Hugo by Eric

Remember my very good friend Eric I told you about in my posts "On the Fifth" and "Only-In-New-York Portraits"? Well, he's into video... And here is a surprise gift he offered me, after a few days spent together before I left New York! I just could not keep it for myself! For those who don't know me, I am that guy with the hat on. Thanks Eric!

Ny FRiend © Eric Dumont - 2009

National Geographic Daily Dozen - 2

This is the third time I got a picture selected in the National Geographic Daily Dozen by NGM editor Susan Welchman! Today is for my picture "Sophie La Giraffe" that was part of my last post "In a Mood for Zoos". I now need your help to reach the final selection. So please vote for me! To do so, click here and then click on "Voting Machine". My picture will come at one point... please give it the grade you think it deserves!

In a Mood for Zoos

I am usually not at all into animal photography, but as we say in French, "une fois n'est pas coutume" (once is no habit). So yes, I am one of those guys who still go to zoos and who still get amazed to see hippos, giraffes, and zebras.

It happens once every three or four years, and usually after a tough party at night. I am sure you know what I mean, this kind of day on which you wake up with a big headache, asking to yourself: "What should I do today?". To be frank, the question yesterday was more "What am I capable of doing today?" Usually you think of laying on your couch watching something like the Tour de France on TV, a Formula 1 Grand Prix (but yesterday was Saturday, so no grand prix), or to the most, going to the movie. I must admit I did watch a bit of the Tour de France which helped me recover.

After that, don't ask me why, I felt in a mood for zoos so I went to the London Zoo in Regent's Park. The minute I arrived, rain started falling. And what do zoo owners do when it rains? They lock animals, so that you can either enjoy visiting the smelly and packed animal houses, or watch animals from outside! As my nose is a little itchy these days I chose option two, and took this quick shot of our friend "Sophie La Giraffe".

Sophie La Giraffe at the London Zoo © Hugo MARTIN - 2009

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Post Processing: Cropping

Red Dot Cameras

Red Dot Cameras is the kind of store... Sorry, the kind of boutique, in which I can spend hours.

Two Saturdays ago, I was walking back from the Magnum Print Room where I went for the Werner Bischof's Reluctant Photojournalist exhibition. Something I did not know though is that the Magnum Print Room only opens Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. So I finally arrived there after an hour of all-lines-are-closed-in-London-during-weekends kind of commute, noticed it was closed, got upset, and decided to head back west, BUT... on my way back, I did find Red Dot Cameras, "the UK's only exclusively LEICA store"! Now guess what... I went in!

The 40 square meters place is like a Leica camera: sober, discreet, and full of resources. As you enter, you will find various magazines on the table next to the sofa, such as LFI, as well as some flyers for diverse exhibitions, including - how ironic - the Werner Bischof's one. The sofa itself defines the spirit: don't rush, take your time, have a look, discuss... I am sure you could even have a cup of tea there! Then, as you go deeper in the store, you will find the perfect Leica library. At last, just a little bit further, you will find them: the LEICAs! New, Used, M, R, Screw-Mount, Lenses, Bodies, and Accessories, that you will even be able to try. So how could I resist? I tried the noctilux on my M8! Ah!

At last, Ivor and Elaine, the owners are not just sales persons. They are both Leica and photography experts, and they will kindly share their passion and advice with you.

As you may have noticed, I liked the experience, and I will go back for sure!

By the way, the address is 68 Old Street, London.

For more information, click here.

Back at Night

Saturday, 2AM in NY. Some get back home after a party, and others get back home after a party, but with their cameras. You will notice the picture is slightly out of focus... First, my friend Werner made me drink, and second, f/1.2 does not forgive you! 

Back at Night © Hugo MARTIN - 2009

Camera: Canon T90

Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.2 @ f/1.2

Film: Kodak Ektar 100

Post Processing: None

Last Shot from NY

Back in 2005, I shot the very first picture of my NY life, with a Canon T90 camera (click here to refresh your memory), and I somehow had to shoot my very last one with the same camera.

Taking some time on the East River Walk © Hugo MARTIN - 2009

Camera: Canon T90

Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.2 @ f/11

Film: Kodak Ektar 100

Post Processing: None

Camera Collector

In the crowded arcades of the Portobello Market this morning, I met an inspired and inspiring camera collector.

Portobello Market Camera Collector © Hugo MARTIN - 2009

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Post Processing: None

Monday Morning

Last Monday in New York! I shot that shot as I woke up this morning, souvenir of the last instants as a resident of this amazing city.

Monday Morning © Hugo Martin - 2009

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: B&W, Crop

The Hat is Back

What if the hat was in fashion again? Some do try hard to bring it back.

Man with a hat on Time Square © Hugo Martin - 2009

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Crop

Doorman at Crown Plaza

I am convinced that portrait photography can definitely be linked to street photography, so I am starting a portrait serie.

Doorman at Crown Plaza © Hugo Martin - 2009

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Crop

Close and Away

Saturday morning on Madison Avenue. Two men a few blocks away. One comes back from Citarella, the other does not.

Man on 30th Street © Hugo Martin - 2009

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Crop

Man on 34th Street © Hugo Martin - 2009

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Crop

Outside Westfield

Located at the edge of Shepherd's Bush in London, Westfield is one of the largest malls in Europe, where the professional shopper can fully enjoy the variety of stores from electronics to luxury clothing. I did not have the opportunity yet to shoot pictures inside the mall, but I shot a few outside of it, that certainly brings the consumer back to reality and concrete geometries.

Outside Westfield © Hugo Martin - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Crop

Snowy Day in NYC

Live from New York, I took this shot from my window few minutes ago.

Cab & Snow © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Crop

London Calling

I am pleased to announce that I am relocating from New York to London in now less than a month.  I actually just come back from a discovery weekend where I shot a couple pictures on the move.

City Crosswalk © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Crop

The Tube © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Crop

Brunch

How could I talk about New York without even talking about brunches? And here I am with a new idea of serie! These are two of the parties that took place at HK (39th Street and 9th Avenue) last Sunday. Great steak sandwich by the way...

Click on the pictures for better colors and contrasts.

HK Brunch ©  Martin - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4

Post Processing: Crop / Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

HK Brunch © Hugo Martin - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4

Post Processing: Crop / Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

Leica Introduction Walk

I know it's been two months since my last activity on this blog, but I had a physical condition that prevented me from moving my right arm, and as a side effect, that forbade me to shoot any picture! But it's almost fixed and I am back!

What a great day! I actually just come back from my post-brunch walk in Midtown and Chelsea, with my good friend Werner, who wanted to get introduced to film photography, and... to the Leica. He shot two films with my M6, and he won't admit it but I guess he was quite convinced. Hopefully the results will soon be posted in our new common blog (That's a scoop!).

So we decided to go to the Hells Kitchen Flea Market, on 39th Street and 9th Avenue, where he burnt his first roll in 10 minutes (yes, he's coming from digital...). At this point I got quite worried as I only brought 3 rolls for the afternoon! We got there by 2pm which was the perfect time, with strong light and high contrasts! The perfect time as well to test my new Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm lens with the M8 (for photo geeks, see the technical note "Why did I buy a 25mm lens???"). At the end, we walked down to CRC to develop the films (which was closed), and ended going to L&I, which actually provides an excellent service as well. Anyway, here are a few shots from this afternoon.

Click on the pictures for better colors and contrasts.

HK Flea Market 1 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

HK Flea Market 2 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

HK Flea Market 3 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

Penn Station Taxi 1 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

Penn Station Taxi 2 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

Penn Station Taxi 3 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0

Post Processing: Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

Technical Note: Why did I buy a 25mm lens???

As you may have noticed, my preferred focal length for street photography is 35mm. I have always paired my Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm with the M6, but when I attached it to the M8, due to the smaller size of the sensor (27mm x 18mm instead of 24mm x 36mm for a standard film), the focal length was multiplied by 1.33 (this is what we call crop factor). As a result, it almost became a 50mm, which was too narrow for me. So I decided to buy a wider lens, with two constraints: first was quality, second was budget (I heard times are tough). I read good reviews about the Color Skopar 25mm f/4.0, which happens to be 8 times cheaper than a Leica 24mm f/3.8, so I went for it. By the way, as I was not able to find this info anywere on the web, this lens does bring the 24mm framelines in the viewfinder.

Peace Walker

I know peace is here. 

If only I dared looking at it...

Peace Walker © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Post Processing: Contrast, Color and Brightness Adjustments

The Bear, The Warrior and The Buddha

There is an extraordinary place at the corner of Houston & Elizabeth St. called Billy's Antiques. May you want to furnish your loft with weird and uncommon stuff, this is the right place to go. When I went there yesterday, I found diverse MTA signs, some old Coke dispensers, religious and demoniac paintings, a jet ejection seat (ejected), one deer and one bear head, etc... Even Santa was for sale! This may be a store, it feels more like a museum or a haunted place!

So I took this one quick picture that should give you a preliminary taste. It could be a still life painting, but don't trust that, this is just an illusion. Look how the bear is looking at the warrior, himself looking at the buddha... Don't you think they have some kind of secrets together? Not only that actually, look at the Dom Perignon magnum bottles behind them! C'mon it's New York! I am pretty confident that these guys do party at night!

The Bear, The Warrior and The Buddha ⓒ Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8
Lens:Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5
Post Processing: None

The View

"The View" is quite an experience. Built at the penthouse of the Marriott Marquis Hotel, 48 stories above Time Square, this restaurant is actually the only revolving one in New York. This is for sure a very touristic place, cocktails may be the most expensive ones in New York (7 dollars entry fees + 16 dollars margarita + tax + tip = 28 dollars), but I guess that's the price to pay to enjoy "The View".

At The View ⓒ Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8
Lens: Voigtlander Heliar 15mm f/4.5
Post Processing: BW, Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

Life Photo Archives

I am very excited! This is just a small post to inform you that today, Time has allowed to make all pictures published into "Life" available on Google Image. This is simply one of the greatest database available to anyone interested in photojournalism.

Passionate Drivers

As I was at 5 Pointz, in Long Island City this morning, I met a group of guys coming for a very special photo shoot. No male or female model here, but definitely some crazy cars with tuned wheels, wings, suspensions, engine, etc... I was not here for the shoot itself, but for its preparation. Let the cars shine!

Passionate Drivers 1 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Heliar 15mm f/4.5

Post Processing: Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

Passionate Drivers 2 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Post Processing: Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

Passionate Drivers 3 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Post Processing: Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

Passionate Drivers 4 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M8

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Post Processing: Contrast and Brightness Adjustments

Colombus Day Parade

October 13th, 2008. New York celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Colombus' arrival in the Americas with a 3 hours long gigantic parade on Fifth Avenue: 35,000 marchers, 100 bands, dozens of police and fire trucks, and about one million spectators. This is the "the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture". I won't tell more about it, but you can find plenty of information on the Colombus Citizens Foundation website.

With that said, I happened to be on the Upper East Side for administrative purposes. As I headed out of the consulate - yes, my consulate was open on this holiday -, I heard the drums, trumpets, and other musical instruments echoing on Fifth Avenue. So I walked South bound and took a few shots.

FDNY Child © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Film: Kodak Ektachrome E200

Post Processing: None

Proud to be Italian © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Film: Kodak Ektachrome E200

Post Processing: None

USA Child © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Film: Kodak Ektachrome E200

Post Processing: None

Italian Rolls Royce © Hugo MARTIN - 2008 Camera: Leica M6 Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5 Film: Kodak Ektachrome E200 Post Processing: None

Gods Bless America

I just come back from California, where I was in vacation. I took about a thousand pictures that I still have to sort, but among them, I shot a serie of passerbies in Chinatown, San Francisco. Here is the first sample of the serie... There will be more to come soon!

San Francisco - Gods Bless America © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3

Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness and Color adjustments

My LX3 Review

It's been too long, I know... I have not given any news since August! Anyway, good news is: I'm back, this is a new post, and this is my hands-on review of my new point-and-shoot digital camera, the Panasonic DMC-LX3K (commonly nicknamed LX3).

I won't really go technical here, specs and reviews can be found almost everywhere, as almost everybody talk about it. Rather than that, I will discuss my feelings and impressions, illustrated with some of the pics I just shot in Coney Island, Brighton Beach and Williamsburg... Yes, this was a Brooklyn weekend...

Let it be light!

As I was packing my camera bag this Saturday, I decided to shoot B&W only. I took the M6 with two lenses (35mm and 15mm), and four rolls of Neopan 100. At last I took the Panasonic LX3 for its first session. And already a first impression: it is so light! The whole bag is the size of my DSLR alone... Last time I went to Coney Island, I had to carry my 30 pounds rolling case for two bodies, and four lenses. After a day, you can feel the difference!

My C1 Setting

So, I programed the camera for Center Weighted Metering / Dynamic B&W / RAW / ISO 400 and shot the whole day on that setting. Coming from film, I like and am used to shoot at fixed ISO (even if the camera also offers more high-tech functionalities such as a programable "Intelligent ISO"). So anyway, this setting revealed itself to be very flexible and polyvalent, as I shot low-light, indoor, outdoor, portrait, street scenes, and even macro with it.

Let's talk RAW!

The RAW format on the LX3 is great, and the photographer will really take advantage of it when using a RAW processing software... Indeed! I have used the one sold with the camera (Silkypix Developer Studio 3.0 SE) for noise, contrast and brightness correction, and am happy with it. However, there is one big drawback, as the Panasonic proprietary RAW format is not supported under Apple's Aperture 2 software yet. I guess it will be released in the next update. At least I hope!

16:9 = ∞

The camera allows to shoot 16:9 images which is a totally new format for me, as I am used to the 3:2 format of my rangefinder. So I have been testing this format and am quite pleased with the results. It opens a whole new range of possibilities to those who like panoramic pictures, even if this kind of crop can be done on post-processing. Of course, the camera offers the possibility to shoot 3:2 and 4:3 images.

Born to be Wide

Yes, 24mm is wide... not much too say here, except that even wide open at 24mm, I have not been shocked by vignetting or distortion...

Does it Meter?

I have not felt the need to use the aperture compensation functionality for any picture. The meter does the job and does it well! When using the Center Weighted Meter, the camera behaves like the M6... and I like that! Last but not least, the LX3 includes spot metering, which you can use for highly contrasted scenes! How nice!

From dawn till dusk

I won't tell you if LX3 images are noisy or not at ISO 3200. I have simply not used it. As I said, I have used ISO 400 all day long, and what was solicited in low-light conditions was the lens... a fast Leica Vario-Summicron f/2! I am glad to see that we can still rely on the lens rather than the sensor. I mean, I find the race against sensor sensibility (ISO) a little too superficial. Is ISO the new marketing tool used to sell, as the megapixel was before? Anyway, the lens is fast, wide and sharp!

Shake it if you dare!

That's actually the first time I have used such a thing so I don't know how other cameras behave, but shots at 1/20 at dusk are sharp. This is an excellent surprise as I was not expecting too much on that.

Let's see these shots!

Now I've said what I wanted to say, here are a few sample shots. Hope you'll enjoy. Comments are welcome! Please note that all pictures have been sized to 1200 * 675 pixel (original size is 3968 * 2232).


Coney Island Train Station - B68 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness


Coney Island - Empty Amusement Park © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness


Coney Island - Boardwalk Situation © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness


Coney Island - Beach Wedding © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness


Coney Island - Boardwalk Macro © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness


Coney Island - Tatiana View © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness


Coney Island - Mr Softee © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness


Coney Island - Fresh Market © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness


Greenpoint - Biker © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness


Williamsburg - House © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness


Williamsburg - On the Phone © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness

Williamsburg - Motorcycle © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Panasonic LX3 / Post Processing: Contrast, Brightness

At the MoMA

I am usually not the kind of person who goes to museums with my camera, but I happened to carry my recently bought Voigtlander Bessa R4M when I last went to the MoMa... So, Hey... I used it!

I used it, not to shoot pictures of pictures or paintings, but to shoot pictures of people. The rangefinder is definitely an excellent camera system to do that as there is no blind instants. You see what you shoot and you shoot what you see, which is not the case for a SLR / reflex (I don't want to go too technical right now, but for those who have questions or comments on that, don't hesitate to drop me a line and we'll discuss). Anyway, here is a selection of a few shots from my visit.

If you've read a few of my posts, I guess you don't discover that I like paradoxes and coincidences. Well, the first picture I took did capture both! Paradox being that none of the visitors look at the painting, and coincidence being that the character on the painting says "I don't care!"(...). I actually find the interaction between the desperate character and the uninterested visitor quite amusing and fascinating...

MoMA - I don't care © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Voigtlander R4M
Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5
Film: Fujifilm Neopan 100
Post Processing: None

Now... The main problem in museums is that there is never enough seats! Have a look on the second picture and tell me if I am wrong...

MoMA - Resting at the MoMA © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Voigtlander R4M

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Film: Fujifilm Neopan 100

Post Processing: None

Well, I actually did take one picture of painting, but I really love Jasper Johns, and had to place this picture somewhere on this post.

MoMa - Jasper Johns © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Voigtlander R4M
Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5
Film: Fujifilm Neopan 100

Post Processing: None

The intense-light corridor is definitely a huge experience for whoever likes Black and White photography. Light is so intense there that your eye cannot distinguish any color, but only contrasts! The fourth picture could have been taken in color, I doubt the result would have been very different.

MoMa - Light Corridor © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Voigtlander R4M
Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5
Film: Fujifilm Neopan 100

Post Processing: None

At last, I definitely recommend you take a coffee at Terrace 5 before leaving. The last picture transports you there. I really like this shot for the many stories it tells. Every group discuss about something different with a different attitude... By the way... Enjoy the view!

MoMa - Terrace 5 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Voigtlander R4M
Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5
Film: Fujifilm Neopan 100

Post Processing: None

On the Fifth

I told you about the "Only-In-New-York" vs. the "Obviously-In-New-York" portraits. I have presented an example of the first type, now is time for the second one!

When thinking about New York, you can't skip the Fifth... to me the most "complete" avenue of New York! Delimited South by the Washington Square Park and North by the Harlem River, it is at the heart of New York. From the NYU to the Upper East Side and East Harlem, it borders so many Luxury Stores (Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, etc.), so many Showroom Stores (Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Tiffany, Bulgari, etc.), so many icon buildings (The Empire State Building, The Rockefeller Center, The Saint Patrick Cathedral, The Flat Iron Building, etc.), and of course Central Park, the Museum Mile (The Met, The Guggenheim, etc.), etc. It is a residential, commercial, intellectual, urbanistic, and architectural world reference. Last but not least, it is also the most expensive street in the world (Forbes).

Anyway, with all that said, it is an avenue where you expect to find lots of traffic and a lot of persons. As for Eric, it was the avenue in the middle of which he decided to pose for a few souvenirs...

Zen on Fifth © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Film: Kodak 400 TX

Post Processing: None

Business on Fifth © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Film: Kodak 400 TX

Post Processing: None

Dreaming on Fifth © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5

Film: Kodak 400 TX

Post Processing: None

National Geographic Daily Dozen

This is the third time I submit a picture on the National Geographic Website (Daily Dozen) and second time I got one selected (by NGM editor Susan Welchman)! This time is for my picture "The Appointment" (that was part of my article "Usual Day in Coney Island") taken on Coney Island (Brighton Beach Boardwalk)! And this time, I need your help to reach the final selection. So please VOTE FOR ME (if you got the time, of course).

To do so, please click here and click on "Voting Machine". My picture will come at one point, and I need you to give it a 10! Let's make it happen! Thank you!

The Appointment © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Paradoxal NYC

Outside: a monster fire truck is accelerating

Inside: dancers are quietly listening to their instructor

Outside: sirens resound throughout the avenue

Inside: probably some classic or jazz music

Outside: 15 degrees (-10 Celsius), people wearing winter coats.

Inside: 70 degrees (~20 Celsius), dancers wearing light dance suits.

This is just an example of the many paradoxes we cross in NYC.

FYI, I attached the picture "Paradox #1" and two details of it.

Hugo MARTIN - 2008 - Paradox #1
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX
Post Processing: White Balance, Contrast, Brightness

Hugo MARTIN - 2008 - Paradox #1 (Detail)
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon Nikkon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX

Post Processing: White Balance, Contrast, Brightness

Hugo MARTIN - 2008 - Paradox #1 (Detail)
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX
Post Processing: White Balance, Contrast, Brightness

Usual Day in Coney Island

Back in March this year, I called my good friend Alex on a Thursday to organize a photo trip to Coney Island for the next Sunday. At the time I called him, spring was kind of showing up: mid-50's (~10 celcius degrees), bright sun, no clouds, no wind... the ideal weather! Three days later, when we actually took the trip, winter was back for good: 30 degrees (~0 celcius degrees) with a crazy windchill! Of course I should have known after 4 years... Winter is never ended before late April! But still, we decided to face it like warriors.

After 3 minutes on the boardwalk, my cheeks turned red (like I could not feel anything), my fingers froze (like I could not use the camera anymore). I was definitely not expecting to shoot much pictures or meet anybody there. I even thought about driving back and staying home. I was wrong...

I first met this old man, who chose not to face the Atlantic, but the empty amusement park.

Facing Little Odessa © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

I walked a little, and met the Coney Island "Polar Bears": the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States. The principle is quite simple, they go swimming into the Ocean exactly when you would not. The second picture shows one who just got out of the water. FYI, The person on the right is not one of them.

Two Bears © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

I walked a little more, and started to meet isolated people who were just enjoying or getting ready to enjoy the sun for a moment.

Only Enjoy The Sun #1 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Only Enjoy The Sun #2 © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Getting Ready for the Sun © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Until I found a huge group of persons, enjoying the sun, the ocean... and simply, life!

The Appointment © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

I guess I was wrong then... this day was a usual day in Coney Island.

Only-In-New-York Portraits

When Eric arrived from France for vacation, he totally challenged me... He asked me if I could shoot a few pictures of him that would be "Only-In-New-York" portraits without being "Obviously-In-New-York" ones. The difference may sound light but is actually what created the whole challenge. The same night, I started thinking: what place? what time? what camera?

The next day, most of my pictures were disappointing. Some of them were OK, such as the portraits of him seating in the middle of the 5th Avenue driveway, but I realized they were only Obviously-In-New-York ones. Definitely out of scope... Was Manhattan too obvious? This is actually the question that helped me, when I thought about my neighborhood: Greenpoint!

Greenpoint is a studio. It is a place where any kind of movies could be filmed. It is a place of paradoxes and contrasts, where residential meets industrial, and quietness meets the Studio B. It is the spot where I would try the "Only-In-New-York" shots the next day... The picture hereunder is one of them.

Waiting For You © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX
Post Processing: White Balance, Contrast, Brightness

Photographic Coincidences

I am fully convinced that a coincidence can happen when you truly want it to happen. 

Back on the first warm day of 2007, I was out, shooting some graffitis, tags and torn posters in Spanish Harlem. To be more precise, I was focusing on very small details of graffitis, tags, and torn posters... With my macro lens mounted on my camera (mounted on my tripod), I was shooting low iso and close aperture to get the most details. I realized I looked weird, when a few passerbies asked me what I was shooting at, posted 2 inches from the wall. 

Anyway, at one point, I decided to take a break, I sat on a stairway facing a yellow Kung Fu wall on the other side of the street. Interesting painting but that was it, there was no photographic interest at all to take a picture of it, "unless some guy in kimono had come to interact with the wall" I thought to myself... Well... He came!!! Again, this is New York, this is Spanish Harlem... HE CAME!!! I switched the macro lens for the wide angle, and shot!

Since then, how could I not believe in photographic coincidences?

Kung Fu © Hugo MARTIN - 2007

Camera: Nikon D70S

Lens: Nikon Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 AF

Post Processing: White Balance, Contrast, Brightness

Sidewalk 101

I was just kind of re-ordering my photo library on Aperture this morning, when I rediscovered some pictures I took back in 2006, that I thought I had lost in a hard drive accident! This kind of stuff used to happen so many times to me! Now all my work is backed-up on two dedicated drives!

Anyway, I found about 200 pictures, among which one I liked particularly that I just placed in my in-construction "Sidewalks" serie! It's called Baby Sidewalk or Sidewalk 101 (not to good at finding names...). I shot this picture in May 2006 on Broadway & one of the 90's. I have about 30 pictures of passerbies at this specific place, which is quite funny to watch, as every picture tells a different story, at a same location.

Sidewalk 101 © Hugo MARTIN - 2006

Camera: Nikon D70S

Lens: Nikon Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 AF

Post Processing: White Balance, Color Cast, Contrast, Brightness

Back on Slides

It had been a while since I had done color slides, but it feels so good to be back on the light table! Here is an extract of the first provia roll in 5 years that I shot over my weekend in Brooklyn. Just FYI, the last one is called "On my way to CRC". CRC is actually the place I go to for my film developments (it's been recommended by my mentor...). It is located at 20 West 22nd St, between Fifth and Sixth Ave.

At last, my only problem right now is my slide scanner, that seems to be dying (sharpness, color and contrast issues... is that enough?). Well I guess the next purchase will be a new one. Feel free to recommend one, but I guess, to what I have read, that the Nikon Coolscan V seems to perform really good for a very decent price.


Dumbo June Tag © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Leica M6
Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5
Film: Fujifilm Provia 100F
Post Processing: None


Don't Look Back © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Leica M6
Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5
Film: Fujifilm Provia 100F
Post Processing: None


B38 Bus © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Leica M6
Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5
Film: Fujifilm Provia 100F
Post Processing: None


On my way to CRC © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Leica M6
Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5
Film: Fujifilm Provia 100F
Post Processing: None

First Leica Shot

As introduced in a previous post, the Leica is a very intimidating camera. You know you are handling one of the best photographic tools ever created, and you can't really allow yourself to shoot just anything with it. This is the impression the M6 gave me when I first got it.

But, after a good 30 minutes with no shot, I realized that I did not buy it just to carry it, and decided to step the gap... This camera must live! So I stopped in front of a desert garage secured by a sleepy watchdog, and through the metal fence, I shot my first Leica picture. The time stopped during 1/125th second that felt so good!

Watchdog © Hugo MARTIN - 2008
Camera: Leica M6
Lens: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5
Film: Kodak 400 TX
Post Processing: None

Prayer on 23rd Street

The 23rd Street on Manhattan is one of the few crosstown streets, which means that a non-stop two-way traffic runs from river to river. It is the street that tourists use to come down the world-famous Flatiron building, at the cross-street of Broadway and Fifth. At last, this is the street on which five metro stations are located, from Park Avenue to 8th Avenue (one metro station per avenue block). No need to talk about the crosstown bus, you can already imagine the noise created by the traffic (East-to-West, West-to-East and North-to-South), tourists and locals.

This is not the quiet street where I usually find silence and serenity, but I was glad to discover that other people do, when I saw this lady praying on the sidewalk... Prayer is definitely more about the time than the place.

Prayer on 23rd © Hugo MARTIN - 2008

Camera: Nikon D200

Lens: Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-135mm

Post Processing: B&W, Contrast and Brightness Adjustment

New York Pizza

It was the end of a not so much inspiring photo session, when I got dazzled facing the East Village Pizza and Kebab restaurant, at the corner of 1st Avenue and 9th Street. Here is what I saw:

Pizza © Hugo MARTIN - 2006

Camera: Nikon D70S

Lens: Nikon 50mm f/1.8

Post Processing: B&W, Contrast and Brightness Adjustment

Now, before I update the post with an explanation on this picture (particularly the different plans), I would really enjoy to read your comments, thoughts and remarks. Feel free to speak, now is the time!

When a dream comes true

This was Friday the 13th when everything started... This may sound like the opening line of a scary story, but it's actually the one of my dream-come-true story.

I just came back from work Friday night when I decided to go browsing B&H, Adorama, and Pictureline... nothing much in mind, just looking, just dreaming in front of the LEICA products, as usual... And as usual, I tried to convince myself about the illusory non-superiority of these cameras before I closed my laptop and came back to earth.

But this day was special; a few minutes later I took back the computer and went on Craigslist, again, just looking... Yeah right... just hoping is more appropriate! In the Search box, I typed "Leica", and pressed Return... and here it was! Waiting just for me... A like-new pre-owned Leica M6 in my price range!

I directly contacted the seller, a very welcoming pro photographer who recently went to digital, in order to schedule a meeting, which happened this morning under the Brooklyn rain... And Yes! I bought my first Leica Camera!

Then, very intimidated by the camera itself, I faced a very concerning dilemma: "What picture will be good enough to be my first Leica-taken picture?", but this will be for another post...

Leica M6

Image Source: Wikipedia

The Place

I just offered myself a crazy present.  Well, it's not just a present, it's a whole experience. I have requested the professional skills and expertise of Duggal for the printing of Desert.

This may sound pretentious for an amateur photographer like me; I must say that prior to go there I have asked myself 20 times if I was worth it, if the picture itself was worth it, if the experts (that's how I call them) would look at me like "who's this amateur coming here?", etc. And now guess what? I just wonder why I did now get there sooner! This is the place I have been hoping for. No reason to be scared, only reasons to relax and enjoy... let the experts work.

I came in with my non-professional color film, and will soon go out with a 20x30'' luster-laminated sintra-mounted black&white matte RC print (I did not come to this specific configuration by myself but was helped by the experts... so many products, so many papers, so much choice on everything!). 

Actually, I went to see the print today, and am now waiting for it to be laminated and mounted... but WOW!!! This print is so NICE, SHARP, CONTRASTED, BALANCED... HUGE!!! I just can't think about anything else right now!

I am not sure I could now go anywhere else... and here we go again, I sound pretentious... But these guys truly have changed my vision of processing, developing and printing! They definitely have changed the way I look at my own pictures.  

Duggal is The Place

Image Source: Duggal

The Lucky Picture

Everyone should get a lucky picture:

• Lucky in a sense that the only reason why you carry your camera at this time is because you just went to buy new batteries and films across the street, after not having shot a single roll in three years.
• Lucky in a sense that your roommate suggests that you could send it to his brother who happens to be looking for some pictures of NYC, to publish in his art magazine (Gallery, Spain, August 2006).
• Lucky in a sense that this picture is the first one you exhibit in a gallery (French-NYC Exhibition, Gallery/Studio 173, New York, November 2006)
• Lucky in a sense that this picture is your one picture that finds a buyer.
• Lucky in a sense that this picture is selected in the National Geographics Daily Dozen (National Geographic Website, Daily Dozen, April 29th 2008)

Well... For all these reasons, and because this picture is the one that gets you back into photography, everyone should have a lucky picture.

"Desert" is my lucky picture.

Desert © Hugo MARTIN - 2005

Camera: Canon T90

Lens: Canon FD 20mm f/2.8

Film: Fuji Color Negative

Post Processing: B&W, Contrast and Brightness Adjustment

The Beginning

There are few events in my life that I don't want to forget. 

The day my parents offered me my first serious camera is one of these. I was 11, and the camera was a Canon Single Lens Reflex Camera, an EOS 1000F N with a 35-135mm lens. 

I remember everything: the room I was in, the smell of the polystyrene box, the blue instructions booklet, and my father explaining the concepts of aperture, depth of field and shutter speed. Well you have to understand that this was from far the new most precious thing I owned! So proud of it, I shined it after every use, before to put it back in my camera bag, that I hid under my bed... Just in case... Just in case someone would have wanted to steel it... Or... Just in case something had happened in my quiet neighborhood, I was ready... The only photo reporter on site!

The true reason why I had wished this camera was not because I wanted to take nice shots, but because of my dad! As far as I can remember, and still now, he's always sticked to the viewfinder of his camera. His passion was the reason of my motivation.

First, I did not really know what to expect from it... Well, to be honest, the biggest problem was that I did not have a clue on how to use it, but the few tips my dad taught me were enough to give me wings. I took pictures of my family, my friends, my cat, my dog, my house, and even my toys! This was so cool... Well, this was the beginning!

Welcome on my blog!

My First Serious Camera: Canon EOS 1000F N 

Image Source: Canon EOS Resources