Portraiture
The eyes have it.
My approach to portraiture is to try to make the subject feel at home with the camera, have them relax, and focus the camera on their eyes. To me, the eyes convey a person’s essence. I like to shoot with the lens “wide open”, which lets in the most light but does limit the depth of field. The photo emphasizes the area on which I focus, and leaves the background blurred and out of focus. The Japanese word “bokeh” is used to describe this effect.
Why do I take portraits? I have a knack for disarming people, so it is easy for me to ask them to pose for their portrait. Perhaps it is the fact that a ‘real’ camera is involved, rather than an iPhone. Perhaps it is the fact that the camera “captures” them at a moment in time, and they will want to revisit that moment in the future.
How do I feel when I take their portrait? I feel great and those who take photos will understand that when I say “I am in the zone.” When I view the portraits again – as I am doing for this post – all sorts of memories come back as to the place, time and conditions of the shoot. I am flooded with the thoughts of my interactions with the subject, and the warmth with which we approached the shoot. I hope that my readers can feel some of what I am describing in the portraits below.
The Equipment
I have been taking people’s portraits since I started in earnest in 2017, when I purchased my Leica M10 and both a Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH and later a Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm f/2.0 Aspherical lens.
I especially like the M10 paired with the Summilux-M 50mm lens. I have also taken portraits with the Leica Q2, which has a fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH lens. Additionally, I have used the Leica SL series to take photos with SL-lenses, such as the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH.
More recently, I had a chance to try the SL2-S body with a Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH lens.
Santa Fe, New Mexico – Leica Society Spring 2018
I took several photos while in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the Leica Society’s Spring Shoot in 2018. I took these with an M10 and a Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH lens, with the aperture wide open at f/1.4.
I asked this young lady if I could take her photo and she agreed.
We were at the Plaza Restaurant on the Santa Fe Plaza. She told me she was from California, but I didn’t get her name.
I like her blond hair which is a bit out of focus and dreamy.
Leica M10 and Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH Lens
I met Robert Naranjo the same morning at the Plaza Restaurant on the Santa Fe Plaza. We talked about his Vietnam experiences and only when he gave me his name did I realize he is a Santa Clara potter and I have one of his pieces in my collection.
Leica M10 and Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH Lens
Tom is a friend and I asked him to pose for a portrait. We were in a small café situated in the Santa Fe Rail Yard next to the Santa Fe Market’s water reservoir. I think his eyes give us a glimpse into his soul.
Leica M10 and Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH Lens
I wandered into a hat store and asked this woman if I could take her portrait. Her smile is warm and captivating.
Leica M10 and Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH Lens
Leica Society International – Fall 2021 Meeting
I attended the Leica Society International meeting with my partner, Ronnie Beth Sauers, at Bellevue, Washington.
After the meeting, we visited friends at Vashon Island, Washington. I include two portraits shot with a Leica Q2.
It was a rainy day in Seattle, so we took a break at a café to dry out and warm up. Ronnie looks like an explorer here. She attended all the conference meetings with me, and we explored several great restaurants near the venue.
Leica Q2 with fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH Lens
Tom is a college classmate, so we have a long history together. Tom loves the sea and his house is right on the Puget Sound. When not on land, he is captaining his sailboat.
Leica Q2 with fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH Lens
Friends and Family
Here are some portraits of family and friends taken recently.
Zach is my nephew and we took this shot at an Afghan Restaurant in Washington, DC. He is a talented film maker and screenwriter.
Leica M10-R and Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH Lens
“Chats” is my friend and a fellow Leica enthusiast. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Leica Society International.
He receives and tests the latest Leica gear before it is available to the general public.
He wrote a wonderful review of the recently-released Leica M11 Monochrom. The images from that camera are stunning, especially in low-light conditions!
Leica M10-R and Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm f/2.0 Aspherical Lens
Leica Society International – Spring 2023 Meeting
I attended this meeting held in Teaneck, New Jersey. I borrowed a Leica SL-S body and a Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH lens. Here are a few photos I took.
Wilbur is a Santa Fe-based photographer and a Board Member of the Leica Society International. He likes to lead small groups on photo expeditions to far-off places such as Papua New Guinea and Africa.
I purchased one of Wilbur’s photos of the Ranchos de Taos Church, which he took in very low light.
Here is a link to his website.
Leica SL2-S and Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH lens
This was my first encounter with Sean, who is quite dapper in his various berets and capes.
Sean hails from Boston, and from the comments of other conference attendees, he is well known and liked.
Leica SL2-S and Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH lens
Final Thoughts
I will let the photos speak for themselves. Thank you for taking the time to view these portraits. Do you take portraits? If so, I would love to hear from you.
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My fav is is the one of Wilbur Norman. The area of “out of focus” around his whole head is very interesting and moves it even farther away from a portrait photo to an artistic piece. Well done!
I’ve been shooting as a hobby for decades now. Used to use a good ole Nikon F1 and Nikkor lenses. iPhones have sure simplified life for us part-timers. Look forward to seeing more of your portraits.