Leica M Monochrom: best pics
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Vince Lupo
Whatever
Congratulations Allen -- well deserved.
john neal
fallor ergo sum
Michael,
Two more great shots - the shine on the Merc is amazing!
Incidentally, do you work in the City?
Two more great shots - the shine on the Merc is amazing!
Incidentally, do you work in the City?
Last edited:
Vince Lupo
Whatever
fabio_rf
Well-known
coelacanth
Ride, dive, shoot.
thompsonks
Well-known
Nice night shot. Looks like he's calling AAA about his Bentley?
Kirk
Kirk
MichaelToye
Well-known
NY_Dan
Well-known
This thread always has something good to see. When one buys a Monochrom -- that's a commitment! Hope I can get to Airfrogusmc's Soho opening tonight. Congrats! And Vince Lupo, Michael Toye and others -- super street shots.
Bruno Gracia
Well-known
I'm not agree, Dan.
Just see a couple of users here who uses the MM properly, getting a huge greytones and almost an analog feel. The rest, black and white, digital. Not to mention the composition and pictures... Most of them could do the same with a M8 or an iphone.
Just see a couple of users here who uses the MM properly, getting a huge greytones and almost an analog feel. The rest, black and white, digital. Not to mention the composition and pictures... Most of them could do the same with a M8 or an iphone.
Roel
Well-known
Shot on the first day i received the MM. Still learning.
MM / 50mm summarit 1.5
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Feeling the music by RoelvanNoord, on Flickr[/IMG]
MM / 50mm summarit 1.5
Feeling the music by RoelvanNoord, on Flickr[/IMG]
NY_Dan
Well-known
You're right, I'm wrong. Sorry for having something nice to say regarding other photographer's work. All compliments should be adorned with provisos. I agree with your premise and it's logical, inescapable conclusion that Leica and other camera manufacturers should cease production forthwith and cede the industry to the Apple iPhone. 🙂
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Very hard to judge and compare image quality strictly by looking at a screen. Yes, there are a couple of shots that I have done with an iPhone that actually look pretty good as black+white photos. But only on a computer screen. Let's see a print -- which is a whole other discipline in itself!
And yes, it's not simply the fact that using a Monochrom automatically results in superb imagery -- just as easy to take a bad photo with a really expensive camera as it is with a cheap one. When it comes right down to it, the same basic elements apply -- exposure, processing, composition, light, moment etc, no matter what camera (or phone!) you use.
Thanks very much for the compliments Dan -- always appreciate the encouragement and recognition. And Bruno, thanks for pointing out to those of us who do use the Monochrom that we need to be on top of our game and 'justify' its ownership, if I could use that term. At least that's what I try to do -- and I have to admit, not always successfully!
And yes, it's not simply the fact that using a Monochrom automatically results in superb imagery -- just as easy to take a bad photo with a really expensive camera as it is with a cheap one. When it comes right down to it, the same basic elements apply -- exposure, processing, composition, light, moment etc, no matter what camera (or phone!) you use.
Thanks very much for the compliments Dan -- always appreciate the encouragement and recognition. And Bruno, thanks for pointing out to those of us who do use the Monochrom that we need to be on top of our game and 'justify' its ownership, if I could use that term. At least that's what I try to do -- and I have to admit, not always successfully!
MichaelToye
Well-known
Thanks Dan
MichaelToye
Well-known
With mention of the iphone, I question your expertise Bruno 😉
I find the joy from simply being able to take photos with a Monochrom, so if my images aren't to everyone's taste it is their problem. I am enjoying the process.
Michael
NY_Dan
Well-known
How could anyone always artistically satisfy someone else, when I doubt anyone can always artistically satisfy themselves -- I'm talking about photography here people 🙂
Seriously, I love the Leica Monochrom tones, and the full frame, and the whole concept -- so when one has a good photo making opportunity -- it's the icing on the cake. And I do believe there's an implied seriousness to using the M -- it's like visiting someone who likes cars and they have a lift in their home garage -- good chance they're putting in the extra effort -- not that this always translates, but like handicapping a horse race -- it's a good bet.
Seriously, I love the Leica Monochrom tones, and the full frame, and the whole concept -- so when one has a good photo making opportunity -- it's the icing on the cake. And I do believe there's an implied seriousness to using the M -- it's like visiting someone who likes cars and they have a lift in their home garage -- good chance they're putting in the extra effort -- not that this always translates, but like handicapping a horse race -- it's a good bet.
Bruno Gracia
Well-known
Don't get me wrong please and apologise if You feel offend, probably you're right about prints vs screen, but at the end why You want that greaaaat tool if not to maximize the qualities from it? Waste of money in my opinion.
Anyway I'm not pointing particulary. I sold mine three times... Bad done.
I would love to see in London someone who show me a good print and convince me to sell my analog equipment and fall in love with MM again. Beers on my own!
One thng I noticed is how difficult is to handle the highlights, maybe I'm trying to find an analog feel when the MM is provide for another things.
Anyway I'm not pointing particulary. I sold mine three times... Bad done.
I would love to see in London someone who show me a good print and convince me to sell my analog equipment and fall in love with MM again. Beers on my own!
One thng I noticed is how difficult is to handle the highlights, maybe I'm trying to find an analog feel when the MM is provide for another things.
Bruno Gracia
Well-known
And I'm sorry to be honest and not suck asses.
Bruno Gracia
Well-known
Good for You Michael, seriously at the end is what matters.
I find myself a little bit identify with You, my best shots have been here in London, We should share a beer or two!
Vince Lupo
Whatever
I think many things in life could be considered a 'waste of money' -- who knows, there may be things in your life that others might consider a 'waste of money'. A car? Talk about depreciation! A house? You'll likely never get all the money back you put into it. Jewelry? Complete frivolity. And to pay the insurance for all of that? Let's not go there. How about an expensive dinner out? Cheaper to stay home and cook for yourself! I could go on and on. So really, what may be a waste of money to one person is definitely in the eye of the beholder.
For me, I'm pretty happy with the camera - for its ergonomics, its appearance, its functions, and of course the results it produces. And here again, this is just MY personal opinion - for my working methods, the way it integrates with the rest of my photographic workflow and for my creative life. And really, that's good enough for me. It's a camera I could use for the next 20 years and be completely (well mostly, anyways!) happy with. I personally consider it to have been well worth the money. But as I say, this is just for me.
A word about the highlights -- You've heard the saying 'expose for the shadows, develop for the highlights'? Well, with the Monochrom, I've found the opposite to be true: Expose for the highlights, 'develop' for the shadows ('develop' being 'post-production'). Just shoot with it as though you have slide film in the camera, and for the most part you should be fine. Unless I'm shooting something in which the majority is in shadow and there's a pocket of bright sunshine hitting, say, someone wearing a white shirt, I've never had a problem with highlight rendering. Yes, there is a 'learning' that takes place with the Monochrom - definitely different than shooting with the M9, at least that's what I found. And then once I got it (mostly) figured out, then I could concentrate on those other elements that I mentioned in my earlier post -- composition, light, and of course the moment.
As far as speaking the 'truth', I welcome it. If you have critiques about my images, I'd love to learn about what I may or may not be doing correctly. Or if my composition, light, moment, or post-production aren't quite working, I'm all ears. Always room for improvement, to be sure, and I'm confident others here feel the same way. I certainly don't need to be coddled, but of course sincere compliments are greatly appreciated.
I wish I could come to London and show you some prints (let's not spill the beer on them please!). I don't know if you'd necessarily have this 'Oh my God' revelation, but when exposed and 'developed' properly, they are quite satisfying to behold. I'm happy with the results I've been getting with the Monochrom and my Epson 3880 printer, but I'm sure there's always room for improvement. But you have given me an idea -- I have never made a print from any of my iPhone photos. Hmm, maybe I should in fact do a side-by-side comparison with the Monochrom and my iPhone to see if there really is a difference. Who knows - you may be right!
Thanks for allowing me to stretch my legs here with this extended post. I appreciate everyone's input in this thread.
BTW everyone seems to talk about the 'film-like' qualities of the Monochrom -- not that it really matters, but for me this is really the only image of mine whose resulting print has caused me to pause and say 'that looks like film':
DC2013-2 by Vince.Lupo, on Flickr
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