Happy Leicanniversary to me B-D


brownbagboy

New Member
About a year ago, I took the plunge. Research and sight unknown, I bought myself a Leica M9 and a 35mm Lux lens.

1. I felt that if I had a camera with me all the time, I would improve as a photographer.

That said, I wanted to have a small camera I could bring around with me every day... something that wouldn't make me drag my feet to bring the camera or take it out of its bag when I wanted to. The Canon 5Ds I have, with their prime L lenses, while good... are just too big, bulky and heavy to bring around on a daily basis. Plus, they attract too much attention from cops and thieves alike.

2. I wanted to have a nice travel camera which was both small and uncompromising in picture quality. In the true spirit of travel, I wanted to be able to travel light and not have a camera bag which would end up being bigger than my entire travel suitcase.

The Leica M9 seemed to fit my requirements and that's why I went with it... no other reason other than those already mentioned.

A year after... and I couldn't be happier.

I honestly feel like I was able to get everything I wanted from the camera and more. Something that I expected to be just a mere travel camera, rewarded me with pictures far beyond anything I could have ever imagined from it. It was also a lot more versatile than I expected. I could do anything (except macro) with it, from landscapes, to photo journalism, to portraiture.

More importantly, the camera, in its simplicity, also made me appreciate the exposure triangle better as well train my eyes to be able to see with more sensitivity, light and its dimensions, particularly in its fall off. SO yes, it did make me a better photographer too.

So I just wanted to take this moment to share my happiness with this little item that started out as a novelty toy and has now turned into something I never leave home without, and actually use in my professional work as well. It has become a part of me.

I'm not a photography expert. By my standards, a good photograph is not measured by points on a scale from 1 to 5 but is one that I personally like and keep coming back to and never get tired of.

And these are some of my personal favorite shots which I am now sharing with you.

PS. Ed (newghost), thanks for selling me my first ever Leica camera
PPS. Cougar, thanks for selling me my first ever Summilux lens

These are some of the pictures I took in my last travel:

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A picture of my wife in the snow which we never see in our country

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My son playing in the cafe while the New Jersey joggers jog along

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Here's me trying to do portraits with a 35mm lens

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I love the camera so much I even began using it in my shoots at work

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The camera does wonderfully in panning too to my surprise

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And since I had it around my neck all the time, I took pictures of almost anything... like my son's toys

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even my toys

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even mundane things like leaves

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Especially when i would be out and in the streets

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The camera did well shooting landscapes too when I wanted it to

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I've used the camera for almost anything .. from a simple object

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To entries I've submitted in photo contests

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I'm most certain, it's going to be one camera brand I will be using even in my grave!

Thanks Club Snap, for teaching me about rangefinders and about the Leica. My life will never be the same :)
 

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So I just wanted to take this moment to share my happiness with this little item that started out as a novelty toy and has now turned into something I never leave home without, and actually use in my professional work as well. It has become a part of me.

Happy Leicanniversary! Very personal post on your photography journey accompanied with beautiful pictures. The above sentence alone is testimony that the Leica M9 is probably the best camera for you - one that you bring out daily and use :)
 

Code:
Yu have a great eye for images... Thanks for sharing! I got my first RF about 2 years ago now, and still just as excited every time I snap a photo.
 

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Happy Leicanniversary! Very personal post on your photography journey accompanied with beautiful pictures. The above sentence alone is testimony that the Leica M9 is probably the best camera for you - one that you bring out daily and use :)

Thanks Azzurri! Yes I agree with you! And the biggest personal lesson of all is that, I can read all the books I want, but the only thing that will make me improve as a photographer is to actually use the camera. I can now approximate exposure value settings just by observing the lighting conditions due to the Leica :)
 

Code:
Yu have a great eye for images... Thanks for sharing! I got my first RF about 2 years ago now, and still just as excited every time I snap a photo.

Thanks for the appreciation Crispy! I hope I didn't violate any rules by uploading too many pics.

I have "missed" my fair share of photos (slow focusing with the manual focus, not enough light due to my personal bias to cap at ISO 640 etc...) but when the Leica gets it right ... wow it surely does! The camera really rewards me for my efforts
 

Nice pics there bro, glad to see you're enjoying it! :)
 

Superbly taken pictures! Wonderful compositions! Each one tells a story.
 

Nice pics there bro, glad to see you're enjoying it! :)

Thanks a lot Ed! Everything is just as it was when I got it from you except for the thumbs up accessory which now has some fade from sweat and usage hehe! I wish there was an easier way for me to clean the sensor without becoming paranoid! It hasn't been cleaned in a year!!!

Sadly, the little red Leica pin you gave me came off in one of my travels .. well either it came off or it was quickly stolen during inspections by TSA LOL
 

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