urban_alchemist
Well-known
I fully accept that - as I tried to explain on the other forum, they are very emotive pictures FOR me, as the situations and ornaments conjure up a very specific and subjective, time. Think of it as the remnants of a family Christmas if you will (the dining table once everyone is finished, the left-overs and scraps on plates etc.)
What I DIDN'T understand, was the obsession with sharpness that we all know, and accept, the Noctilux is not the lense for.
Anyway, I have to go. My gfriend's getting pissed, and the countdown is ticking to midnight... Happy New Year and a wonderful 2009 to you all, all those you love, and all those that love you... whether you like the Noctilux, or not!
gdi
Veteran
Obviously a non-getter here...
.. ass-less chaps.
There is another kind? (Good topic for a Noctilux user poll - there could be more wearing them than you think!)
Goldorak
-
The noctilux lensE.
deepwhite
Well-known
I picked 20 shots out of the 799 I uploaded to my flickr album, and found most of them taken with the Noctilux.
I'm glad I took the risk and bought it back then.
Happy 2009! ;-)
I'm glad I took the risk and bought it back then.
Happy 2009! ;-)
maddoc
... likes film again.
From the first roll taken 2009...
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
Trying to figure it out.
Trying to figure it out.
I'm trying to figure this Noctilux thing out... trying to figure out what I find annoying reading this thread (I check in on it from time to time).
I think it goes something like this. (I'm going to attempt an analogy here, which seldom work, but here goes.) If I had a friend that bought a Ferrari, I expect that when they take me for a ride, they're going to show off its handling or its acceleration or something like that. If they just drove me down to the supermarket to pick up the milk, I'd be a bit disappointed.
O.K.... so when I come to this thread each time I see a post, I'm hoping to see something Ferrari-like, not something family sedan-like. Something in my warped personality feels like saying "call me up when you want to show me something special". And so far, I don't see that. Now I know there's at least two things that could be getting in the way of me seeing it. First, this damn little screen can't show me oodles of "glow" or resolution or whatever. And the second is that I can't SEE that you were standing in a coal mine when you took the shot.
I hear many of you say "If someone wants to spend that kind of dough to make that kind of picture, let 'em" or "This lens can do amazing things" or ... whatever. I can sort of buy those points. Nevertheless, everytime I see an image posted here, my gut reaction is something like "I see absolutely nothing different between that image and many I made with my Yashica Electro"... I want to see SPEED! I want to see the POWER of that lens! Bring it on! Otherwise, take that money and donate it to your local charity!
Now... where did I put my therapist's phone number... hmmm...
Trying to figure it out.
I'm trying to figure this Noctilux thing out... trying to figure out what I find annoying reading this thread (I check in on it from time to time).
I think it goes something like this. (I'm going to attempt an analogy here, which seldom work, but here goes.) If I had a friend that bought a Ferrari, I expect that when they take me for a ride, they're going to show off its handling or its acceleration or something like that. If they just drove me down to the supermarket to pick up the milk, I'd be a bit disappointed.
O.K.... so when I come to this thread each time I see a post, I'm hoping to see something Ferrari-like, not something family sedan-like. Something in my warped personality feels like saying "call me up when you want to show me something special". And so far, I don't see that. Now I know there's at least two things that could be getting in the way of me seeing it. First, this damn little screen can't show me oodles of "glow" or resolution or whatever. And the second is that I can't SEE that you were standing in a coal mine when you took the shot.
I hear many of you say "If someone wants to spend that kind of dough to make that kind of picture, let 'em" or "This lens can do amazing things" or ... whatever. I can sort of buy those points. Nevertheless, everytime I see an image posted here, my gut reaction is something like "I see absolutely nothing different between that image and many I made with my Yashica Electro"... I want to see SPEED! I want to see the POWER of that lens! Bring it on! Otherwise, take that money and donate it to your local charity!
Now... where did I put my therapist's phone number... hmmm...
elude
Some photographer
Jamie, this is a diary. It is not a showcase.
deepwhite is an humble photographer who shares his love of his art, i'm thankful for that.
maybe you don't like the pictures themselves; among photographers who have impressed me using the noctilux you can find tommy oshima, but also François. I love their pictures and have a long experience with the lens.
ps : the noctilux is not a "racing" lens. its got character and thats mostly what noctilux enthusiasts are trying to prove. you're looking for performance, not art, that's what your message's about and that's damn sad !!!
deepwhite is an humble photographer who shares his love of his art, i'm thankful for that.
maybe you don't like the pictures themselves; among photographers who have impressed me using the noctilux you can find tommy oshima, but also François. I love their pictures and have a long experience with the lens.
ps : the noctilux is not a "racing" lens. its got character and thats mostly what noctilux enthusiasts are trying to prove. you're looking for performance, not art, that's what your message's about and that's damn sad !!!
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Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
Nope... I'm looking for something that justifies the kudos. And do we dare raise the morass of art vs. craft?
I understand you're point of view. However, anyone that uses such a lens is going to have to work pretty hard to prove to me that they're "humble".
And, damn... I knew that attempted analogy would come back to bite me!
I'll check out oshima and Francois. Thanks.
I understand you're point of view. However, anyone that uses such a lens is going to have to work pretty hard to prove to me that they're "humble".
And, damn... I knew that attempted analogy would come back to bite me!
I'll check out oshima and Francois. Thanks.
maddoc
... likes film again.
I think it goes something like this. (I'm going to attempt an analogy here, which seldom work, but here goes.) If I had a friend that bought a Ferrari, I expect that when they take me for a ride, they're going to show off its handling or its acceleration or something like that. If they just drove me down to the supermarket to pick up the milk, I'd be a bit disappointed.
Now... where did I put my therapist's phone number... hmmm...
To speak in your analogy, "SPEED" can be - cheaper than with a Ferrari - achieved by driving a slightly tuned Honda, BMW or similar car ... on the other hand the "Ferrari-feeling" can be felt while driving to the next supermarket to pick up the milk.
The Noctilux is not only about shooting at f/1.0 or for shallow DoF, IMHO.
urban_alchemist
Well-known
I think this is the whole point - you are only disappointed because of your OWN expectations. Myself, Deepwhite, Maddoc and others hold no expectations, nor false delusions of greatness. We simply own the lense and enjoy using it for its foibles, idiosyncracies and traits. This thread (correct me if I'm wrong deepwhite) is simply a diary of his (our) travels...
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
Elude,
I just wandered around a bit in the flickr files of "oshima" and "Francois". Beautiful images. One common characteristic that came through most of those, to my eye, is a substantial 3D effect. I think I notice that whenever there's (at least) pronounced vignetting... then that 3D 'thing' seems to pop out. I like the look. Its the same kind of 'romantic' look I see with some of the so-called toy camera images like the Holga. Anyway, thanks for recommending the flickr sites. I plan to go back to take another look tomorrow.
Jamie
I just wandered around a bit in the flickr files of "oshima" and "Francois". Beautiful images. One common characteristic that came through most of those, to my eye, is a substantial 3D effect. I think I notice that whenever there's (at least) pronounced vignetting... then that 3D 'thing' seems to pop out. I like the look. Its the same kind of 'romantic' look I see with some of the so-called toy camera images like the Holga. Anyway, thanks for recommending the flickr sites. I plan to go back to take another look tomorrow.
Jamie
jasperamsterdam
Established
i rembered stunning images i saw in the Leica magazine..
It was the first time i really started thinking hmm-i-could-pay-that-amount..
Not really but i did wanted to show you the image, so i googled, here are two;
http://stylespion.de/dutch-house-of-photography/1934/
They where made by one of two pretty succesfull fashionphotographers from the Netherlands, working from NYC and Amsterdam..Rinze and Joost van Brug
It was the first time i really started thinking hmm-i-could-pay-that-amount..
Not really but i did wanted to show you the image, so i googled, here are two;
http://stylespion.de/dutch-house-of-photography/1934/
They where made by one of two pretty succesfull fashionphotographers from the Netherlands, working from NYC and Amsterdam..Rinze and Joost van Brug
kevin m
Veteran
At full aperture, any superspeed lens works to its best advantage at medium focus distances. There, the tell-tale razor thin DOF doesn't scream "look at me" like it does at close-focus distances.
ferider
Veteran
Here is a cool Noctilux shot I found in the same gallery as the portrait above:
(Ritze van Brug, http://www.dutchhouseofphotography.com)
Cheers,
Roland.
(Ritze van Brug, http://www.dutchhouseofphotography.com)
Cheers,
Roland.
kevin m
Veteran
Nice. That's an effective use of the lens, IMO. Not like that Oshima dude (sp?) with his goofy b-o-k-e-h shots.
ferider
Veteran
And for Fred:
Here are two historic shallow DOF portraits. Food for thought ?
Stieglitz:
Cameron:
I would argue, "Straight Photography" was just another trend much like shallow DOF is now.
Roland.
Here are two historic shallow DOF portraits. Food for thought ?
Stieglitz:
Cameron:
I would argue, "Straight Photography" was just another trend much like shallow DOF is now.
Roland.
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dave lackey
Veteran
Well, if "straight photography" was a trendy at a time, and I believe it was, and that shallow DOF is now trendy, I really do not see a conflict. It seems that for some reason, there is a lot of animosity by some with the emphasis on bokeh, shallow DOF, etc. and I do not understand how one photographer can criticize another for what they like in a photograph. Either the image works or it doesn't. Just because it may not be to another's taste, so be it.
If we cannot explore the art of shallow DOF and bokeh, we are only limiting ourselves as photographers. Who knows, flare and softness may come back into vogue...
. I am betting on it.
ferider
Veteran
You said it better than I could, Dave.
A good photo is a good photo. The truth is in the pudding
A good photo is a good photo. The truth is in the pudding
dave lackey
Veteran
You said it better than I could, Dave.
A good photo is a good photo. The truth is in the pudding
Here is a local photographer who does outstanding art with shallow DOF and bokeh being the main considerations, and he is an artist that I respect very much:
http://www.billynewmanphotography.com/art/showpic.cfm
Riccis
Well-known
Another Nocti shot wide open... If you don't believe me see the size of the lens on my reflection in the glass
December wedding in Minneapolis, shot with the M7 and Neopan 400 rated @200... Scanned from test fiber print...
Cheers,
December wedding in Minneapolis, shot with the M7 and Neopan 400 rated @200... Scanned from test fiber print...
Cheers,