Architecture – Imagist Blog

Seeing eye to eye…

Do you see what I see?
Or I you?
Of course not.
So… my fellow witnesses… tell me what you see
so I can begin to understand…

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Monday’s monochrome

I think if fair to say /
photographers startle easily /
when they see certain things /

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Leica M, 75 mm Summilux

Saturday morning…

…after fueling on the Marriott’s continental breakfast;
and watching two fellows have breakfast with their phones.

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…and after brewing locally roasted (by Emy J’s) Ethiopian coffee,
in my decades old Morentina mocha pot, over the old butane camp stove, in the Marriott parking lot;
we headed out on the country roads, in and around bits of the Ice Age Trail,
in search of the 8 studio locations making up the Hidden Studio Art Tour.

The roads provided photogenic subjects.

Smiles

And local, vocal harmony.

Some did the tour on bicycles and tricycles.

The aesthetics and craftsmanship of the participating artists qualified as top shelf.

Only one studio offered demonstrations.

Country store front porch pick’n and sing’n.

On a door inside the old Rising Star grain mill, in Nelsonville;
where they sold THE MOST delicious home made bakery;
to support the Mill’s historical restoration; and events.
Think sour cream cinnamon coffee cake, tart lemon square, peanut butter cookie, and chocolate brownie;
in the sizes that your grandma would serve you if you were her favorite.

The water turbine that once produced electricity from the Tomorrow River; and I was told, “still could.”

Leica M Monochrom, 50 mm Summilux Asph

Near the jeweler’s cases.

Near the pickers and singers.

Outside one of the studios.

And back home on Sunday.

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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.”

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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

Winter light

brings with it
a moodiness to the contemplatives

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Hasselblad 500 CM / CF39, 135 mm S Planar on Auto Bellows

Leica M, 28 mm Summicron Asph

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).

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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

The Leitz Wetzlar Macro-Elmarit-R 1:2.8 / 60 on the Leica M (240)

Locking the 60 Macro-Elmarit-R on to the Leica M, with M to R adapter, Multifunction Grip and EVF results in yet another relatively light, relatively small, very well balanced and extremely versatile kit. The ability to focus from 1:2 to infinity without additional hardware is very reassuring for a lover of close views of the world’s details.

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The 60 works as a fine short distance portrait lens.

Oops. Forgot to reset the Manual Lens Detection. So the EXIF shows the 50 cron rather than the 60 Elmarit in the first three samples above. Rest assured every image in this post was shot with the 60 Elmarit—R; irrespective of the EXIF data.

Throwing the Macro-Elmarit-R 60 Extension Tube in the bag extends the range to include 1:1 through 1:2 with little extra weight… though may mean taking the 28 Summicron out of my fairly tiny “everywhere every day bag.” No. I can fit the tube and the 28 too!

Popping the Apo-Extender-R 2X makes a remarkable 120mm 5.6 Macro which adds working distance and different depth of field to both macro or other medium long focal length possibilities — all while taking up very little space or weight in the bag.

Now why in the world would the above photograph be tac sharp and the one below be unsharp?
Both were shot handheld at a 1/1000th of a second. Hard to imagine that the bottom one involves movement.
Both used focus assist with the “red” lighting up appropriately on the intended subject. What the hell’s going on here?
Infinity focus issues? Hard to imagine that at around f:8 with a 60 mm. Any ideas?

Leica M, 60 mm Macro—Elmarit—R

Next up: Leitz Wetzlar Summilux—R 1:1.4 / 80

Leitz Wetzlar – Super Angulon – R 1 : 4 / 21 on Leica M: Memories are made of these

Yet again I find I cannot choose my 21/4/SA in the M>R Manual Lens Menu. That’s 3 for 3 (the 350, 15, 21) I can choose the 19/2.8 or the 28/2.8. So I choose the 19 – another lens that I continue to lust after.

I grew up with Schneider designed Super Angulons always in my bag. During my photo journalist days (back in the 60s and 70s) the 21/3.4 Super Angulon lived on my M2 24/7. I still own a 58/5.6 SA XL, 121 mm SA, and 165 mm SA – though I really should sell them as I haven’t shot 4×5, 5×7 or 8×10 film in decades. I’ve also owned a 75 and 90 SA; and I think I’ve got a 65 Angulon in a box somewhere. Nostalgia keeps me hanging on to the point of silly – especially while packing to move – again. The point is they’re great, classic lenses. Sharp to the corners. Distortion free. Wonderful bokeh. Decent contrast for their vintage — the XL even more so on all counts.

Memories are made of these – nostalgic lenses documenting moments around the house I designed and built (with the help of family and friends) 30 years ago – and which will soon be demolished to become a parking lot. Again I’m reminded of why I love this R lenses – it, like must R lenses, focuses exceptionally — less than 8″ — close!

And I’m delighted to see that my vintage 21/4/SA-R performs as I’d expect — wonderfully — on the Full Frame M sensor. It does show a tiny, easily manageable bit of barely perceptible magenta color shift out on the very extreme edges. It also shows a minuscule amount of chromatic aberration – also easily eliminated with a tiny correction in Lightroom.

Next up: Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 1 : 2.8 / 24

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