Maurice Webster 04/09/2021 Maurice Webster 04/09/2021

Photography and me

I derive great enjoyment out of trying to capture the essence of what I see. Recording a moment or a feeling in a single frame is the main challenge and an essential part of my process.

As a child I was always happier being on the outside looking in rather than wanting to be in the limelight seeking attention. This has stayed with me into adulthood and whilst it could lead to the assumption that I am a misanthrope, the truth is, I am interested in people but I get as much, if not more, enjoyment observing others as I do interacting with them. It is this enjoyment of observing others which naturally led to a passion for images and film.

There are certain historical photographs which I think have transcended the art and made a strong and lasting impression on me over the years. There are too many to list but four that instantly come to my mind are; Steve McCurry’s “Afghan Girl”, Nic Ut’s “Napalm Girl”, John Rooney’s “Ali Standing over Liston” (or Neil Leifer’s version if you prefer colour) and Don McCullin’s “Near Checkpoint Charlie”.

I believe a truly great photograph captures a moment in time, provides the context of the situation and leaves the viewer wanting to know more. These four photos are very different in terms of genre and execution but what makes them memorable for me is that they all do this.

I dabbled with photography throughout my teens, 20’s, 30’s and 40’s usually reserving my image making for holidays and the occasional photoshoot of a significant event or day out. The introduction of digital photography began the journey to becoming a passionate hobbyist. Over the years, I have worked my way through countless point and shoot, DSLRs, mirrorless and rangefinders cameras, diminishing my bank balance and adding to my knowledge and ability along the way.

Having tried most genres of photography, I keep coming back to documentary/street as the one that provides me with the greatest enjoyment and satisfaction. That said, I will happily point my camera at anything that catches my eye.

New York City 2000 - Pentax P30t, 28-80mm

Findhorn Beach 2021 - Leica M Monochrom Typ 246, Summarit 50mm f.2.4

Today, my enjoyment of photography can be broken down into the following areas;

Gear

Put simply, I love gadgets and tech and therefore cameras.

From the humble Box Brownie to the feature packed wonders available today, cameras fascinate and seduce me in equal measure. The desire to look at the new cameras and lenses that come to market and then go down the upgrade or brand swap route continues unabated.

As with all hobbies there are also countless related accessories to add into the equation.

Today I own a ridiculous number of camera bags, straps, tripods and filters and yet I still look at new releases and periodically add to the collection.

There is no logic to justify this overt consumerism but for me, it is all part of the captivation of photography.

Process

It is not just about the final image.

Clearly photography without a photograph would make no sense. That said, the practise of creating the image gives me as much pleasure as the end result.

Photography provides an opportunity to travel, to visit new towns, cities and countryside, to interact with different people and to appreciate the way light can change what we see and how we see. As a photographer I find I am looking and seeing, taking in more of what is before me and therefore getting more out of the world around me.

I derive great enjoyment out of trying to capture the essence of what I see. Recording a moment or a feeling in a single frame is the main challenge and an essential part of my process.

When I am out with the camera I can remove myself from the everyday hassles and concerns of modern life and to use a cliche, be in the moment.

London 2021 - Leica M Monochrom Typ 246, Summilux 50mm f1.4

Images

Photographs provide a visual record of what has happened. They can be appreciated for the subject matter, the technical expertise or the emotion they engender. A photo perceived as great art by some is a snapshot to others, it doesn’t matter.

As Ansel Adams said “There are two people in every photograph: the photographer and the viewer”. As a photographer, if I am happy with the image that is the most important thing. If others like it, I view that as an added bonus.

The joy of holding a printed photograph is as strong today as it ever was. Whilst digital photography has brought countless benefits I still get greater satisfaction holding a print or book than viewing on a screen. My favourite photos are printed either as standalone prints or within books and viewing them evokes not only the memory of the place, moment and feelings but also the steps taken (both figuratively and literally) to achieve the shot.

Tokyo 2020 - Fujifilm X-Pro 3, XF 50mm f.2

Tokyo 2020 - Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 23mm f.2

Florence 2019 - Fujifilm X-T2, XF 23mm f.2

In conclusion, I am a photographer because I like observing people, travelling, capturing memories, documenting the world around me, challenging myself to create something and of course the gear!

Photography is a wonderful art, hobby and profession that has allowed humanity to capture great scenes, moments and emotions and ensure there is a visual record of tomorrow’s history. Being a small part of this is something I cherish.

Maurice Webster - September 2021

Maurice Webster 21/06/2021 Maurice Webster 21/06/2021

Why I bought a Leica M246 Monochrom

Instead of being distracted by colour my eye is drawn to subjects in the right light as well as by contrast and texture. This ultimately results in capturing more of the type of black and white images I enjoy.

I used to view digital Leica cameras as a classic example of style over substance. Surely this is a perfect example of a company developing a luxury brand on the back of their, admittedly wonderful, history and heritage. In a world of ever increasing sensors, rapidly improved autofocus and seemingly endless technical innovations to assist the photographer, to my mind Leica appeared to have fallen behind the likes of Canon, Nikon and Sony.

That being said, I have long admired the history of the company and the pride it takes to produce beautifully crafted cameras, upholding the long held belief that design and excellent craftsmanship are of paramount importance irrespective of the impact this will have on cost.

As a lover of mechanical watches, I fully understand why many can see no sense in spending thousands on such a watch when a mass produced quartz watch will perform the same function, in most cases be more accurate and usually have many more features. For me that misses the point. I am attracted to, and buy into, the history, precision engineering, design and finally the knowledge that my watches will still look and perform as well as they do today in decades to come. It is this aspect of my character that kept me interested in Leica and, despite my reservations, why I could never dismiss them completely.

Having made the transition from Nikon to Fujifilm and built up a collection of prime lenses I started to look for a fixed lens “grab and go” camera for those days when I wanted to have a camera on me but wasn’t actually going out to take photographs. The obvious choice at the time was the Fujifilm X100F but Leica was still an itch that needed scratching and the Leica Q was proving hard to ignore.

Eventually I followed my heart and made the investment in the Leica Q-P. It certainly was an investment, given that it cost more than 3 Fujifilm X100F cameras!

Within minutes of unboxing and taking a few test shots any doubts I had were cast aside and so began my Leica journey. When I hold a Leica the quality and attention to detail is immediately apparent and there is no doubt at all that this is a premium product. This is even before appreciating the images these cameras can produce.

I have been using my Leica Q-P alongside my Fujifilm equipment for 2 years and during this time, as with all Leica fan boys, it has resulted in an ongoing fascination with all things Leica.

The Leica M range has long been a bit of an anomaly in the world of modern digital cameras. A manual focus rangefinder with limited technical specs and significantly more expensive than many of the offerings from the other leading brands. Then there is the cost of Leica lenses to add to the equation. Given the success of these cameras I was interested to know why people happily spend thousands on a Leica M when you can get a higher resolution, feature packed camera for less money from any other manufacturer.

I was fortunate enough to borrow a M240 and subsequently a M10. Apart from my observations above regarding the feel of a Leica, what I immediately bought into was the change in user experience. When using a manual focus rangefinder I am forced to slow down, think more about the composition and what I want to capture. I accept this is as much to do with my ageing eyes as my unfamiliarity with the rangefinder!

With my Fuji X-Pro 3 I can walk the streets shooting all day and know that nearly all of the images will be in focus and perfectly exposed. Later, in Lightroom I can manipulate these files to my hearts content, changing the colour grading or converting to my favourite aesthetic of black and white. This knowledge inevitably leads to me overshooting with the result that I take thousands of photos which are technically sound but the end result is a small percentage of “keepers”.

What I find when using the Leica M is my approach to capturing moments is more considered. Also, there is the feeling that I am more connected to the camera and rather than taking photos I am making them. The end result is as much down to my input and abilities as the technical wizardry of the little box I am using. Essentially, it presents a different challenge for me as a photographer and therefore I enjoy the process even more and get greater satisfaction from the final image. I also take significantly less photos but the percentage of “keepers” increases significantly.

**Leica M246 Monochrom + 50mm Summarit F2.4**

Clearly this is not something that will appeal to everyone. If you are only interested in the final image and you prioritise a camera that will do a lot of “heavy lifting” for you over the user experience and process, I would suggest that a Leica M is not for you.

Having enjoyed using both the M240 and the M10 it was inevitable that I started thinking that a Leica M would be a welcome addition to the camera bag. Additionally, given that black and white photography is a passion of mine, the unique Monochrom came into consideration. This in itself raised the next question, does it really make sense to spend all that money on a camera that can only shoot black and white images?

My good fortune continued when I was able to borrow a M10 Monochrom for a few days. Having read countless articles and watched endless reviews on the benefits of a black and white sensor, I was curious to see if the images were significantly different and/or better than the images taken on the X-Pro 3, Leica Q-P, the Leica M240 and Leica M10 and converted into black and white in Lightroom.

From my perspective, the short answer is no. But that proved to be the wrong question for me.

I am able to create the look I want in Lightroom irrespective of the camera used. Whilst I agree there is a “Leica look” I would almost certainly be deluding myself that given a selection of images, I could say with a 100% accuracy which ones have been taken on a Leica Monochrom. What I have found with the Leica Monochrome is that the images taken require little or no post processing and therefore I can spend more time behind the camera rather than in front of the computer.

I have already mentioned the different user experience with a Leica M. To add to that, when using the Monochrom I find that knowing I can only capture black and white images has a significant impact when I am on the street. Instead of being distracted by colour my eye is drawn to subjects in the right light as well as by contrast and texture. This ultimately results in capturing more of the type of black and white images I enjoy.

The questions I realised I should have asked are; is the act of taking the photos more enjoyable; is it easier to achieve the desired look and probably most importantly, does it change the subjects I look for or notice, knowing I can only shoot in black and white? The answer to all of these is an emphatic yes.

Having returned the M10 Monochrom the decision was made to add to the camera bag, again! Budgetary constraints dictated that I opted for a used M246 Monochrom. Luckily I sourced a “like new” copy and for the last few months this camera and the 50mm Summarit F2.4 have been glued to my hand.

The purpose of this blog is not to convince the Leica sceptics that they should swap brands and seriously diminish their bank balance by purchasing what are unquestionably very expensive cameras and lenses. It is merely to explain why as both a photographer and someone who has a weakness for beautifully designed and manufactured products I have bought into the Leica world and happily fallen for the charms of the unique Leica Monochrom.

**Leica M 246 Monochrom + 50mm Summilux F1.4**

Thanks for reading and keep on enjoying your photography irrespective of what you shoot with.

June 2021