It's all about the light, that precious and fickle element to photography.

More so crucial to me when photographing in subtropical locations where often it's so harsh and crisp that leads to high contrast images. 

But now, coming closer to the winter solstice, it's softer, warmer and the sun lingers longer over the horizon before it sets giving more time to create a few softer images.

On a camping trip with a riding buddy.

Texture and patterns in the bokeh

I am drawn to the abstract pattern that a lens can create when the the whole subject can not be in focus resulting in some areas of the image blurred.
Much can be said about bokeh and it's rather impossible to be fully quantified or describe it but most purist cherish the "smooth" out-of-focus backgrounds.
I, on the contrary, prefer to find lenses that offer "texture" in the blurred areas of my images.


refitted projector lens 35-KP 1,8/120   1/640sec

I do understand that such traits in these lenses are not so well suited for subjects where the attention should remain in the in-focus areas but a lot of my photographs are often of close-up and semi-abstract subjects where a "busy" bokeh might be the crucial component of an image


adapted Pentacon 50mm f1.8  1/1600sec

Initially my visual adventures were concentrated on "bubbles" in the bokeh; now I am pursuing the textured, busy and "weird" bokeh.
Some lenses are specifically sought after for those incredible traits and unfortunately my favorite looks are out of my price range (like the Dallmeyer Super-Six 102mm f1.9 lens)

Slowly I am starting to understand which subjects, what patterns and what light will be a suitable theme for my experiments. Repetition of small objects and lines, combined with the correct subject/background ration and lens will reveal surreal images.
And it's a look that the mighty iPhone has not conquered yet :-)


adapted Kodak Cine 63mm f2.7  1/50sec



refitted Helios-89 30mm f1.9 (from FED Mikron)  1/4000sec



refitted Russian projector lens 35KP-1,8/120  1/800sec


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The afterglow

Sunsets: I have shot at least a couple of thousands. And I never tire of them.
From my very early days doing the mistake to just wait for the sun to come close to the horizon and then point in its direction before it disappears. If I was smart enough, I would have at least a subject in between so I could end up with a silhouette, of dubious quality.
As film could not hold the high contrast too well I then tried to wait for a softer light, post sunset, if my subject was back-lit. Suddenly the colors will start to show up in my slides, way more pronounced that my eyes could see. Little I knew that our eyes adapt to the changing light temperature and what might have looked "normal" with my eyes, film would record as very warm tones as the whole landscape was lit by candlelight.


adapted C-mount Navitar 75mm f1.3 @ f2    1/25sec

With digital photography things change a bit: one can adjust the color setting and the sensor can capture way more details in the shadows than any film ever could. But the soft light remains the same.
I wait, knowing that the real show will happen when people are gone :-)


* and thanks to technology I was able to create this image that otherwise would have been totally blurred in my film days: 1/25sec on a 150mm lens!

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Snowgum grove

My favourite trees.
Twisted by the harsh winter winds their resilience is inspirational.


G-Lumix 14mm f5.6  1/125sec

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Fence post

I live in a city but I long for the country.
It is so difficult to find some open space with tall grass and an old fence.


Cintagon 35mm f4.5  1/500sec


Cintagon 35mm f4.5  1/320sec

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Tender parenting.

Almost human like, the kangaroo's relationship with its youngster seems so tender.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  @f5.6  1/125sec

This mob lives by the sea, feeding on very lush grassy fields. The wet climate makes their life much easier and with very few predators to fear from they are particularly tame despite being wild and free.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  @f5.6  1/125sec


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  @f5.6  1/125sec

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Waking up in nature

I make sure I can leave the city already on a Friday night to then drive for a few hours, West, into the bush.
A short walk in the dark and set up camp, sometimes late.
It's all worth it, for waking up on the weekend one more morning in nature .


Lumix G 14mm  f5.6 1/180sec



SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4 @2.8  1/1500sec

First light in the grass

The night has left just a veil of dew that quickly evaporates at the touch of the first sunlight.


Lumix G 14mm  f13 1/30sec

End of winter

The last frosts are just about gone and the days are getting warmer.
Soon the dry winter grass will be replaced by fresh new sprouts.


Lumix G 14mm   f6.7  1/125sec


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm   f2.9  1/180sec


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm   f2.9  1/180sec

Midnight sun

This image was taken while dreaming of being in the land of the midnight sun.


M.Zuiko 75mm f3.2  1/400sec

And now I am making new images, in that very place where the night sky never comes.

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Old school

There is something about the old school lenses from Germany and Russia that have captured my imagination.
It certainly is not about sharpness or autofocus speed, and certainly not the ease of use of mechanical perfection.
The lenses I am interested in have none of that: they are chunky, stiff, rough around the edges and awkward to use.
So why would anybody want this retro low tech lenses?
Hard to describe in words...


Meyer Optik Domiplan 50mm f2.8 (@f2.8)


Meyer Optik Domiplan 50mm f2.8 (@f2.8)


Meyer Optik Domiplan 50mm f2.8 (@f2.8)

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Evening walk with my sister

I wanted to get out of the house but I did not feel like driving for hours to get out of the city.
I rarely explore the countless parks that this great city offers and today I decided to visit one that promised to have uninterrupted views of the river.
Little I knew that the river was not going to be the focus this afternoon.


M.Zuiko 40-150mm   f4.6  1/500sec



M.Zuiko 45mm   f2.8  1/1250sec


M.Zuiko 75mm   f2.2  1/800sec



my sister; we share a passion for images

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Painting

“I paint what cannot be photographed, that which comes from the imagination or from dreams, or from an unconscious drive.
I photograph the things that I do not wish to paint, the things which already have an existence.” –Man Ray


Meyer-Optik Görlitz Domiplan 50mm F2.8
I am no painter and this is how I would like to paint.

Modern lenses are optimized to capture the minutest detail with corrected optics to deliver sharp images, while a vintage lense from 50 years ago allows me to paint, with light.

Winter grass

I tried for the first time a new lens over the weekend.
I wanted to capture the soft red grass that seems to grow only in winter.
As the sun neared the horizon the back-lit stalks glistened in the evening light.


M.Zuiko 75mm   f4 1/1600sec


M.Zuiko 75mm   f6.3 1/2000sec


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