Category Archives: News

Downgrade

By Matthew B. Harrison, Esq. | Published November 13, 2011

I am downsizing. I am giving up my studio space for a while and in the process of emptying my current space, I am consolidating my equipment into two distinct groups: the one of which I use – and subsequently will be keeping; and the one of which I collect – and subsequently will be keeping.

Leica owners tend to break down into one of two sides: the collectors and the users. The collectors are those who care about the limited editions. They are the ones who keep them in their box, untouched by human hands. I think it’s stupid.

However, I have two such cameras – not so much new in the box – but used in amazing condition, so much so that I refuse to use them. One is a 1930’s Leica Ia. It looks like this

except the original paint is immaculate.

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The Leica Guy got married!!

By Matthew B. Harrison, Esq. | Published July 31, 2011

Update:

Thanks go to LeicaRumors.com for posting coverage of our Leica Ring and grooms cake. Also, thanks go to PetaPixel for their coverage. They gave the story some interesting color.

The twittersphere has been a buzz with LeicaGuy wedding postings. I appreciate the commentary – though, a bunch of you had mistaken facts… but such is life on the internet. At least you spelled my name right. ;-)

Additionally – thanks to Gaelan for letting me use his photos and of course making such an awesome ring.

Lastly… Thank you to Emily Therese – aka The Leica Lady – for being my amazing bride… and the ring.

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The Leica Guy (Matthew B. Harrison) and The Leica Lady (Emily Therese) were married in a small ceremony in central Massachusetts on July 31st, 2011. The wedding consisted of a brief ceremony performed by the couple’s close friend and was followed by a lovely Sunday brunch attended by close friends and family. The couple could not have asked for better weather or a better turnout. It truly was a beautiful celebration of their love.

The night before, at the rehearsal dinner, The Leica Guy was presented with his groom’s cake: a replica of a black paint Leica M9 mounted with a f/.95 Noctilux. This amazing cake was baked by Dianne Rockwell, The Cake Lady, for just this special occasion. It was such an amazing cake, that it was truly a shame to have to cut it up and serve it. Though, it was the best tasting Leica, either the bride or groom had ever had.

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As is tradition, the bride and groom exchanged gifts prior to the wedding. While Matthew purchased Emily the watch that she had always wanted. Emily commissioned a custom ring for Matthew’s shooting hand (as opposed to for his wedding band). This one of a kind band has the depth of field scale from his favorite lens, the .95 Noctilux. On the sides, the ring features both Matthew’s name and The Leica Guy moniker on one side, and the Lens information including name, filter size, and serial number on the other. It truly is a unique piece of art and jewelry – perfect for the occasion.

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After the wedding, the two left for their honeymoon to Praiano, Italy. Each equipped with a Leica M9-P and a variety of lenses – the honeymoon was captured exclusively with Leica brand equipment. While most of the photos are still being edited, a few samples are available in the gallery below. Emily’s M9-P was mostly equipped with an F/1 Noctilux, while Matthew’s was equipped with his .95 Noctilux.

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Be sure to check back for more photos and updates from their adventures.

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The Unboxing Video – Leica M9-P

By Matthew B. Harrison, Esq. | Published June 29, 2011

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The Tornadoes of Springfield, MA

By Matthew B. Harrison, Esq. | Published June 2, 2011

Reposted from MassLive.com – Direct Link

A series of fast-moving tornadoes carrying winds of over 90 mph Wednesday gave Western Massachusetts residents a terrifying glimpse of what their Midwestern neighbors have been experiencing last month.

And as it was in Joplin and Memphis; Raleigh and Tuscaloosa; along the Missouri and the Mississippi, everything changed in a minute.

One minute the clouds darken and the radio waves crackle with storm warnings. One minute faculty and staff at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst are told to descend to the lowest point in their buildings; the next minute, the cloud is spotted over the Connecticut River in Springfield. People who never gave a thought to what they might do in a tornado are trying to remember whether it is safer in the bathtub or the basement.

Meanwhile a tractor-trailer on the Memorial Bridge is suddenly overturned. A community center is minus a roof and the MassMutual Center, which last week hosted a college graduation, is now settling evacuees from the entire South End of the city. A tree that once sheltered a backyard pool is now in the pool. A grill has been tossed from one yard to another as if it were a feather. Power lines and downed limbs are everywhere.

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An update – thoughts and news

By Matthew B. Harrison, Esq. | Published May 30, 2011

Did some shooting this weekend. Also did some grilling. Long summer weekends are the best for both.

I shot with GONE BY DAYLIGHT on Friday night. They needed promo photos and I shot them in an empty studio space in the building that houses my law office. I had four Profoto D1 500′s… one profoto Acute 2400 generator with a D4 head. Sid Vintage did the styling. Karrie Welch from Fortunate Face Minerals did the makeup.

GONE BY DAYLIGHT led up to their reputation. Fun, Good Times, and Great Shots filled our evening into the wee morning. I shot them using my Leica S2-P. Most of the shots featured the 70mm lens – as wide open as possible (2.5-5.6) using filters. I also used the 35mm for a few group shots as it was impossible to get them within the frame at such a narrow depth of field.

I love the Leica glass…. it’s sharp wide open. It’s calibrated to be so. No other glass I know is meant for that. So while shooting at 2.5 is crisp – it may not be enough depth to get everyone in focus. It was a problem that I solved by going wider.

Thanks go to Tricia Slate and Emily Therese for their amazing assisting of me during the shoot – including the pizza / drinks run. Thanks ladies!

Saturday, Karrie Welch came back and Emily Therese put her model hat on. Or off – in this case – as Karrie also did hair.

I used both the 70mm lens and the 180mm lens for full body and facial portraits respectively. I usually use the 70mm for everything – as I like that working distance between the model and my subject (especially if we are on location and others are around and I wanna keep my actions to a minimum.) However, in a studio setting when room is not an option – the 180 is an amazingly flattering lens. The compression on a subject’s face is probably the most flattering I have seen in a long time.

I added a second head to the 2400 generator and an Acute 1200 generator with a ringflash.

While I started shooting with my “patented” 7 light fashion setup… I didn’t do it exclusively for both looks. The second look only used 2 or 3 lights (depending upon the particular shot) and frankly, I liked that one a lot better. Sample photos will be up soon – as soon as I finish editing more than just a handful.

I guess I need to go back to school for studio lighting. Not literally… but I guess it’s time to invest in some books, some more modifiers, and some time. But it’s certainly nice to be re-inspired.

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