David

Bulls Eye

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

Bulls EyeI took this shot while visiting a friends farm where they raise Charolais cattle.This is a close -up cropped shot. Taken with my Leica M9P and the Summicron 90mm f2.0 ASPH lens I have which is a little underused . However is my go to portrait lens. I decided to crop quite heavily  with the eye as an anchor point to give the shot more impact. I think I have achieved what I wanted to do. I would be nice to read what you think dear reader.

 

Skin & Blister

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

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Firstly let me explain the title for those not in the know. “Skin and Blister” is Cockney rhyming slang for Sister. Meet my Big sister Eunice.

I find you have to work at getting a relaxed shot of people even if it’s people you know well. This time I think I nailed it. There was lots of light from behind streaming through the windows of the café. I took the camera and metered away from the light . As it turnrd out I got the shot I wanted 1st time . The lightmeter on my Leica maybe a simple centre weighted  type but if you know how to use it it’s easy to adjust for such scenes..

Try some portraits this weekend. If you are shy ask people you know  to pose for you. Have a great weekend

Leica M9P

Summilux 35mm f1.4 ASPH

Post in Silver Efex Pro 2.

Landscape

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

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Now I’ll admit that Landscape shots are not what I’m good at. Those nice shots you see on chocolate boxes are great. With mine you’d have to give the chocolates away free. I have a mate who takes the most stunning landscapes. We live in Norway so it can’t be that hard..can it?  Well for me I’ve never cracked the code properly. I’ve read all the hints and tips, all the composition guides, waited for the light to be dramatic, and come home with nothing too exciting.  I think Landscape is just not my thing.

However having said that I do get the occasional shot that is worth a second glance like this one of the Sand buried church in the North of Denmark. Taken in late afternoon with my Nikon D800 and 24-70 lens then tweaked in Silver Efex Pro2.

I’ll just have to keep practicing :0)

A Policeman’s Lot…

Black And White Photography, David

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I’ve let my lighter side win me over yet once more.

Back in the Eighties I was on a visit to London. I was on my way to visit “Grays of Westminster” For those that don’t know It’s a Nikon only camera shop. On my way there, my way was blocked by police making a human cordon for a Miners demo march. I mingled with all the press photographers  raised my Nikon FM2 shouted “oi ” and this Policeman turned around and looked at me as if to say “I got your number sonny Jim!” However what makes the shot for me is where he has is hands.

Camera Nikon FM2

Lens Nikon E 100mm F2.8

Film Ilford XP2.

scanned from paper copy and adjusted with Silver Efex Pro 2

“He Was Nothing But A Pawn.”

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

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The winters here in the frozen north are long and dark. I don’t ski so I have to think of things to occupy my mind. This is a little table top fun with my Hasselblad 203FE with the Carl Zeiss 80mm F2.8 FE mounted on an 32E extension tube. Taken on my fav black and white film Rollei 80s stand developed in Caffenol for 50 mins at 20℃ with agitation for only the first minute and then left to rest in a water bath for 49mins.

Here’s the Recipe
Make one litre
Washing soda (Stabil) 16gr/l
Vitamin C (Santa maria) 10 gr/l
Potassium Bromide 1gr/l
Instant Coffee 40gr/l
Inversions for the 1st minute and then left to stand for 49mins
Stop and fix as usual
More details on Caffenol here
davidapw.wordpress.com/caffenol/

The Reluctant Urban Explorer

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

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When I posted my first guest post here at Monochromia I said that I did a little UrbEx.  Let me explain.

It all started with me seeing some shots from a local abandoned psychiatric hospital.  They were taken by a mate, also a photographer who lives almost as a neighbour to the building.  He invited me along on a shoot and it scared the hell out of me.  That is why I don’t do this kind of thing too often.  My disposition is on the nervous side.  When I do this kind of shoot I just have to concentrate so hard that it’s mentally exhausting.  If I stop to think where I am, I’d run, and run fast.  It’s a horror film waiting to happen.  However after a few days I just want to do it again. It’s a strange kind of drug, if that’s not too strong a word for it.  At least I got a few good shots before It all got a bit too much for me 🙂

Camera:- Leica MP

Lens: – Nikkor 20mm f2.8 manual focus lens on a Novoflex LeiNik adaptor.

Film: – Ilford Xp2 at ISO 400 exposure about a quarter of a second.