Upper West Side, NYC, 2014.

[mattblaze@federate.social]

This was a rather opportunistic capture with a Leica M240 camera, a 35mm lens, and a tabletop tripod on a windowsill, just before a late afternoon thunderstorm.

The light always does most of the work in photography. Sometimes it works especially hard.

[mattblaze@federate.social]

I have mixed feelings about the Leica M system. The lenses are of very high quality, and everything is small enough that I can travel (or hike) with a fairly complete kit when I'd otherwise not bring a camera at all. Most of my favorite "opportunistic" photos have been with a Leica.

But everything is obscenely expensive. And while the small size is great, it's also a compromise. I usually wish I had my larger camera (with movements, etc) with me instead.

[mattblaze@federate.social]

The other thing that drives me nuts about Leica is their marketing, which makes you feel like you're buying fine jewelry rather than a useful camera system.

[deadinside@but.still.drinkin.coffee]

@mattblaze Not sure if "obscenely expensive" was mentioned in relation to a *checks notes* PhaseOne IQ4 :)

[mattblaze@federate.social]

@deadinside The P1 system is definitely pricey (more than a Leica), but I feel like there's reasonable value. With Leica, you pay a lot for the logo.

[0xd0ug@infosec.exchange]

@mattblaze I've never commented on any of your photographs before but I figured it's past due for me to say they are all absolutely amazing, including this one. Hoping you continue to post these, as they are a wonderful palate cleanser from the InfoSec stuff I'm mainly here for. Thank you!

P.S. Publish a coffee table book!

[mattblaze@federate.social]

@0xd0ug Thanks!

[deadinside@but.still.drinkin.coffee]

@mattblaze Agree. Having just looked at the Leicas, i do like the compact size, but those prices... damn.

[nxskok@cupoftea.social]

@mattblaze these two things may not be unconnected.

[mangochutney@social.lol]

@mattblaze this! I have a strong dislike for buying luxury goods. Premium, I am happy to pay money for and I know that Leica builds premium gear (heck, I have the Q3). But I have issues buying into a lifestyle or exclusive club.

[darryl_ramm@hachyderm.io]

@mattblaze

Leica marketing has never made me feel like *I'm* buying fine jewelry. It's made me feel like some idiot doctor or lawyer thinks they might be buying fine jewelry...

[mlevison@agilealliance.social]

@mattblaze but you should feel privileged that they let you, a mortal buy a Leica.

I have to slum it with an OM system camera.

[cstamp@mastodon.social]

@mattblaze Part of the cost is prestige.

[ghostonthehalfshell@masto.ai]

@mattblaze

When I finally had collected and boxed up my father’s cameras. He was mainly a Nikon guy, but had a long history of photography which included photojournalism way back when in San Diego.

In that collection was a Leica + lenses and other models that are now antiques, but when I brought it to the local camera specialist shop, the men behind the counter literally wept at the collection of gear

[doppelganger75@mastodon.world]

@GhostOnTheHalfShell @mattblaze Your dad's name wasn't Larry, by any chance was it?

[ghostonthehalfshell@masto.ai]

@Doppelganger75 @mattblaze

Nope

[doppelganger75@mastodon.world]

@GhostOnTheHalfShell @mattblaze Ok, I grew up in San Diego, was a budding photographer and photojournalist at one time and knew someone who sounded similar.

[ghostonthehalfshell@masto.ai]

@Doppelganger75 @mattblaze

The time bracket here would’ve been the 1950s / 1960. I don’t actually know the time bracket he worked down there, but it would’ve been for broadcast television.

[doppelganger75@mastodon.world]

@GhostOnTheHalfShell @mattblaze The Larry I'm referring to was Larry Littlefield, who was Sports Editor and photographer for the Escondido Times Advocate for a number of years, but also free-lanced and was published in the San Diego Union. This was in the early 1970s.

[ghostonthehalfshell@masto.ai]

@Doppelganger75 @mattblaze

That name I have heard.