lennox_mcdough's photostream  

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About Critiquing Photos

I'm absolutely not into writing always shit like "Nice tones" oder "Great photo". I'm not here to make everyone feel flattered. When I write something like that, I do it because the photo might appeal to me, but there is nothing (obvious) to citizise. But I also write things like "I would have cropped this there..." or "A little bit dark". That does not mean, that it has to be this way; it only means, that this would be a way how the photo would probably appeal even more to me.
And I do not comment photos, which I don' t like a little bit.

About Licensing Photos

All my photos are licensed by the Creative Commons cc-by-nc-nd. That means, that everyone who wants to use the photo for her or his own blog or website can use it, as long as the website itself does not follow any commercial interests. Furthermore the picture must not be changed or altered in any way (crop or change to b&w).

About me

I'm not a professional photographer, my profession is chemistry and engineering. My hobby is photography, so: I would rather call myself serious or dedicated photographer than professional one; both in terms of money and skill

There is not much what I can say about photography without sounding like a know-it-all. It took me a couple of years to realize that photography is more to me than taking snapshots and family memories. Maybe in the beginning it was like that, but then it became one of my most important spare time occupations. It is a hobby, in which I can be creative and while doing that I can relax from a hard day at work just being alone by myself with my camera.

You know, sometime you hear people asking you something like "Is this your camera? Ah. So, a SLR?", predicating a professional status by your equipment. And no, I do not agree with this attitude. I moved from modern digital equipment to old analog cameras, shooting film. If you do so you will realize that disclaiming features like autofocus and exposure metering makes you more aware of your motive, the mood of the scenery and of the whole process of taking a photo. Thinking about every photo for at least minute is important. Basically the deliberate consideration which aperture to choose will give you a big improvement on your hobby. And there is a lot to learn. There is still so much I want to try in photography and much I want to archieve.
Now, go and look at my photostream. Or don't. Take a look at all of my photos at once. Or just peek at the first ones day by day. Sometimes I tell stories about my life. Sometimes they are just about glimpes, things I've seen when life passes by. And if you take photos yourself, take a shot look.
And then go out and take photos for yourself. We never have enough time for that. So do it for me, I barely have time for it.

You can also find me on facebook or add my Google Friend Profile. Some more sites I use are imdb, www.lastfm.de/user/lennox_mcdough and vimeo.

Recently I got a Mail by someone who asked me if I want to swank with the list below. No, I do not. This list is a help for me, comparing the film rolls I've shot. And there is something I also want to show: That you can still take decent shot using old film cameras. Go on, take a look at it.

Currently in use

Cameras
  Canon EOS 5
  Leica R3
  Leica R7
  Rhaco folding camera
  Rollei Rolleiflex 6008 Professional
  Mamiya 6
  Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lenses
  Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2,8 PQ HFT
  EF 28mm f/1.8 USM
  EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
  EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
  Mamiya G 75mm f/3.5 L
  Leica 19mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R
  Leica 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R (once tested)
  Leica 35mm f/4 Curtagon PA
  Leica 60mm f/2.8 Macro Elmarit-R
  Leica 35-70mm f/3.5 Vario Elmar-R
  Leica 75-200mm f/4.5 Vario Elmar-R
  Leica 500mm f/8 MR Telyt-R

This is my "current lineup". I have used other equipment on my way to my current setup, but this is probably the best I can have. I mean, that I do not own the most expensive, dedicated gear like a f/2.8 telezoom lens. I own the equipment I really use and I am used to use, which is simply best for me. I simply know the angles of view of a 50mm and a 85mm lens, and these angles are the angles I normally percieve my environment. You can go and buy any kind of digital camera - forget about the brand. More important is the choice of lens. I bought lenses because I thought I would need them. For example: It turned out, that I almost never used my ultra-wide. Nowadays I only still own a wide lens (28mm) because of the the day will come, when I need a wide angle lens feeling. I almost never take it for a photo walk with me, it is not the lens I like to work with.
I think you have to seperate yourself from the shared photos. I was so stunned by all the color- and beautiful ultra wide landscape shots and I always wanted to do the same. I never succeded in that, and after some time I realized why: Because I never used it ultra-wide, I always zoomed in. It is not the way I see the world.
So that is, what I would recommend. Look at pictures of others. At stunning landscape shots, at beautiful animal photos - but be honest to yourself and try to find out, what you use. And stick to that. It took me quite a long time to realize that.

I also used mobile phones for photography, but never for dedicated photos (if you wanna call it that way) but rather for the occasional snapshot. You can find some here, as example from a Nokia N91, LG U8130, LG U310, Nokia 6600 and a HTC Desire.

Used and sold or only tested

Cameras
  Minox Riga
  Minolta Pocket Autopak 50
  Voiglaender Bessamatic Deluxe
  Zeiss Ikon Contaflex IV
  Olympus Compact
  Canon A-1
  Canon AE-1
  Zenith TTL
  Canon T-50
  Fuji GA 645 Professional
  Rollei Rolleicord III - Model K3B
  Canon IXUS v2
  Canon IXUS 40
  Canon IXUS 400
  Canon IXUS 500
  Canon IXUS 850 IS
  Canon IXUS 900 Ti
  Canon Powershot G10
  Canon EOS 450D
Lenses
  Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
  Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
  Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
  Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM
  Canon FD 28mm f/2.8
  Canon FD 50mm f/1.8
  Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
  Tamron SP AF 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II LD Aspherical [IF]
  Voigtlaender Skoparex 35mm f/3.4
  Voigtlaender Dynarex 90mm f/3.4
  Voigtlaender Super Dynarex 135mm f/4.0

Photographic Films

AGFA
  Agfapan APX 100 (b&w 100 ASA, cgr, tec)
  Agfapan APX 400 (b&w 400 ASA, cgr, tec)
FUJI
  Neopan Acros 100 (b&w 100 ASA, tgr, tec)
  Pro 160S (neg 160 ASA, tec)
  Pro 160C (neg 160 ASA, tec)
  Pro 400H (neg 400 ASA, tec)
  Provia 100F (sli 100 ASA, tec)
  Provia 400X (sli 400 ASA, tec)
  (Superia) Reala 100 (neg 100 ASA, tec)
  Sensia 100 (sli 100 ASA, tec)
  Velvia 50 (sli 50 ASA, tec)
ILFORD
  Delta 400 (b&w 400 ASA, tgr, tec)
  Pan F Plus (b&w 50 ASA, cgr, tec)
  FP4 Plus (b&w 125 ASA, cgr, tec)
  HP5 Plus (b&w 400 ASA, cgr, tec)
  XP2 Super (b&w C-41 400 ASA, tec)
KODAK Professional
  BW400CN (b&w C-41 400 ASA, tec)
  ELITE Chrome 100 (sli 100 ASA, tec)
  Ektar 100 (neg 100 ASA, tec)
  Ektarchrome E100G (sli 100 ASA, tec)
  Ektarchrome E100VS (sli 100 ASA, tec)
  Portra 160 (NEW) (neg 160 ASA, tec)
  Portra 160 NC (neg 160 ASA, tec)
  Portra 160 VC (neg 160 ASA, tec)
  Portra 400 VC (neg 400 ASA, tec)
  Portra 800 (neg 800 ASA, tec)
  Tmax 100 (b&w 100 ASA, tgr, tec)
  Tmax 400 (b&w 400 ASA, tgr, tec)
  Tri-X 400 (b&w 400 ASA, cgr, tec)

Notes:
b&w ___ black & white film
cgr ___ cubic grain
tgr ___ tabular grain
neg ___ color negative film
sli ___ color slide or color reversal film
tec ___ technical information, data sheet



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