Polarising Filters for Leica M Cameras
A brief review looking at three different options for polarising filters that can be used with Leica M series cameras.
State of Independence VIII
A further set of film photographs from the independence crisis here in Barcelona. As the struggle between the secessionists and the Spanish state has increased, protests both for and against independence have multiplied. These images were taken from five distinct events in the last ten days.
State of Independence VII
A further update and set of film images from the ongoing separatist crisis in Catalunya. On Tuesday, Carles Puigdemont refused to clarify whether or not the Catalan government had declared independence. As a result, the central government in Madrid has started proceedings under Article 155 of the Spanish constitution with the aim of restoring a
State of Independence VI
More film photographs from the continuing independence movement protests here in Barcelona. Following the white protest on Saturday, there has been a subsequent unity march through the city centre, and then a gathering to celebrate what was expected to be a formal declaration of independence for Catalunya. However, the secessionists were bitterly disappointed by President Puigdemont’s actual speech.
State of Independence V
More protest images from Barcelona as surging nationalism continues to polarise Catalunya and Spain, leading towards ever increasing tension. Shown here are images from street protests against police violence, and a protest calling for dialogue rather than confrontation between the two opposing political factions – one of the few politically neutral responses to the escalating violence and division.
State of Independence IV
A set of film photographs taken during the day of the independence referendum in Catalunya. The central government’s attempt to shutdown the referendum, which is illegal under Spanish constitutional law, failed after the regional Catalan police essentially refused to cooperate. As a result the Guardia Civil and Policía Nacional were used in a last minute attempt to close polling stations, resulting in hundreds of incidents of violence across the region as police battled with ordinary people. Despite this, only a handful of stations were closed. With a turnout of 42% […]
State of Independence III
Another set of black and white film images taken in the build up to the contested Catalan independence referendum and corresponding protests, this time showing a student demonstration in Plaça Universidad and the start of the occupation of polling stations in anticipation of a police lock-down.
State of Independence II
A second set of film images of the independence movement protests, this time taken outside of the Universidad de Barcelona. This event was very carefully orchestrated to try to portray Catalunya as if it was an oppressed nation under the control of a distant dictatorship in Madrid. Carnations were distributed as a deliberate reference to the 1975 Carnation Revolution in Portugal. The protest group also openly arranged to print and distribute ballot papers for the planned illegal referendum, openly challenging the Guardia Civil’s confiscation of ballot materials in the last week. Here […]
State of Independence I
A short set of film photographs taken at various demonstrations and protest points in Barcelona over the last week. These are the result of a proposed “independence” referendum being pushed through by the regional parliament against the wishes of the central government in Madrid. The result is a political disaster, creating ever deeper and more dangerous divides both internally in Catalunya and externally with Spain. So far the protests have largely been very peaceful, typically involving a few tens of thousands of people from diverse backgrounds. While there has been […]
Review: The Leica M typ 262
This is a user-review of the Leica M typ 262, based on one year of use with a mix of street, landscape and architectural photography.
Guggenheim Abstracts
We recently had a chance to visit the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. Aside from the exhibitions inside, the building itself is a masterpiece that was designed by the amazing American architect, Frank Gehry. The building is mostly known for its titanium cladding and twisted intersecting forms. These photographs were taken of the structure inside, deliberately abstracted to exclude as much texture and detail as possible to give an impression of the forms used. Architecture aside, the exhibits in the museum were excellent – and would justify a visit to Bilbao […]
Man Made
Trying something different this week, with a set of five (quasi) architectural images, again shot with the M7 and Ilford Delta 400. While the grain tends to add character to the street images, I am not sure that it works so well for these kinds of shots.
City Life II
Scenes from summer in Barcelona, shot on Ilford Delta 400 film with the M7 and 50mm C-Sonnar. The temperature and humidity here at the moment are completely unbearable – and half of the fridge has been taken over by film and chemicals to stop the heat spoiling them. Who needs food :-)
City Life
A selection of ordinary street scenes in Barcelona. It would be tempting to post about last week’s apalling terrorist attacks and subsequent far-right clashes. But the city will go on unperturbed, and ultimately that is the only riposte that matters. Lastly, for anyone interested in potential solutions to the problem of ISIS and similar groups (in which I include extremists such as the so-called alt-right movement), this New Scientist article on radicalisation is an excellent starting point. All images taken with the Leica M7 and Zeiss 50mm C-Sonnar on Ilford […]
The City and the Forest
A set of five images taken on a short hike through the Collserola from Can Cuiàs to San Cugat del Vallès. With the August heat and packed tourism, it is good to escape from Barcelona even if only for a few hours. All images shot with the Leica M7 and 50mm C-Sonnar on Ilford Delta 400.
Sant Martí
A short set of film images taken around the Glòries area of Sant Martí, Barcelona, and which form a coda to the previous piece about the Torre Glòries. Taken with the Leica M7, 50mm C-Sonnar and Ilford Delta 400.
Transient Eye 