[Leica] A Noctilux and Velvia ...

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

Chris Lawson offered:
Subject: Re: [Leica] A Noctilux and Velvia ...


> First, I start with the Rabiner Neopan 1600 film/developer solution. Then, 
> with the Noct at f/1.0, I have latitude in shutter speed choices. Sure, 
> it's cheating. <<<

Hi Chris,
Not sure what you mean by "it's cheating?" Man when you go f1.0 using 3200 
and shoot, it's truly "available darkness." No cheating there, just 
extremely interesting photographs. Imagine f1.0 and an 1/8th of a second 
hand held!!! ;-) And with correct exposures it's amazing the neat pictures 
you can shoot. ;-) Cool coal mine stuff! :-)

> I'll sometimes venture to 1/15th second, hoping for a zen-like, 
> semi-comatose state while the shutter is open. Fat chance.<<<

Heck a 1/15th is a high shutter speed sometimes because with a little 
practice you can get down to 1/4 without any trouble. It's learning how to 
breath, how to set your body, how to get body support from any number of 
things, then go "click!" :-) Now see how easy it is? So go do some. ;-)

>> Even if I do my part, 1/30th is a crap shoot, what with people being more 
>> dynamic that your usual peeling paint study. <<<<<<<

Naw not at all mon ami, with people it becomes timing! You watch their 
movements and watch for a pause in whatever they're doing, "click!" Besides 
sometimes if one does it well, a slight "motion blur" adds to the effect of 
the action.

Show no fear, don't think about how slow the shutter speed is, then 
physiologically you beat it. Just think about being right on the mark in 
focus and tripping the shutter at precisely the right moment.

If you think and worry about a slow shutter speed you surely are going to 
screw it up.!!!!

Don't think, shoot it!

ted