Images by M8 and Noctilux

[domenico__italy__g]

Hi all, happy new year. At this address, http://www.foto-

orlando.it/galleria.asp?page=1, you will try my images taken using M8 and

Noctilux. The title of the portfolio is "In the night" (Nella notte). All

photos are taken with existing light (or in the darkness, in same case). No

color correction nor high ISO value (only 160). Frequently using f1 aperture.

My goal is to maintain the mistery of the night in ancient or not-urban places

in Italy (Abruzzo, Emilia, Tuscany regions). Thank you for your attention.

Domenico

[ofey_kalakar]

http://www.foto-orlando.it/galleria.asp?page=1

[ronald_moravec1]

I think they are outstanding. Wish I could have seen then larger.

[adrian bastin]

Very beautiful.

[el_fang]

Why exactly did any of these need f/1? I don't see any compelling subject matter, let alone anything worth isolating with shallow depth of field. Most of them are flat snapshots, devoid of human interest, made in boring light. This is a perfect illustration of why a $10,000 rig does not a photographer make.

 

<p>Keep trying.</p>

[dougfromtumwater]

Very nice still lifes. It appears El Fang has Noctilux envy. F/1.0 and be there...

[graham john miles]

I don't really see anything that indicates these images could only have been taken with this unique lens and camera combination. In fact if the desire was to maintain the low ambient light levels, then an F1 aperature would seem redundant. The pictures are pleasant enough with a charming baroque quality, but if they were intended to showcase the advantages of the Noctilux, I think they miss the mark.

[Troll]

If you want to see how it's done properly, get a copy of Brassi's "Paris by Night," done with a large format camera and published in 1933. For that kind of work, get a tripod (you don't need a Noctilux) and spend some time learning about white light balancing. His B&W monochrome is a lot more attractive than your "Yuckki Yellow."

[dougfromtumwater]

The photos are in low light with ISO 160. I suppose a DSLR with tripod, mirror locked up and a Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 prime (with good bokeh) would be close technically, but the elegance and spontaneity of a Leica M would be missing.

[vivek iyer]

"..but the elegance and spontaneity of a Leica M would be missing."

 

Would the static subjects migrate if a shot is planned carefully and taken with a tripod mounted cam?

[leicaglow]

Also, do a search on flickr for "Noctilux" and there are a bunch of great examples that come up, showing ways to accentuate this great lens. ( ).

 

I used to use an f/1 on an M4-2, but it was a bear to focus well (I thought). Those who master it have a great tool though.

[tony31664880056]

While I don't believe that the I Noctilux must be used in low light in order to produce unique and pleasing results, I do personally prefer to highlight the narrow depth of field.

 

Follow this link for an example of what I mean:

 

http://mtanga.com/singleimage7.htm

 

Regards,

 

Tony C.

 

Noctilux

[orvillerobertson]

I must be missing a history of severe conflict you have with this photographer. Such venom.

[35mmdelux]

interesting. Thanks.

[kelly_flanigan1]

At F1 you just gather more light.:) Here is a shot with the Epson RD-1S set at iso 1600 with an exposure of 4 seconds at F1 with the Noctilux: In darker skys without city streetlights and building lights the sky would be darker.<BR><BR><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/ektar/EPSON%20R-D1/_EPS2428500widefull4secf1.jpg?t=1199253637"><BR><BR><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/ektar/EPSON%20R-D1/_EPS2428OrionBelt4secF1.jpg?t=1199253914">

[kelly_flanigan1]

The image above was shot in autoexposure mode. The shutter actually closes after 4 seconds because of the sky fog due to city lights; and of course the stars too. In a rural area the shutter stays open longer. As you can see the depth of field was decent; many light years. The blobbish look of the four main stars of Orion is due to overexposure making the lens's off axis woes/abberations show up alot. With a new Summicron F2 they are rounder; but one sees not as many faint stars. Maybe I should drag out my 1950 Atlas Eclipticalis to see how faint the Noct captured stars in 4 seconds. Thats the star atlas I got in the 1960's by Antonín Becvár; that just covers stars about +/- 30 degrees in declination.

[leicaglow]

Kelly, have you tried taking shorter exposures, like 2-4 seconds and overlaying the digital scans? That seems to be a popular technique to reduce bump up contrast and sharpness.

[el_fang]

I just think the work is boring and unoriginal, and doing the work with a $10,000 rig doesn't fix the problem. What do I consider to be interesting and original? Check out "Images of Night" by John-Paul Jespersen:

<p><a href="http://www.imagesofnight.com/" target="_blank">Images of Night</a></p>

<p>And note that Mr. Jespersen's work could have been done with any camera capable of bulb exposure.</p>

[el_fang]

<i>It appears El Fang has Noctilux envy.</i>

<p>I own a Noctilux. It just strikes me as funny when certain people think using a Leica M and a Noctilux somehow lends credibility to their amateurish snapshots. Unfortunately, crap smells the same whether it dropped from a pound mutt or an English Bulldog.</p>

<p>Further along the lines of originality and creativity, how many of you have seen Jan von Holleben's Dreams of Flying?</p>

<p><a href="http://www.janvonholleben.com/dreams_of_flying.php" target="_blank">Dreams of Flying</a></p>

<p>Again, work that does not require a $10,000 rig, just a little bit of inspiration and probably a lot of patience. I don't have a problem with people who own $10,000 rigs. But many such people would benefit more from spending that money on a workshop or two that teach you how to see creatively. Once you figure that out, you graduate from an equipment owner to a photographer.</p>

[el_fang]

Maybe John-Paul Jespersen and Jan von Holleben use Leicas, maybe they don't. It doesn't matter to me because their photographs stand on their own, without needing their creators to proclaim "I shot this with a Leica and a Noctilux!"

<p>This is a Leica/Rangefinders forum, but that doesn't mean you can post garbage, tag it "shot with Leica/Noctilux" and not have people see right through it for what it is.</p>

[robert_overbeck2]

El Fang wrote:

"Again, work that does not require a $10,000 rig, just a little bit of inspiration and probably a lot of patience. I don't have a problem with people who own $10,000 rigs. But many such people would benefit more from spending that money on a workshop or two that teach you how to see creatively. Once you figure that out, you graduate from an equipment owner to a photographer."

 

And until you graduate be careful what you post. El Fang is watching!

[Troll]

Thanks for posting the link to Dreams of Flying. It is certainly wonderful!

[domenico__italy__g]

It's incredible for me. I simply would like to share my experience with other people and i have been covered of insult by mr. El Fang. Is this respect of persons and their opinions for you, mr. El Fang?

Please the administrator of this forum to erase my thread.

Bye. Domenico

[Troll]

I don't think that YOU have been personally insulted, Sn. Domenico, just your work. You can learn from it, or you can ignore it.

[vivek iyer]

Domenico, No insults against you or even your work. The dispute is about the choice of the gear and the need (or not) for the platinum legend (aka Noctilux). Thanks for the thread!

 

El Fang, Wow! What a treat! Thanks a bunch for the links (particularly, Jespersen's)! Awesome! :)