eyes.)
 
Shooting deer in the backyard (but with 75mm T2.9, instead of 30-06)

Red October-crop by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

So, I was working on my Ducati Monster S4R this afternoon, in my garage in San Rafael.
I decided to get back home before it gets dark. (It takes tad less than 20 minutes.)
Partly because I didn’t want to drive through evening traffic, going through Fairfax.
And partly because I skipped lunch.
(I shopped at Trader Joe’s, did some grocery shopping before getting to the garage, planning to eat over there, but I didn’t. I tend to forget how much time passes by when working on the vehicle.)


I got back home, parked my Fiat500, out of the car and turned around, then, he was right there.

(The photo on top is the cropped version, with different LUT. This one is how it was originally shot.)
A deer in the yard_3 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

I had my SL2-S, but the lens that was on it was 75mm T2.9 anamorphic.
300mm FD-L was in my bedroom. There was no time to switch the lenses (I thought), so I decided to shoot with what I had.

At first, I didn’t realize that I still had VND …
deer+anamorphic flare by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Quickly removed VND, cranking up ISO…

A deer in the yard by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr


A deer in the yard_4 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

… I was (vaguely) thinking about buying a film camera, but, I just realized that for what I do (most of the time), digital works far better…(Most of my shooting is unplanned, often at the time sun goes down (quickly loosing light while taking photos). Digital is far more flexible. I can change ISO as it gets darker and darker. And I can bring the shadows up in the post.)
 
Life at ISO12,500

I decided to take a short walk, before the next rain starts.
I started a little too late. It’s already getting darker.
But, it’s a good opportunity to try high ISO shot.

All these photos were taken at ISO12,500.

I found 1966 Chevy C10. (Registration sticker on the license plate is 2009.)

‘Kodachrome look’
Chevy-Kodak by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

“Dusk”
Chevy-dusk by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

“Film Noir” look
Chevy-Fil Noir by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Side view, this is how SOOC image looks like
Chevy-SOOC by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

I tried to create the “feel” of old film look.
Chevy-film look by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Film Noir again
Chevy-Film Noir2 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

This is a small town, that USPS doesn’t deliver mail to each household.
(Everyone has PO Box).
Also, there’s no gas line running here.
Each house has propane tank in the yard, parking, somewhere.
L1000676 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

This shack reminds me of “The Thing (1982 film) MacReady’s shack”.
Small, narrow, sitting on the wood scaffolding…
L1000675 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

I really need to go outside while there’s still sun light.
 
IN CAMERA WIDE SCREEN look, with Leica SL2-S +35mm f2 summicron, “OLD CAR" street photos”


0783 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

The XPan look like wide screen effect was done in camera. (Leica SL2-S)
Go to Photo menu, page 3 bottom. (Photo Aspect Ratio).
Change it to 3:1, you will get the pictures like the one in the opening of this video.

XPan aspect ratio is 65:24 (approximately 2.7:1), which is wider than CinemaScope/Anamorphic aspect ratio which is 2.39:1.

Looks pretty cool with 35mm lens!

0785 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

0786 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

0789 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr
 
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"I only have 30 minutes" constrained Run&Gun challenge, Leica SL2-S Street Hybrid Shooting part 1


Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton VM
75mm by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr


Leica Summicron-C 40mm f/2 before the edit
40mm before LUT by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr


Leica Summicron-C edited
40mm after LUT by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr


JFK and Elvis edited
JFK & Elvis by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr


JFK and Elvis SOOC
LFK & Elvis SOOC by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

[from the video description]

Limitation elevates the art. Constraints force creativities.
No overthinking. No second guessing.

Take SL2-S out in my lunch break. I only have 30 minutes, to walk, find something interesting, shoot photos and videos, then walk back and RETURN TO WORK.

This will force you to act quickly and early, NOT perfectly.
(If you wait for perfection / certainty, they will NEVER come.)
 
Leica M9 tells short story
“Braiden’s 1994 NA Miata”

Totally unplanned. Just happened yesterday, at the parking lot of Sprouts Farmers Market in San Rafael.
I found a red NA Miata, so I decided to take a couple of pictures.
As I was kneeling down and shooting, the owner showed up.


Photos, taken with Summicron-C 40mm f/2

Braiden's 94 NA_1-SOOC by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Braiden's 94 NA_1-edit by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Braiden's 94 NA_2-SOOC by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Braiden's 94 NA_2-edit by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Braiden's 94 NA_3-SOOC by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Braiden's 94 NA_3-edit by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Braiden's 94 NA_4-SOOC by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Braiden's 94 NA_4-edit by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr
 
Can you tell me how the Leica reconciles what appears to be shutter speed on the dial, with the digital sensor? I found that to be a very curious dial on a digital camera.
 
Short story with Leica M9 eps.2 “The coolest wrist strap for Leica M, how to make”


The “coolest” Leica M strap is (was) actually the one that was on Sean Flynn’s M2, which was improvised sling made out of a piece of paracord and hand grenade safety pin.
So, this is probably the second coolest Leica M camera strap.
Doesn’t matter. I like this “Mad Max bracelet style” wrist strap.
They are so practical. Cost almost nothing. Easy to make.

Even though this is not really a tutorial video, if you watch without skipping, you will be able to make one.

[Disclaimer]
There are no firearms in this video.




Strap_1 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Strap_2 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

YT-thumb by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Some “test shot” with M9

Checking “how dark is too dark” for this camera, in our 1880’s house kitchen.

Night shot test kitchen by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Seal team 2 ?

Seal Team 2 rear by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Seal Team 2 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

I found a really, really tiny “park”, near my work.

Park 1 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
Can you tell me how the Leica reconciles what appears to be shutter speed on the dial, with the digital sensor? I found that to be a very curious dial on a digital camera.
You mean, the dial on the top?
m9-top-black-1200.jpg



This is indeed a shutter speed dial, just like "film" M body...


D3S_7748-top-1955-1200.jpg
 
You mean, the dial on the top?
Yea. Just curious how that works with a digital. Does Leica say "our sensor is ASA 400" or is there setting to change the sensitivity so you can expose properly? I assume if you put it in A its like any other auto exposure system?

On my creaky, ancient Minolta XG-1 its exposure first in auto mode, so if you change the exposure it adjusts the shutter speed (based on the ASA of course).
 
Leica M9 Run&Gun No.4 BMW R75/5 “Toaster tank”


How does the 17-year old digital camera performs with 54-year old lens, on the street?
In full manual mode, no auto focus, no IBIS.
14-shot in about 4 minutes, on the street of San Anselmo, CA.
Leica M9 2009
With Leica Summicron-C 40mm f/2 1972




“Self portrait on toaster tank”
SOOC
L1010903 copy by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Color graded
L1010903-ColorGraded copy by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Black & White
L1010903-B&W copy by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Film noir
L1010903-B&W high contrast copy by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

The rest of the images are SOOC
L1010906 copy by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

L1010907 copy by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

L1010908 copy by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

L1010909 copy by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

L1010911 copy by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

L1010912 copy by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

L1010913 copy by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr
 
Yea. Just curious how that works with a digital. Does Leica say "our sensor is ASA 400" or is there setting to change the sensitivity so you can expose properly? I assume if you put it in A its like any other auto exposure system?

On my creaky, ancient Minolta XG-1 its exposure first in auto mode, so if you change the exposure it adjusts the shutter speed (based on the ASA of course).
Sorry for really slow reply.
So, here's what it is.

"I" think, Leica designed / made M8, M9, to be essentially film M body with just digital sensor inside, to be used in manual mode.
While it has Auto ISO function and "A" mode (aperture priority mode), it is easier to use this body with full manual mode.

I primarily use shutter speed dial for "motion blur control". (I change shutter speed according to "how much motion blur do I want?").
When shooting totally static object, such as parked motorcycle, it really doesn't matter, unless I am thinking whether I want to blur or freeze the cars in the background.

In a situation like the post above, I just set the ISO at 160 (the lowest setting for this sensor, also it's the native ISO), set shutter speed at 1/250 sec, aperture at around F4 before leaving.
I don't like shooting in A mode, especially in low light. If I go out in the evening, and start shooting in A mode, what will happen is that the camera keeps changing shutter speed, and I'd end up with all the pictures having different amount of motion blur.
Does that make sense?
 
Does that make sense?
Yup! Thanks a lot.

As I mentioned, my XG-1 is aperture priority. If the battery dies, the camera basically doesn't work. Which is fine.

For whatever reason, I did a Canada trip with my friends camera. It was also aperture priority. However, when the battery dies, it simple falls back to 1/125 manual mode.

The result being I unknowingly took a lot of bad picture because the battery was dead and the photos were badly exposed.
 
So,…about the toaster tank BMW R75/5 photos…
I actually started feeling like I like SOOC images better, in this particular scenario, so I stopped color grading after #4 or #5 shot.

That brings some questions.

#1.
Here are two images, one color graded, one sooc.

Engine bay_1 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Engine bay_sooc by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

That’s an engine bay of ’96 Mustang Cobra, and this particular case, I felt sooc image looked just a little bit too flat.
But, looking at these images now, side by side, maybe I’ve gone too far…?

#2
Because I thought I’d almost always edit RAW files in the post, I set this camera “Adobe RGB”. Would it be better (for sooc JPEG images) if I set it “sRGB”? Or, it would make no big difference?

These photos were from this day.
I shot this video and photos before the “toaster tank Beemer” video.

Leica M9 Run&Gun No.3 “Hooligan” Lu’s Mustang Cobra SVT 1996


It wasn’t a planned photo / video shoot. I just happened to have M9 with me that day.
(Dji action5, I almost always have it with me.)

Here are some of the photos from that day.

Kodachrome_1 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Noir_1 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr



Kodachrome_2 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Noir_2 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr
 

You DON’T have to be in NYC or LA, to enjoy “street photography” Leica M9 Run&Gun No.5


So, it is actually “Small town street” photo and “Hiking trail” photos.
Yeah, this is where I live.
All the photos and videos were shot last Monday. (May 18th.)

I went for a short walk with a roommate and her dog, carrying only Leica M9 in hand, and dji Osmo Action5 pro hanging from the neck.

The first thing I shot was this guy, smoking pot, loud music playing from the phone,… I shot (filmed) without looking through viewfinder.
I “think” I need to aim a little bit higher when I do this.

02-smoking pot by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

This shot was done in the same way.
No viewfinder, zone focusing.

4-Erin&Junny by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Again, the camera is pointing slightly low.
Next time, I’ll try to point the lens slightly higher up.

2-House-1 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr
Nothing really special. I thought the design of this house was cool.
Next…

Shot on the trail…
Lightly edited (mostly just adjusting the brightness.)
6-Junny by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

SOOC
6-Junny-sooc by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Some people around here have backhoe in the yard…
8-Backhoe by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

7-trees-sooc by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

7-sign-sooc by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

1966 Chevy C-10, this truck hasn’t moved since I moved into this area…

11-'66 Chevy C-10jpg by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Very cool Land Cruiser FJ40…with Ecuador plate
12.2-FJ-40 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

…and it’s got 6-point roll cage (NOT roll bar) and fire extinguisher mounted…
15-FJ-40-rear by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr
 
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