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Description
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Portraits of strangers. I find special moments occur with cameras We're only here, in the now, but a portrait makes it last. To capture the documentary world it is important to eliminate as many barriers as possible, between those taking and those recorded.

In this image I'm practically hidden behind my camera, and that is what I intended. The less you focus on me and my camera, the more I am able to represent you as yourself, as you are now, as if I'm not putting my lens in your face.

I learned a long time ago, if you want to be noticed more, try to sneak a picture of your subject. Just as a whisper concentrates your attention, the distance you are away, or hidden around a corner, the more you will be noticed and create their insatiable curiosity.

Reverse this, and move in close, and your subject will try to ignore you, on purpose. As I blacked out my camera's name and distinguishing marks, my subjects tend to not notice it so much. Less to read, less distracting the camera.

I have been downplaying my camera's appearance for decades. While my Leica M 240 is quiet, and less impressive than most professional cameras, it is the supreme documentary tool. It was designed around available light. It doesn't have a built in flash, and focus can be easily done in low light. You can also guess the distance and preset the focus. It uses single focal lenses, meaning less time adjusting a zoom lens framing, and often with a faster aperture for shooting at higher shutter speeds. You place your eyes behind the viewfinder, rather than decide from a live view screen held at arm's length, while still having this option. Peering through the viewfinder, the image never blacks out. The moment of capture is immediate, so quickly changing expressions can be caught.

I'm still fine tuning the camera's stealth appearance. Since I took this image, in my gallery/store mirror, I have covered the two round small silver buttons on the camera's front. The red Leica logo and white M engraving had already been covered, to minimize these distractions from the subjects point of view. Taken with a 50mm F2.0 Summicron. The shutter speed chosen is quite slow, 1/24th, so the camera is cradled with my hands, while the camera is pushed against my forehead for more stability. Notice my shutter release finger, it is placed with the ball of the finger, not the tip, over the button to release the shutter with less motion. This is the improved stealth version.

Feel free to download, just give me photo credit.

eugene

The clear lens filter is a protection to the front element, while not essential, is an important accessory when shooting outside. The Leitz Uv filter has a chrome rim and stands out as a silver ring around the lens. It is more important to have this insurance than the distraction, soon to be corrected with a black rimmed B&W Uv filter.

All my cameras were free, indirectly, as I use money earned from my cameras to pay for them. This includes my Leicas, Hasselblads, and Nikons. As long as I continue to sell my images. I will continue to upgrade purchasing used cameras, always one or two models back.

Description
click on the photo

Portraits of strangers. I find special moments occur with cameras We're only here, in the now, but a portrait makes it last. To capture the documentary world it is important to eliminate as many barriers as possible, between those taking and those recorded.

In this image I'm practically hidden behind my camera, and that is what I intended. The less you focus on me and my camera, the more I am able to represent you as yourself, as you are now, as if I'm not putting my lens in your face.

I learned a long time ago, if you want to be noticed more, try to sneak a picture of your subject. Just as a whisper concentrates your attention, the distance you are away, or hidden around a corner, the more you will be noticed and create their insatiable curiosity.

Reverse this, and move in close, and your subject will try to ignore you, on purpose. As I blacked out my camera's name and distinguishing marks, my subjects tend to not notice it so much. Less to read, less distracting the camera.

I have been downplaying my camera's appearance for decades. While my Leica M 240 is quiet, and less impressive than most professional cameras, it is the supreme documentary tool. It was designed around available light. It doesn't have a built in flash, and focus can be easily done in low light. You can also guess the distance and preset the focus. It uses single focal lenses, meaning less time adjusting a zoom lens framing, and often with a faster aperture for shooting at higher shutter speeds. You place your eyes behind the viewfinder, rather than decide from a live view screen held at arm's length, while still having this option. Peering through the viewfinder, the image never blacks out. The moment of capture is immediate, so quickly changing expressions can be caught.

I'm still fine tuning the camera's stealth appearance. Since I took this image, in my gallery/store mirror, I have covered the two round small silver buttons on the camera's front. The red Leica logo and white M engraving had already been covered, to minimize these distractions from the subjects point of view. Taken with a 50mm F2.0 Summicron. The shutter speed chosen is quite slow, 1/24th, so the camera is cradled with my hands, while the camera is pushed against my forehead for more stability. Notice my shutter release finger, it is placed with the ball of the finger, not the tip, over the button to release the shutter with less motion. This is the improved stealth version.

Feel free to download, just give me photo credit.

eugene

The clear lens filter is a protection to the front element, while not essential, is an important accessory when shooting outside. The Leitz Uv filter has a chrome rim and stands out as a silver ring around the lens. It is more important to have this insurance than the distraction, soon to be corrected with a black rimmed B&W Uv filter.

All my cameras were free, indirectly, as I use money earned from my cameras to pay for them. This includes my Leicas, Hasselblads, and Nikons. As long as I continue to sell my images. I will continue to upgrade purchasing used cameras, always one or two models back.