New hotness came in the mail today, well new to me at least, and so the first thing I did was take a mirror selfie with it. The second thing I did was make a strap for it out of parts, and the third thing I did was take it for a little walk, get some real images, see what it’s actually capable of. So here we are.
It’s a Leica M11 Monocrhome, a digital rangefinder that doesn’t record color information. Black and white only (actually 16 bit grayscale but who’s counting all the way to sixty five thousand (ish) shades of gray?). Why? Needed something to shake things up a little, and I feel like a little back-to-basics is just the ticket. Not that this camera could be called ‘basic’. It’s more like someone got really into guitars, had one tuned way down, took out a pickup. Most people that hold it won’t know what to do with it, but in the right hands (hopefully mine)… it can really shred.
I’ve learned, though, through long experience, not to judge cameras by their first impressions. My Z8 I barely use any more because it’s big, but I loved it so much at first it was the only camera I took to Portugal (when I need something fast though it’s the only one to use). The original M11 I was really cold on until a couple months in I aligned the rangefinder. This one is helped in that it’s basically identical to that M11. Its a problematic fave though, because of the slow startup time and the tendency I have to forget to focus sometimes, or think I have it in the right hyperfocal range only to get the pictures back blurry. But for all that, I can’t quit it.
This new body has a few other tricks up it’s metaphorical sleeves, though. The ISO can go to the truly mind-bending value of 200,000. I remember a long time ago when I was blown away by ISO 25k, this is three more stops but also looks a lot better. Might be able to push it even further. Testing is in order.
Speaking of repeating myself, I’ve made this picture before too: here. The trees have grown in a bit, and this one feels more claustrophobic without the bit of sky to escape to.
The North Beach garage I parked at had all these like fortunes at the back of every space, I couldn’t help myself adding “…in bed” to each of them.
I didn’t expect this photo to work, it didn’t seem like there would be enough separation between the painter’s hoodie and the grass around him, but it kinda does.
This was a fun little store; they had a doctor’s bag on the shelf that I was very tempted by, but I need to just stop screwing around and make my own. I’ve done similar things before. Still.
After I took this guy’s photo there were a couple ladies that wanted me to take their picture, and I said sure, and then they stopped in the middle of fucking Columbus Ave and I was like no, get out of the street are you nuts? I didn’t say that last part, just “Get out of the street.” I said it nicely, and they didn’t. Then I was like no, I won’t take your picture in the middle of the street, goodbye.
More people on scooters. Moving targets.
There may be an optimal lane to be in for pictures facing northwest from the lower deck of the Bay Bridge, but I have yet to find it. This one is pretty good though.
