Garden Gate, Bessa R, CV 35mm f2.5, Kodak UC100

This shot had the flare spot too, but I cleaned it up a bit with Photoshop.

-- Warren

Shakespeare Garden, GG Park, CV Bessa R, CV 35mm f2.5, Kodak UC100.

Any guesses as to what caused that flare spot? There was not enough light that day, so I had to shoot too slow and too wide open. That's why this image is not as sharp as I would have liked.

-- Warren

My Favorite Test Subject, CV Bessa R, Jupiter-8 50mm f2.0, Kodak UC100.

I really like this lens! This is the lens that came with my 1962 vintage Zorki-4 FSU camera. The lens has clean glass, but the focusing helical needs lube badly, and the aperture ring is so loose that it feels like it will fall off. Yet it produces fantastic results. It has a very pleasing and smooth quality to it.

-- Warren

Spreckels Temple of Music (side view), Golden Gate Park, CV Bessa R, CV 35mm f2.5

This picture is from my test roll of Kodak UC100 film and the Bessa R. It's nothing spectacular, just one of a series of test shots. I uploaded a 300dpi file. I wanted you to see the resolution of the lens. There was a spot of flare on some of my shots. I think the front lens element had a smudge on it that I didn't notice until after I finished the roll. I hope that was the reason. I'll have to hurry up and finish my 2nd roll to see if the flare spot is gone.

Did you notice the pidgeon in flight in the picture?

-- Warren

Voigtlander Bessa R, Back to Basics

Hi Gang,

In case some of you didn't know what I was talking when I mentioned that I just bought another rangefinder camera, here's a picture that I shot of it over the weekend. Ever since I borrowed Martin's Leica M2 in the mid-90's, I've been hooked on shooting with rangefinder cameras. Back then, I found what I thought was the perfect (RF style) camera, a Konica Hexar AF. It was the same size and shape as a Leica M, but had all features of a modern camera: AF, motorized film advance, AE, etc. And it had a fantastically good 35mm lens (non-interchangeable). Technically, it wasn't a true rangefinder because it was auto-focus, and so did not have a "real" rangefinder, but it had a traditional viewfinder layout with parallax compensated bright lines in the viewfinder. Since it lacked a real rangefinder, I could not accurately or conveniently focus the camera in manual mode. Eventually, the Hexar's limitations annoyed me enough to force me to sell the camera. Interestingly, the Hexar has gained a legendary status as a great street camera by virtue of its incredibly quiet shutter and excellent lens. My old Hexar, which was the original version that had the super-quiet silent mode, would be worth twice as much as I sold it for now. You can read more about the Hexar on Stephen Gandy's site:

Hexar article here

After I sold my Hexar, I was without a solid RF camera for a while. Over the last 7 or 8 years, I picked up some interesting vintage rangefinder cameras such as the Yashica Lynx 5000e, and the Yashica Electro 35 GSN.

Last year, I discovered the world of FSU (former Soviet Union) rangefinder cameras. These quaint and quirky cameras are a whole sub-specialty in themselves. The 3 that I have, 2 FED's and a Zorki, are very nice to shoot, and the Russian lenses are good performers. The problem is that these cameras are so old that they are not as reliable as I would like. They all need a good CLA that I don't have the time for right now.

Finally, I discovered the Voigtlander Bessa, a modern day throwback to all the rangefinder cameras that came before. The Bessa is made by the Japanese company, Cosina. I will refer you to an excellent website devoted to the camera, so I won't go into all the details again here. What I like about this camera is that it is all manual: focus, exposure, film advance, etc. It has a built-in, TTL light meter, and it uses LTM (Leica screw mount) lenses. The viewfinder is reputed to be as bright and clear as a Leica M series camera.

I've seen many people disparage the camera as feeling "cheap" because of the plastic top and bottom plates, and the rubberized back plate, but to me, it feels pretty nice. I also like the short throw of the film advance lever. My camera came with a Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Skopar Classic lens. I also plan to use my Russian 50mm lenses on this camera. I just finished my first test roll, so I can't tell you the results yet. I managed to snag this camera and lens on Ebay for $320. The same combo is selling for $425 from Voigtlander's US distributor, so I think I got a great deal.

So why all the fuss about rangefinders? If you've never tried one before, you should. RF cameras force you to "see" the world a little differently than slr's. Because the camera does not have the pentaprism and mirror box of a SLR, the cameras are usually smaller, lighter, less conspicous, and quieter than SLR's. This makes RF cameras more suited to certain types of shooting then SLR's, such as PJ work, street shooting, travel, and certain types of portraiture where you need to get more up-close and intimate with your subject. Also because there is no mirror box to deal with, lens designers have more freedom to optimize the design of wide to superwide angle lenses (this was more important when designers did not have CAD).

You can read more about the Voiglander Bessa R at this excellent site: Bessa R Site.

Thanks for reading.

-- Warren

"Intrepid Photographer", Half Moon Bay, CA, Nikon D100, 24mm f2.8D.

It was low tide at the tide pools near Half Moon Bay. Dolph, I'll bet you know exactly where this is :). Do you feel nolstagic?

I decided to make this black and white because there were a couple of orange cones in the shot, and the photographer's parka was blue. The colors distracted from the mood. I think it looks more "vintage" this way. What do you think?

-- Warren

Spring Blossoms in San Mateo, Nikon D100, 24mm f2.8

We've had rain for the last 10 days in the SF Bay Area, and yesterday was gloomy and rainy. But the rain broke briefly during the afternoon. Right after lunch with some friends (Jill was there), we decided to walk to the Japanese Garden which was just a block away from the restaurant. Do you guys remember what I mentioned in one of my recent emails? So has anyone tried to get a spring blossom picture? I always have it in the back of my mind.

This was a true grab shot. We were walking across the street heading for the Japanese Garden when I saw this public path in front of me. I noticed the tree in bloom, and I began to size this up for a photo opportunity. I didn't have time to think for very long because I spotted the man walking down the path, and my friends were about to enter the scene from the left. I only had a split second to bring my camera up to my eye and snap the shutter before this scene would change forever. This was one case when I had to trust my camera's AF and AE.

So what do you think? Did this work, or is it too "busy".

-- Warren

Happy Birthday to Warren!

Na-na-na-na-na-na... they say it's your birthday!

Many happy returns, Warren.

Best regards,
SteveR

I was assigned to shoot a Johnny Mathis show in Redwood City. I was only allowed to shoot from behind the sound guys probably 150 feet away and only for 3 songs. I was worried about camera shake on the 80-200 zoom I was shooting with, so I was happy that I got anything at all. Most of the full zoom shots were unuasable. 

I had a chance to shoot the Chronicle's Carl Nolte for the CCSF magazine. He was a character. I used an off camera flass bounced off the window near him to boost the natural light. The D70 has a nice feature where the on camera flash will trigger my speedlight w/out adding light to the scene. 

Snowy Riverbank, Merced River, Yosemite National Park, Feb. 2004, Nikon F4, Ilford XP2

The sensation of being there is very hard to describe. The words: ephemeral, fragile, and fleeting, come to mind. It was late afternoon, and the sun was already beginning to disappear from the valley. The light was fading, but what light there was, was soft yet crisp. It was quiet and cold, and the only sensation of noise and motion came from the slow, gentle flow of the Merced River.

This is why we keep going back to Yosemite, especially in winter.

I've always wanted to make a picture like this one. Because it's black and white, I had to spend a lot of time experimenting with different settings in Photoshop (channel mixing, contrast, brightness, etc.) to make it look the way I wanted. But the process was fun, and I hope you like the result.

I'm on the fence about C-41 (color process) black & white film. Have any of you tried it yet? At first, I didn't care for it because I didn't like the way the film looked under high magnification. I thought it had ugly grain (actually no grain, just ugly). I'm encouraged by this picture, however. I think I'll try some more of this film before I make a final judgement. What has been your experience with it?

-- Warren

"Window Walkers", Millbrae, CA, Nikon F4, Ilford XP2.

Gail was at an orthotics/shoe store in Millbrae. While I was waiting for her, I was looking out the window at our car when I noticed the picture sign in the window. From my vantage point, they could have been right out there on the sidewalk :). This was taken just last year. I have not abandoned film. In fact, I just bought another film camera (another rangefinder, the Voitlander Bessa R), so you guys will likely see more film shots in the near future.

-- Warren

GG Bridge Towers in Late Afternoon, Nikon F3HP, Ektachrome, circa mid-1990's.

When seen in a "normal" view, the GG Bridge is so spectacular and well-proportioned that one does not really notice the immense size of the two towers. This angle shows that they are real "towers".

-- Warren

Black Car Picture for Dennis, Lamborghini Diablo at Monterey, Nikon D100, Tamron 24-135mm @48mm, 1/250 f8.

Cars are a favorite subject of mine! I can bore you guys silly with them :). Pictures of a car on grass is always good, no matter what color. The reflection of the sky cast a blue tint on this immaculately polished black Diablo.

-- Warren

"Inside Looking Out", Sony DSC-D770, 1/8 f7, iso 100.

This is our cat, Easy Life (that's her name), looking out our back window. I've always like this shot from 2001. I posted it to other forums previously, but I've reworked it to post here. I like the mood, and the theme (longing to be out in the world, but unable to go). This is one of those shots with "feeling" that I often wonder if other people feel the same way.

Since that old 1.5MP Sony dslr didn't have a mirror, I was able to successfully handhold it at slow shutter speeds.

-- Warren

Landmarks, San Francisco, Nikon D100, Tamron 24-135mm @ 75mm, 1/500 f11.

This is another from my series shot on July 4th, 2003. I was at Pier 39 standing on a 2nd level walkway. I was looking down on a sea of humanity below. Then my eyes wandered up to see the top of the carousel with the familiar SF landmarks (Coit Tower & Transamerica Pyramid) behind it. I thought the carousel itself may become a landmark in SF, we'll Pier 39 certainly is.

Is this an interesting view, or ...just so-so?

-- Warren

Formal Portrait of Linus, Jan. 2004, Nikon D100, 50mm f1.8, 1/60 f3.5

People who know me know that I love cats. This opportunity presented itself when Linus struck an uncharacteristically formal pose. Linus is a big guy, but his owners are proud of his brilliant blue eyes. I got down and laid flat on my stomach to get this shot from ground level.

-- Warren

Altered Red Railings. Posted with Steve's permission. I took Steve's original, cropped, adjusted curves, heavy unsharp mask, then used the dry brush effect. At first, I was trying for a more subtle effect, but then I thought, "What the heck, might as well do it radical!". --Warren 

Umbrella Display at Publix, Atlanta
Canon DR, 18-55mm zoom
1/30 @ f/7.1 ISO 400

NOT red, for a change!

Stopped at a Publix supermarket last Saturday morning to buy some yogurt and fruit for breakfast. I did a double-take on the way out just as I passed by this display and went out the door. I ran back around to the entrance and made my way back to this display, right by the exit, and snapped this one photo. I was immediately busted by two manager-type Publix employees and told that it was not allowed to take photos in the store. I played dumb and apologized, but kept the image ;-)

Slight cropping and contrast improvement, otherwise, this is pretty much how I saw it.

Can This Photo Be Saved?...

Untitled
Canon Digital Rebel, EF-S 18-55mm
1/1000 @ f/6.3

I keep looking at this photo and thinking that their might be something to it... but I just don't know.

I like the red (of course!) and the perspective and the way the fellow at the bottom (my Cousin Brian) is standing. I must have Chinese New Year on the brain, because the railings suggest Chinese characters.

But I'm just not sure about this one. I can't even come up with a title.

What do you think? Does it do anything for you? (I won't be insulted if the answer is no ;-) Can you suggest any cropping or other manipulation to make it better?

... Or should this one be relegated for the virtual dustbin?

Saturn V rocket

saturnv
Originally uploaded by bhwong.

OK, I'll try to get the ball rolling for those of us who are just voyeurs of fine photographs.

I took this at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida when we were there in October. You have to go through a video presentation before getting to see the rocket itself, which made you appreciate seeing it in person so much more. It was an impressive sight that no amateur photographer could completely capture. So I just tried getting some interesting perspectives. Taken with a Nikon D70 at 18mm on 18-70mm lens, 1/60, f3.5.

Under Steve's Influence, Saw Red, Nikon D100, Tamron 24-135mm @ 48mm, 1/250 f8

Notes: I knew I could find a "red" shot somewhere in my catalog of pictures :) Yes! for Chinese New Year, a RED picture, but it's from an Italian car :) It's the hood of a vintage Alfa Romeo built by Ferrari. It looks like a reflection, but one side of the hood is raised.

-- Warren

A Nice Jewish Boy Wishes You Happy Chinese New Year!&

Gonghé Xinxi!
Canon Digital Rebel
Canon EF-S 18-55mm
1/60 @ f/6.3, ISO 400

Wishing you togetherness and good fortune for the New Year. I hope I didn't leave out any important diacritical marks on the transliterated "happy new year" greeting that I found on the web ;-)

I was looking for something bright red (of course!) to shoot in honor of Chinese New Year. This is part of a Chinese-style panel at Atlanta Zoo near the Panda exhibit - I had to crop very tightly to avoid the part that says "Coca-Cola Company" just off-camera to the right.

The Rosenbach family will celebrate Chinese New Year with, of course, Chinese food! For a comment on the strange and wonderful love affair between the American Jewish community and Chinese food, see this blog post.

Groomsman Candid, July 2004, Nikon F4, Nikkor 50mm f1.4, Kodak Tri-X ISO 400, Did not record settings.

Notes: Okay, time to change the genre on you guys :) I was asked to shoot candids at Kent & Glenda's wedding (Gail's cousin). So I asked them what they wanted. They both like "photojournalistic" style. Since they already hired a pro to shoot the "standard" stuff, I was free to shoot whatever candids that I wanted, and I was to shoot digital. But since I knew that they liked PJ style, I decided to bring a 2nd body (film body) loaded with b&w film. I was able to grab a bunch of shots before and during the ceremony with my F4 using available light. Interestingly, they both really liked these film shots. You can't easily duplicate the "look" of Tri-X with digital.

I grabbed this shot of Jay, one of the groomsmen just before the ceremony started. This was one of their favorites.

-- Warren

Sunoco Abstract
Canon Digital Rebel, Sigma 70-300mm
f/5.6 @ 1/100 ISO 800

I kept going by this gas station, day after day, seeing this pattern, until I couldn't stand it anymore. So I schlepped my camera along the next day, switched to the long zoom, and made the Homeland Security people wonder why I was taking pictures of "infrastructure."

This was just before we left to visit my wife's family for Christmas, and I forgot about this image until I caught up on my CD-ROM burning last night.

Juggler with Dog, July 4th, 2003, Nikon D100, Tamron 24-135mm @ 85mm, 1/180 f7

Notes: Gail and I have a tradition on July 4th where we walk down to the Fisherman's Wharf area. On July 4th, there are lots of musicians, street artists, food vendors, live bands, and lots of people. You never know what you'll find.

In this shot, I love the amazed expression of that woman in the center of the picture. :) And how about that little boy...what's he thinking?

-- Warren

Seeing Red

Camp Car Windows - B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore
Canon Digital Rebel
Canon EF-S 18-55mm @ 30mm
1/50 sec @ f/8, ISO 400

Can you tell that I really enjoy having lots of red in my photos?

This image is of a Pullman coach at the B&O Museum - after many years of passenger service, B&O turned it into a "camp car," which I think is a term used to denote a piece of rolling stock reserved for the railroad's own use - as a rolling office, for example.