I’ve been in photography for over twenty-years and I can say with absolute certainty the Leica M camera is the most talking about, revered, despised, envied, lusted after, controversial, overrated, under-appreciated, limited, historical camera I’ve ever seen, heard of, been around or personally used. I’ve heard this camera described as “jewelry,” “a doctor, lawyer toy” and the “best camera ever made.” I’ve owned five Leica’s between 1990 and present day, and I currently use the M6 as my primary picture making tool. Because this camera is such a lightning rod, I thought it would be interesting to focus on a single image, made with this camera, and give a little background as to what was happening during the moment the exposure was made. I’ve used this camera for every type of photography I’ve ever done including weddings, portraits, documentary, commercial, news and journal keeping. It is rare I go anywhere without my M. For me it’s very simple. The camera is small, quiet and somewhat light. The camera does not attract attention, requires only a small, button battery that lasts a long, long time, and is very reliable. What I’m saying is I never have to think about it.
Now, I’m showing these images not only because they were made with this particular camera, but more importantly they are images I feel are a good representation of the type of images I’m after. The final image is FAR more important than the device that made it.
If I was only allowed to keep ONE piece of equipment for the rest of my photo-life I would keep my Leica M.
Tagged: ©daniel milnor, camera, history, leica, leica file, one, smogranch
Thank you. I’m already looking forward to the next photo, its always interesting to hear the background of a photograph.
Thanks Johan……
Loverly image Daniel, your background to it makes it even more interesting, would love to see the colour version. Cheers Neil
Thanks Neil,
I’ll try to dig out the color. The light…..it was grand.
Just a killer shot…well it’s serene…love the light.
Rob,
The light was solid. Only bummer, I had to get up at 4am to get it.
Great shot, Dan. The thing that makes it is the lighting of course. Mind if I ask how/where you metered this shot (if you remember).
Thanks,
Mark
Mark,
Simple, in camera meter. Fujichrome 100. 28mm, average meter, opened up a half stop for a small amount of detail in the shadows.
Congratulations for your blog, good posts…and I agree with you, I could go everywhere with an m+35 lens
Daniel,
I think that would be the ONE lens…….if I had to choose.
Beautiful picture, Dan.
Thanks Suzanne
What a great idea. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so it is refreshing to hear those words from the photographer who created the image.
Thank MIah,
I love hearing the story behind some of the images I like the most. The actual photo can be fairly misleading, so often times the backstory is a good surprise.
Looking forward to the next part of the Leica file.
One question: If you are only to have one lens with your Leica M which lens would it be? 28 mm , 35 mm or 50 mm?
Takki,
I would say that the 35mm would PROBABLY be the lens. The 50mm would be a close second.
Nice post. What are you using to put these video posts together?
Hey Tom,
Just using Keynote. Pretty lo-fi actually.
I love the blog and I’m really excited about this new addition to the repetoire. Getting to hear the story behind the image is always fascinating, espeically when the images are so good. Keep up the great work.
IP,
Great to see you here, and thank you. I’m thinking this is a good addition. Number two coming up…
Thanks for this Daniel. This is really fun for me in that I really long for a Leica but am far from getting one. Also, I’m really interested in the work you are doing with this subject, especially since it is in my backyard, as it were.
~Brian
Hey Brian,
I’ll be posting more from NM. This shot is from my story from many years ago, but I’ll be posting from my current project as well.
Really looking forward to it, Daniel.
Really nice addition to the blog and I like how you continue to be innovative.
Thanks Bud. Another post on the way with your name on it.
*be the light!*
Well you managed that very well, great image Dan, look forward to more Leica-Files (are they stored in a basement at FBI hq?).
I love the rangefinder feel of my Fuji X100, but it’s still just a reminder of the real thing, someday I’ll own an M9 hopefully.
FBJ,
I was thinking of getting a X100 but not sure I will, at least right now. I’ve no plans to stop shooting film, and I can probably do what I need to do digitally with a Canon point and shoot.
I doubt you would use the X100 much having two Leica M’s in your arsenal. You would be using the X100 and thinking *why* and wanting to use ‘the real thing’. The focus system on the X100 is the achilles heel, autofocus can be a pain and is a bit slow, manual focus is useless. If it had rangefinder focus system, it would be an M9 killer.
FBJ,
I think the x100 for me is more about notes than actual story pics. I’m a film guy until I cant’ get it, so I’m happy with that, but the x100 would be great for blogging, notes, etc.
The X100 has awesome image quality though, really spectacular – so it can deliver professional results and I do really enjoy using my X100. I am in a way much more connected to the scene than with my DSLR. And it is much more stealthy than my large clunky loud Canon 5D Mk II, with that camera everyone notices me but with the Fuji, no one notices me and it’s silent as well. In that respect, it’s a brilliant camera for street photography.
You would like an X100 for certain things but initially you would find it fiddly compared to a Leica M. Lots of electronic stuff happening in the viewfinder. The autofocus is too slow for quick shots. The lens quality is really great as is the color (to my eye anyway). I’ve not tried an M9 but perhaps it would be a better choice, but for way way more $$$, That said, for the price the Fuji rocks.
Very interesting! Looking forward to more of those videos. Of course the Leica is a great camera, and as you say, the result is the most important. But talking on how and why you made it, that is absolutely very interesting. We should do that more often since we see so many photos these days. It would help to stay a better appreciate other’s works.
Stijn,
I totally agree. I’m so overloaded with images I like it when I get a chance to hear the back story.
Wonderful image, and I look forward to future editions of this series. Your comment about working on this project for three years really struck me — how often I come up with a personal project and I’m done shooting it in a weekend or a day.
I also agree with FBJ above. I too have the X100, though I’m primarily a film shooter. It’s made me start looking at Leicas b/c I really love the feel of it and the unobtrusiveness of it and the way I work with it, which is completely different than my work with my Hasselblad or my Yashica mat.
Aileen,
Yes, when you get into a project for that long it changes your life. You might not even realize it at the time, but when time of that length is dedicated it can’t NOT change your outlook. You will also get, typically, VERY deep. When you get deep, you get imagery you just can’t get otherwise. Plus, your relationship with those folks you are working with becomes far more than a simple relationship. I’m REALLY thinking of leaving all my MF at home for a while, but it’s difficult for me now because I’ve been working this way for a long while now. I’ve got a workshop in Peru coming up and last year I shot both format, so I’ll probably do it again this year. It means more to carry, which is a bummer, but I think I might still do it.
With my New Mexico project however….I think I can go with just 35 and get back to making more real time images, less portraits. It is VERY hard to work this way, and it requires a lot of time in the field, but the end result images are typically worth the effort.