Recent Camera Purchase & Photography Inspiration

[Laszlo]

I once had a passion for photography that ran very deep. I wasn't the next big thing, but I loved it, more than anything, and did it for self-pleasure. I got lucky and got published a few times in some major magazines, sold some work, won a bunch of awards, it was awesome.

But then one day, I woke up and decided I was done - sold it all. Twenty-years messing around with every type of camera you could imagine. I think in that 20-years, I had at least 20 different systems. Used slide film, to pull film, to large and medium format. Had my own darkroom. Dabbled in enough chemicals to shorten my lifespan, I'm sure of it.

It was a bitter sweet goodbye - and I didn't care. The only photos I took were on my mobile phone, mostly of my son... and lots of watch selfies. I just didn't like it anymore.

Well, about a month ago I woke up... and suddenly, felt this need to get back into it. And I owe this to a talented member named Cruvon! He simply asked for some photography advice. I remember his first thread on the subject, Street Photography, and I tried so hard to ignore it, but was curious. After reading his post and responding, seeing how darn passionate he is, it inspired me to get involved in it again. And his recent work is awesome!!! Talk about growth.

Rather than going out and getting a crazy new kit, I decide I wanted a simple, and to the point, compact camera. After a month of research, from the Fuji X100T, to the X-T1, Nikon 1 v3, to entry-level Leica's, I decided on a the Leica X (typ 113.) I owned a few amazing Leica's years ago so felt it was the best direction. Strangely, it was the Leica philosophy that inspired me the most, versus an insane system with eight lenses, insane speed, etc..

Finally got her yesterday - fired her up on the way home from work, took a few snapshots, and did some light post editing today. I know my story probably means very little to most of you - but this is a big step for me to get back into something I truly love, and I am thankful for the forces that inspired me to get back into it.

Here's a pic of the camera (from the internet) and some snapshots on my ride home yesterday. I got the same exact camera in the silber color, with the brown, unfortunately the EVF was extra - but well worth it - and a much needed tool for me.

[JohnAndrew]

Very nice camera and pics. I look forward to following whatever pics you decide to post. Thank you for sharing and what a great story.

[swils8610]

Congrats on getting back into something you enjoy. Send some pics our way!

[subtona]

Lookg good, keep it up.

[rle737ng]

Very nice. I just use my iPhone. Not that great, but serves my simple needs.

[Laszlo]

Thanks, guys.

[FTX I]

This is a great pic my friend. Hope you have a lot of fun with your new camera and I think you may enjoy this link

http://leicaphilia.com/category/famous-leica-users/

[vitalsignsrn]

Great story. :-) Glad you found passion for something you love. Great pics. I suspect I'll be saying that a lot.

[Scot_3]

Cool story, enjoy the ride

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by FTX I

This is a great pic my friend. Hope you have a lot of fun with your new camera and I think you may enjoy this link

http://leicaphilia.com/category/famous-leica-users/

Thank you, my friend!!! Great link

I accidentally posted the wrong pic for the building. Here's the post version I meant to post.

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by vitalsignsrn

Great story. :-) Glad you found passion for something you love. Great pics. I suspect I'll be saying that a lot.

Awe, thanks so much, Judy.

[Thatguy]

Very cool. I just put together an underwater setup. I will post some pics once I get it in the water to get your input!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Kingair]

Nice shots !

[rolexnub]

Great story. I was also into it a long time ago until I had marriage problems that led to divorce and am now a single father to a 16 year old boy. Perhaps a few years from I now, my passion for it will also return just like what happened to you. Keep it up and please post more pics soon.

[swatty]

Great story, can't wait for more photos

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by rolexnub

Great story. I was also into it a long time ago until I had marriage problems that led to divorce and am now a single father to a 16 year old boy. Perhaps a few years from I now, my passion for it will also return just like what happened to you. Keep it up and please post more pics soon.

Pretty sure it will all come together

Take care my friend

[rolio]

Very nice, Laszlo I've been thinking of getting the same set-up. Leica has such a rich history. It's either a simply but quality unit like the one you have or a Nikon DX7100 to replace my DX3200. It can be such a pain carrying around all of that equipment; I have to plan a day just designated for snapping.

[SUBversive]

Very cool. Really looking forward to more posts photos and insight. I too have enjoyed cruvon's street photography.

[bayerische]

Welcome back.

I'm solely on film now. Although I have a digital Fuji X100.

I enjoy my Leica M6 and R8 too much!

[GradyPhilpott]

Good shots, especially the church.

It appears that you have the artist's ey and that's more important than all the technical expertise in the world.

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by rolio

Very nice, Laszlo I've been thinking of getting the same set-up. Leica has such a rich history. It's either a simply but quality unit like the one you have or a Nikon DX7100 to replace my DX3200. It can be such a pain carrying around all of that equipment; I have to plan a day just designated for snapping.

The Nikon DX7100 is a nice shooter for sure. I agree with the heft. When I used to have a kit carrying that around was difficult at most, and not very discrete either - especially for street work.

It's amazing how we're evolving back to the rangefinger-esque approach. Simple, compact, outstanding image quality. One day I'll upgrade to an M (240), but for now, this serves exactly what I needed.

I'll state - that this Leica X (typ 113) is really outstanding. It reminds me of an older Leica Minilux I used to adore. It was a small, simple camera, but the image quality was nothing but Leica. The image quality "Leica-look" is difficult to explain.

It's not the fastest camera on the block, and at times it can be frustrating. With my older kits, especially the D700, was lightening quick. But it was so quick, that I lost the philosophy of photo taking. It became a quantity over quality approach. And it really showed in my work.

Anyway, great to see other interest on the board. I think I may start a "What did you shoot today" thread, for us photographers who want to post shots as we go along in our lives. Something like "What did you have for dinner" kind of thing. But I think we need a better thread title.

Maybe I'll start one today - sounds like there's enough interest.

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Welcome back.

I'm solely on film now. Although I have a digital Fuji X100.

I enjoy my Leica M6 and R8 too much!

The X100 is an awesome camera. I had the X100 limited edition, the black version, with extras. Such a great camera. It was first gen. Before the firmware upgrade it struggled a bit with AF and some processing, but after the update, it hummed along beautifully. I had it for about six-months before selling it. A buddy at work is getting his X100T on Monday. B&H just started shipping them. Can't wait to see results. I was a hair away from getting the Fuji X-T1 but bailed on it after hearing about the new X.

Your M6 and R8 - are both superb pieces of equipment. I had an R6.2 in silver with a handful of lenses and just the mechanical quality was something to marvel about. I do miss it a lot - I miss shooting on film too. I have an entire drawer full of film in a fridge downstairs. My favorite B&W film was Fuji Neopan Acros 100 and Neopan 1600. I think you and I talked about those stocks before. They were my exclusive go-to film for my B&W work.

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Good shots, especially the church.

It appears that you have the artist's ey and that's more important than all the technical expertise in the world.

Thanks so much, Grady.

[BNA/LION]

Very Cool! I like the way TRF members help encourage and bring out our passions for; watches, food, photography, writing, art, humor and much/much more.

Congratulations on rekindling your creative passion for photography! We will be expecting to see a lot of pictures and the opportunity to watch your growth too.

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by BNALION

Very Cool! I like the way TRF members help encourage and bring out our passions for; watches, food, photography, writing, art, humor and much/much more.

Congratulations on rekindling your creative passion for photography! We will be expecting to see a lot of pictures and the opportunity to watch your growth too.

I agree, I find so much inspiration from this community - from watch collecting, horology, food, wine, you name it!!!

I just opened up a running photo thread - hope see lots of participation.

[rolexnub]

Originally Posted by Kingair

Pretty sure it will all come together

Take care my friend

Thanks Marc

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by Laszlo

The X100 is an awesome camera. I had the X100 limited edition, the black version, with extras. Such a great camera. It was first gen. Before the firmware upgrade it struggled a bit with AF and some processing, but after the update, it hummed along beautifully. I had it for about six-months before selling it. A buddy at work is getting his X100T on Monday. B&H just started shipping them. Can't wait to see results. I was a hair away from getting the Fuji X-T1 but bailed on it after hearing about the new X.

Your M6 and R8 - are both superb pieces of equipment. I had an R6.2 in silver with a handful of lenses and just the mechanical quality was something to marvel about. I do miss it a lot - I miss shooting on film too. I have an entire drawer full of film in a fridge downstairs. My favorite B&W film was Fuji Neopan Acros 100 and Neopan 1600. I think you and I talked about those stocks before. They were my exclusive go-to film for my B&W work.

We sure did!

Yeah the Fuji Neopan films where/are great! Can still get the Acros, and there's a 400 Neopan, but the 1600 seems to have gone. Would be great to have a darkroom, as I really enjoyed making B&W prints. Color is a bit tricky. But with a cold garage, and a wife not too happy to agree to a converted bathroom, I'm stuck at scanning the negatives.

With the film cameras I mostly shoot B&W. Still develop my B&W films. While it's difficult to predict what will happen to film in the future I really hope the predictions about a film renaissance would be great.

Film = Interchangeable sensors.

[bayerische]

Here's a shot from Bangkok during Songkran, Leica R8 Elmarit 28mm, Delta 400.

[Pix]

Have either of you guy's shot B&W and then processed in C-41 (scala) there also use to be a lab that would turn your B&W film in to reversal toned images (like slide film)

[Kingair]

I loved to shoot with Kodakchrome 64 . . . .
Stunning results