November 22, 2020

From Gerald R. Lucas

Photos covid-19: day 245 | US: GA | info | act

OK, if I’m thinking about a new camera, I should make an effort to use my current one a bit. Henry and I played in the back yard a bit this afternoon. First, I gave the GS a much-needed bath. Washing this bike is no joke, especially trying to get the rims clean between the spokes. I guess all bikes are challenging in this way, but the GS seems even more so. Anyway, here it is all sparkly.


As usual, Henry was playing on and around his swing set. Since it’s Sunday, pants were optional, even in the back yard. The shutter was (inadvertently) stopped down a bit in these images, probably at about f/4. Pay attention! And the third image has a questionable composition. This is an issue with the rangefinder and the kind of photography I like to do—wide-open and close: I have to focus in the center, then compose the shot. Most of the time, Henry is moving, so composing after focusing is a losing proposition. Sometimes, I can crop to get a usable shot, but, like here, you see my focus point remains in the middle of the photo. Now, if I had autofocus...


The other issue I have with focusing and composition on the rangefinder is the optical viewfinder. What I see in the viewfinder is to what the lens/sensor sees. Most of the time, this is not an issue. However, an EVF would allow me to see, and focus, and compose, and finally capture exactly what I’m expecting.

I putzed around the back yard a bit, trying to capture something interesting. If nothing else, I do have the desire to go on a photo stroll. I’ve been wanting to get back to Savannah, fo some reason—probably to send some more time at Bonneventure Cemetery.


Some more of Henry digging in the dirt. These were converted to black and white in Capture One, using a preset that comes with the program.


And finally, all cleaned up and ready for an early Thanksgiving meal at his grandma’s house. These use a different black and white preset. I think my mother dressed me in that same dorky outfit when I was his age. Sorry, son.


For just a random, impromptu photo shoot, I was able to capture some good images. That said, the reasons for getting a new camera remain the same, though what I get from the M is pretty excellent. Maybe I should just do it already.

Leica Camera and Lens Information
📷: Leica M8 (09/2022–) • Leica M (Typ 262) (01/2017–12/2020) • Leica SL (Typ 601) (12/2020–). Leica Lenses: Leica Summicron-M 2/50 (Typ IV)Leica Summicron-M 2/35mm ASPH (Typ V). Other Lenses: Asahi Super-Takumar 1.4/50 8-ElementAsahi Super-Takumar 1.8/55Asahi Super-Takumar 2.5/135Canon 1.4/50 LTM Helios 44m-4 2/58Industar 61 2.8/55Jupiter-8 2/50Jupiter-9 2/85Konica Hexinon AR 1.8/40Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 2.8/100Olympus Zuiko 2.8/24Olympus Zuiko 2.8/28Olympus Zuiko 1.8/50Olympus Zuiko 2/85Vivitar 2.8/28 • Voigtländer Nokton Classic 1.4/40 MC • Voigtländer Ultron 1.8/21Voigtländer Ultron 2/28. Processed with Capture One Pro.