Category Archives: Leica

The B&W Connoisseur’s Camera?

Posted on May 11, 2012 | 3 comments

The Leica M Monochrom

Leica M Monochrom. Photo: © Leica

It does at first glance appear a tad odd; a digital camera that only shoots in black and white. There are two types of photographer who this camera will appeal too though; the high end enthusiast who is into monochrome photography and also the established professional photographer who has made a name for themselves by shooting black and white.

I’m very much hoping to do a hands on review soon, but meanwhile, Andreas Jürgensen from the Leica Forum has done an interesting video review.

The camera certainly appears not to be a Leica M9 which just shoots in B&W. It does indeed have a brand new sensor and it’s ISO range is upped to 10,000. Watching the video and listening to Andreas’ conclusions, the camera produces noiseless images at 3200 ISO and absolutely usable images at 8000 ISO. The sensor also renders massive amounts of micro detail. This camera appears to be an astonishing tool; an interesting concept brought to life with a brave decision making by Leica and also executed in a magnificent way. I really cannot wait to shoot with this camera and make some prints on my iPF6300 and Hahnemuhle paper!

Update: I’ve just read a fantastic piece by Jonathan Slack on the Leica M Monochrom; well worth a read and definitely check out the wonderful gallery of images.

Update: There are some images by Magnum Photos photographer Jacob Aue Sobol on the Leica M Monochrom site that are well worth checking out.

3 Comments

Posted in Camera Equipment, Leica, News, Review

Tagged black and white, bw, hands on, Leica M Monochrom, M Monochrom Review, monochrome, photography, review

Absolute Craftsmanship; Sheer Beauty

Posted on May 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

Leica M9-P Edition Hermès

Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès’. Photo: © Leica

For me cameras and lenses are tools which let me create pictures to convey stories. I decide to choose the best tools for my way of working, which is why for most of my career, I have chosen Leica. Every once in a while though, Leica produce cameras which are probably never going to be used as a tool, but become works of great craftsmanship; objects of absolute beauty; works of art. I must admit that every once in a while, I do look upon some of these creations with great admiration from an aesthetic point of view and from appreciation of great craftsmanship. Having looked at the M9-P Edition Hermes, I feel this admiration again.

To quote from the Leica press release:

“The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès’ is offered in a choice of two different sets, containing either one or three lenses. Compared to the standard versions, the lenses included in the sets also reveal numerous differences in design, ensuring perfect harmonisation between the cameras, their lenses and accessories.

The first of the Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès’ sets will be available in May 2012, in a worldwide limited edition of 300. In addition to the camera, the set includes a silver-anodised Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens.

This will be followed by a very special set, which will be available in June 2012. The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès’ – Série Limitée Jean-Louis Dumas, in a strictly limited edition of only 100 sets, is a celebration of the friendship and collaboration between Jean-Louis Dumas, the former president of Hermès, who died in May 2010, and Leica Camera AG. The camera in this set is accompanied by three lenses: a Leica Summicron-M 28mm f/ 2 ASPH., a Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH. and a Leica APO-Summicron-M 90mm f/2 ASPH., all featuring a stunning silver-anodised finish.

Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès’ – Série Limitée Jean-Louis Dumas. Photo: © Leica

This unique collection of photographic equipment finds a fitting home in a hand-finished Hermès camera bag that is available exclusively as a part of this second set. This is the first Leica camera bag ever to have been created by Hermès, a company world-famous for its manufacturing excellence. As homage to Jean- Louis Dumas, a Leica photographer, the second set also includes a book with a selection of his pictures. On 190 pages, this photographic work in two volumes shows an entertainingly diverse portfolio of 200 black-and-white images captured by Jean-Louis Dumas with his Leica M camera.

The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès’ is scheduled to be available in the UK from May 2012, at a UK suggested retail price of £18,000 inc VAT. The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès’ – Série Limitée Jean-Louis Dumas is scheduled to be available in the UK from June 2012, at a UK suggested retail price of £36,000 inc VAT. In the UK, both cameras will be available exclusively from the Leica Store Mayfair, 34 Bruton Place, London W1J 6NR. Tel: 020 7629 1351, www.leica-storemayfair.co.uk ”

Although way outside of the league of most working photographers, it is a thing of beauty; the camera, the lenses, the gorgeous bag and even the box.

Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH

Posted on May 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

Might This Be The Best 50mm Lens Ever?

Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH. Photo: © Leica

Some amazing announcements made today by Leica in Berlin; the B/W only Leica M Monochrom, the beautifully crafted M9-P Edition Hermes, The Leica X2 and an amazing apochromatically corrected and aspherical 50mm lens; the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH.

I for one cannot wait to see results from this lens and hopefully try it out. Meanwhile, a couple of very interesting videos from Leica.

Reportage On The RNOH

Posted on May 1, 2012 | 17 comments

The Power Of Photographs

Following the RNOH film, I decided I wanted to do a different edit to our TAPTV film. My thoughts were to combine some photographs within the edit. At first I looked through the beautifully edited by Neil Patience film and realised that there were some nice still images within the footage. With Quicktime 7, I went back to the original Canon 5D MkII footage and exported some still images, particularly from the interview sections.

These images were imported into Aperture 3 where I processed them. For the B/W conversions I exported them into Nik Software’s Silver Efex Pro 2. Here I created four custom looks and these were applied to the images as appropriate. Using FCP X I then did an re-edit of the film, incorporating the images captures. I also used Red Giant’s Magic Bullet Looks 2 to grade the film slightly differently to our original.

Earlier this year, we decided that to coincide with the launch, it would be a great idea to shoot a proper photo reportage on the RNOH, so over a three and a half day period, using a Leica M9 and M9-P, I wandered the operating theatres, halls and wards (with the invaluable help from the fundraising and communications teams), making a set of pictures. I mainly shot the entire project using the Leica 50mm Noctilux APSH, the new 35mm Summilux ASPH and the 28mm Summicron.

These were first edited in Aperture for my agency Eyevine and once done, I set about incorporating them into my video edit. As before, Nik Software’s Silver Efex Pro 2 was used for the B/W conversions and I set about importing them into FCP X and making the new edit of the video.

There is something much more powerful with B/W imagery and for me, this version is even more powerful. It’s a full multimedia marriage of video, audio and photography. I’d love to know which version of the film you find stronger and why.

My biggest ask though is that if you were touched by this amazing place, please help in their redevelopment and donate to the RNOH fund. Thank you.

Lastly, here is a slideshow of my favourite photographs from the project:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

17 Comments

Posted in Apple, Canon 5D MkII Video, Film, Leica, Mac, multimedia, Photography, Video, viewpoint

Tagged appeal, charity, fundraising, hospital, leica, m9, M9-P, national, orthopaedic, rnoh, royal

Photography Masters Cup Nomination

Posted on November 6, 2011 | 8 comments

Image Nominated In Abstract Category

I’m thrilled to announce that one of my street images, a silhouette of a lady having a cup of coffee in a Starbuck’s on New Oxford Street, taken on a Leica M9 and Leica 90mm Summarit lens, has been chosen from the 11,321 entries to the Photography Masters Cup, to be a nominated image.

A lady takes a break at the Starbucks Coffee shop on New Oxford Street. December 09, 2010. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY NOMINATE BRITISH PHOTOGRAPHER EDMOND TERAKOPIAN AT THE 5TH ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERS CUP

LONDON – Professional photographer Edmond Terakopian of the UK was presented with the 5th Annual Photography Masters Cup Nominee title in the category of Abstract at a prestigious Nomination & Winners PhotoShow. The live online ceremony webcast Sunday, October 29, 2011 was attended by photography fans in 83 countries who logged on to see the climax of the industry’s most important event for color photography. The awards international Jury included captains of the industry ranging from Hasted Hunt Kraeutler in New York, Brancolini Grimaldi, David & Goliath, Simon Studer Art Associates, Stills Gallery to Christie’s in London who honored Color Masters with 272 coveted title awards and 1099 nominees in 18 categories. “It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 13,321 entries we received this year,” said Basil O’Brien, the awards Creative Director. “Edmond Terakopian’s “Coffee Break” an exceptional image entered in the Abstract category, represents contemporary color photography at its finest, and we’re pleased to present him with the title of Nominee.” See the 5th Annual Winners & Nominees at http://www.thecolorawards.com/gallery INTERNATIONAL COLOR AWARDS PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERS CUP is the leading international award honoring excellence in color photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in color photography.

8 Comments

Posted in competition, Leica, Photography, Pictures

Tagged competition, masters cup, nominee

Leica Akademie

Posted on October 20, 2011 | 22 comments

Leica M9 Interactive Workshops

Photographer Edmond Terakopian testing out the Leica M9 shortly after it's announcement. September 17, 2009. Photo: Antje Bormann

I’m delighted to say that I’ll be running a series of workshops at the Leica Akademie in Mayfair, London. The workshop is called “Leica M9 Interactive” and is aimed at professional DSLR users and experienced DSLR enthusiasts who would like to experience what it’s like to handle and shoot with a Leica M9. Part of the complimentary three hour course will involve taking photographs on a Leica M9 and lens which will be loaned to you. You will be free to take home the pictures to peruse at your leisure and see what makes Leica’s lenses legendary.

Leica Store, Bruton Place, London. December 02, 2010. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

I’ll also be showing a range of my assignment work, commercial photography and also personal work, explaining why I chose the Leica M9 and answer any questions you may have about the system and how it can integrate within your current working setup.

CHECKING AVAILABILITY & HOW TO BOOK

For more details, dates and to make a booking, please visit The Leica Akademie website. When booking (by email or phone, details of which are on the Akademie website) you will need to specify “Leica M9 Interactive by Edmond Terakopian”. Hope to see you there!

A selection of images from one of the Leica Akademie M9 Interactive workshops in Mayfair, London. Photos: Anthony Upton