leica Q2

Sabreliner

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I enjoyed making these images for a few reasons. Firstly I’m an airplane nut. I’ve always loved planes. Secondly, the plane’s deteriorated condition also appeals to me. I enjoy the esthetic of decay/patina on objects. Wear, use, and neglect make items and scenes more interesting to me. Lastly, orange and blue is one of my favorite color combinations. All of these facets combine to make this T-39 Sabreliner so cool looking.

1/1000 sec at f/2.4, ISO 200, 40mm, Leica MP

1/180 sec at f/4.8, ISO 200, 40mm, Leica MP

1/160 at F/4.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/80 sec at f/3.2, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

DC-3

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Driving past the Champlain Valley Educational Services Aeronautical Institute, in Plattsburgh, NY, I noticed an old DC-3 basking in the evening sun. It has always been dream of mine to photograph a true airplane graveyard out west. This is the closest I’ve come to doing so. As a licensed aircraft mechanic I’ve always had a fond interest in aviation and just had to pull in and make a few images.

1/125 sec at f/8.0, ISO 200, 35mm, Leica MP

1/250 sec at f/3.4, ISO 200, 35mm, Leica MP

1/750 sec at f/2.4, ISO 200, 35mm, Leica MP

1/1000 sec at f/2.8, ISO 200, 35mm, Leica MP

Plattsburgh Water Tower

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Work takes me to Plattsburgh, NY this week. Leaving dinner around 8:30 this evening, I saw this water tower and thought I’d try to make an interesting photo with the last couple of minutes of blue hour (I have a thing for water towers and power lines). While there was hardly any light where I stood at the base of the tower, the top was caught in the transition from the last few rays of setting sun to ambient street light. Pushing the ISO to 4,000, I’m still pleased with the clarity of the image. The Leica Q2 never disappoints.

1/50 sec at f/1.7, ISO 4000, 28mm, Leica Q2

Wes Anderson-ish

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This year, I gifted a really interesting book to my sister for her birthday and wish I got a copy for myself. The book showcased images with symmetry and balance akin to the scenes in Wes Anderson visually stimulating films. Very inspiring. While driving my son to the babysitter’s this morning, I noticed these shacks and had to stop to make this image.

1/6400 sec at f/1.7, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

Wheelman

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Again, I find myself enjoying the reward of taking my camera everywhere I go. Today, while traveling for work near Binghamton, NY, I came up behind this rider on the road. I thought it was so cool that he had an entire wheel strapped to his back… with a tow strap no less! So impressed was I, that I followed him in to a gas station to make his portrait. This is my kind of guy; doing the sort of thing that I would do. He had changed the tire on his buddy’s bike and needed to use the air station to fill it.

Making portraits is something I’ve never felt comfortable doing. It takes courage to ask someone if you can make their portrait and there is a high chance of rejection in doing so. I’m so grateful that I had the courage to ask this guy, because this is now perhaps one of my personal favorite images of all that I have made over the years.

1/1250 sec at f/2.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

Imp

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I stopped to make some photos of this snowcat just outside of Lake Placid, near the summit of Whiteface Mountain. I just love the vibe of this old machine. It’s an Imp. What a weird word. I had to look it up. The formal dictionary definition is: a little devil or demon; an evil spirit. a mischievous child. This little hellion was Manufactured by the Thiokol Ski-Lift and Snowcat division of Thiokol Chemical Corp in Logan, Utah. That panel light technology, down below, makes me smile. So simple.

1/500 sec at f/5.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/1.8, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 5000, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/1.7, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/320 sec at f/9.0, ISO 6400, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/400 sec at f/5.6, ISO 6400, 28mm, Leica Q2

Quick dash to the Dax

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Friday night I threw some gear in the back of the Subi and set off for Keene Valley, NY; the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks Region. With no plans, other than to wake up and make some sunrise photos at Chapel Pond, I relaxed and enjoyed the 7 hour drive up to the Dax, arriving around 11pm. Through a thick snowfall, I pulled into the parking lot at the Indian Head Trailhead, cracked the sunroof, and crawled into my -20° bag for an incredibly comfortable sleep. I woke to an overcast and snowy morning around 7am. The rest of the day was mostly overcast with sporadic and brief periods when the sun would punch down, through the thick clouds, and spotlight a gorgeous scene before dimming back out of sight again.

1/500 sec at f/1.7, ISO 1250, 28mm, Leica Q2

I could not pass by this little Post Office without stopping for a few photos. Simple. Small-town. Americana.

1/500 sec at f/2.5, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

Chapel Pond

1/500 sec at f/16, ISO 3200, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/2.5, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/4.5, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

Whiteface Mountain

1/500 sec at f/7.1, ISO 500, 28mm, Leica Q2

Whiteface Mountain

1/500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/3.2, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

Hamburg, PA

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1/640 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/1250 sec at f/4.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/640 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/800 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

Grave Yard

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This is the second time, I’ve crept around this place. I really dig the vibe of this location. Similarly cool, I would imagine, are aircraft “bone yards”. I’d love to plan out an overland out-and-back venture to someplace out in the desert! Shoot a bunch of planes during golden hour! Maybe get some astrophotography in there; that’d be so cool.

1/200 sec at f/4.5, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/125 sec at f/4.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/250 sec at f/4.5, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/200 sec at f/4.5, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/400 sec at f/4.5, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/160 sec at f/4.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/200 sec at f/4.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

Photo Bag

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I’ve never done a What’s in my camera bag piece before. I’d always thought about it, but lately, my shooting style has changed in such a way that I no longer need to cary a camera bag. I just cary the camera on a leather neck strap. My Leica has a fixed 28mm prime so I have no need to carry any other lenses. So, that’s it (And, sometimes an ND filter in my jacket pocket). I do however prepare, what I call a “Photo bag” which just consists of a complete clean, dry pair of clothes, a towel, my Leica & Macbook Pro. … and my tripod which I basically keep in the car these days. I’m basically packing a complete set of crispy, dry, comfy & clean clothes. Ha!

New Life

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The more I look at this scene, the more I realize why it holds my attention. It’s the combination of my two favorite subjects: Urban Decay and Nature photography. I’m also happy with the composition. Allowing just enough depth of field to make obvious the foreground subject (shrooms) without loosing so much contextual detail in the background.

It’s beautiful to me, to see this new life; these mushrooms, growing amongst the discarded & forgotten in this decaying pile of rubble. Natural beauty. Happening.

1/60 sec at f/2.0, ISO 50, 28mm Leica Q2