morgan
Well-known
Seriously great work. Thank you for sharing.
HSI
The Fourth
I wish more Leica shooters would embrace C-41 films over E-6.
Your slide work is just so shallow in latitude, whereas your B&W is perfect.
Your slide work is just so shallow in latitude, whereas your B&W is perfect.
ampguy
Veteran
I like the color ones very much - the one with wooden toy, man drinking from tree, boys in the river are excellent. The b/w ones are excellent as well, my favorites are the man in motion (slow shutter speed), man with head down, ones of snake(?), and chimpanzee(?) looking straight into the camera. I like color a lot, so I probably wouldn't have minded all of them in color.
Papercut
Well-known
Beautiful work -- I like both sets very much. Well done!
Makes me consider even more seriously volunteering for work in Africa myself, as my wife grew up there and I've not yet gone! Were you there as a photographer (i.e., documenting the work for the WWF) or in another capacity and just shooting in your spare time?
Makes me consider even more seriously volunteering for work in Africa myself, as my wife grew up there and I've not yet gone! Were you there as a photographer (i.e., documenting the work for the WWF) or in another capacity and just shooting in your spare time?
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amoz
Established
Thanks a lot!
I was shooting in my spare time, but took the camera everywhere so the photography got nicely entangled with my official tasks there. I am a biologist, working on a PhD in tropical ecology. I was there to help in the start-up of a broad Central Africa project of WWF. My main focus was the observation of a group of bonobos in the wild
Just to be clear: the last three pictures of the b&w series are obviously not from the wild, but taken in a famous bonobo orphanage in Kinshasa. I was in the capital for a few days before I flew on to the field site (which was in the proximity of Malébo, if you want to google-earth it ;-)). I think I would have needed a good 300 or 400 mm lens to take decent pictures of the apes in the wild. I followed a group of bonobos that had not had any contact with people whatsoever. They're curious alright, but quite shy and quickly alarmed as well.
I was shooting in my spare time, but took the camera everywhere so the photography got nicely entangled with my official tasks there. I am a biologist, working on a PhD in tropical ecology. I was there to help in the start-up of a broad Central Africa project of WWF. My main focus was the observation of a group of bonobos in the wild
Just to be clear: the last three pictures of the b&w series are obviously not from the wild, but taken in a famous bonobo orphanage in Kinshasa. I was in the capital for a few days before I flew on to the field site (which was in the proximity of Malébo, if you want to google-earth it ;-)). I think I would have needed a good 300 or 400 mm lens to take decent pictures of the apes in the wild. I followed a group of bonobos that had not had any contact with people whatsoever. They're curious alright, but quite shy and quickly alarmed as well.
chikne
Well-known
#2 color and #6 trix are my favorite!
chris91387
Well-known
amoz,
really inspiring work. i shall live vicariously through you and enjoy your images and adventure as i commute in horrid traffic and work 12 hour days in my fluorescent hell of a cubicle.
keep up the good work.
- chris
really inspiring work. i shall live vicariously through you and enjoy your images and adventure as i commute in horrid traffic and work 12 hour days in my fluorescent hell of a cubicle.
keep up the good work.
- chris
fbf
Well-known
may i ask how you metered for the tough scenes? Would the meter in MP even work at very low light condition? Do you think a handheld meter would be necessary at this condtion?
Thanks.
Thanks.
amoz
Established
Thanks, Chris. Glad to give you some positive distraction.
If possible, I measure the light on my subject directly, using the integrated MP meter. I always aim for the head, if it's a human or other animal ;-). I do this while adjusting focus on the eyes. If this part of the subject is in bright sunlight I may or may not decide to compensate, depending on the effect I want to get.
In (very) low light I admit that it is more tricky, but still possible without going handheld --I then take a general measurement of the palm of my hands, twisting it up and down a bit to change the incident angle and see how this influences the reading. You really have to get to know your meter.
[I have a very good Lunasix handheld meter, but hardly ever use it since I got into rangefinders about a year and a half ago. I used to be a Canon SLR shooter, and then often relied on the Lunasix. Not sure why, I am under the impression that the Leica meter is more consistent/straight-forward.]
One thing to keep in mind (and you most probably already know) is that the area measured by the built-in meter is dependent on the focal length. It's a certain percentage of your image center. Thus if I ever get a 75mm, it will function less as a general and more as a spot meter. Then again, your image is narrowed down as well (though not the image you see through an RF-viewfinder!). Nothing new, but still important to take into account.
If possible, I measure the light on my subject directly, using the integrated MP meter. I always aim for the head, if it's a human or other animal ;-). I do this while adjusting focus on the eyes. If this part of the subject is in bright sunlight I may or may not decide to compensate, depending on the effect I want to get.
In (very) low light I admit that it is more tricky, but still possible without going handheld --I then take a general measurement of the palm of my hands, twisting it up and down a bit to change the incident angle and see how this influences the reading. You really have to get to know your meter.
[I have a very good Lunasix handheld meter, but hardly ever use it since I got into rangefinders about a year and a half ago. I used to be a Canon SLR shooter, and then often relied on the Lunasix. Not sure why, I am under the impression that the Leica meter is more consistent/straight-forward.]
One thing to keep in mind (and you most probably already know) is that the area measured by the built-in meter is dependent on the focal length. It's a certain percentage of your image center. Thus if I ever get a 75mm, it will function less as a general and more as a spot meter. Then again, your image is narrowed down as well (though not the image you see through an RF-viewfinder!). Nothing new, but still important to take into account.
fbf
Well-known
steveohan
Member
such a beautiful series!
amoz
Established
For those who are interested and have access to it, a small selection of this series has been published in this month's WWF member magazine Panda.
maddoc
... likes film again.
I don't have access to this magazine, unfortunately. But my congrats for being published ! Your photos well deserve it.
Florian1234
it's just hide and seek
Great to hear that some of your shots were published in that magazine. Congrats! 
Very well done.
Very well done.
faris
Well-known
Lovely series. #10 is my favorite. Did you wish for any other fl?
Thanks for showing this part of the world.
Thanks for showing this part of the world.
namelast
Member
Congratulations for the photos!
Also, I would like to note that threads like this one are very refreshing, given the nasty air of threads about gear. Yay!
Also, I would like to note that threads like this one are very refreshing, given the nasty air of threads about gear. Yay!
35mmdelux
Veni, vidi, vici
in such colorful environ I think I would have taken Reala or Portra 160 NC, and a Gitzo pod for the forest. At home I would send the cam and lens for professional cleaning. nice pix -tks -- Paul