leica m8 Archives - Page 2 of 3

A good habit

I’ve developed a good habit: when I’m on my phone, I always stop and stand, and I’ve firmly given up the bad habit of walking and looking. This change came from a big wake-up call. I tripped over an iron screw on the road, fell on all fours, and the phone flew out several meters away, which was quite a mess. Luckily, there was no one around at the time, which prevented the situation from becoming a bigger deal. I was lucky that I didn’t bring my camera that day, or it would have been a disaster. I was also lucky that there were no street photographers around, or it would have become another “accidental scenery” photo. It turns out that those missing warning stakes of the barricade screws are hidden in the daily invisible traps, always reminding us to walk when we need to be more vigilant.

Leica M8 with Summicron 35mm f2 v4 King of Bokeh (7-element)

Time itself is an artist

Vivian Maier captured a lot of portraits of people with a sense of the times, which made me realize that street photography doesn’t require a lot of compositional skills. Just take a picture of what you see and keep taking pictures of it. That approach will definitely be right. Because over time, even the most ordinary things can become unusual, and every person without expression can become meaningful. Time itself is an artist.

Capture the real face

In many cases, when the subject is aware that you’re taking pictures of him, he’ll often appear less relaxed. Only photographers who can blend in can capture the real face. Clearly, I’ve got this down pat. Haha.

Handshakes

I’ve been paying a lot of attention to handshakes lately, photographing them as I come across them, after all, they are one of the most obvious human interactions. You are limited by what you have.

Smile at the world

Don’t just ride your bike and forget to smile at the world! The world is always recording your every expression, so make sure it’s a happy one!

Street photography: life is a movie, and everyone is an improviser

Street photography is like an impromptu movie you watch for free in the real world. As you walk down the street, you see everyone as the star of their own story. The photographer captures all those little moments, like the way people move, what they look like, and the way they bump into each other. It’s as if the director never said “cut.” The drama of life has been captured on camera, and you are the audience and recorder.

You don’t need a script or an actor to rehearse because the most real and touching moments often happen in the most unconscious moments. People walking, talking, smiling, frowning, and every subtle change of expression and natural twist of the body are like the invisible director’s interpretation of their plot for you. All you need to do is stand back, use your own unique perspective and keen perception to capture those fleeting images, as if you were using someone else’s body to tell a colorful story of theirs and the world.

Street Photography: Capturing the Extraordinary in Everyday Life

As I’m taking the photo, I suddenly realize that I’m about to bump into a group of people on the other side of the street. There’s a moment of tension in the air as we both move towards each other. In the blink of an eye, I took the photo, capturing the moment when we were about to meet but had never really touched each other.

This photo isn’t just a clever blend of light and color. It’s also a subtle capture of emotions and stories. It goes beyond the everyday look of things and captures the subtle sense of distance between people and the unknown stories that are about to happen. In the picture, the pedestrian’s expression might be with a hint of surprise, a hint of a smile, or immersed in their own world of calm. These real and natural moments are the essence of the “street feeling.”

These photos can make you forget the photographer is even there. It’s as if these moments were already in the world, waiting to be discovered and recorded. There’s no posing or fancy sets—just the raw, unfiltered reality of life and the simplest ways people interact.

When people enjoy these photos, they often find themselves entering into the scene, imagining they’re the one walking on the road or the photographer who pressed the shutter. They can feel the sudden surprise and warmth of a chance encounter in a busy city. Sharing this “street feeling” isn’t just about looking at pictures. It’s about connecting with people on a deeper level. It’s a way to find a little bit of peace and comfort in the midst of a fast-paced modern life.

This kind of photography can often transcend time and space, creating a bridge between the photographer and the audience. It allows people to find beauty in the everyday.

Street photography: Capturing timeless moments

Strolling at my own pace, my mind is free to dance with the wind as my worries lightly encircle my brow, and the dust of my old photo albums flickers in a leisurely manner. Back then, the sun was so long and warm, and I used the streets and alleys as a canvas, my feet as a brush, and wandered happily through the veins of the city. This isn’t just a monologue of self-abandonment. It’s actually a tender capture of the eternal moment in the depths of the soul. It’s a profound dialogue about life, loneliness, and freedom.

In this free-spirited journey, every image holds a hidden tale, and each click of the shutter is a gentle nod to the passing of time. I’m not lost, but in this strange world, I’m using my camera as a boat to travel through the junction of the ordinary and the extraordinary. I’m looking for those fleeting moments that hit the heart!

Oh, self-abandonment! Oh, no! This is the most sincere embrace of life, a profound excavation of the immortal beauty in the daily minutiae. In the busy streets, I learned to listen to the wind’s soft whispers, capture the light sound of falling rain, so that my mind and the city resonate with the same frequency, and together weave a beautiful tapestry of time, space, and human nature.

As a result, those once seemingly meaningless scurrying turned into the courage to explore the unknown, which was really exciting! And the thick sorrow between my eyebrows was quietly transformed into the infinite yearning for beautiful things, which was a big step forward. Looking at old photos, I felt the warmth and emotion of the past, and it gave me strength and inspiration to keep going. Street photography is more than just a skill; it’s a way of life. It’s about embracing life’s endless possibilities with passion. On this journey of self-discovery, I’ve learned to find peace with myself and the world. And finally, between chaos and tranquility, I’ve found my own artistic home.

Leica 28mm f/2.8 ASPH Elmarit-M

Compact lens

It’s a compact Leica 28mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8, which is pretty large for a wide-angle lens. I hadn’t planned on buying this Elmarit lens, but then it came with a set of used cameras. The main advantage is its compactness, but the main disadvantage is that it lacks character compared to other lenses. In terms of quality and features, it’s not quite as good as the more expensive Summicron 28 f/2 ASPH. I like that lens a bit more.

Pretty Compact

However, the clear winner in the 28mm lens category is the Leica 28mm f/2.8 v1 (9-element lens). It offers top-notch imaging, a rich Schneider character, excellent craftsmanship, zero distortion, and great potential for appreciation. Plus, it’s the only symmetrical design lens in the Leica 28mm focal length.

The APS-H version is pretty compact, and for a 28mm lens, that’s one of the main perks. A lot of street photographers like to carry a 28mm lens with them all the time.

Even so, the Elmarit M28 2.8 ASPH is still a Leica lens with its own unique character, and many Leica users can still choose it. First, a new lens won’t have any defects, and second, it works well with digital cameras.

SN Start	SN End	Product	Year	Total
-3928917	unknown-	28mm f/2.8 ASPH Elmarit-M	2006	unknown
-3997682	3999025-	28mm f/2.8 ASPH Elmarit-M	2007	1,344+
-4005877	4007583-	28mm f/2.8 ASPH Elmarit-M	2008	1707+
~4037099	4043484-	28mm f/2.8 ASPH Elmarit-M	2009	6,386+
-4086805	4100089-	28mm f/2.8 ASPH Elmarit-M	2010	13,285+
-4118183	4136266-	28mm f/2.8 ASPH Elmarit-M	2011	18,084+
-unknown	4191851-	28mm f/2.8 ASPH Elmarit-M	2012	unknown
TOTAL	ASSIGNED	SERIAL NUMBERS	2006-current	unknown

This Elmarit is the most compact lens in the entire portfolio of Leica M-Lenses. This is made possible by the use of an aspherical lens element, which enables particularly compact lens construction and a weight of only 180 grams. 
Leica 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M Aspherical Lens - Rectangular Metal Lens Hood - Metal Lens Caps - Threaded Protection Ring
Focal length: 28.4mm
Aperture: f/2.8 to f/22
Camera Mount Type: Leica M
Angle of View: 75-degrees

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