Hi

I'm fairly new to Leica and this is my first request for feedback. Recently I had a 7 hour stop-over in Hong Kong and decided to get into the city and have a look around and take some photos. I had my M6 and 35mm Summicron asph with me and some T400CN film that I had to push 2 stops because it was evening.

I'd appreciate any feedback that you guys might have. Please click here

(I'm crossing fingers that I've done all the photo.net and embedded link stuff right!)

-- Angus Macniven (angus_macniven@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002

Answers

Very nice, Angus. Very moody feel. I particularly like the airport shuttle shot. Well done.

Dennis

-- Dennis Couvillion (couvilaw@aol.com), April 15, 2002.

Hi, welcome Angus !

The restaurante is my preferred one. Great eye for shape and mood...

Congratulations

-Iván

-- Iván Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), April 15, 2002.

You have the "Leica eye". Good comosition and impressions of simple scenes. i like how you didn't try to do too much with your shots. Some shots I have seen, indictae to me that the photogrpaher is trying too hard to be creative (sometimes me), and the shot doesn't convey a clear message because the viewer is confused.

Nice work :-)

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

I like the mood and texture of the images, but offer this for you to ponder..... In shots 2 and 4, the bus window and storefront, I think the images would have been better if the horizontal lines stayed horizontal. In shot 5, the hallway, I think there might have been something interesting happening visually if the vertical was intentionally tilted even more.

-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), April 15, 2002.

Ack! There was a Nikon banner in one of your images! That should be digitally modified to a Leica logo, of course. (just joking, of course)

Overall, I liked the mood and basic composition of the images. The suggestions I would have would be to watch your verticals - a couple of the shots are slightly off, while the alley shot might have been better to exagerate the tilt. #3 and #5 also appear to have a bit of camera shake. Developing a steady hand for longer exposure times takes some practice, or something to brace against.

Compositionally, you might consider coming in closer to the primary point of interest. #2 and #3, for example, might be more dramatic if the woman on the train and the man at the shop were larger in the image. Doing so would change the nature of the shots, however, so you should choose a style that you're comfortable with.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), April 15, 2002.

Dear Angus, Congrats on buying the best sreet camera made! It will take some time for you to get really good with it. Shoot alot! Study 35mm masters such as Kertesz, Cartier-Bresson, Frank, Winogrand, Ralph Gibson, Leonard Freed, Elliot Erwitt, Martine Franke, Bruce Davidson. Not to copy their work, but to see what can be done with your camera. Again Shoot ALOT!! and study photography!

-- John Elder (celder2162@aol.com), April 15, 2002.

Thanks so much for your kind words and constructive feedback. A couple of the pictures were a little blurred - but I kinda like that (I was actually walking while I took the alley shot!). Regarding the verticals - you got me - more attention required. Yes, there is a Nikon banner - hope it wasn't too offensive! ;o)

As for getting closer - yup, this is my real downfall. How do you guys do it? Getting in so close? Leicas are quiet but not that quiet. Thanks again.

-- Angus Macniven (angus_macniven@hotmail.com), April 16, 2002.

Nice pics, I do like the airport shuttle pic, although keeping the camera straight would have improved it a bit more.

to add a comment, the 'late night shopping' pic has a big white top that is distracting too me (People that follow my comments :-) will note the trend: I don't like "large" distracting white or black area's) and I don't see why it is late night as the pic gives me a clouded sky impression. If you wouild like to emphasize night, print it a lot darker.

Reinier

-- ReinierV (rvlaam@xs4all.nl), April 16, 2002.

Angus,

This article by John Brownlow explains how to steel yourself to get closer. I've seen no explanation that is better or more direct...

http://ww w.pinkheadedbug.com/techniques/shynessone.html

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), April 16, 2002.