Leica Monochrom (M9M) in Budapest by Dan Bar

46 Comments

1. Hi! Your shots are really a style of your own. May I know if some of your pictures were enhanced by using photo editors like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom? Of course we all agreed that using photo editors on pictures does not meant one cannot achieved through natural lighting from the sun. It’s a personal choice. When I studied your shots, I thought it might be difficult to get those tones by natural lighting. Comments? Thanks.

2. Nice images and I do like the tones. I think you’ve lightened up a little, Dan.
   My only comment is that there’s nothing to distinguish these Budapest street scenes from any other place in the Western world.

3. Hi Dan. Love your photos. They are always inspirational to my creativity. May I ask why you sold your favourite M10? You always carry both M9M and M10 to your trips.

4. I love your photos. Congratulations !

5. ….as always excellent portfolio….thanks a lot …mat

6. Like you say, the darkness is intentional – a matter of taste. But this vision of daytime reminds me a solar eclipse I once experienced. For sure, it’s a unique atmosphere, but I wouldn’t want an eclipse to last indefinitely. But then, this is your expression, you don’t need to please folks like me! :^)

7. Something special in Leica cameras that makes you want to shoot this kind photography – classically beautiful. You almost undoubtedly can say that this was made with Leica.

   • Thank you

8. I’m not a street photography fan, but these, as always, are really good.

9. I like your photos, you have an identifiable style that is unique and interesting.

   But why do you feel the need to identify the city? Most of your photos could have been taken in any major European center. Coffee shops, concrete stairwells, and gritty apartment lobbies are quite similar throughout the EU.

   • Mr. Shadel,
     Why is it an issue for you that Mr. Bar identified the city in which the photographs were made? I think that noting the location is useful information.

     On a much more important matter: Great photos, Dan!
     Respectfully,
     Paul Sanders

     • Thank you Paul

     • Because the pictures all look the same as the other cities. When you see a title “Leica M9 in Budapest” and the photos all look like the last group from another city, what’s the point?

       I didn’t get a sense of what Budapest feels like, what makes it special, which I expected from the title.

       The pictures are very good though.

   • Thank you
     I guess you are right 🙂

10. Although I like some of the shots I have to agree with some comments about the darkness. For example, the 3rd shot. That beautiful woman holding her coffee. I would of lifted at least some shadow to highlight her gorgeous eyes and smile.

    • Thank you, it is a matter of taste I guess

    • The proper word would be “have”, as in “I would have”, not “I would of”. You can’t be a photo critic until you learn how to write.

11. Dan,
    I had the M9 and I had the MM 1, both had the sensor corrosion 🙁
    Now I upgraded to the MM 246 with the electronic finder – and I love it.
    My first Leica with perfect focus with all my lenses on f/1.4 or even f/0.95!

    • Great camera

12. The exposure…

    • What about it?

13. Dear Dan
    Using the M9M is always a winner ! This camera in the hands of great photographer like you produce gems , the photos from Budapest trip are great , regard darkness , I don’t see it too dark , the exposure is on spot with both vintage and mysterious characteristics !

    • Thank you very much Assaf

    • Thank you Assaf

    • Thanks Assaf 🙂

14. Dan, I think it probably takes some learning, acclimatization, whatever, to appreciate your “dark” photos, and then they can be seen as an art form in their own right. I don’t suppose I will ever have the chance to own an M9M, but I do sometimes experiment with my X-Vario in monochrome setting. People say to me, “But you can do that with processing”, and I think that is missing the point. One has to learn to see in B&W. I wonder if you agree?

    • Hi John
      Thank you. I certainly do, I owned the M9 , 240, M10 and always thought Shooting B\W should be done by a monochrome camera, just like B\W film camera. When I walk with my Mono I see things differently. I do hope you will be able to buy the Leica M one day, there is no other similar digital camera

    • Yes i agree. It is different

    • Thank you my friend
      I hope you will get one some day
      Yes shooting b/w is diferent just like shooting b/w film,
      I hope it will be seen as i already wrote a few answers

15. You know I am the one of whom always love your dark photographs. These are not exceptions. Beautiful. Congratulations!

    • Thank you Jinho

    • Thank you

16. The stunning results are magnificent! Yes, dark as i often think, the Former Eastern Empire of the Soviets is and was..After working with a Hungarian boss, i only learned one word in Hungarian! A difficult place and people..Picked up Italian in my photo work, Spanish living and working in Newport Beach-Laguna, So-Cal.
    The M9 with Kodak sensor the perfect choice. I purchased an “old” Nikon DSLR for similar/same sensor.
    Congrats Dan..

    • Thank you Jason

    • Dan – I get your photos. I love your work. Time will show that you had the courage to have your own voice against all the comments suggesting the photos were too dark. I noticed that you expose for the highlights – making sure they are not blown out – and then you let the shadows be what they have to be. And by doing that, it makes me focus on the brightest parts of the photo. Your most liked photos are when the brightest part of the photo is where the eye wants to go anyway. I feel like people express frustration with your style when they’d like to focus on something that is in the shadows but they are too dark to see any detail. But that’s what makes it art. Making people uncomfortable. So carry on. Don’t change a thing. Thanks for making the camera help us see the ordinary in an extraordinary way. Isn’t that what we are all after?

17. Budapest is almost invisible in your photos, a beat too dark?. I know that city, there is a lot to see there. … Thats your point of vew and is perfectly ok.

    • I know, you can hardley tell where i have been, sorry that is how i like it 🙂

      • No problem at all. Is just that Budapest is such a gorgeous city. But again, is your stile and is perfect as it is

        • 🙂

18. stunning, just stunning

    • Thank you very much Gandulf

19. Hi Dan

    I looked at your images and before I clicked I was asking myself, “I wonder if he always shoots dark or if he just always shares dark images”. You answer that

    I particularly enjoyed seeing 3, 7 and 13

    Thanks as always!

    • Thank you as always John 🙂

20. Your best shots by quite a margin. Hard sun and shadows suit your style best IMO. Budapest seems to be a great place for that kind of photography.
    I don’t get what needed calibration, the MM or the 50,1.4? And why?
    Greetings
    Michael

    • Half of my non calibrated 50 came out of focus

      • Falf of my non calibrated 50 came out of focus

Comments are closed.