Hello everyone,

I recently traded my Leica R7 with some lenses for an M6 with summicron 35, summicron 50 en elmarit 90. I had the first film processed today (yes, one hour service...:-)) and I´d like to share some of the very first results. I know lots of things need to get better, and yes, never have your film processed by a one-hour service, but from the moment I had the M6 in my hands it was love at first sight. Therefore I am posting my first shots, a selection of the three different lenses I have. Comments and suggestions most welcome!

My son, first pic ever! Blossomming tree My father

-- Eric Kragtwijk (e.kragtwijk@hccnet.nl), April 05, 2002

Answers

Nice shots!

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), April 05, 2002.

Nice shots Eric. The one of your father is particularly good IMO.

-- Tim Franklin (tim_franklin@mac.com), April 05, 2002.

Eric

Well done and congratulations. Hopefully, for better and for worse! I like your shots, especially the expressions on yout son's and grandfather's faces, almost identical. What I mean is that your son has a mature look on his face. One of unique experience, especially considering ihs age.

Getting the most out of your subjects isn't an easy thing to do, sometimes more difficult with family and friends. You obviosuly have the touch.

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), April 05, 2002.

To add to Phil Stiles comments on photo.net, in the photo of your son it looks to me like you fell into a common M trap. My guess is that you focused on his eye and then pushed the button. That's what accounts for the dead space at the top of the frame and the near dead center framing of his eyes. Focus and quickly recompose. A slight shift down would have gotten rid of the distracting white window frame at the top.

-- Keith Davis (leica4ever@yahoo.com), April 05, 2002.

Pretty good.

The picture of your son is a really nice snap; perhaps not the framing though. The one of your father is a good portrait IMO. The tree picture, well if anything the corner to corner Leica sharpness grants it a 'walk right in' feel to me. Which is extra nice when I don't know exactly what motive to look for in the picture... :^)

Now, go out and recompose the first shot! :)

Cheers

-- Thomas Lofqvist (thomas.lofqvist@brevlada.com), April 06, 2002.

Hello Eric.Nice,natural family pics.I also like the composition in your landscape. Regards.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), April 06, 2002.

Nice shots. Your father's shot is really special and not because he has just come oou of a hospital. I hope he is doing well. I don't agree with the people who think you should have cropped closer on your son. As it is, it gives the photo a sense of place. Enjoy your photography.

-- (akkirman@clear.net.nz), April 06, 2002.

Nice work. I would say disregard Phil Stiles comment re: adding a reflector. The light on his face is lovely and adds certain intimacy that a reflector would have killed.

-- Steve Wiley (wiley@accesshub.net), April 06, 2002.

Thank you all for taking the time to look at my pictures. I hope to learn a lot from the comments made and I´ll keep posting pictures in the future.

-- Eric Kragtwijk (e.kragtwijk@hccnet.nl), April 06, 2002.