My New Camera
BC - Victoria - a passion, past cameras, & first photos
Fujifilm X 100 VI
I looked at the original Fujifilm X100 when it was released in 2010, but I had a Leica M9 at the time and still on a three-year tour of North America. Later after I stopped shooting on a regular basis, I would occasionally look at the latest version of the camera and consider it again.
Fujifilm created an amazing paired lens and sensor combination. The 23mm prime and 40MB CMOS APS sensor, give you a 35mm equivalent prime lens that makes for a perfect combination. It is well built and solid to hold. Though it is not a full frame sensor and would not be my choice for print photography, it is more than adequate for posting to the web and social media.
Over the years I enjoyed the challenge of a single focal length. With each camera there was a preferred focal length, that just felt right. The blend of influences between the size of the camera, the the aspect ratio of the frame (square or rectangle), the focal length of the lens, and the desired distance from the chosen subject created the āright feelā. Subjective at heart but common to many others.
Ansel Adams - 4x5 Wisner Field Camera
Henri Cartier-Bresson - 50mm Leica
Robert Capa - 50mm Contax
Diane Arbus - 80mm Rolleiflex
Robert Doisneau - 50mm Leica
Elliott Erwitt - 50mm Leica
Robert Frank - 50 mm Leica
Garry Winogrand - 28mm Leica
Irving Penn - 80mm Rolleiflex
Charlie Waite - 80mm Hasselblad
Alan Schaller - 24mm Leica Monochrom
The 35mm lens equivalent on the Fujifilm x100vi sits in the middle between my two favourite focal lengths 50mm and 24mm.
Photography as a Passion
I was fortunate to have a father who was as successful landscape photographer. Dad was lucky enough to have the military send him to California in the 50ās to study with Ansel Adams. There his early documentary work shifted toward landscape. He learned the Zone System from the Master, and I learned it from him. Some of my fondest memories were the three decades Dad and I travel together on many of his photo shoots for various assignments. In the end dad shot almost exclusively with a large format view camera. I was lucky to receive Dadās hand me downs, and started with gear nicer than most folks ever get to use.
Cameras From My Past
The following are my favourites over the years. The first two were given to me by my father and the rest I purchased.
Rolleiflex Twin Lens
This was my first camera. I like the quality of the images from the medium format 6x6cm / 2.25x2.25ā negative. I processed my black and white images in Dadās darkroom and was the year book photographer while in school. Made a little extra money on the side shooting portraits, but preferred travel and landscape photography.
Leica M3
This was my second and favourite camera of all time. The Leica M3 is a classic and I carried it everywhere. In those days we called street photography -ācasual photographyā. By the time I got to college, I was too distracted to do photography.
Hasselblad C 500
Before moving to Nova Scotia and traveling every year to Europe, my photography was often with Dad on his photo shoots out west. I got back into nature and landscape photography. Over the next few years I studied with Charlie Waite, John Shaw, Galen Rowell, and John Sexton. I graduated from the Leica to medium format Hasselblad under Waiteās influence and finally the large format Wisner camera under Sextonās. The Hasselblad system with its removable backs was a versatile camera, but lacked for landscape photography the necessary perspective and focus control of a large format view camera.
Wisner 4x5 Field View Camera
I was semi-retired and traveling all the time. Photo destinations were top of mind. The Rocky Mountains and the Desert Southwest were primary subjects.
Dad was carrying a Sinar Studio View Camera into the woods on a regular basis and I bought the Wisner Technical Field Camera, a favourite of Ansel Adams. Ron Wisner hand made these cameras in Marion, Massachusetts. I was lucky enough to have a workshop with him and learned how to use this wonderful camera. During this time I fell in love with the southwestern states. Dad and I traveled there every opportunity we could fine. As he got older his cameras got smaller and he finally returned to a Nikon F5 in his later years. I first visited Victoria with he and mom, celebrating there 50th wedding anniversary on a month long Crystal Cruise trip to Alaska.
It was our last long photo trip together, and we had a grand time. We skipped all the excursions and rented a vehicle at each port of call for an excursion into the wilds. From San Francisco, CA to Glacier Bay, AK we found stunning landscapes. Every time we got together afterwards, up to his death in 2020, we relived that trip in remembrance.
Leica M9 Digital
I bought the Leica M9 while Pamela and I were touring around North America in 2008-2010 and blogging about our travel. Unlike the Leica M3 the M9 was electronic and the endless menus were a bear to master. For all the technical perfection and beautiful photographs it produced, I never was able to fall in love with it. But I still love a Leica and I will one day own a Leica M11 Monochrom
I was happy to see that the new Leica M11 Monochrom simplified the interface to the bare essentials. It excels all others in precision, technical perfection, and dedicated B&W sensor. By removing the colour filter, the 80MB sensor now captures detail beyond belief. This will be my next new camera and probably my last.
An Overcast Day in Victoria
The following are the first photographs I took with the new Fujifilm X100VI.
First day with the new camera was overcast, threatening rain. Though Victoria has lovely blue skies and sunshine often, it is still beautiful even with stormy clouds overhead. mvPoem looks lovely at dock beneath the Empress Hotel. Peter from @Travels With Geordie did an amazing restoration and refit.
As you walk along Wharf Street toward the Bridge you will pass without noticing, as most do, a hidden courtyard. I have admired this intimate space ever since I first discovered in on a walk in 2022.
In the Pacific North West when you can not walk somewhere water taxis, ferries, and sea planes are the best way to get there.
Victoria Harbour is a mix of marinas: multi-million dollar yachts at the International , liveaboards at West Bay, real sailors at The Causway, working boats at Fishermanās, and everything else at Wharf St. The walking path circles the entire harbour and takes you along a serpentine path to every marina.
I look forward to getting a good photograph of the bridge when it is lifted. It looks like a sculpture.
One of the great joys of living in Victoria for a season is the architecture. The English feel and regal government buildings, like the Legislature in the first photo above. I love the little details like lamp post, urns, and cast iron man hole covers. Even the trees along the street have ornate cast iron grates to protect their roots.
Ice cream is a Canadian favourite. Year round in any town there is an ice cream shop. This is the best I found in Victoria.
What I am Reading and Watchingā¦
Ulrich, David (2018) Zen Camera - A daily practice in photography
Maloof, John (2011) Vivian Maier: Street Photographer - One of the all time great undiscovered in her lifetime photographers.
Tish - extraordinary documentary film on the life of Tish Murtha
Next post (every Sunday)
Thanks for update. Big hug to you and Keith. Send my best to all in the hood.
hi Lloyd
Thanks for the photos and a glimpse of your history. All the leaves are down in Martinās River and the snow birds ( people not real birds) are leaving! The bufflehead ducks are back to fish, and in another couple of weeks hunting season will be over and I can go back to wandering around the woods with my faithful Lola who will be 15 in March. We continue to build boats, finishing up a 21.5ā Norseboat this week and starting another. All the best for the late fall season, Pat