Wyatt Ryan 3/29/20 Wyatt Ryan 3/29/20

COVID-19 and Some Goals pt. 2!!!

Today is the last day of working 14 days in a row straight, and I am so excited to get started on the goals I had outlined in my last post here. BUT - I completely forgot that I finally got my Leica back from being serviced. I sent the damn thing off in August of 2018, and got it in the mail on Thursday.

It’s a Leica M3 Double Stroke from 1958/1959, with a 90mm Elmarit f/2.8 attached. It’s a thing of pure beauty and I can’t wait to finally use it.

So, in addition to learning to shoot and edit videos, I’ll be typing up a short review of the camera after running a roll or two through it. My goal for a video will be something along the lines of shooting with the Leica, showing the use of the camera, followed by the process of developing, drying, and scanning the film, and finish off with the end product. I have absolutely no idea how to input photos into videos so it should be a very interesting week to say the least.

Until I get started on all of that, enjoy some photos of this late 1950’s feat of German engineering.

Shout out to the moron that carved a serial number into this.

Wyatt Ryan 8/22/19 Wyatt Ryan 8/22/19

Comfort Zone

Over the past few months, I’ve begun to realize how much I really love taking photos of people. Taking a photo of someone I know well makes the whole process incredibly easy, as they’re already relaxed. I’ve also realized that street photography (think candid moments of total strangers) terrifies the hell out of me. I’ve been working on it with some of my smaller point and shoots, and occasionally my medium format cameras, but the whole thing is a little nerve wracking.

Shot with the Bronica ETRsi, Sunny 16, self developed and scanned. Fuji PRO400H

Street photography requires quick actions to capture the moment, and typically the image becomes more powerful when the subject of the photograph is in some way interacting with you.

But, I’m an introvert, so interacting with total strangers is an absolute no-no for me. I’d much rather just sit back and wait for something to unfold in front of me. As I think shows in the photo below, it works sometimes.

Just sat and waited. Canon Sure Shot. Kodak Portra 400.

Another personality trait that I so graciously acquired, perfectionism. I hate failure, so if I don’t think I’ll succeed fully at something, I might quit at it halfway through just to avoid that failure. I’ve written about failure before, and also the benefits of recognizing those failures.

Performing in Madison, WI. Canon Sure Shot. Kodak Portra 400.

So to stick with the spirit of failing and pushing my personal boundaries, I’m going to give myself a challenge for the next thirty days. Take one portrait, of one stranger, each and every day. Just the thought of it makes me uncomfortable, which is exactly the reason I should, and need to do this. I’ve done weird little personal projects from time to time, but never anything so far out of my comfort zone.

It starts today, so expect to see another blog post pertaining to this one in about a month and a half. Until then, enjoy some more random photos :)