Grant Park Election Night with an M3...and flash!

[pachuco]

I know it seems wrong but gosh darn it, I now keep a flash unit (Vivitar 2500) as part of my regular kit. I spent election day in Grant Park, Chicago with only an M3 and a 40mm lens. I tried to use flash only when needed and Delta 3200 when I could. Here are some of the results:

You can see the full set here. I got to tell you, I am down to one M3 and just sold off another but I am thinking that was a mistake! I know it is not the camera that makes the image but this one makes me feel good while doing it 😎

 

[35mmdelux]

great portfolio.

 

[sirius]

super work. i love the emotion you caught. what a great night it was. thanks for sharing it.

i have not seen an m3 used with flash before, you handle it well...any techincal tips? i like flash when used intelligently and would love to improve my technique.

 

[capitalK]

Fantastic. #1, 4 and 5 are standouts for me. Absolutely portfolio-ready. Great job capturing the waiting and the tension in #1 and the outpouring of emotion later.

 

[pachuco]

Using a flash with an M3 is much easier than with say a Canon DSLR. I know it sound weird but it is. I have to use a diffuser with a DSLR but I shot that night with just the naked flash pointed directly at the subject. At 1/50th of a second you have to use the same steady hand that you would most times but I stopped down to about f8 and just shot away. Indoors I would use a diffuser (Gary Fong type) and bounce it if I could. Other than that learn to use flash on a digital camera, save yourself some film.

 

[pachuco]

Thanks all for the kind words!

 

[rogerchristian]

Photo-graphy - light-writing, without light, ain't no writin'.

I keep a small Vivitar unit too, 2600 or 2800 (like the tilt head for storage).

You can also use a PROMASTER 1700 which is similar to the 2800, and available NEW.

 

[DwF]

Very nice work Carlos!

I was feeling sentimental today about not having even an M2 in the bag. My Ms had to go so I could the fund newer pricey one. These images have a really distinctive look.

David

 

[tedwin]

I'll be the first to ask..

I'll be the first to ask..

Voigtlander 40mm? I assume you use whole viewfinder, how do you find that, close to what you expect on the neg?

BTW thanks for sharing.

Also, to those that don't know, camera without metering no problem when fixed to one shutter speed and using a flash! As OP points out, couldn't be easier if you keep in mind subject distance..

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Very good work, Carlos! I'm glad you posted these ones. Flash is good with those who use it well... Heck, it's portable light! 🙂 Thanks for posting! I'll check the rest of your pics later.

Sorry, I meant photographs. 😉

 

[BillBingham2]

I really like the lighting in the first two above. Great blending of natural in the back ground and well controlled flash for the foreground.

It's great to see someone other than me using flash from time to time. I love flash on RF because you can see what you got just as good as in a digital.

Again, great stuff, thanks for sharing.

B2 (;->

 

[blacktaped]

great portfolio

congratulations


-----

www.blacktaped.blogspot.com

www.mauriziospadaccino.com

 

[dmr]

Great work, almost approaching the Weegee style.

(Wish I coulda been there!)

 

[Sparrow]

Is Grant Park the one between Michigan Av and the lake, south of that swing bridge thing somewhere around Madison?

sorry, nice pics BTW 🙂

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Lovely, thanks!

 

[pachuco]

Is Grant Park the one between Michigan Av and the lake, south of that swing bridge thing somewhere around Madison?

sorry, nice pics BTW 🙂

You got it!

Thanks to everyone for commenting and for the encouragement about using a flash on the M. Heck, next I may try......a tripod! 😱

 

[capitalK]

The best part, in my opinion, is 5, 10, 20+ years from now most of the cell phone pictures and even digital camera photos from that event will be lost. The average person doesn't back anything up and they will be lost to traded-in cell phones or hard drive crashes. You'll have these gorgeous pristine negs to remember the event.

Keep them safe.

 

[ClarkChgo]

Is Grant Park the one between Michigan Av and the lake, south of that swing bridge thing somewhere around Madison?

sorry, nice pics BTW 🙂

You might be thinking of Millenium Park which is between Randolph and Adams with Michigan the Western border. It has the Cloudgate/"Bean" sculpture and the glass-cube fountain w/ video of faces.

Grant Park includes Millenium Park and covers a larger area, mostly south of Millenium Park. The rally was in the southern part of Grant Park - closer to the Field Museum.

 

[rogue_designer]

Great shots Carlos. I guess i have no excuse for not finishing up mine now. I've edited down to 25. I'll try to get up by the end of the day. 🙂

I was there with the Canon P with a 21/4, and 50/1.8. No flash tho. 🙂

 

[ishpop]

really fantastic work, could be a study in Time magazine for all i know!

🙂