Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/10/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]wonderfull thanks for sharing simon ----- Original Message ----- From: "tom lianza" <tlianza@comcast.net> To: <lug@leica-users.org> Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 9:42 AM Subject: [Leica] Leica M8 in the theater > Hi to all, > > I run a small theater group in New Hampshire and I handle the lighting > and sound. I usually take photos during the show and I thought I would > share my recent experience and images with the group. > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/tomlianza/Theater+Shots > > I typically use a Nikon D2x up in the balcony with a long lens. This > has worked well in the past and it worked well in this show, but there > were some moments that I thought that needed some more intimacy. I had > the M8 with a 50mm Voigtlander F/1.5 . I moved down to stage level and > started taking some images in color. Of course, I didn't bring any IR > supression filters with me. As I looked at the colors I realized that > this was going to be a very interesting editing session later that > night. I found working with the M8 somewhat difficult. The first thing > they need to do is to put a physical control for exposure adjustment on > the next version. It really slowed me down to go into the menu. In the > end, I just underexposed by 1.5 stops and figured I would work it out in > light room. The reason for underexposure is that the stage is > generally dark with the characters often lit in isolation. The frame > lines on the M8 seem to be a mere suggestion of what you will see in the > final image, so it's important to stand off a bit and crop, this exactly > what you don't do with an SLR/zoom. The noise level of the M8 was not > obtrusive which was a "must" in this situation. Focus was easy and this > is where the RF really shines. Auto focus is not a good idea in stage > situations. The tungsten lighting plus the artificial dyes used in the > costumes lead to the expected disaster in color rendering. I decided > that the images would be far better in Black and White. I printed these > images on an HP 130 printer on Glossy photopaper at width of about 22 > inches. People just loved them... and they did look great at that > size. Working with the M8 in the theater is no picnic, but the results > can be quite good. I'll use it again in this situation. I hope you > enjoy the images... > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information