sleepyhead
Well-known
THE REQUEST
I recently attended the wedding of some friends, and a couple of weeks before the event the groom asked me "if I could take a few photos". I said sure, and spent those weeks pondering what gear and film I would use.
I knew that I had to carry very little equipment with me as I would be at the weding with three small kids of my own and not have any hands free. If i carried a bag it would have to be a diaper bag (and one filled with DIAPERS...).
THE CHOICE
So, I finally settled on my trusty M4-P with collapsible Summitar (1939, not coated), a small handheld meter, and two rolls of Fuji Neopan 1600. That's it. It could all fit in my dinner jacket pockets with the lens collapsed and not look too strange.
ON THE DAY
It was a small wedding in a small Danish church, and the day was very rainy and windswept. The Bride was beautiful and Groom sort-of handsome. There was no official photographer or professional, just me and another friend who had some kind of dSLR with a zoom lens - it looked big and kept flashing and I didn't inquire anything about it. Of course there were a few people with digital point-and-shoots as well. As the only one with a film camera, the older folks at the wedding thought my leica was great.
As the church ceremony progressed I could tell I was having "an ON day" and getting some good shots. I shot one of my rolls in the church and the other at the reception - 70 frames in all.
THE RESULTS
I developed the film in Ilford DD-X 1:4 at 20C for 5 minutes, and scanned the film with a Minolta Dimage 5400 scanner. I'm really pleased! Of the 70 frames, a WHAPPING (for me) 46 were worth scanning, perhaps my best hit rate ever. The tones were nice with Neopan 1600 and DD-X, and the grain not too bad. I reduced it using Neatimage.
The old uncoated Summitar greatly exceeded my expectations: it was sharp in the right places and with a lovely vintage look in Black and White. It was easy to focus quickly and I kept it at f/2 pretty much all day.
All-in-all I'm very pleased and so are the married couple. Here are some of my favorite shots:
THE BRIDE AND HER FATHER COMING DOWN THE AISLE
THE HAPPY GROOM
GREETING THE GUESTS AFTER THE CHURCH CEREMONY
BRIDESMAIDS
WEDDING CAKE
WEDDING CAKE AGAIN
GROOM WITH NEW FATHER-IN-LAW
BRIDE AND GROOM RELAXING
I recently attended the wedding of some friends, and a couple of weeks before the event the groom asked me "if I could take a few photos". I said sure, and spent those weeks pondering what gear and film I would use.
I knew that I had to carry very little equipment with me as I would be at the weding with three small kids of my own and not have any hands free. If i carried a bag it would have to be a diaper bag (and one filled with DIAPERS...).
THE CHOICE
So, I finally settled on my trusty M4-P with collapsible Summitar (1939, not coated), a small handheld meter, and two rolls of Fuji Neopan 1600. That's it. It could all fit in my dinner jacket pockets with the lens collapsed and not look too strange.
ON THE DAY
It was a small wedding in a small Danish church, and the day was very rainy and windswept. The Bride was beautiful and Groom sort-of handsome. There was no official photographer or professional, just me and another friend who had some kind of dSLR with a zoom lens - it looked big and kept flashing and I didn't inquire anything about it. Of course there were a few people with digital point-and-shoots as well. As the only one with a film camera, the older folks at the wedding thought my leica was great.
As the church ceremony progressed I could tell I was having "an ON day" and getting some good shots. I shot one of my rolls in the church and the other at the reception - 70 frames in all.
THE RESULTS
I developed the film in Ilford DD-X 1:4 at 20C for 5 minutes, and scanned the film with a Minolta Dimage 5400 scanner. I'm really pleased! Of the 70 frames, a WHAPPING (for me) 46 were worth scanning, perhaps my best hit rate ever. The tones were nice with Neopan 1600 and DD-X, and the grain not too bad. I reduced it using Neatimage.
The old uncoated Summitar greatly exceeded my expectations: it was sharp in the right places and with a lovely vintage look in Black and White. It was easy to focus quickly and I kept it at f/2 pretty much all day.
All-in-all I'm very pleased and so are the married couple. Here are some of my favorite shots:
THE BRIDE AND HER FATHER COMING DOWN THE AISLE
THE HAPPY GROOM
GREETING THE GUESTS AFTER THE CHURCH CEREMONY
BRIDESMAIDS
WEDDING CAKE
WEDDING CAKE AGAIN
GROOM WITH NEW FATHER-IN-LAW
BRIDE AND GROOM RELAXING
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Chyn
Established
Nice story and wonderful set of images. I love the Neopan 1600--never expected that coupled with a 70 year-old lens (and alot of photographer) it could produce such great results. Thanks for sharing.
kully
Happy Snapper
Those are gorgeous Yaron. Is your summitar coated? I am impressed by the lack of flare.
zgeeRF
Established
Great pictures sleepyhead! I am sure they will love them. That Summitar looks excellent and the right choice!
nzeeman
Well-known
very nice photos. did you show them to bride and groom? i think they will be very happy.
sleepyhead
Well-known
Thanks for the comments.
Kully, NOPE it's uncoated. I agree with you about the lack of flaring, but you can see some in the shot of the groom and his father-in-law talking - they are back-lit from the large window and the frame was very low contrast. On all the shots I did a Curves adjustment in Photoshop to bring up the contrast somewhat (a S-type curve).
The day was also extremely dull and overcast and that may have helped with any potential flaring problems.
Kully, NOPE it's uncoated. I agree with you about the lack of flaring, but you can see some in the shot of the groom and his father-in-law talking - they are back-lit from the large window and the frame was very low contrast. On all the shots I did a Curves adjustment in Photoshop to bring up the contrast somewhat (a S-type curve).
The day was also extremely dull and overcast and that may have helped with any potential flaring problems.
ray*j*gun
Veteran
Nicely done!!!!
Bride is a 10......I need to move to Denmark.
Ray
Bride is a 10......I need to move to Denmark.
Ray
sleepyhead
Well-known
Yeah, we got it good here. You can always come for a visit... ...maybe meet a nice danish girl, settle down, get married...
(Look at me, I'm from New York originally... ...But my wife is Swedish...)
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harry01562
Registered semi-lurker
Very nice shots, and the bride is lovely. The Summitar is a good specimen, and the shots do exploit the great vintage look using the B&W film. This type of shooting is what made the lens such a favorite for so long with the 35mm fans.
I would expect the happy couple to be very appreciative of your efforts.
Harry
I would expect the happy couple to be very appreciative of your efforts.
Harry
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Wonderful photos Sleepyhead!
I'm actually in the same boot you were in.
I've been asked to shoot a wedding of a good friend in May next year.
And I've been trying to think of a good setup to use. I felt digital was the way to go (and I needed a good reason to buy an Epson R-D1s).
But it looks like my own uncoated 1939-dated Summitar on a IIIa or IIIc would do the trick.
Thanks for sharing those photos, they're an inspiration
I'm actually in the same boot you were in.
I've been asked to shoot a wedding of a good friend in May next year.
And I've been trying to think of a good setup to use. I felt digital was the way to go (and I needed a good reason to buy an Epson R-D1s).
But it looks like my own uncoated 1939-dated Summitar on a IIIa or IIIc would do the trick.
Thanks for sharing those photos, they're an inspiration
pesphoto
Veteran
nice photos....
sleepyhead
Well-known
Wonderful photos Sleepyhead!
I'm actually in the same boot you were in.
I've been asked to shoot a wedding of a good friend in May next year.
And I've been trying to think of a good setup to use. I felt digital was the way to go (and I needed a good reason to buy an Epson R-D1s).
But it looks like my own uncoated 1939-dated Summitar on a IIIa or IIIc would do the trick.
Thanks for sharing those photos, they're an inspiration
Rick, I seriously considered using my R-D1 for those wedding shots, but once I felt that the "vintage look" was the way to go (to balance all the digital point-and shoot shots that I'm sure the couple have received from other guests), I figured:
(a) I would spend a lot of time post-processing the R-D1 shots to look "vintage", and
(b) would my 35mm lens on the R-D1 (about 50mm equivalent) give the right look? I could choose between the 35mm Summilux ASPH (too modern looking), or the 35mm Summicron type IV - this later might have been a good choice, but it was being CLA'd at the time so was not available,
(c) the R-D1 is also a bit louder than my M4-P (concerned about the church ceremony)
LeicaTom
Watch that step!
One of Leitz`s finest lenses!
It was a big hit in 1939 and still is today, Lovely Photos
My 43' IIIC K`s original issued lens is a "uncoated" 41' Summitar which I hope to be shooitng again soon as the camera comes back Weds. from a Youxin Ye CLA.
I never thought of paring up such a fast film with such an old lens, very good job, I think it helped the work look even better on such a overcast day.....
Tom
It was a big hit in 1939 and still is today, Lovely Photos
My 43' IIIC K`s original issued lens is a "uncoated" 41' Summitar which I hope to be shooitng again soon as the camera comes back Weds. from a Youxin Ye CLA.
I never thought of paring up such a fast film with such an old lens, very good job, I think it helped the work look even better on such a overcast day.....
Tom
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
Quite Fab shots...Lovely
Does the Summitar work on an RD1 /s?
I'm NOT sure collapsible lenses do ?
anyone tried it ????
Thanx in Advance
Best- Helen
Does the Summitar work on an RD1 /s?
I'm NOT sure collapsible lenses do ?
anyone tried it ????
Thanx in Advance
Best- Helen
peter_n
Veteran
Wonderful pictures Yaron, I love the vintage look you got here. Your use of NP1600 is very interesting as I associate that film with noir-type nighttime shots. You're right about a modern lens like an ASPH, I recently attended a wedding in England and used a 35/75 ASPH kit with the new T-Max film and just got the negatives back. They are so very different from yours and the contrast is quite startling.
lubitel
Well-known
Wonderful photos and great look to them. Thats quite brave of you, I dont know if I would have chosen that lens if I had to choose between that and sumilux!
sleepyhead
Well-known
Thanks for your kind comments everyone, and interesting tidbits of information.
Helen, the summitar will safely collapse on my RD1, but my modern Elmar-M will not.
Regarding Neopan 1600, I forgot to mention that I exposed at 1250 ISO. My experience with it is that with some over exposure and some under developement it's contrasty look is tamed.
Helen, the summitar will safely collapse on my RD1, but my modern Elmar-M will not.
Regarding Neopan 1600, I forgot to mention that I exposed at 1250 ISO. My experience with it is that with some over exposure and some under developement it's contrasty look is tamed.
charjohncarter
Veteran
The simple approach served you well. B&W plus the lens gives the wedding a timeless look that I'm sure the couple will love and thank you for all their lives. Those are the best wedding shots I've seen in 44 years.
maddoc
... likes film again.
Wonderful photos Yaron ! You did a very very good job, I think the both, bride and groom will be very happy getting your photos.
On a side note, very good choice of equipment. A simple but reliable M, one 50mm lens and only two rolls of (BW) film. Very brave this minimalistic approach !!
On a side note, very good choice of equipment. A simple but reliable M, one 50mm lens and only two rolls of (BW) film. Very brave this minimalistic approach !!
chut
Luceat Lux Vestra
Excellent shots sleephead. The tones are just lovely.
Recently, I too shot a friend's wedding with a Bessa, a Summicron 50 v.4 and Ilford Delta 3200. The images turned out quite well and the couple really liked the shots I gave them. The photos were a lot different from the ones taken by the professional photographer who was using a DSLR.
Recently, I too shot a friend's wedding with a Bessa, a Summicron 50 v.4 and Ilford Delta 3200. The images turned out quite well and the couple really liked the shots I gave them. The photos were a lot different from the ones taken by the professional photographer who was using a DSLR.