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Natural Glow magazine

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Natural GlowIt must be months since I last bought a photo magazine, and this is the first time I bought a Japanese one. I saw Natural Glow mentioned on the web somewhere and decided to check it out. It is a bi-monthly, well-printed and well-designed publication, completely dedicated to black-and-white photography.

There isn’t much talk – and no ads. Some intro from the editor and then it is mostly pictures plus some words from the featured photographer, who this time is Herbie Yamaguchi. In the end they feature what seem to be reader submissions, all very nicely done.

As for Yamaguchi, I have seen some books of him in the library and wasn’t too impressed. I changed my mind; I quite like his work, it is gentle and quiet, at least the more recent work. I am struggling with reading (and understanding) the Japanese a little, but I get the essence more or less. Leicas feature prominently in images and text. He mentions that he bought his first Leica when 32 years old, “felt deep love” and decided to “re-take” all his photographs with it. It seemed a revelation to him, and while I am aware that a lot of baggage comes with this camera – your first challenge is to rise above it, which is best done on your own -, I can completely relate to it as I had the same experience last year. Of course this is not the magic Leica touch, but just the consequence of finding an environment or tool that one feels entirely comfortable working with.

Well, too bad it is just a bi-monthly. I see if I can find some back issues, although the previous one featuring Henri Cartier-Bresson is already sold out. I was thinking of including the mag in the shop, but it seems too much work really. I think I will keep this one for myself.

By the way, I have noticed great increase in the number of visitors to this page. Surprising. I don’t know where y’all coming from, but I am surely happy to have you here – unless it is automated bots or similar, who knows?

Light Reading

Out with Carl Z.

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Zeiss Planar 2.0/50 ZM I went to Kashiwa today to try out the new lens and to have a look at the Bic Camera shop which has opened there this week.

I was contemplating about a new 50 for a while, since I had sold the 50/1.4 USM for the Canon which I used for Two Sundays a long time ago. So when I saw the new Zeiss in the shop after just having read about it in a magazine, even under list price and at the same price of a used Summicron and double of a used Hexanon, I thought “why not?”.

The lens handles very nicely indeed. Very solid build. 3rd stop clicks very smooth and quiet. The focus “bulge” is a very nice compromise for tab lovers -myself included- and haters. I also bought the hood, even though it is the 10th of the price of the lens itself, but it is metal and has a spring-action bayonet mechanism, so again “why not?”. I was pleased to notice that the lens cap can be put on and off while the shade is on, which is unusual. Good thinking on design.

The box comes with a thick instruction manual in all languages for the whole range of lenses. Fun to see the final QA inspection report in English and German, signed by a Japanese. I enjoy reading Zeiss and Made in Japan on those boxes somehow. This is how it should be – the best of all worlds. Warranty is covered by Cosina by the way, according to certificate.

Diversity is my motto for this year, by the way. Last year it was control. I always wanted to write something about that, but just thinking about how long that would take to explain always puts me off.

The Bic in Kashiwa is very big, taking over a large chunk of a part of the Sogo department store. It changes the Station Plaza completely, to my disappointment. It looks less interesting now, more standard suburban town than the eccentric Kashiwa I have grown to like so much to photograph. Especially since the plaza is my favourite turf and it is now very hard to keep the shop out of the picture. Fortunately I have plenty of material from the pre-Bic era to use. Even so, Kashiwa will always be Kashiwa and the countryside boys and girls are still cruising as they always have. I shot two rolls of APX 400 and was a little uncomfortable with the restricted angle of view when compared to my standard 35mm. After a while I had gotten used to it and realised the in frame/out of frame thing that everyone says about rangefinders. So let’s see what comes back from those.

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I like it RAW

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At FANCL, Takashimaya, Kashiwa
I was rather disappointed when I realised that despite supporting RAW file format in the latest version, iPhoto 5 does not read the pictures in RAW format off my Canon G2. See, I thought the file format depends on manufacturer, not camera model. So while the RAW files from other (read: more recent) Canon cameras are understood, the 3 year old G2 is not blessed with iPhoto support.

So much for my little retro journey into digital. Oh, and manual focus is really really terrible on it – first and last time I used it.

It also occurred to me that I am actually not anti-digital per se. I just don’t like the handling of most of the digital cameras out there when compared to a film rangefinder. And the idea of obsoleteness and dependency on somebody providing software is also not appealing.

This week I went to the used camera fair in Matsuya Ginza. It somehow left me cold. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mind set on the day. I popped over to the Apple store afterwards for a little browse and I realised that the camera show with their Leicas and all was full of old men, when life was buzzing down in the streets. Just a subjective impression.

Shop News

Instant Films, Natura S Black

Konica IR 750 film is no longer with us. On a recent order we had to inform the customer that one of the best-selling films, the Konica infra-red emulsion, is no longer available. While production was phased out back in 2004, stocks were still available up until February this year, but have finally depleted for good.

Meanwhile on popular demand we added an extensive set of Fuji instant peel-apart type film in pack format. Check out this impressive range of instant film with a wide choice in speeds and finish.

Lastly, Fuji released a black version of the Fuji Natura S camera.

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Personal Circumstances

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It’s been a while since I put out a series, and it has been a long time since I looked at 35mm film. I have to say, that from time to time I silently enjoy looking at my own pictures, especially when some time has passed since I took them. This is a good thing, I hope.

So while this is old material, taken in the course of last year, I have to confess that I really enjoy the directness of those photos. If large format has shown me anything then it is the appreciation of spontaneity. I have taken out the Leica last weekend and to my own surprise, ended up shooting almost two rolls without actually having had the intention. Which was a nice feeling.

With work giving me very little time indeed to do my photography, things are moving a lot slower right now. Those rolls, and some others, have not even been developed yet. But if large format has taught me anything, then it is to take your time and stop chasing after it.