24mm Point of View

Going wide can be intimidating for many photographers, myself included.  In fact, I'm never comfortable shooting too wide.  The wider the angle, the more one has to manage the composition of the picture.  The more one has to manage, the more difficult it is to shoot.  We are all different, so explore and see how wide you are comfortable to shoot.  


For me, my main lens used to max out at 28mm in the days of DSLR.  At one point in time, I had a 10.5mm fish-eye (16mm equivalent) and while it's a fun lens to use, I barely shoot more than 100 frames with it.  Since the introduction of the Panasonic LX-2 compact digital, I've grown to like a slightly wider view of 24mm focal length.  A slightly wider view allows me to capture more details than a 28mm focal length while not being too wide and difficult to compose.  


Here are some ways I find the 24mm focal length to be very effective.  Shooting landscape with a 24mm means that it is relatively easy to capture the whole environment like land, sea (or water), and sky in the same shot.  The trick is to find an angle (be it higher, lower, more left, or more right) that works for each shot. For example, if the sky is interesting and colorful, compose for the sky.  

Recently I rode on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) and wanted to capture a scene that conveys the mood and the speed of that trip.  With a 24mm lens, it's wide enough to cover the entire window view, including reflection from internal lighting.  So here's that one shot taken at 1/2 second, handheld.

Experimenting with composition, architectural scenes are also ideal for 24mm.  Like landscape, there's just 'enough' to fit into a frame.  Not too much, and not too little, in my opinion.

Because of what can be included in one frame, it's not too difficult to compose to illustrate depth and motion.

People, in general, can be a little more challenging to shoot with a 24mm lens because the details can easily distract from the people itself.  Every now and then there are shots that, for me, works with those details like the photos below.  Be it the colorful paints, the sloping hill, or the sizzling tofu which contrasts with the calmness of the cook.

So don't be afraid.  Go out, explore, and shoot with your favorite wide angle lenses.  It maybe more useful than you think.  Happy shooting!

Wisrute

Happy New Year 2011!

The last twelve months had gone by so fast, I begin to wonder whether it's my age or just the busy days at work.  Well, anyway, I must apologize for not being able to update this blog as often recently due to the amount of work I had (and will continue to) but also some persistent problems with my iMac.  

While I'm still sorting out my iMac's problems that the Apple Service Center was not able to identify, I do have some photographs to share for this festive season.  So with the first update of 2011, I'd like to share some of the photos of my kids who enjoy the holidays immensely these days.  I must admit that I am now much more comfortable with the 35mm focal length than, say, a year ago.  That reminds me, actually, that my M9 is now one year old!  

My son during New Year's eve

New Year's Eve Dinner (Both are excited with Yakiniku, just like me!) 

While Waiting for Dessert...

Cheerleader Jr. Posing

Missus In A Good Mood

I'd like share this last photo with you all, both as a wish for a wonderful 2011, and as a proof to highlight what a great photographic tool the M system is.  This dreamy shot is straight (no post-processing, just a slight crop) from the M9 and the versatile 35 Summilux, shot wide open.  Have a great new year!

Best wishes,

Wisrute

City of Lights

It goes without saying, for Thais, that December is usually a month of celebration.  Not only it is a X-mas and holiday season, but it's also our King's birthday.  The city of Bangkok is always lit up during the month of December to celebrate the King's birthday, and later X-mas and New Year.  

As a Bangkok resident, I had never been out on the streets on our King's birthday, but there's a first time for everything.  This first time, however, is a little tricky.  Ask any taxis or Tuk-Tuk and they decline heading to the old part of Bangkok this evening, simply because the traffic is so bad with tons of people heading to the same location.  So a motorcycle taxi is the only choice.  

I decide to bring my 24 'Lux because I have not used it much, and the Noctilux because of the low light environment.  Strangely, I find it very difficult to shoot with 24 'Lux maybe because the crowd are always in the way, or maybe it's just too wide for the surrounding with so many people.  Somehow I feel that the 35'Lux would have been a perfect one-lens choice for the night.  The focus throw of the Noctilux does make it a little tricky to shoot quickly, and low light doesn't help.  

Fortunately, I also have another equipment with me, the Olympus EP-L1 with the latest Panasonic 14/2.5 (28mm equivalent).  The EP-L1 doesn't disappoint even with f2.5 (I wish it's 2.0) and is able to capture some good shots in a relatively dark environment.  I walk a lot and probably spend too much time looking around, taking in the experience (as it's my first), rather than shooting.  Anyway, I hope you like the photos.

Anantasamakhom Palace - Leica M9 + 24 Summilux

I spot a small area where visitors light the candles, wishing our King prosperity on his birthday.  Then I see a handicapped woman reaching down to set her candles on the street. 

Lighting the Candles - Leica M9 + 24 Summilux

Lighting the Candles II - Leica M9 + 24 Summilux

Flower Woman - Leica M9 + 24 Summilux

Balloon Woman - Leica M9 + 50 Noctilux

Electric Bows - Olympus EP-L1 + Panasonic 14/2.5

Lights @ Makhawan Bridge - Olympus EP-L1 + Panasonic 14/2.5

Night Singer - Olympus EP-L1 + Panasonic 14/2.5

Ride with Me - Olympus EP-L1 + Panasonic 14/2.5

Constitution Monument - Olympus EP-L1 + Panasonic 14/2.5

Enjoy,

Wisrute

PS:  I should also add that processing these photos was a bit tricky as the street lights cast a strong yellow/orange hue to all the photos.  I decided to customize the white balance to balance the mood (i.e. yellowness) and the natural color reproductions (a small degree).  

One Wedding and A Leica, Part III

As far as I know, this is the third (and the last for this year) wedding among our classmates this year.  What a year it's been with many great moments as well as sad ones where many of our friend's parents had passed away in the past 11 months.  


I bring the M9 along with the Noctilux and the 35 Summilux only to find a banquet room so densely arranged it's difficult to walk, let along taking pictures!  Other challenges for this shoot are the mixed indoor lighting, tall stage and high contrast stage lighting.  As a friend of the groom, and a lazy family man (after a long day), I only shoot as much as I could given the limitations.  The Noctilux works superbly at f2 and the Summilux is always handy for a wider angle, low-light shoot.  In a few shots below, you can see the "Leica glow" in the low light shots. This is what I love about M-lens!


The mighty D-Lux 4 also comes into its own on this trip especially when shot in RAW format.  Its f2 aperture and 24mm lens work like a charm!  Noise starts to get in the way at ISO400, but Noise Ninja does a fair job at smoothing them out.  I can't wait to get my hands on the D-Lux 5! 


Here are some of my favorites.

The Happiest Couple - Leica D-Lux 4

Classmates - Leica M9 + Noctilux

The Interviews - Leica M9 + Noctilux

Beer Boys - Leica M9 + Noctilux

The Groom's Gang - Leica D-Lux 4

Up - Leica M9 + 35 Summilux

Glow - Leica M9 + 35 Summilux

"Da Man" - Leica M9 + 35 Summilux

Night Tour - Leica D-Lux 4

(Raw @ ISO 400, Aperture + Noise Ninja)

Colors of the Night in Pattaya - Leica D-Lux 4

Wishing you all a good week ahead,

Wisrute

Back to Germany

I still cannot believe this could happen.  No, I did not send the M9 back to Germany.  The M9 is still working fine and I had a great time shooting with it in Germany during my short visit last weekend!

A short stay in Germany is part of the plan as my business trip takes me across 10 timezones. Crossing 4-5 timezones at a time (and adjusting) is my preferred choice.  As a car fanatic, I don't take long to figure out where to go in Germany.  Stuttgart is the natural choice.  On this trip, I have the 24 Summilux and the 50 Summicron with me so that I have a good range from just two lens.  It isn't easy to shoot cars with the M9 and prime lens but I do like quite a few shots from this visit.  Here are some photos from the Porsche and Mercedes - Benz Museums in Stuttgart.  Enjoy.

 Where It All Started - M9 + 50 Summicron

 Roadster Dream - M9 + 50 Summicron

 Speedster Dream - M9 + 50 Summicron

 Racing Heritage - M9 + 50 Summicron

 Passage At the MB Museum - M9 + 24 Summilux

 Silver Arrows - M9 + 24 Summilux

 Pathway at the Stuttgart TV Tower - M9 + 24 Summilux

 GT3 Eye Candies - M9 + 50 Summicron

 Downtown Stuttgart by Night - Leica D-Lux 4

Have a good week,


Wisrute

Deja Vu

As I'm packing for my long trip and taking a break, I stumble upon this site, canonrumors.  The M9 really has a tremendous effect on the way we photograph.  It's exactly what happened to me about 10 months ago.


The Leica M9 Reivew - canonrumors.com



Time to pack the M9.  See you soon.


Wisrute

The Problem with Leica...

These last few weeks have been exceptionally hectic.  I barely had time to shoot and to update the blog, and this may be the case for another several weeks.  


Anyway, on with the update.  The problem with Leica, you may be a little worried seeing the title.  Worry you should be as there's obviously a major problem with Leica.  Their M lens are too darn good and too different you can't have just one!  Few weeks ago I finally collected the long-awaited 24 Summilux, thanks to a few good friends who sourced it for me in Hong Kong.  While the 24 Elmarit is a great lens, I always like the 24 Summilux and its ability to throw the background out of focus at such a wide angle.  Well, I haven't had much time to shoot with it, but I will share a few quick shots with you.

Crying Baby - Here you can see how much the 24 Summilux can isolate the subject at f2.0. (This is something the 24 Elmarit cannot do with the f2.8 aperture.)

True to Leica's tradition, the 24 Summilux still offers great sharpness.

Also below are a few more photos taken with a recently acquired 50 Summicron.  I really need to spend more time shooting this wonderful lens.  My M-lens collection has grown too big, too quickly!  Time to make a few hard decisions and let some of them go!

50 Summicron, cropped.  Note the smooth bokeh.  I will try to compare it with the Zeiss Planar soon.

A few more from the 50 Summicron.

Soon I will be on a long business trip.  I'm still not sure if I can update the blog during the trip but definitely when I return.  The M9 surely will come long.  The problem is which lenses!

Have a good week!

Wisrute

Precious Metal

When it comes to optics, glass plays the key role in rendering lights onto film or sensor.  Yesterday, I received a PM pointing to a great opportunity for a 50 Summicron, box & papers in tact.  I have not had much luck with finding one in the last several months.  As you may have read, I already bought a ZM Planar 50/2.0 as a substitute.  As great as the Zeiss is, this Summicron is a silver chrome version (made of brass), produced in 2001.  It just feels different than aluminum M lens.  For one, it's heavier.  It also turns fluidly and quickly.  After a few test shots, I couldn't resist and now I've got it!  I only had time to take few pictures with it, so here goes, in sepia tone:

The 50 Summicron, in mint condition.  It's amazing how fast these things get picked up.  As soon as I said yes, the seller received another phone call asking for this lens!

Soon I will have to decide which lens(es) to let go as I have too many! LOL.  


Have a good week,


Wisrute