Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park. Leica Monochrom and 35mm Summilux FLE. Hand held, an hour after sunset. Yes, the Blue Hour, as it is called. But still — never realized that a monochrome shot — not simply a Leica Monochrom shot — had this potential after the sun has set. Does make you wonder if some of those great Yosemite images by Ansel Adams (proper genuflection required) may have been shot at night… Wish we had the Lightroom skills to get rid of those trees in the way…
With apologies to Saul Bellow. Leica M, 35mm Summilux FLE.
Leica M, 50mm Noctilux
Did we mention there was a rodeo? So of course there were rodeo princesses.
Leica M, 50mm Noctilux
And did we mention there was pig wrestling? Who even knew such an event existed?
Leica M, 50mm APO-Summicron-Asph
But on a beautiful evening in the Tetons, the Teton County Fair rolled along for a second day, and provided more opportunities for wandering with a camera.
Leica M, 50mm APO-Summicron-Asph
Every once in a while you would find someone surprised to be photographed.
Leica M, 50mm APO-Summicron-Asph
But for as many people as there were surprised, there were others whom, one suspects, enjoyed being part of the drama.
Leica M, 50mm Noctilux
Leica M, 50mm Noctilux
It was a pretty great party.
Leica M, 50mm Noctilux
And as evening fell, the lighted byways of the fair made it seem as if the party would go late into the night.
Leica M, 35mm Summilux FLE
Almost to our favorite holiday, at least for picture taking. Washington, D.C. 2012. The previous one was Jackson, WY, 2009. Leica M9, 35mm Summilux FLE.
A reveler at last week’s Glover Park Day. Okay, maybe this guy was the reveler at last week’s Glover Park Day. (To be fair, the band was playing a Doobie Bros. song…) Leica M, 35mm Summilux FLE.
Leica M, 35mm Summilux.
With apologies to Peter Handke’s The Goalie’s Anxiety At The Penalty Kick. Can’t quite see the dunkee’s face, but worth clicking on the photo to see the detail. Leica M (typ-240), 35mm Summilux FLE. Glover Park Day, 2013.
Let’s hope not the hard way… Leica M (Typ-240), 35mm Summilux FLE.
If looks could kill… Leica Monochrom, 35mm Summilux FLE. At The Bishop’s Garden, where apparently finding a photographer around the corner wasn’t what the Russian woman expected.
In this country, we have the right to take a picture of anyone in a public space. There is the separate question of whether people want to have their picture taken, or what morally is your right to do with that picture. The latter question is something I grapple with all the time.
The photo above was taken in September 2012 near Washington’s Verizon Center. I submitted it in the Leica Store’s “D.C. As I See It” juried competition, and it was one of my photos chosen. About ten days ago, the Leica Store contacted me to say that, having heard his picture was up on their wall, Eric, the man depicted in the image, had come to the store, and that he really wanted to get a copy of it. After connecting with him, we agreed to meet on Friday on the Mall, where he was selling ice cream to tourists.
What a delight it was to meet him, a really nice guy, who seemed to genuinely enjoy getting copies of the photo taken of him. He said that while working near Union Station, someone told him his picture was up on the walls of the Leica Store, and he should go check it out. He said it made his day to see the picture. I can only tell you that giving him a copy made mine.
Tulip Frenzy 