Working as a professional for the final 50 years I by no means had the additional money for a Leica. Any time I had ‘additional’ money it went in the direction of my work gear, lighting or Nikon movie cameras after which Canon Digital gear. I hardly ever ever noticed a Leica out within the wild. However they have been all the time there hovering and intriguing at the back of my thoughts. May they actually be THAT particular? After all then lately they turned de rigueur for the hipster or media star. Costs have been all the time up there however they solely get larger.
A yr or so earlier than Covid raged throughout our planet a fellow photographer determined to promote his outdated M4-p. I made an impulse determination and acquired it together with the Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 he had. He gave me an excellent deal. I used to be excited to lastly personal and maintain a Leica. He’d had it CLA’d and thought it was a bit tough wanting but it surely appeared so stable, so actual. By some means not being digital made it extra a present to myself than a piece merchandise. I purchased a pair rolls of TMX-100 and Tri-X 400. Per week or so after that I drove right down to the small city of Eutaw in what’s generally known as the Black Belt in Alabama. Eutaw was as soon as one of many richest cities within the USA. Cash from cotton and labor from slavery enriched the plantation house owners. Right this moment Eutaw is a struggling city. I shot just a few frames of TMX-100 with the Leica however then put it apart and bought busy with my freelance work and forgot about it.
Early this spring I made a decision to tug it out and shoot a roll of Tri-X. I hung it on my shoulder after I was out and about and shot with it over just a few weeks with the concept of simply photographing individuals as I got here throughout them. I had a plan to make this a “5 Frames” however as a substitute I’ll simply share a range from every roll. The digital camera is a delight to make use of and I’m certain everybody right here has both skilled it or learn sufficient about the way it handles. I hope you’ll forgive this newbee’s enthusiasm. However I get the Leica factor now. It’s so balanced, so stable and the shutter click on so beautiful. I plan to go forward and put new vulcanite on the physique. It’s flaking off in massive chunks fairly quick.
Right here’s a collection of the Eutaw Alabama shoot on TMX-100 All photos scanned on my outdated Nikon CoolScan 5000 and Vuescan software program.
And right here’s a collection of the faces all shot on Tri-X at 400 asa.
All images edited in Lightroom Traditional.
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