All rights to this photograph is reserved the photographer
I once read an article about Grant Hamilton who shoots Polaroid to make it fair for the other photographers. He has a picture of a sign, where the tip of the arrow exactly touches the edge of the frame. I’ve always tried to find a subject where I could achieve this. So when I have been to the Grossmarkthalle in Munich to shoot there, I’ve managed to take this shot. I was very happy when I removed the film from the developing tank.
Taken on a sunny morning in Munich with a Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2.0 ASPH on Ilford Professional Delta 400, developed in Caffenol-C
Why I use a Leica:
I love using the extremes: I shoot digital to do HDR, I use Photomatix and Photoshop extensively with my digital pictures. I can only remember one picture that I used straight out of camera. It always annoyed me to that I didn’t shoot anything ‘useable’ with my DSLR, always wanting to post process it.
So I’ve decided to do the other extreme, go film and bought a Zorki rangefinder. I totally fell in love in how to operate a rangefinder. So easy to focus, set aperture and time. The shuttersound: Pure magic. The results: Straight of the camera pictures, that I all like. I use a Leica M6 which I have borrowed from a friend. I will need to save a lot of money to buy on for my own. I never leave the house without the Leica. I now shoot in B&W exclusively and self-develop in Caffenol-C. The Leica and Coffee. Pure obsession.
Dirk Essl lives and works in Munich, Germany and takes pictures everywhere he is. You’ll find more of his pictures on his Flickr photostream, or his personal web site where he shows some pictures and has a rarely updated technical blog.
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Nicely done.
Grant, I’m a bit bemused by Dirk’s comment that you “shoot Polaroid to make it fair for the other photographers”.
Do you become Superman if you pick up anything but a Polaroid? :-) Perhaps you (or Dirk) could enlighten me.
I needed some kind of handicap. For a while, I tried shooting with just one hand, then blindfolded. Ultimately, using a 35 year-old camera with expired film seemed the most fair thing to do. I also never use a tripod.