Seeing New Compositions With My Leica R4s and a longer focal length

[@LucyLumen]

My Guide To Help You Become A More Creative Photographer - Available Here www.lucylumen.com/shop/p/101-creative-strategies-guide-for-photographers

[@carlbirger]

“Focusing on one color” tip instantly sparked motivation in me, thank you! Restricting yourself and hone in on a specific subject/concept is so powerful in a lot of hobbies. Music/writing/painting/photography you name it

[@jessicatmo]

Lol, a Leica camera (the apparent thing some photographers think they need to be creative) on the cover. I was immediately curious... :v

[@josephlopez4735]

It worked! I clicked immediately 😅

[@LucyLumen]

Haha yes I can imagine this would make people curious 👀 as I’m known to not love Leica! This was me using the first tip as an example. And also you gotta make your thumbnail clickable otherwise your video will disappear basically - sad but true on YT! Hope you enjoyed Jessica and thank you for joining the live stream the other day! Xx

[@jolyonstone6696]

But that's not a Leica, that's just a great hunk of métal and glass with Leica on thé pentaprism! (A Leica doesn't have a pentaprism, at least not thé ones that I understand as being responsable for "Leica photography"). But any caméra will influence thé user and thé subject, just by its form and its capabilities. Lucy, have you used an M6? Your reaction might be different (no I don't use one but my first real camera was a cheap copy).

[@leeny1871]

Absolutely fantastic ideas Lucy ❤ Love watching your videos.

[@normandong4479]

Lucy, like others I have accumulated a small assembly of Nikon & Pentax cameras, and a Leica rangefinder too. Shooters may think they have run out of inspiration, but finding older parts (& architecture) of a town can give you unique shadows and texture. Photos done effectively should convey a mood or moment--we are painting w light to convey a mood and glimpse of life. Some of my better shots are catching side & back shots of people/students working on some project in a coffee shop. I too have a Leica M3 and it works very well for candid/street photos because the shutter is so quiet. Recently bought a 50mm Summicron lens that isn't scratched and beat. Looking forward to trying it under diff conditions. The history of camera makers can be special in itself. Giving tips and suggestions is always helpful. Travel further and travel abroad can also open vistas because you witness another culture too. Good advice and encouragement 👍

[@NPJensen]

Retracing your steps is really good advice. I do it all the time - to learn how the light acts/interacts with interesting subjects at different times of day and different seasons. Living in a place where the longest day of the year is about 17½ hours long while the shortest day is only about 7 hours as far as the sun goes, the light changes so much over the course of a year, it dramatically affects what's possible photography wise.

[@johnpalmer9839]

Before seeing this video I decided to sell my Leica M3. It may be considered by some to be the greatest camera ever, but I never enjoyed using it. (Mine was a 1955 model that I bought in 1976.) Thanks to its popularity, I made a tidy profit. As for my favorite camera, it's without a doubt my Minolta XE-7 which, interestingly, was the basis for the Leica R3. It's got just enough automation for me (aperture priority metering) and uses all of the lenses I'd bought since buying my first 35mm camera, a Minolta SR-T 101 in 1972. If I still had my own darkroom, I'd use it more often. I mainly shoot with an Olympus OM-D E-M10 II now, and although it produces good images and can be customized to my liking, it's not as satisfying as I wish.

[@AlainWilliam89]

Love this. I shoot on an XE-1 (which is just the European name for the American XE-7) and absolutely love it. Such a great camera, and glad to see you love it, too - I actually generally try to stick to Minolta gear now.

[@Grestock]

Great suggestions. I know you've said it before but it's also cool to be reminded that Lux does all the audio. That's amazing, too!

[@DritteHeinz]

Awesome! I've come up with some of these ideas too! I'm just waiting for spring to come now. Days are becoming more and more colorful in our grey at winter city fortunately, so I'm really looking forward to hang around and take pics in spring. Although it comes only around the middle of April here...

[@briannorwick]

Really nice photography examples!

[@LucyLumen]

Oh thank you 🙏🏻 I’m glad you liked the shots I got. Thanks for watching

[@Christopher_Ray]

Love this, Lucy. Just discovered your channel, and as someone who usually does Fuji content and is transitioning into more film content this year, your channel is an inspiration. Thanks so much!

[@LucyLumen]

Thank you so much lovely this is so nice to hear! Welcome to film Photography you have entered at an expensive time my friend! Haha 😂 it’s great though but hey fuji cams are also so much fun!

[@Christopher_Ray]

@@LucyLumen Haha, I’ve actually been shooting film for a long while, but it took the sidelines for a few years while I was focusing on video and digital work. But you’re absolutely correct - what a time to be getting into film with prices the way they are right now! 🫠 I saw you were getting into the X100, and those cameras are great too!

[@anta40]

I started learning film photography with a Minolta SLR. Eventually someone introduced me the Leica rangefinders, and it kinda affected me in a few ways: - No zoom lens. No 16-35mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm lens etc which is super handy for travelling or when you are just lazy to bring a bunch of primes. Want zoom? Walk closer. - Macro work is kinda pain in the a**. Rangefinders are typically not built for this purpose. - Really long lens (> 200m) which is useful for landscape or birding is also out of equation. Just stick with shorter primes, and zone focusing is your friend. So when I'm using any rangefinder, I have to happily work within its limitations. And that's why I still keep a few SLRs ready.

[@brineb58]

All great things to try!!! I have 100s of cameras and it's always a challenge to decide what film and camera combo to use!!! I do "projects" that are fun, like the Frugal Film Photography challenge (one came and one file for a year, one roll a month) also there is the 52 Frames thing that throws our a weekly theme (that actually got me using my digital cameras more) ... ultimately, just shoot and have fun!!! I do tend to take pictures around my town and revisit many locations with different cameras/films to make different views of the same thing!!!

[@daryllbphotography]

Videos are always packed full of value. Thank you!

[@CynthiaDerrick]

You have encouraged me to drag out my Belair X 6-12. I had high hopes when I snatched it up shortly after it came out, but I've only put one roll through it to date. Not sure what my issue is with it, whether it's just a bit bulky, or maybe a little intimidating, but whatever the reason, I'm pulling it out. I am determined to use it until I feel comfortable with it. Thanks for this video - great ideas!

[@qvarfoto]

Great video and awesome tips, Lucy. I especially like the second one with choosing a specific colour - gonna do that next time! Cheers

[@LucyLumen]

Thank you lovely! Yes I love using that one - I have so many photos of the colour red! Enjoy and thank you for watching

[@JohnnyCashavetes]

Often do something similar trying to correlate images with music. Whatever kick I'm on, try to make images that somehow feel the same. If I'm back on my bullshit listening to shoegaze again, go out on a rainy night with my least sharp lens and it's remarkable how I will shoot differently and how the two seem to work together.

[@LucyLumen]

Absolutely love this and totally relate! Music is such a source of inspo for me and whenever it rains I always put on the horrors second album or MBV! Thanks for watching lovely

[@mattgermond7957]

Brilliant Lucy! Love these! Perfect inspiration fix, thank you, especially retracing steps as I typically have my camera out on my commute to/from work 😊

[@LucyLumen]

Thank you Matt! ❤️📸🙏🏻

[@outtathyme5679]

Great tips! I love the color idea. And of course the music inspo

[@LucyLumen]

Thank you so much lovely! Music is such a game changer for me!

[@ginakitsuse2796]

Hello from California! I really enjoy your videos and pictures. I was wondering if that green bag is a camera bag? I love the color and was wondering where you got it. Thanks in advance :)

[@LucyLumen]

Hello Gina! Thank you I’m glad you enjoyed the video and my photos. This bag is made by an Australian brand called Radical Yes - they are amazing! They have a YT channel of their own actually and they ship worldwide too. This isn’t a camera bag though but they do a bigger size that would fit cameras…check them out I think they have a big sale on right now too!

[@camillelannevere9880]

What would be a nice is doing a sort of oblique strategies inspired card stack with these

[@LucyLumen]

I love Brian Eno’s oblique strategies so much and funnily enough these were inspired by them! I even reference it in the beginning of the guide too! I would love to get them done in a deck of cars it would be a lot more user friendly - need to look into how that could happen!

[@juliusmoller7009]

Another banger of a video, LL! Highly rate looking up and sticking with a subject - nothing like some architecture shots against the blue of a Brissy summer sky to make things pop on film

[@LucyLumen]

Thank you lovely! Yes gotta love this beautiful blue aussie sky!!! 🙌🏻

[@МихаилЛялин-р8г]

It's like Minolta XD and both are the ones of the best film cameras imho.

[@michaelsherck5099]

If changing cameras is too expensive for you, change lenses instead. Take one or two lenses you don't normally carry and use them for purposes you normally wouldn't think them suitable for: a long lens for architecture, for example, or a wide angle for portraits. If nothing else, you'll learn why certain focal lengths are considered poor choices for some subjects. Consider changing films. If you normally shoot color, try B&W for a month, or something like that.

[@LucyLumen]

Yes great suggestion! I love this. I did some street photography with a portrait lens and it taught me a lot about focal length etc. the last one you suggest is in my guide actually! Great minds! Thanks for watching

[@orestes1984]

Hmmm.... Thinks about collection.... I have a Mamiya Universal which is a hefty hunk of metal. It's not a camera I use much anymore as it's really clunky, heavy, has no prevantive measure to stop you taking a double exposure and it's a press camera... The lens is great but... However, it's type type of camera that urgh... I have a love hate relationship. I've taken some of my best photos with it, but its sat for years now because I have three different 35mm cameras now (one of which is half frame) and I almost always gravitate towards 35mm because it's just easier. While I love my Minolta A7 (throwing shade at Nikon and Canon fans) I think I might pick up my Japanese market Konica Autorex and shoot a roll of half frame on 50D. Getting through 72 shots on one camera seems like a real slog, but I'm sure I'll get something good out of it.

[@loui.e0241]

this was really useful and will be helpful thank you.

[@LucyLumen]

Thank you lovely!

[@Austinite333]

Like you I have many cameras to choose from. Now my Minolta XD is one of my favorites. This camera I read is the base Leica used for the R4. Unlike you I only shoot B&W film so of course the color is less important than is the tonality when analyzing a potential subject.

[@Bunnyisms]

I like to try to take at least 100 keepers out of a lens before I swap it with another one. Idk I don't always feel like swapping lenses

[@edmann2843]

35mm lens is probably the best because it matches what you eye is seeing.

[@Bunnyisms]

@@edmann2843 The most interesting though is forcing yourself to get 100 keepers with either a really really long lens or a fisheye. That really pushes your creativity sometimes

[@edmann2843]

@@Bunnyisms I can see that cupcake. I have old camera and lenses. have a 200mm that starts at 3.0, which is pretty good for that lens. Unless it's very bright son I would need to use a tripod for the stops I would want to use. I like 35mm because I can just walk around with it for random photo trips.

[@Bunnyisms]

@@edmann2843 I don't know what you shoot, but to me, f3 is a very fast lens already. The challenge is to go out and figure out how you can use that creatively. If you need to crack out the Delta 3200, then do it. I'm using a thread mount camera with a cloth shutter, and a lot of my lenses are slower than f3 and some start at f5.6 or f8. I just use really fast film if that is going to get me what I want or push my film in development. The changing perspective is going to be really challenging and make you have to stop and think outside the box. I have more than one 35, and that is my most "easy" focal length because I can already see the pictures before I take them. I know what aperture I need for the depth of field I want. But easy is not best. You have to push yourself and challenge yourself and try to be creative. Even a tripod can be a challenge and you can push yourself to get comfortable with using one. I saw someone the other day using a large format camera on the sidewalk with a big tripod and dark cloth. With a tripod, you have to force yourself to pick up and move and change your perspective. It's easy to leave the tripod on the same extension and use the same position for everything if you don't push yourself

[@edmann2843]

@@Bunnyisms All great points and tips! I have done all of these ideas over the past 30 years, and still shoot 3200 speed film 2-3 times a year (pain in the butt to develop though with the 75 degree requirement). I guess these days I like to walk around with prime lenses more. This does make you think about composition and moving yourself to right framing and light as well. Great conversation, thanks!

[@matthewwalls3505]

I one day. Would like to get a Leica camera just to try it.

[@suyaharleysan]

Thanks! Inspiring me!

[@marlajohnson810]

I’m sorry but suggesting women put on headphones, carry a camera and walk around the city, is just not a good idea. Sounds like fun but unfortunately not safe for females.

[@LucyLumen]

Obviously if it isn’t safe to do so where you live then I wouldn’t suggest it but here in Australia we are very lucky and it is quite safe for me to do that. I can’t possibly include every single different persons scenario in the video of exactly what would be appropriate for them. I did suggest listening to music to get inspired and this could be done safely at home, which is another option. I don’t want anyone to be unsafe just to enjoy photography the best way they can.

[@loochan325]

R4s is compact and has AE mode and even spot and exposure lock, along 5 metering modes. Sure 90 f2 or even 2.8 is bigger then a 50 f1.4 but that is not the camera fault, and sure 4s don't show times in viewfinder and that is pretty stupid ( 4 and 4sP/4s2 show the times).

[@LucyLumen]

Unfortunately none of the auto modes work because the lens is only a 2 cam version. Would be easier to use if it had full functionality but Leica lenses aren’t cheap!! It is the mod 2 version BTW.

[@GeraldFigal]

Your first suggestion is a good one. And also loathing Leicas….😊

[@MorningNapalm]

Purchased! :)

[@LucyLumen]

Thank you so much! I hope it helps to inspire and challenge you. Feel free to email me and let me know how it’s all going too 🙋🏻‍♀️🎞️📸👋🏻

[@jls2975]

I like your Leica shots a lot 😅

[@JasonLawrenceNoel]

Great video thank you.

[@LucyLumen]

Thank you for watching lovely x

[@nankurubiker1000]

Guapa !

[@tonyperez5360]

My tip for creativity is talking mushrooms 🍄🍄🍄 Or LSD

[@Old-School-Liberal]

The problem with film photographers is most take boring photos like this.These photos aren’t worth the film I might take these on an iPhone but not with a camera. Then they complain that film is too expensive. Take better photos don’t waste film.

[@canalfotografoamador605]

😲🙌

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

Music/headphones, please not. I love to hear sounds from the location. A distance woodpecker, carps that are mating, a street musician. I hate it when everyone is isolated with their headphones.

[@D.Trider]

Why the Leica loathing?

[@gianluca.2910]

Sei bellissima

[@B_dev]

Leica: guaranteed minimum 42% increase in personal snobbiness!

[@ashstubbings2603]

Subbed!😁

[@Tenskwatawa4U]

...and always something else to go broke over. And over.