Just a quick one…

It’s the night before return… and as I was busy with other fun stuff today, I didn’t have time to use the Noctilux anymore… now it’s to late… But I decided before the day really ends I need to take at least one more.. So a quick self portrait in the mirror is the result.

Hopefully I’ll be able to use it some time in the future again…

Leica M9 with Noctilux 50mm at f 0.95 - 1/30sec - ISO 640

Noctilux at pinkpop…

Yesterday I had the privilege to try out the Noctilux f0.95 lens, attached to my M9 and go crazy at Pinkpop. Thanks to the importer of Leica - Transcontinenta BV - for making this possible. What a treat it was!

During the day, sun was abundant, so shooting at f0.95 wasn’t really an option. I did get close a couple of times pulling the M9 to ISO 80 and shooting inside the converse festival tent. But the fun started just around twilight.

Leica M9 with Noctilux at f2.8 - 1/2000 - ISO 160

Leica M9 with Noctilux at f1.4 - 1/4000 - ISO 80

Leica M9 with Noctilux at f0.95 - 1/60 - ISO 360

People are going crazy on this festival and something is happening somewhere all the time… I had to be careful not to go trigger happy. It’s fun to shoot with the Noctilux fully opened… on the LCD screen you can’t really see if you are spot on with your focus. This way, the old feeling of surprise when you “develop” your pictures is completely back. Funny thing is I remember that I shot many pictures at f0.95 but the EXIF data of the photos, for some reason doesn’t recognize this.

Leica M9 with Noctilux at f4.8 - 1/1000 - ISO 200

Leica M9 with Noctilux at f6.7 - 1/1000 - ISO 200

Leica M9 with Noctilux at f0.95 - 1/4000 - ISO 200

Leica M9 with Noctilux at f0.95 - 1/2000 - ISO 200

Unfortunately, I have to bring the Noctilux back this monday. It’s a lens I’d really would like to add to my small set, but it’s price makes it very unlikely I can afford it soon. Still I’ve enjoyed having it with me for a day and who knows I can “try” it again some time in the future.

For more pictures at higher resolution check here

Leica M9 with Noctilux at f0.95 - 1/4000 - ISO 200

TEDx Haarlem

Today, my hometown, for the first time, hosted a TEDx event: TEDxHaarlem. I was lucky enough to be part of the creative team, organizing the event. Even better was the fact that I didn’t really have to do a thing during the event. This way I was able to listen to the inspiring stories and the lovely music of Celine Cairo. Also I was able to walk around a bit with the Leica and do what I love doing. Unfortunately it was a bit dark, so I had to push the ISO up to 1600, creating some noise. Still when the exposure is spot on, the noise is perfectly doable and with the conversion in silver efex pro to black and with it even ads a bit to the atmosphere. Still I wouldn’t mind trying this next time with the new M9M, being able to push it up to 3600 or even 6400 with, as I look at the various reviews, with nearly no noise at all.

Here some photos of tonight, hope you enjoy them. For more pictures and higher resolution, click here

Leica M9 with Summicron 75mm at f2.8 - 1/125 sec - ISO 1600

Leica M9 with Summicron 35mm at f2.8 - 1/60 sec - ISO 1600

Leica M9 with Summicron 75mm at f2.4 - 1/125 sec - ISO 1600

Leica M9 with Summicron 75mm at f2.8 - 1/125 sec - ISO 1600

Leica M9 with Summicron 75mm at f2.8 - 1/125 sec - ISO 1600

Leica M9 with Summicron 75mm at f2.4 - 1/250 sec - ISO 1600

Leica M9 with Summicron 75mm at f2.0 - 1/30 sec - ISO 1600

Leica M9 with Summicron 35mm at f3.4 - 1/90 sec - ISO 1600

Leica M9 with Summicron 75mm at f2.8 - 1/60 sec - ISO 1000

Leica M9 with Summicron 35mm at f2.8 - 1/45 sec - ISO 1600

Gliding…

Today some colleagues, friends and me went gliding… a belated Christmas present. It was cold and windy, but beautiful weather. Visibility was incredible and adrenaline was pumping… but the best was the silence up in the air… a natural Zen moment for your self.

I’m still shooting with the 35 mm and 75 mm summicron lenses wich is great because by now I can dream the outcome. Still I don’t mind cropping every now and again when 75 mm isn’t enough or time is to short to switch lenses… as long as the picture says what I want to say.

Again I converted all pictures with Silver Efex Pro, and I have to say… I would love to try out the new Leica M9M…. If only to see what happens if I lose control in conversion, seen the fact that it won’t be necessary to convert ;-)

Up in the air I only shot a couple, for the rest I really wanted to enjoy the moment. Still I took a self portrait with my Iphone as well… 

For more pictures and these pictures at a higher resolution, check my flickr account.

Leica M9 with 35mm summicron at f4.0 - 1/2000 sec - 200 ISO

Leica M9 with 35mm summicron at f3.4 - 1/500 sec - 160 ISO

Leica M9 with 35mm summicron at f4.8 - 1/2000 sec - 160 ISO

Leica M9 with 75mm summicron at f4.0 - 1/750 sec - 160 ISO

Leica M9 with 75mm summicron at f4.8 - 1/1500 sec - 160 ISO

Leica M9 with 75mm summicron at f4.0 - 1/2000 sec - 160 ISO

Iphone with the camera+ app.

Liberation day

The 5th of may is the day we celebrate liberation day in the Netherlands. We remember getting back our freedom in 1945. There are different festivals in many cities. A lot of friends and I decided a couple of years ago to start the day with champagne. Really celebrating instead of only having a party at the festival. It started with just a couple of friends, but every year the group is getting bigger, there is more food and champagne is better.

In the past years I made a video, but this year I decided to take the Leica D-lux 4 to take some pictures. I didn’t have the guts to take the M9, because of the party and because of the champagne ;-) Here’s some of the pictures, the video’s of past years you can see here and here.

Those little moments…

The good thing of having your studio at creative hub ‘Klein Haarlem’ is that there are many creative people around to inspire you, work with or just take a snapshot of while they are doing their thing. Here’s Joshua, singer of the Dutch formation Chef’Special, working on some new songs. Sitting at the bottom of the fire escape in the last rays of sunshine for today, he was sitting right underneath my window.  Who needs spotify when you can go for Chef’Special live!

Leica M9 with summicron 75mm at f2.8 - 1/3000 sec - ISO 400 

Leica M9 with summicron 75mm at f3,4 - 1/3000 sec - ISO 400

Leica M9 with summicron 75mm at f4,0 - 1/3000 sec - ISO 400

The Harbour Club

Today I was asked to make a reportage at The Harbour Club Amsterdam. The lounching of Moët Ice Imperial was the occasion, hip, famous and or trendy Amsterdam were the visitors. Amongst them a huge amount of photographers, all equipped with the big DSLR’s I used to use as well. It felt real nice to just walk around and do what I like most; capture the atmosphere.A great atmosphere it was!

For more pictures and higher resolution, click here

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm f2.8 - 1/350 sec - ISO 200

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm f4.8 - 1/500 sec - ISO 800

(comming from inside, didn’t have time to turn back to ISO 200)

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm f9.5 - 1/350 sec - ISO 200

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm f4.0 - 1/180 sec - ISO 200

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm f3.4 - 1/1000 sec - ISO 200

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm f2.8 - 1/2000 sec - ISO 200

Leica M9 with summicron 75mm f2.4 - 1/1500 sec - ISO 200

Leica M9 with summicron 75mm f2.8 - 1/250 sec - ISO 200

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm f3.4 - 1/250 sec - ISO 200

Dragqueens

Every now and again you get an assignment that, upfront, you know is going to be fun. Today I had to photograph six drag queens in the studio. It had to be done with my DSLR because the art director was watching and a M9 unfortunately doesn’t work thetered.

Never the less, the gentleman needed some time to become ladies. Therefore I decided to do some behind the scene shots with the M9. It was unbelievable to see the great care these ladies put in their appearance.

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f2.0 - 1/180 sec - ISO 800

Leica M9 with summicron 75 mm at f3.4 - 1/125 sec - ISO 800

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f2.0 - 1/30 sec - ISO 800

Leica M9 with summicron 75 mm at f3.4 - 1/180 sec - ISO 800

Leica M9 with summicron 75 mm at f3.4 - 1/45 sec - ISO 800

After the official shoot, witch was studio lit on a pink background, I decided to take them all outside and make a quick portrait there as well. Here they are, but ofcourse you can check them in higher resolution here

Miss YogY

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f2.0 - 1/1500 sec - ISO 200

Miss Windy Mills

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f2.4 - 1/4000 sec - ISO 200

Miss Ginger G-spot

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f3.4 - 1/350 sec - ISO 200

Miss Janey Jacke

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f2.4 - 1/2000 sec - ISO 200

“name to be anounced”

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f2.8 - 1/750 sec - ISO 200

Miss Fucksia

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f2.0 - 1/1500 sec - ISO 400

When all pictures were taken, and some empty bottles of wine were on the table, the girls decided to go and have a snack in the city. So off we went. To see some more pictures and these ones in a higher resolution check here

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f2.8 - 1/250 sec - ISO 400

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f2.8 - 1/125 sec - ISO 400

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f3.4 - 1/60 sec - ISO 400

Leica M9 with summicron 35 mm at f3.4 - 1/90 sec - ISO 400

Toques et Clochers part 4

The last day in Carcasonne, people could sleep in a little bit. The first activity of that day was planned in the garden of the local Charcutier (butcher) Pierre Vasquier. Sitting at the pool, drinking wine, enjoying fresh made ‘saucisson’ and getting a tan in the sun. How tough can life be?

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f4.0 - 1/2000 sec - ISO 200

After enjoying for a bit we were invited in the garden were an abundance of salads and barbequed meat was waiting for us. The artist that had painted a masterpiece  on one of the wine barrels the night before, started to make portraits on our plates. Again there was wine. This was a brilliant way to forget about the hangover of the night before.

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f4.8 - 1/500 sec - ISO 200

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f5.7 - 1/180 sec - ISO 200

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f4.0 - 1/750 sec - ISO 200

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f8.0 - 1/90 sec - ISO 200

Still after a couple of hours it was time to go to work again. The auction of the wine barrels… The whole reason of being here. A huge crowd was gathered, from all over the world wine experts or lovers had come to witness this auction.

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f3.4 - 1/25 sec - ISO 800

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f2.0 - 1/30 sec - ISO 800

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f2.4 - 1/45 sec - ISO 800

Luckily I had things arranged so I could walk around freely to take some pictures. This is, again, where I found my Leica of brilliant use. During the auction I could freely photograph without making lots of noise (no mirror clicking up and down) and no intimidating big camera nearby. Because of the low light, therefore the slow shutterspeed, I again needed to think before shooting. I’m starting to like this approach. Making less pictures, but to see it coming as it unfolds in front of you. 

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f2.4 - 1/30 sec - ISO 800

Leica M9 with summicron 75mm at f3.4 - 1/30 sec - ISO 800

Leica M9 with summicron 75mm at f2.0 - 1/45 sec - ISO 800

The day would end like it is supposed to end. A gala dinner. Everybody dressed up, live music, food, wine, dance. We even got the chance to have a look in the kitchen that night. As this was the official end of carnival the atmosphere in the end was one of craziness. It was a brilliant weekend!

Looking at the pictures now, I can clearly see how the M9 is influencing my way of photography. Different angles, getting in closer, more thought in composition… it has brought me back to, what is for me, the essence of photography.

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f5.7 - 1/250 sec - ISO 200

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f2.8 - 1/30 sec - ISO 1000

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f2.8 - 1/30 sec - ISO 1000

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f2.8 - 1/45 sec - ISO 1000

For some more and higher resolution pictures click here

Toques et Clochers part 3

That same night, there was a nice party organized in Carcassonne, near the hotel we were all staying at. Preparations took some time during the days before, but it was good fun.

During the party, I had a special mission. I had to take some staged pictures of the guest in a room that was close to completely dark. That’s what you do when you want people to dance and have a good time… red, blue and yellow lights, loud music by dutch radio DJ’s that were flown in… making for a great night, but a nightmare shoot.

Therefore I had called the dutch importer of Leica, who happens to also be the importer of broncolor light systems. They hooked me up with a single DW 200 unit. Continuous daylight on a stick so to speak. A small suitcase had everything in it, including a small softbox. This way I could shot with the M9 from tripod at 1/25 and f4.0 or at ISO 800 in an almost dark room. I couldn’t put the light any closer because we opted for a head to toe portait of up to 4 people. Looking back it might have been smarter to go for a DW 400 unit but… I made it.

Setup shot with an Iphone

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f4.0 - 1/25 - ISO 800

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f4.8 - 1/25 - ISO 800

Leica M9 with summicron 35mm at f4.8 - 1/25 - ISO 800

For the whole serie you can check here