…in the yard
as snow flakes
fall through spring
and food from the kiln
Leica M, 60 mm Macro Elmarit-R
Category: Places
Serendipity…
By happy happenstance… Jake, from the Waupun area, 45 miles Northeast of my home, wanted to purchase the floor board nailer that I had listed for sale on craigslist. Once we agreed on the price I offered to drive 10 miles his way to ease his travel time. He countered with, “half way.” Now. Do I jeopardize the sale over an additional 10 miles? For whatever reason I decided to take the chance and drive the tool 20 miles and meet a complete stranger at a Park’n’ride on Hwys 41 and 33. We each pulled in at exactly the same moment. The deal went down without a hitch. And we were soon on our ways home.
Heading East on Hwy 60, driving through Jackson, I catch the sign, “Royal Oak Antiques” out of my left eye. Something in me says, “stop. fool. have a look.” So I turn around. See a tiny hand painted sign reading, “Parking in rear.” Turn right into the too narrow driveway. Park the van between a couple of air conditioners hanging out the wall of an old motel, grab the Monochrom with the 50 Summilux and step out of the van into world of messages and textures… thinking, “oh this is why I my intuition said to sell to Jake. to drive to Allenton. to turn around and park back here. thanks for the serendipity my dear intuit-voice.”
(click photographs for larger view)
The exterior, west facing wall of Royal Oak Antiques.
As I walked in the street entrance door Bill said, “You could have come in the back.”
I was immediately struck by the very high quality antique furniture and furnishings; with prices reflecting their value.
Turns out that Bill and his brother are very much into restoration;
most especially restoration of antique billiard tables; and they’ve been at it since the 70s.
Bill generously shared his time and stories; showing me around the shop, documents and recent completed projects. Fascinating.
You can check out Royal Oak Antiques‘ inventory. And new billiard table projects here.
Leica M Monochrom, 50 mm Summilux Asph
Monday morning weather forms…
wind sculpted snow
between our cars
weather woman says,
“6 degrees; wind chill feels like -7 degrees”
frosting our windows
(click photographs for larger view)
Leica M Monochrom, 50 mm Summilux Asph
Hasselblad 500 CM / CF-39, 135 mm Carl Zeiss S Planar
Winter light
brings with it
a moodiness to the contemplatives
(click photograph for larger view)
Hasselblad 500 CM / CF39, 135 mm S Planar on Auto Bellows
Leica M, 28 mm Summicron Asph
Still light…
falling on still life
(click photograph for larger view)
Leica M Monochrom, 50 mm Summilux Asph
Waiting…
for someone
or something
to return
on the 24,951st day of this life
(click photograph for larger view)
Leica M Monochrom, 50 mm Summilux Asph
Why photograph? Why use black and white? Why use color?
We photograph to explore our fascination with reality and all its remarkable, fleeting moments. …because we love light. …to discover how the moment may look when frozen in time. We photograph to remember. To tell a story. To illustrate. To explain. To say, “Look what I saw.” To learn more about “this or that.” To share. To show—as proof. We’re fascinated by, and need to explore, visual compositions as a means of self expression. …music for the eyes …visual poems.
We use black and white when we feel a need to express our love for lines, textures, patterns, shapes, and forms drawn by shadows and highlights. …when our vision demands a rich tonality.…when color would only serve as a distraction. The same reasons we draw with graphite, silver point, charcoal, conté and inks.
(click photograph for larger view)
Leica M Monochrom, 50 mm Summilux Asph
We use color when the subject demands its color be seen, understood, and presented; and of course the light; always the light; along with the shapes, lines, patterns, textures, as we pass through each ephemeral moment of our life. The same reasons we reach for any other pigmented medium; whether paints, colored pencils, dyes, or pastel chalks. Because we have something to say about the color we see in the world.
Leica M, 28 mm Summicron Asph
The last Mequon Road House porch studies? Perhaps.
memories are made of these:
the fan died
nature reclaims
the hot plate
with a firm hug
(click photograph for larger view)
Leica M, 50 mm Summilux Asph & 100 mm Apo Macro Elmarit —R
A day with the Leitz Apo—Macro—Elmarit—R 1:2.8 / 100 on the M (240)
(click photograph for larger view)
Dust to dust. Wabi (a quality of austere and serene beauty expressing a mood of spiritual solitude recognized in Zen Buddhist philosophy.) Sabi (“The concept sabi carries not only the meaning ‘aged’—in the sense of ‘ripe with experience and insight’ as well as ‘infused with the patina that lends old things their beauty’—but also that of tranquility, aloneness, deep solitude” (Hammitzsch, 46).)
Sophia and Tanya enjoying our new old hot tub for the first time.
Frog
Two Frogs
Garage visitor
Sunset on the pond
Leica M, 100 mm Apo Macro Elmarit R
More with the Leitz Wetzlar Summilux—R 1:1.4 / 80 on Leica M (240)
This group demonstrates the reach and OOF bokeh of the 80 Summilux when used “on the streets.” The first two come from the view from The Anvil Restaurant in Cedarburg, WI; where Ann and I had dinner after looking for a “vanity” for one of the bathrooms in the house we’ve bought. The rest come from spending the afternoon at Irish Fest on Ann’s birthday (as is her habit).
(click photograph for larger view)
Cannot beat this lens for candid portraiture (though the 75 M Summilux will certainly keep up admirably)
Can’t help but think of John McMaster when I see stuff like this:
Now we add the 2X Apo Extender and use that 160 mm reach:
Oops. I’m pretty sure the next three are with the 28 Summicron M
Okay I’m fairly sure the rest are with the 80 ‘ lux-R
Yup — haunted by John down in New Zealand — again:
Leica M, 80 mm Summilux-R
Next up: Leitz Apo—Macro—Elmarit—R 1:2.8 / 100