OK, at very short notice I have been asked to fill a gap on a wall. A bit of history, we used to run from an office over The Café, Topsham so it’s a bit like returning home.
These photos are all taken with a modern Leica, the M9, using Leica lenses: a 28mm Summicron (Asph), a 50mm Summilux (Asph), or a (1962) 90mm Elmarit.
The Leica M9 is a small inconspicuous digital rangefinder camera, it doesn’t have autofocus, it has fairly simple centre weighted metering and it doesn’t do video. Launched in September 2009, the M9 marked the return for Leica rangefinders to what has recently become known as full frame or 35mm format. It shares a lineage that dates back to the first Leitz Camera prototype of 1913 designed by Oscar Barnack. Although a modern camera the M9 will work well with lenses from earlier ‘M’ (Meßsucher) series cameras dating back to 1954.
The 35mm format was almost an accident based on available movie film stock; in many ways it is a compromised platform for photography. However, intended as a ‘compact camera for landscape photography’ the Leica fulfils that purpose to this day.
These images – for me at least – are what photography used to be about and are also an expression of the original Leica ideal; the landscapes are both rural and urban and record travels including Topsham, Dartmoor, London, Paris, Switzerland, Lisbon and Palermo.
Opening Times
The Exhibition runs from 8th- 31st Aug 2013 at The Cafe, 76 Fore St, Topsham, Exeter, Devon EX3 0HQ 01392 877827
Thanks
Paul for offering the space.
Niche in Bristol and particularly Hannah for turning the images around so quickly.
David of Stable Art in Bodmin who was as ever upbeat, helpful and inspiring.
Karin for giving me the kick to do it.
Dad.