Ivars Krafts

New Beginning

2011-10-19T21:11:00.004-06:00

In the past I have posted my photos on several sites for varied topics. I believe it is time for me to consolidate my efforts into one, all-encompassing blog. A relatively new service, Tumblr, offers many options I am excited to use. My new blog is here.

I will await your comments and opinions. Please keep in mind I am always looking for interesting photography projects.

David duChemin

2011-10-14T22:17:00.001-06:00

You could find a worse way to spend an hour. Check this out.

Stockholm & Alma, Wisconsin

2011-10-14T16:18:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I made a short trip along the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi looking for fall color. Many of the leaves had already fallen, the leftovers were not that bright. And, the clouds did not part until late afternoon. However, these two towns are always fun.

Stockholm

Alma

Does it matter which way they cross in front of you?

(Not that I'm superstitious!)

Springbrook Nature Center, Fridley, MN

2011-10-12T20:49:00.000-06:00

These shots are for those of you who think I've given up on bird and nature photography. Not so! I will always enjoy it. Although I have gotten rid of much of my Canon gear, I have kept two bodies and a few of my favorite lenses. The following photos were taken this summer at Springbrook. I will continue to post irregularly while I pursue other venues for publication and other areas of interest. Thank you for following my efforts. I will keep you posted of developments.

Why Leica? My answer below

2011-10-10T15:40:00.001-06:00

Sr. Delores Dufner OSB at the chapel organ of St. Benedict's Monastery, St. Joseph, MN

Leica

2011-10-10T15:29:00.004-06:00

‎Leica could be like a big passionate kiss, or then again like a shot from a gun, or the couch of a pschoanalyst. You can do anything with a Leica.

~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

JPEGs

2011-08-28T16:49:00.003-06:00

Sometimes it is good to review the basics. What are JPEGs? Good analysis here.

Steve Jobs

2011-08-26T21:19:00.001-06:00

The resignation of Steve Jobs as CEO of Apple has drawn a lot of publicity. Some of his quotes are very relevant to those of us interested in photography and spirituality. Below are some of my favorites.

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things. And the reason they were able to do that was that they’ve had more experiences or they have thought more about their experiences than other people.

“Unfortunately, that’s too rare a commodity. A lot of people in our industry haven’t had very diverse experiences. So they don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem. The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have. [Wired, February 1996]"

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.” [Stanford commencement speech, June 2005]

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” [Stanford commencement speech, June 2005]

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” [Stanford commencement speech, June 2005]

photo technique

2011-07-27T19:23:00.000-06:00

All the technique in the world doesn’t compensate for the inability to notice.

~ Elliott Erwitt

Photographing fireworks?

2011-07-02T14:46:00.001-06:00

Learn how here!

3 reasons why our photography doesn't improve

2011-05-27T11:05:00.000-06:00

1. We don't take our camera with us.
2. We're going too fast.
3. We're worried what others will think.
For a discussion of these reasons, click to dPS.

"Leica Lists"

2011-05-25T20:34:00.000-06:00

If you are interested in Leicas, you want to download the free PDF file, "Leica Lists".

nature photography with a 50+ yr. old lens on a Leica M9

2011-05-03T18:52:00.000-06:00

Recently a friend loaned me a couple of Leica lenses more than 50 yrs. old. Of course I had to try them out. After using them in bad indoor light with pretty good results, I decided to take one of them (135mm Hektor f/4.5) outdoors. Today we finally got a warmish, sunny day and I went to Springbrook Nature Center, in Fridley, where I've taken many bird photos with my Canon bodies & lenses. How would a 50+ year uncoated and slow 135mm lens compare to current 400mm telephotos? All of the photos were shot wide open at f/4.5 with the ISO at 200 and shutter speeds from 1/750 to 1/2000. The camera body was a Leica M9.

Click on any photo to enlarge.

First, the bad news.

This is a crop of less than 8% of full frame. Yes, it's a warbler -- but that's about all you can say for it. By the way, it is incredibly difficult to shoot fast-moving, restless warblers with a rangefinder, manual focusing camera. The old Hektor also has an extremely long focus travel, which does not help.

More bad news.

This is about a 5% crop of the full frame. The teal-colored branches are interesting and caused by severe chromatic aberration when shooting into a light source, such as the sky here. These old lenses were not coated. Not too many people worried about color fringing in 1950 -- most photos were black & white. What could I do with this severe crop and false color? I increased the saturation to the max hoping to get some kind of psychedelic effect. I think I failed.

Better news.

This, in my opinion, is passable. About 1/8 of full frame. Considering all factors, I am impressed by the sharpness and color of an uncoated Leitz lens after 50+ years.

Good news.

Now we are getting into pretty good territory. This is about 1/6 of full frame and very good, in my opinion.

As we approach 1/2 frame or lesser crops, the old Hektor hitting Leica's full frame sensor shines.

Isn't it amazing what sharpness & color one can get out of a 50-year old lens? The trick is to get close enough to your subject so that you can utilize 1/2 of more of full frame. That's fine for ducks & geese, but for warblers and shy birds I'll have to hang on to my Canon gear.

great TED talk on the effect of photography

2011-04-28T19:41:00.000-06:00

here

Does the Ivory-billed Woodpecker still exist?

2011-04-28T19:32:00.000-06:00

Maybe!

Thanx Gail R

Vivian Maier

2011-04-26T15:43:00.001-06:00

If you are not already familiar with Vivian Maier, you should be. She produced thousands of fascinating photographs of every-day life over a period of 50 years. The recently discovered photos are being catalogued and made available for viewing. If you are familiar with Maier, you will want to check out the recent web site documenting her work at: http://www.vivianmaier.com/ To learn about Vivian, start with the "About" tab before exploring the rest of site. What surprised me was the quality of her work in color.

Christ is risen!

2011-04-24T06:24:00.002-06:00

sunrise at Blue Cloud Abbey

This concludes our photo presentation of my recent trip to the Black Hills and the Badlands.

My wish for you is a Blessed and Happy Easter!

Cottonwood, SD

2011-04-23T21:10:00.001-06:00

It was late afternoon -- 6 hours to get back to Blue Cloud Abbey -- but after passing Cottonwood, I had to turn around and take a look at this town that looked abandoned. A later web search showed a population of 6 during the 2000 census. I didn't have a chance to talk to any locals, but there must be some interesting stories in Cottonwood.

click on photos for a larger image

the last sunset of my trip -- from my room at Blue Cloud Abbey, Marvin, SD

(more to follow)

big Buffalo

2011-04-23T19:42:00.000-06:00

click on photo for larger image

as I was leaving the Badlands, I came upon another herd of Buffalo

these seemed to be quite a bit larger than ones I had seen earlier

I don't think this one liked me

they can move very fast when they want to

I decided to move on; he was twice as big as my Honda

(more to follow)

Prairie Dogs and Meadowlarks

2011-04-23T17:28:00.001-06:00

Click on photos for a larger image

I thought I had seen a lot of Prairie Dogs on my trips to Nebraska to view cranes. That was nothing compared to the numbers in the northwest corner of the Badlands along Sage Creek Rim Road.

I'm wondering if the black spots were just the ever-present wind parting the fur

this couple was my favorite

I was surprised by the number of Meadowlarks. They were everywhere. You could hear them singing even with the car windows closed. But they were not always easy to spot ...

... until they turned to face you.

(more to follow)

memory cards

2011-04-22T13:16:00.000-06:00

Excellent advice on memory cards from Scott Bourne.

more Bighorn Sheep

2011-04-22T13:03:00.000-06:00

click on photo for a larger image

(more to follow)

that sheep may safely graze

2011-04-21T16:34:00.000-06:00

click on photo for larger image

more sun would have been nice -- I guess I have to go back

the road heading west was taking me to lower ground

that sheep may safely graze

(more to follow)

addendum

2011-04-21T13:01:00.000-06:00

For some reason I overlooked posting an iPhone shot from inside the Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill. It should have been at the end of my April 18th post. I loved the colors, so here it is.

in to the middle of the Badlands

2011-04-20T14:04:00.002-06:00

click on the below photos to enlarge them

this is how the iPhone camera sees the Badlands

(more to follow)

from Circle View into the Badlands

2011-04-19T21:01:00.003-06:00

click on the below photos to enlarge them

the sunrise view from my window at Circle View Guest Ranch

Owners, Phil and Amy Kruse, have a fantastic back yard! The morning breakfast was delicious and filling. The morning coffee was among the best I've had. When I asked Amy what kind of beans she used, she replied with a slight grin, "Folgers!" Of course, I didn't tell her that I am a bit of a coffee snob. The only explanation I have is that she made it extra strong -- or was it the clear, fresh air, views that didn't stop, and old fashioned hospitality? I highly recommend Circle View (a few miles west of Interior on Highway 44).

Before heading into the Badlands, I had to tour Interior. If the resolution on your computer prevents reading the sign, it states:

INTERIOR

I was born of wagons west. The oldest town in the Badlands. I’ve known drought and winters, fierce storms. Three times fire has swept my streets. Yet, my rodeos were known through out the N.West. Yakima Knute -- Stroud -- Earl Thode, champions all have ridden my arenas. The great Jim Thorpe has played my fields. The early music of Lawrence Welk has sounded in my nights. This is a land that bred great Indian chiefs and mighty warriors -- now it is a land of neighbors.

WELCOME -- TRAVELER

and into the Badlands we go

near the entrance of the Park I was greeted by this small herd of deer

(more to follow)

on to the "top of the world"

2011-04-18T15:32:00.000-06:00

It was getting late in the afternoon. The good folks at Coyote Blues had recommended the Circle View Guest Ranch near Interior, SD.

A few miles west of Interior, I found the driveway to the Ranch. This view is to the north looking back, half-way up a butte -- I couldn't even see the buildings but knew they must be near the top of the world. The view in all directions was breathtaking, but being tired & hungry I put off photography to the next morning when, hopefully, the sun would be shining.

posted on the fridge at Circle View

I wasn't about to make a 60mi. round trip to Wall to look for a restaurant. Phil, who owns Circle View with his wife, Amy, recommended the Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill in Interior. The review posted on the Wagon Wheel link is pretty accurate. I had pizza that was filling, if not of gourmet quality, and some Mexican beer that was surprisingly good. It was time to hit the sack and look forward to exploring the Badlands in the morning.

(more to follow)

more buffalo

2011-04-17T17:09:00.000-06:00

Interesting article about buffalo and Custer State Park in today's Star Tribune.

Click on the below photos to enlarge them.

What's with the funny-shaped horn?

THIS is what proper horns should look like.

What do you suppose they're talking about?

I think it's time for me to move on!

(more to follow)

where the antelope play and the buffalo roam

2011-04-16T13:48:00.000-06:00

double click on images to enlarge

my motto: let sleeping buffalo lie

(more to follow)

You'll never guess what's next!

2011-04-14T12:16:00.001-06:00

every turn disclosed something new

not deer, not antelope, not buffalo, then what?

Wild Burros! I had never seen any before.

they didn't seem very wild

But why does he need to lick my car?

My favorite Burro shot -- iPhone -- through the windshield. Go figure!

(more to follow)

blue skies & sunshine

2011-04-13T10:48:00.000-06:00

(more to follow)

We want ANIMALS!

2011-04-12T16:30:00.000-06:00

We gotta do better than a Prairie Dog!

Deer are nice, but where are the Buffalo? Do I have to ask for my money back?

Finally!

movin' on

(more to follow)

rocks and hills, oh deer

2011-04-11T11:35:00.001-06:00

Lichen! (this one's for you Nancy)

Who would have thought I'd see my first Spring Robin in Custer State Park?

going higher

and higher

I saw many deer -- the South Dakota deer seem smaller than ours in Minnesota

(more to follow)

movin' on to Custer State Park

2011-04-10T13:14:00.000-06:00

sunrise at Coyote Blues Village -- my last morning there

I didn't see any coyotes at Coyote Blues -- he must have scared them away

the meadows & woods surrounding Coyote Blues

my hosts at Coyote Blues, Christine & Hanspeter Streich, had prepared a great breakfast & even packed sandwiches for lunch -- in Hill City I stopped for some take-out coffee

the main drag in Hill City -- the skies predicted a beautiful day

upon entering Custer State Park, I was surprised by the amount of snow

I was amazed to find trees growing out of rocks in "impossible" places

(more to follow)

gold 'n fleece

2011-04-09T11:44:00.000-06:00

neat railroad trestle bridge along Mystic Road

Could there be gold in this creek?

these gold-panners/campers seem to think so

upon returning to Coyote Blues Village, I came upon 8-10 Bighorn Sheep

Christ Church (Episcopal), Lead, SD

2011-04-08T21:16:00.000-06:00

for larger images & photos of stained glass windows, please switch to our sister blog by clicking here

(more to follow)

in and about Lead, SD

2011-04-08T09:01:00.000-06:00

waiting for tourists

Elvis is waiting for you

overlooking Lead, SD

open-pit mine at the edge of town

Finally! A good cup of triple shot Americano with half&half at the Lotus Up. The sandwich was great too.

waiting for Spring

where the bike should have been

the slanted streets, narrow lots, painted houses remind me of San Francisco

(more to follow)

what happens when you take a wrong turn

2011-04-07T08:20:00.000-06:00

upon leaving Coyote Blues, I took a wrong turn

first, you see deer (middle of photo)

then you drive higher than you thought your SUV would take you and see these beautiful vistas

Pactola Lake

(all of the above photos were taken with X1 and M9 Leicas -- more to follow)

wind and snow in western South Dakota

2011-04-06T09:33:00.000-06:00

someplace east of Wall, SD

not that much snow, but the wind was incredible, as is often the case in South Dakota

Bufalo Gap National Grasslands

too windy to get out of the car for very long

few tourists at Wall Drug, which hasn't changed in the 8 years since I had been there

they still have free ice water, 5 cent coffee, and great, home-made type donuts

Bighorn sheep along the road in Hill City as I was returning to Coyote Blues Village, a wonderful place to stay! Hanspeter and Christine are most gracious and the breakfast/lunch is incredible.

the view from my window next morning

one of two friendly felines

all of the above shots were taken with my iPhone due to my being lazy, cold, and tired

Leica photos tomorrow

driving across South Dakota

2011-04-05T10:45:00.002-06:00

farm sign near Twin Brooks, SD

sunset, evening before leaving Blue Cloud Abbey

breakfast at Perkins, Watertown, SD

they didn't say a word -- she stared at the patrons -- he looked out the window

red & white Fords in the lake and snow near Clark, SD

art? statement? what do you think?

Snow Geese as far as the eye could see near Huron, SD

crossing the Missouri, Ft. Thompson, SD

(more to follow)

Why I take photographs?

2011-04-05T10:01:00.000-06:00

Kirk Tuck says it better than I can here.

Spring near Blue Cloud Abbey

2011-04-04T08:49:00.000-06:00

my favorite tree NE of Marvin, SD

"Aren't they ever coming back?"

ice on trees near Summit, SD

creek near Twin Brooks, SD

For those interested in such details, the 5th and last photos were taken with the iPhone camera.

(more to follow)

on the road

2011-04-03T18:12:00.000-06:00

On March 24th I left on a 10 day tour of South Dakota with emphasis on Blue Cloud Abbey in Marvin, the Black Hills, and the Badlands. Below are some initial photos. More will follow. Check back every day!

Americana!

passing through Milbank, SD, the first night

praying with the monks at Blue Cloud Abbey

sunset

sunrise the next morning

Our Lady of the Snow

Patroness of Blue Cloud Abbey

the Abbey's bell tower

(more to follow)

photo expedition

2011-03-23T22:15:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow I am leaving on a photo expedition. The destination and length of trip will depend upon the weather. However, I will post some photos on my iPhone blog -- check it out. Look for lots of Leica/Canon photos upon my return.

ring light

2011-03-15T17:33:00.000-06:00

Today I received a ring light I bought through Amazon. I got it on the recommendation of Kirk Tuck, a photographer whose blog I follow and opinions I trust. Considering that many electronic flash ring lights sell for $100 and much more, I think this LED light is an excellent buy. The ring light gives off constant light and is powered by either 2 AA batteries or AC. Below are two photos I took with it using a Canon 17-85mm zoom.

sunset

2011-03-12T18:20:00.000-06:00

I have to brag a little bit. The above photo was taken by my grandson, Alex (11)

waiting

2011-03-12T16:44:00.000-06:00

waiting for supper

waiting for mom to finish shopping

I took these two photos yesterday and wanted to share them primarily to show that the iPhone is capable of taking hi quality images. I continue to be amazed by this cell phone's built-in camera.

great nature/bird photographer

2011-03-09T18:22:00.001-06:00

Jan van der Greef

great eagle cam

2011-03-09T12:19:00.000-06:00

from Decorah, Iowa, here

Sandhill Cranes

2011-03-08T17:25:00.000-06:00

I received the following from NebraskaFlyway.com :

The first Sandhill Cranes have arrived!
We are not quite at peak numbers, but that will be occurring within the next week to 10 days. Nearly every species of waterfowl you can think of is arriving in south-central Nebraska as well, making for some spectacular viewing along the Platte River and the Rainwater Basin. Bald Eagles are plentiful and are keeping the waterfowl on their toes. Sandhill Crane numbers will continue to build in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

shooting in the streets

2011-03-07T14:35:00.000-06:00

Shooting in the streets is a way of life,

not a way of earning money ...

~ Thomas Leuthard

advice [to photographers] from Wayne Gretzke

2011-03-07T14:07:00.000-06:00

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take ...

Mama's Bar, Superior, WI

2011-03-05T19:43:00.000-06:00

winter swans

2011-03-02T20:53:00.001-06:00

I didn't want you to think I had abandoned bird photography. Hence, these photos of Trumpeter Swans I took about two weeks ago at Monticello, Minnesota, by the Mississippi River.

Want to be creative?

2011-02-23T12:40:00.000-06:00

consider Scott Bourne's suggestions

how to survive as a street photographer

2011-02-22T15:39:00.000-06:00

Tips from a good one, Eric Kim.

concert shots

2011-02-21T21:08:00.001-06:00

I'm continuing to explore and learn my Leica at every possible opportunity. Last week it was at granddaughter, Anna's, school concert. I'm having fun comparing color with B&W. Take a look at the last two photos -- which do you prefer? All shots were taken with the M9 & Voigtlander's f/1.8 75mm lens wide open.

What do you want to be?

2011-02-14T16:11:00.000-06:00

You can become a master of your craft, or you can 'just wanna take pics'... either is fine. Just don't confuse them as being the same.

from Twitter via @wizwow & @kirktuckphoto

Thou shalt not ...

2011-02-09T13:03:00.001-06:00

Thou shalt not purchase gear for which thou hast no specific application.

Read a great essay about this.

the quality of photography

2011-02-08T13:41:00.000-06:00

Isn't it amazing how photography has advanced without improving?

painter/photographer Charles Sheeler via Kirk Tuck

You DO have the right to photograph Federal buildings!

2011-02-04T17:04:00.001-06:00

Copy & carry this with you.

Pray, Rehearse, and Praise

2011-02-01T11:55:00.000-06:00

PRAY

after Mass

REHEARSE

back to work rehearsing

take five

when rehearsing gets too serious

Kenneth DeJong

PRAISE

45 minutes before the concert -- would the pews be filled?

The reason for concern: cold & blizzard strength winds

sing & play -- and they will come

Narrator Rev. Richard Collman

Benediction by Br. Benet

The concert concluded with an amazing postlude improvisation by Paul Klemme

The 2012 retreat will be January 19-11.

Work, Pray, and Play

2011-01-28T15:37:00.001-06:00

WORK

Most of the musicians attending the retreat at Blue Cloud Abbey last weekend participated in the concluding concert on Sunday. The title of the concert was Music of Creation, led by conductor Kenneth DeJong of Bellevue, Washington, and organist Paul Klemme of Salem, Oregon. Rehearsals started early in the weekend.

PRAY

PLAY

The evening concluded with the musicians taking turns demonstrating their talents, not all of which were musical.

Brother Benet read one of his short stories with an excellent Irish accent.

Concert pianist Eugene Gienger

Conductor Kenneth DeJong demonstrated the dryness of South Dakota by making water disappear. Next year we will ask him to do the same with the snow.

Father Michael played two Native American flutes.
more to follow

music seminar

2011-01-26T19:59:00.000-06:00

The first music seminar I attended last weekend at Blue Cloud Abbey was led by an experienced musician and organist, Rev. Richard Collman, who is also an oblate of St. Benedict, associated with Blue Cloud Abbey. He shared old and new music available for church musicians by passing around various collections as well as individual works. By playing excerpts he made it come alive. Below are some photos.

Rev. Collman

comparing notes

Who knew church music could be so much fun?

Fr. Chris Uehlein played portions of his newly published sonatina

Concert pianist, Eugene Gienger, played samples of various arrangements

even the Sisters of Saint Benedict seemed pleased

more to follow

The sound of music at Blue Cloud Abbey

2011-01-25T20:05:00.000-06:00

Last week I drove to Blue Cloud Abbey, near Marvin, South Dakota, for a private retreat. I knew ahead of time that the South Dakota Chapter of the American Guild of Organists would be holding a retreat for musicians. What I did not know was the inspiration and delight I would experience by attending music workshops, a talent show, rehearsals and the performance of Music of Creation, a festival of word and sacred music.

These events provided me with a wonderful venue for learning to use my new Leica. Most of the time the weather was "rotten" so my Canon DSLR and telephoto lens stayed in the camera bag. There were few birds in sight and, with way below zero temps and high winds, I was not eager to leave the Abbey. Nevertheless, I was busy filling up memory cards with images of musicians performing their art. Over the next several days I will post some of my photos.

For those interested in such details, most of the photos were taken with the Leica M9 and 50mm f/2 Summicron wide open -- ISOs, except for the few outdoor shots, ranged from 400 to 1000. The wide angle shots were made with a Leica X1.

Below is a group photo of the participating, talented musicians.

Friday morning sunrise at the Abbey

A few hours later clouds overtook one of my favorite spots near the Abbey.

more to follow

Will you make better photos with a better camera?

2011-01-19T12:49:00.000-06:00

Yes. Do you agree?

creativity

2011-01-16T14:28:00.000-06:00

Where can we find inspiration for our photography? There are tons of sites and blogs by and for photographers, of course. However, I believe we can learn a lot from other artists as well. One that I have admired and followed for some time is the Canadian painter, Robert Genn. I have found his twice-weekly email letters inspiring and full of ideas. You can read about them here.

Kristine

2011-01-13T23:11:00.000-06:00

5 ways to know your photos aren't cutting it

2011-01-07T11:02:00.000-06:00

HERE

transformation

2011-01-04T16:04:00.000-06:00

If you have recently followed this blog, you know that I have been exploring new directions in photography. Some of my feelings about photography in general and its purpose in my life specifically are well expressed by David duChemin in his blog. Be sure to watch the cited video. I just wish transformation would happen more quickly! I am interested in your comments.

Christmas Joy

2010-12-24T14:33:00.000-06:00

Have a Merry & Blessed Christmas!

For me a most enjoyable start to Christmas was the Sunday School program at Cross of Glory in Mounds View, Minnesota. I hope the photos on my Voice blog captured a bit of the blessing the children were to us.

photography as art

2010-12-18T15:55:00.000-06:00

That seems to be the best way to describe American Suburb X.

Leica and me -- part 3

2010-12-05T14:33:00.000-06:00

My conclusions? So far I am very happy with my Leicas. As with the X1's lens, the M9's f/2 Summicron is exceedingly sharp with high contrast. I am enjoying converting some color photos to black and white, particularly portraits and scenics. Black and white can be used to eliminate competition between colors for attention and to emphasize composition. With the Leicas I am more deliberate in framing my shots and more appreciative of the basics of exposure (it is nice to have manual control over f/stops, shutter speed, ISO, and focusing).

I will keep you posted as I become more familiar with both cameras and continue my exploration of photography.

Leica and me -- part 2

2010-12-05T14:07:00.000-06:00

In yesterday's post I told you why I purchased a Leica M9. A 14th century English proverb tells us, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." I will leave it to you to judge. Please keep in mind, as I pointed out yesterday, that at my age I cannot afford to be rational; that applies to my choice of subject matter as well. All of these photos were taken within the last two weeks.

continued in part 3

Leica and me

2010-12-04T21:41:00.001-06:00

A half-century ago (literally) I worked at a research photo lab for the University of Minnesota. It was there I became acquainted with Leica cameras. Of course, this was pre-digital. I learned to develop film, use enlargers, and make prints. I used view cameras -- some as large as 16"x20" on rails, 8x10s, and 4x5s. I would make contact prints from the larger cameras with sharpness that had to be seen to be believed. My favorites, however, were the Leicas.

This was before the days of the M-series (for those of you who may be familiar with Leicas). I still remember the models: IIIf and, my favorite, the IIIg. They were light, compact, with lenses that seemed to rival the view cameras. Alas, I was in college and could not afford them. Today, if I was a rational person, I still cannot afford them. But at my age, I cannot afford to be rational. So, early this year I decided to start small and get what some may call a point-and-shoot, the Leica's X1. It is not a single-lens reflex. It has a fixed f2.8 lens. It will not focus closer than about 20". The auto-focusing is slow. So why did I get it? It has three things going for it -- things that are very important to me.

It has an APC size sensor, the same size as your typical DSLR (excluding full-frame cameras).
It has a wide angle lens with unbelievable sharpness and color rendition.
It is very quiet -- I would challenge you to hear the shutter.

The shots at the beginning and end of this video were taken with the X1 -- also, the September 26 and October 1 posts on my Voice blog.

I got an external viewfinder hoping it would duplicate the regular Leica's advantage of not looking through the lens, but rather seeing the subject directly and brightly without the mirror of a DSLR going blank with a loud clunck at the exact moment that one takes a photo. The performance of the X1 and the viewfinder experience convinced me that a full-size digital Leica was the way to go. I spent several months arguing with myself whether I really wanted to incur the expense, whether it would improve my photography, and whether I could adjust to giving up automatic focusing, looking through the camera lens, and using telephotos for nature shots.

About two weeks ago I took the plunge and ordered an M9 through an old-style dealer in Manhattan, NY, Ken Hansen. Ken doesn't have a web site or blog but he knows Leicas and their lenses. He will talk to you on the phone and will answer emails within minutes day or night -- really! I don't know when he sleeps.

After agonizing over Leica's expensive lenses, I settled on the old standard, a 50mm f/2 Summicron. After all, if it was good enough for one of the world's greatest photographers, Henri Cartier-Bresson, it should be sufficient for me. I'm not so naive to believe that a Leica with a 50mm will make me the next Bresson. But, after using film Leicas and reading about the history and nature of manual rangefinder type shooting, I do believe this approach will improve my photography in those areas where Leica is outstanding: street and candid photography, nature/landscape, portraits, and as an instrument for recording the years I may have remaining. Tripods, full-frame DSLRS, and telephoto lenses are getting heavier each year.

If you are interested, there are many sites and blogs devoted to Leica photography. Just a few that contain a wealth of information are those of Steve Huff, Thorsten Overgaard, Ken Rockwell, and Erwin Puts.

There are some kinds of photography that Leica is not good at. They include extreme closeups (less than 2'), bird and nature photography that calls for telephoto lenses greater than 135mm, and sports/action photography (the M9 shoots at only 2 frames/sec. and does not have automatic focusing). For these very reasons I will keep at least one Canon body and my 70-200mm f/2.8 and 400mm f/4 lenses. Anyone interested in the rest?

I have not yet decided what I will do with my present blogs. (I do know I will keep my iPhone blog.) Tomorrow I will post some of the test shots I've taken with my M9 so far.

creativity

2010-12-03T12:37:00.000-06:00

A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.

~ Frank Capra

Survived Thanksgiving!

2010-12-02T20:09:00.001-06:00

cameras & flutes

2010-12-01T15:17:00.002-06:00

Buy a camera and you are a professional photographer.

Buy a flute and you now own a flute.

~ Unknown (Thanks to David Spielman.)

3 important tips for better photographs

2010-11-25T21:41:00.000-06:00

1. Get closer

2. Get closer

3. Get closer

Thanx Light Stalking

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T07:01:00.001-06:00

Turkey upset about Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T18:05:00.002-06:00

Where to buy your camera gear and, ...

2010-11-24T15:25:00.000-06:00

... more importantly, where not to. One photographer's opinion.

My experience is much more limited than Steve's. However, I agree with his ratings of B&H Photo, Amazon, and Ken Hansen (Ken just sold me my second Leica). I too had a little bit of difficulty buying from Pop Flash Photo through eBay. And YES, stay away from Brooklyn Camera stores. Their distasteful tactics are legendary. I do not understand why photo magazines accept their ads.

Fall Concert

2010-11-21T15:20:00.001-06:00

As I've mentioned in other posts lately, I'm exploring new areas of photography aside from nature & birds. I have placed one such attempt in this slide show. (Please allow time to load.)

questions every photographer should ask

2010-11-19T16:52:00.000-06:00

here

Life is short!

2010-11-17T16:26:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite photographers is David duChemin. I have learned a lot from his blog, web site, books, and seminars. David's blog post yesterday prompted me to take an immediate and serious look at where I am going with my photography. You may have other goals in your life. Do not put them off.

Read the post here. And then take action!

color of B&W

2010-11-13T18:46:00.000-06:00

When you photograph people in colour you photograph their clothes.

But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls!

~Ted Grant

understanding sensor sizes

2010-11-12T21:44:00.000-06:00

sensor sizes illustrated here

thanks Scott Bourne

photography

2010-11-12T19:45:00.000-06:00

No place is boring,

if you've had a good night's sleep

and have a pocket full of unexposed film.

~ Robert Adams

don't compare

2010-11-09T11:15:00.000-06:00

Don't compare yourself to other photographers. Why?

Want to improve your photography?

2010-11-08T18:48:00.000-06:00

Shoot more!

remembering summer #1

2010-11-04T17:50:00.000-06:00

photography

2010-11-02T13:42:00.002-06:00

Cartier-Bresson: “Photography is nothing — it’s life that interests me.”

How to choose a Leica

2010-10-30T20:47:00.000-06:00

here

photos

2010-10-30T16:41:00.000-06:00

All photos are accurate.

None of them is the truth.

Richard Avedon

What your choice of camera says about you

2010-10-28T18:22:00.000-06:00

read about it here

DSLR lens advice

2010-10-20T10:22:00.000-06:00

here

camera pants

2010-10-19T20:12:00.000-06:00

here

personal branding

2010-10-19T19:01:00.000-06:00

What is it? Do photographers need it?

One answer here.

Master Photographer

2010-10-17T15:12:00.000-06:00

Richard Avedon

Your most important piece of equipment.

2010-10-17T14:32:00.000-06:00

Interesting discussion & exercise here.