riding the night in a pack of bikers in Shanghai - M Monochrom + UC-Hex

[menos]

I posted up more details on my blog Today:
http://www.teknopunk.com/en/Blog/Entries/2013/4/17_Shanghai_Factory_Five_-_night_ride.html

and more photos can be seen on my flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/teknopunk/

It was a good night for riding the streets of Shanghai in a pack of ~ 80 bikers fast.
I prefer the Leica M to shoot from the bike while riding at speed, as it is the fastest and most simple camera to shoot.

The M Mono gives me the output, I know from shooting pushed high speed B&W film and then some + the UC-Hex performs flawlessly a simply the most beautiful 35mm there is …

Mix in sweat, blood, grease, steel frames, young men and girls all determined to own the night - adrenaline and pure joy!


Factory 5 - night ride - fenced by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


Factory 5 - night ride - spooling up by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


Factory 5 - night ride by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


Factory 5 - night ride - fixing bike by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


Factory 5 - night ride - alley by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


Factory 5 - night ride - it was a great ride - good night by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


Factory 5 - night ride - waiting by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


Factory 5 - night ride by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


Factory 5 - night ride - aero + leopard by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


Factory 5 - night ride - first smoke after the ride by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


Always stay safe!
Ride with safety gear and respect others on the road!

 

[roundg]

cycling in SH about 17 years ago. I usually rode from Xujiahui to Shanghai Zoo and tried to make it as fast as I can --- about 15min, really crazy.

I like the second pic most, glad to see there is still someone rides a "Phoenix" brand bike.

 

[clayne]

I read the title and had imagery in my mind of scantily clad chicks hanging off the back of fire-breathing hogs - deafening exhaust pipes setting off all surrounding car alarms while their biker men balanced one hand on the monkey bars and the other on an opened bottle of vodka, giving the middle finger to any cop in their way.

Then I looked.. oh I get it.. bicycles and iPhones.

 

[ChrisN]

The second photo - some sort of stroboscopic lighting?

 

[zuikologist]

Probably fluorescent lighting and long shutter speed?

The second photo - some sort of stroboscopic lighting?

 

[menos]

cycling in SH about 17 years ago. I usually rode from Xujiahui to Shanghai Zoo and tried to make it as fast as I can --- about 15min, really crazy.

I like the second pic most, glad to see there is still someone rides a "Phoenix" brand bike.

Cool! I just started to ride again - Shanghai isn't that hostile, as one might believe for bikers;-)

I read the title and had imagery in my mind of scantily clad chicks hanging off the back of fire-breathing hogs - deafening exhaust pipes setting off all surrounding car alarms while their biker men balanced one hand on the monkey bars and the other on an opened bottle of vodka, giving the middle finger to any cop in their way.

Then I looked.. oh I get it.. bicycles and iPhones.

Sorry, I didn't met the "scantily clad chicks" expectations, there are websites for that though …

The second photo - some sort of stroboscopic lighting?

Probably fluorescent lighting and long shutter speed?

Yes, it's the fluorescent street lamps, giving this strobe effect - here is another better example, showing this effect:


16 f8 Hologon - first shots - man on scooter by teknopunk.com, on Flickr

 

[GaryLH]

Nice.. I like the pics. U shot some of those one handed at speed, amazing.

Gary

 

[johannielscom]

Great shots, nicely done!

That Hex sure is sweet, Dirk!

 

[icebear]

Shooting while driving, pretty daring and great outcome, thanks for sharing Dirk!

 

[k__43]

is that UC-hex the same optical design as the Hexar lens? Your pics show a remarkable similarity

 

[menos]

Nice.. I like the pics. U shot some of those one handed at speed, amazing.

Gary

Gary, thanks - it's actually two handed, shooting that is ;-)
I find it much easier to concentrate on my focussing and framing, when using both hands on the camera (it was very dark, most shots @ ISO6400 between 1/15 − 1/125sec, so I had to use ƒ2).

Great shots, nicely done!

That Hex sure is sweet, Dirk!

Absolutely Johan - I had no clue back then on my hunt for the perfect 35mm, when I bought this 35/2 UC-Hexanon LTM.
It quickly developed into my absolute favourite 35mm lens of them all - among even exotics, as the original W-Nikkor LTM, Leica Summiluxes of different kinds and alike - there is nothing that comes to the perfect mixture, that is the UC-Hex!

You got one of these rare W-Nikkors now - enjoy it as much, as you can! The W-Nikkor is the grand father of this UC-Hex - I find both identically intriguing in their imaging, just that the UC-Hex is more practical.

Shooting while driving, pretty daring and great outcome, thanks for sharing Dirk!

Thanks a lot Klaus! Nothing daring involved though - I grew up on bikes ;-)

is that UC-hex the same optical design as the Hexar lens? Your pics show a remarkable similarity

Hey Kay - the Konica 35 ƒ2 UC-Hexanon LTM Limited edition lens is said to stem in it's optical design from the 35/2, that was designed for the Hexar AF, which in return was found on the optical design of the famous (and incredible ) 35/1.8 W-Nikkor, but optimised in regards of being used in an AF camera, that has been designed to automatically take care of certain optical behaviour a mechanically linked MF rangefinder lens could not.

These three lenses indeed earn all the love they get by just looking gorgeous ;-)

One interesting aspect of the W-Nikkor and the UC-Hex is the character of their bokeh of bright highlights in the background, which I call the triangular-egg-shaped-bokeh™
You can spot these two lenses straight away for this unique character:

Here is more just for the UC-Hex on my flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=52593619@N02&q=UC-Hexanon

 

[rbelyell]

I read the title and had imagery in my mind of scantily clad chicks hanging off the back of fire-breathing hogs - deafening exhaust pipes setting off all surrounding car alarms while their biker men balanced one hand on the monkey bars and the other on an opened bottle of vodka, giving the middle finger to any cop in their way.

Then I looked.. oh I get it.. bicycles and iPhones.

+1!
bikers=motorcyclists
cyclists=bicyclists

very nice shots, certainly a 'winning' cam/lens combo.
tony

 

[hepcat]

My Bike Friday NWT is supposed to arrive Thurs... does that mean I need to start smoking again? I gave it up 35 years ago...

Dirk... great shots and a great series. It's fun to see what folks are riding there. I'm a little depressed that you haven't shown the biggest and growing bike demographic (at least in the US)... old guys with long hair and beards on recumbents... in other words... guys like me.

 

[airfrogusmc]

Very cool Dirk good work...

 

[johannielscom]

However:

motorbikes: cost you money, get you fat
bicycles: save you money, cost you fat

 

[rbelyell]

well, ive lived in the US all my life and i know one thing: one should never ride ones bicycle into a harley shop or 'biker' bar and then refer to themselves as a 'biker'. it could prove quite hazardous...
tony

 

[lam]

Great shots Dirk! Enjoyed seeing them in my Flickr feed.

 

[shadowfox]

Good work, Dirk!
Always wondered what fun things people do in Shanghai at night.

The only thing that makes me cringe is the sight of the guy with a sweater... in Shanghai ??
I remember sweating just taking a walk at night when I visited there.

 

[tunalegs]

One interesting aspect of the W-Nikkor and the UC-Hex is the character of their bokeh of bright highlights in the background, which I call the triangular-egg-shaped-bokeh™

Certainly you mean "Trieggular" shaped bokeh.

Love the bikes.

 

[nikon_sam]

As a cyclist myself I really enjoyed the photographs...and I also get riding in packs...it's so much more fun with a large group of friends...I just never get smoking and cycling...
Great shots...