Abandoned works in Selby with Leica M8

Today I took a trip out to Selby Abbey to view the annual Selby Camera Club Exhibition.
I've not had recourse to go to Selby for quite a long time and it seems as if part the BOCM works is being demolished.
I had with me my Leica M8 and stopped on the way home to explore some of the old works that were open.

As usual processed in LR.

Leica M8 Cosina/Voigtlander 15mm

Leica M8 Leica Elmarit v3 28mm

Leica M8 Leica Elmarit v3 28mm

Leica M8 Leica Elmarit v3 28mm

Leica M8 Leica Elmarit v3 28mm

Leica M8 Leica Elmarit v3 28mm

Leica M8 Leica Elmarit v3 28mm

Leica M8 Cosina/Voigtlander 15mm

Leica M8 Leica Elmarit v3 28mm

Leica M8 Leica Elmarit v3 28mm

More DSLR GURU Lightroom presets

I've been playing around with some more LR DSLR GURU presets, I think they are pretty impressive.

Olympus EP-L1 14 - 42mm Straw Dogs preset

Canon 5D2 24 - 70mm DSLR GURU X-process preset

Canon 5D2 24 - 70mm  GURU X-process preset

York Cemetery

I recently spent a pleasant morning viewing a friends photos and generally chatting about photography. Among the sets of photos we looked at was one he had taken of an old cemetery near Bexhill.
This reminded me that I'd had a couple of visits to the York Cemetary.
When I got home I went through the photos and picked some out. I gave them a quick whizz through LR and I'm quite pleased with the resulting images.
When I first took these photos I wasn't that pleased with them but looking at them again nearly 2 years after the first set was shot I looked at them with fresh eyes so it just goes to reinforce that you should never delete photos.
All photos taken with Olympus PEN EP-L1 with Zuiko14-42mm and Zuiko 11-22mm.

Lightroom Processing with DSLR GURU Presets

I've been processing some images in LR using the DSLR GURU presets pack.

Olympus E-PL1/Zuiko 14-42mm. Sin City preset after levels adjustment in LR

Canon 5D2/Canon 24-70. Landscape +skies preset after levels adjustment in LR

Leica M8/Elmarit 28mm v3. Landscape B+W  preset after levels adjustment in LR

Leica M8/Elmarit 28mm v3. Sin City preset after levels adjustment in LR

Leica M8/Elmarit 28mm v3. Landscape preset after levels adjustment in LR

From the above examples it can be seen that the Sin City preset mutes all colours except  red/brown which it de-saturates along with the contrast boost it applies. I like the effect of this preset a lot.
I've just had a look at the DSLR GURU web page and its displaying the following message:

                 DSLR GURU PRO FX PACK is discontinued.
SUPERSIZE is still in development.

Software architect Darius (Jack) Jakinowski has been released by the company.
His role will be replaced in the interim by new personnel.

We will update you on new developments as and when available.

So I reckon that is the end of that! glad I bought it when it was introduced at a discount price.

                

Leica M8 vs Canon 5D2

Personally I don't like comparisons like the title of this post, these two cameras are very different, however I have noticed that titles like this generate more traffic, so it is a cynical attempt by me to try to increase visits to this site.

That said it is a sort of comparison but not a very technical one or very accurate, it is simply that I happened to have both my Leica M8 and Canon 5D2 with me.

I think both cameras did a very good job. IR filters on the Leica. Processed in LR as usual.

Leica M8 Voigtlander 15mm

Leica M8 Voigtlander 15mm

Leica M8 Voigtlander 15mm

Leica M8 Voigtlander 15mm

Canon 5D2 24-70mm EF

Leica M8 Elmarit 28mm v3

Leica M8 Voigtlander 15mm

Canon 5D2 24-70mm EF

York Northern Pride 2012

I was wandering around York while my wife had her hair cut, as I strolled past York Minster I noticed a larger than usual crowd outside.
It turned out that it was York Northern Pride 2012, I had with me my Leica M8 so took the opportunity to take a few shots. 
Processed in Lightroom, some cropping and levels adjustment but not much else.
I used the Elmarit 28mm for most of these, a couple were shot on the Voightlander 15mm.

Those those of you who are interested, the photo above is cropped from the original dng file. When I view the original dng at 100% I can read the newsprint on the front page. remember that the Leica M8 is "only" 10Mp

Nudes with an Olympus CZ3040

When I decided to get rid of my 35mm film equipment DSLR's were hideously expensive and in their infancy. I also fancied something a bit more portable.
I chose the Olympus CZ3040, which at the time was getting very favourable press. To think that this 3.3MP camera cost £700 is mind boggling nowadays!
I still have it, and use it mostly these days for taking photos of any stuff I sell on eBay, the zoom and built in flash are handy for this.
Before it was relegated to this and prior to my purchase of my first DSLR an Olympus E330, I took some nudes.

I really like these and they work well despite being taken on a low res camera. I did a few more sessions like this with the same model and camera and even sold a few prints of a photo from the first session we did.