Social isolation

I saw this image of original artwork from a gallery: some found it funny but it actually made me sad.

On a recent Sunday, a beautiful sunny day, I walked around my city's urban park; it was crowded with families and (real, not virtual) friends, some were in groups.

But there was a disturbing trend: I rarely saw direct interaction...

adapted Cosmicar 50mm f1.4   1/160sec

Are we too driven by social media to actually be social?

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Pokemon hunting

With a condescending thought I laughed at these guys running around the city "hunting" for the imaginary Pokémon (mobile phone game).
Then I paused and reflected: and how am I different?
The basic principle it's the same, the medium different and results possibly more "tangible" (kind of). However I see similarities: we are both satisfying an ancient need to hunt.


adapted lens from Pentax-110 70mm f2.8  1/500sec

EDIT 19OCT16: ....and apparently now gone 
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French girls

There was a hearty feeling in the air at the French festival; a mild winter day with crisp skies seemed to make people happy.
I noticed that many girls there had a bit of a different look; less pompous, sultry or dismissive. I liked the atmosphere of the place.


Kodak Cine Ektanon 102mm f2.7  1/800sec



Kodak Cine Ektanon 102mm f2.7   1/1600sec




Cosmicar 50mm f1.4  1/4000sec

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Re-porpoused cine lenses

My modern native auto-focus lenses are safely tucked away in my "special case" while my vintage adapted glass is constantly fiddled with and taken out for image gathering. I manly consider using the modern marvel on my extended trips to foreign places where I concentrate on recording more than creating images. At home I always grab my vintage lenses and recently discovered two gems from the 50's: lenses from Kodak intended for Cine 16mm film cameras.

I love the look that the Ektar 25mm has given me so far and wanted to try the longer focal lengths: the 63mm, and by chance I also discovered the 102mm
The image circle on those lenses was not intended to cover a sensor as large as the Micro 4/3 and the distortions are way more noticeable on the edges then they ever were on the smaller format of the film. And that is exactly what I am looking for: distortion and quirkiness that my Olympus M.Zuiko lenses can't give me.


Kodak Cine Anastigmat 63mm f2.7  1/500sec

The edges are often darker (vignette) and the bokeh can have a hint of swirl; all traits that I desire for moody and unusual look that I want to create in my images with feel.
I have shifted from methodical and accurate recording of buildings (my previous professional work) to a more arty direction in my images. The real goal for me is to evoke or depict emotions, through images. Even with static natural subjects I seek to capture a sense of nostalgia, dream or fantasy. Blurry and funky bokeh is all part of the composition where a sharp edge-to-edge image might not convey that feeling.


Kodak Cine Anastigmat 63mm f2.7  1/800sec

And then there is the part of manual focusing a lens that is a bit hard to handle, with small focus rings and tiny grip for the aperture control. Frustrating and fist and leading to missed opportunities but great for building skills and prediction of events.


Kodak Cine Ektanon 102mm f2.7  1/500sec

I notice that I am willing to observe a scene for much longer and pre-focus on the area where the subject might appear instead of just lift my camera, point and shoot leaving the focusing to the microchip evaluation. The results are often different; images taken while manual focusing tend to show, how to say it, more passion?

 
Kodak Cine Ektanon 102mm f2.7   1/400sec


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Where is my master?

An opportunity to try my sudden acquisition of a really weird vintage lens.
This dog was a bit distressed waiting for his owner when  a friend (I assume) came to console him.


Kodak Cine Ektanon 102mm f2.7    1/250sec

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Attention seeker

I was not sure what was going on but he did succeed: he was grabbing attention.
We all want to impress each other, we are social animals.


Argus Cintagon 100mm f3.5  @f5.6  1/640sec


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My city looking vintage

It was only apt that I would edit these images in a bit of an old-school look since they were taken with lenses that are more than 50 years old.


Industar-50-2 50mm f3.5 1/2000sec


Kodak Ektar 25mm f1.9 cine lens  1/2500sec


Argus Cintagon (Steinheil Munchen) 100mm f3.5 @f5.6 1/250sec


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Crossing the bridge

Crossing the bridge that connects the city to the open space.



M.Zuiko 40-150R  f5.6  1/250sec

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Shadow running

Late afternoon, along the river, it's his way to keep fit.


Argus Cintagon 35mm f4.5  @f8   1/200sec

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Curves

On their way to a workout outdoors, after a day of work at the desk.


Kodak cine lens Ektar 25mm f1.9   1/250sec

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Man up

A group of men chatting after exercise, outside. No alcohol :-)


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  @ f2.8  1/2500sec

I am usually too shy to ask strangers for a photo but reading the back of the guy's T-shirt made me do it :-)
I wanted a particular expression from the men chatting and after a minute or so they stopped feeling my presence. I took a few images with a vintage manual focus 50mm lens that provided the visual separation from the background.

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The orange bag

It sticks out, bright.
Not originally intended as a camera bag, with a custom insert it now serves very well for a kit of a couple of camera bodies and several lenses.
Ah yes, those are Micro Four Thirds cameras, not big monster DSRLs :-)

Around the city:


Vintage manual lens: Nikkor 105mm f2.5 rangefinder  @f5.6  1/500sec

Early morning beach walk on Xmas day.


Nikkor 105mm f2.5 rangefinder  @f2.8   1/3000sec

On the golf course, trying to get a low angle shot.


Industar-61,  50mm f2.8  @f5.6  1/30sec

Moon-rise at the beach, again.


Sigma 60mm f2.8 DN  @f4  1/10sec

The stretchy dress dress and the camera bag seem to live in symbiosis: best combo for outdoor warm weather photography.

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Secret

On a slightly cooler, wetter January day.


Sigma 60mm f2.8 DN  1/6000 sec

I don't often photograph in an urban environment since most of my free time is spent away from the city, in nature. There is a real challenge for me to "see" an interesting subject in the visual clutter of concrete, glass and steel.