[Leica] Nothing else for it

[jhnichols at lighttube.net (Jim Nichols)]

Marty, it is hard to argue with the results that you get with your 
technique.  The portraits are excellent.  I hope they can get your lens 
adjusted for minimum distance.  So what if the lens doesn't quite work at 
infinity.  Not important for this work.

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marty Deveney" <benedenia at gmail.com>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 07, 2013 7:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Nothing else for it


>> If you are 1M (39 inches) away from your subject at the film plane, you 
>> are
>> standing in their personal space.  If you move to 2 feet away, your lens 
>> is
>> about 18 inches from their face.  Isn't that a bit close for portraiture?
>>
>
> This is exactly where all my portraits are taken.  Getting inside people's
> personal space is my method.  It's the only way I've found that I can get
> the intimacy I want:
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/Rachel/File0846.jpg.html
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/Africa+2009/Zimbabwe/img555a.jpg.html
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/Portraits/File0585.jpg.html
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/MM/S-jr.jpg.html
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/MM/L1000811-Edit.jpg.html
>
> Note: the new incarnation of the 90 Macro Elmar (with the close focus
>> attachment) focuses to 0.5M.  Technically, there is a solution.
>>
>
> As I said, the Macro Elmar is too slow for my purposes.
>
>
>> Do you need to work closer or have a more cropped image of your subject?
>>
>
> I always work inside 1m.  If I want a wider or tighter shot, I change 
> focal
> length.
>
>
>> Is it possible you are using the wrong focal length to get the image you
>> desire?  ( 75 instead of a 90 or 135?)
>>
>
> No, I've tried this and it doesn't work for me, including a recent
> dalliance with the Leica 135/3.4, which is stunning glass, but I just
> didn't get anything I liked with it after working with it for a month or
> so.
>
>
>> Why don't you crop the desired image from the "negative"?
>>
>
> Because I don't get the shots I like, and which people commission me to
> take, unless I get in close.
>
>
>> Why is there a "need" to get closer?  Please explain...
>>
>
> It's what works for me.  I have tried to work with longer lenses further
> away, but didn't like the look or the results.
>
> And none of my subjects has ever said they felt intimidated, except when I
> tried going completely the other way and did a portrait shoot on the beach
> near where I work with a 300/2.8 - intimidating, even if I was 5 m away. 
> I
> guess I am just not very scary.  Kids seem to like me.
>
> The Monochrom is pretty much the perfect camera for me, and if my 75
> Summilux focused accurately under 1 m on that camera it would be my 
> perfect
> lens.  The 75 Summicron is very good, but I like the extra stop and the
> softness.  I'll send my Summilux off and then I ought to be set, providing
> it can be calibrated to focus accurately enough where I want it to focus.
>
> Later,
>
> Marty
>
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