MrLeica – February 2023
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Hi friend! Here is the latest edition of the monthly MrLeica newsletter – A summary of Leica posts and videos you may have missed, upcoming events and useful info.
Features
- Recap from January
- New Updates
- YouTube Videos from January
- New Blog Posts
- UK Workshops
- Overseas Workshops
- Patreon, Zoom Calls & More
- February 2023 – Coming up!
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Recap from January
January saw me receive lenses from Voigtlander to test, buying a few new lenses after being good for ages, a wedding pre-shoot and a trip to Spain where I learnt quite a few new things around my photography. Patreon grew to a new high with 217 members (it goes up and down) and my photography consultancy calls are still proving popular via Zoom, everything from what camera or lens to buy to crazy levels of geekiness like making non-M9 files look like Leica M9 photos and more! I’ve also had a few calls with fellow YouTuber and model photographer Peter Coulson.
Peter Coulson European workshops
Peter is a popular YouTuber/ model photographer with over 170K subs. He kindly reached out to me after recently moving to Leica and finding some of my Leica YouTube videos. We’ve had a few phone calls since then and now plan to meet when he comes to Europe this summer for his European workshops. I will be at Peter (and Bec’s) London events so if you are going let me know and I’ll see you there!
I offered to share the workshop dates for anyone in the UK that hadn’t yet come across Peter’s channel and wanted to get into B&W model photography. Check out his videos if you are trying to improve your portrait lighting in particular. Lots of great vids shot with Peter and Bec (assistant/ model) at his Australian studio. Full website info here – https://workshops.peter-coulson.com.au
Want Help?
Wedding pre-shoot
No weddings in January but I did one pre-shoot where we meet for 2 hours at the venue and take some photos to get the couple used to the camera. I was then helping another couple plan their wedding for this summer so there are a few in the pipeline.
Leica Owner? Join the Leica Club
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Teaching workshops in January
When it comes to me teaching photography it normally falls into one of two workshops. I taught both in January:
1) Get the most from your Leica camera (often Leica film cameras like the M6). Below we were getting to grips with a new Leica MP during a 8 hour session in London.
2) How to photography people (portraits) and often more specifically, female models. This including cameras, lenses, posing, lighting, communication and more. Dave wanted to see how I worked with models and we had such a good day with Bame agency model India.
Leica+Model Workshops
Do you need to make more money with your camera?
In January I was given 6 months notice to move out of the house I currently live in as it’s being sold by the owner. I’m finding myself using all the tips I list in my latest eBook to try to make some extra cash. You might find it useful too – How to MAKE MONEY with your Photography.
Directory: Leica Repairs + Leica YouTubers
If you have feedback after a Leica service, repair or CLA I’d love to add it to the Leica Repair Directory page to help others. Equally, if you love watching YouTube, let us know you favourite Leica YouTuber channel?
New portrait presets for Lightroom
I’m finding I’m starting to have quite a few non-Leica photographers using my presets. As a portrait photographer most of my presets are applied to my portraits so I plan to make a set of portrait presets to be used on any camera (but developed around the Leica camera sensor). See here for my current presets for Lightroom.
Need Leica Presets?
My recommended photography gear list – https://mrleica.com/kitlist/
January 2023 YouTube Videos Catch-up:
Below is a catch up of all the YouTube videos I published last month. If you’re new here see previous month newsletter for more!
My TOP 4 cameras of 2022
AFFORDABLE Leica Hybrid: Canon L3 Rangefinder Camera
Soviet rangefinder test – The good, the bad and the ugly! (FED, ZORKI, KIEV) ..one is more accurate than a M6!
Voigtlander Bessa cameras – 12 were made, I think 3 are worth it
What is the MOST ACCURATE rangefinder camera? (and worst?) (35mm film cameras)
23 Photography inspiration ideas – Shoot more in 2023!
Review of the new VOIGTLANDER Nokton 35mm f1.5 VM lenses
PART 2 (Benchmark Test) VOIGTLANDER 35mm 1.5 vs TTArtisan 35mm APO
Remote Learning!
New Blog Posts in January
3 new blog posts shared last month. I enjoy blogging much more than YouTube but both are very time intensive!
- Photography inspiration: 23 hacks for taking more photos
- Most Accurate Rangefinder Camera? (Effective Base Length, EBL)
- Who is MrLeica? (aka. Matt)
Written posts to supplement my YouTube review videos including full res images. 300+ existing blog post articles so feel free to browse the back catalogue!
Workshops and Photowalks
> Workshop dates – Kick start your photography with one of my 1:1 workshops. For notification and dates of photowalks in your area join my mailing list.
See workshop prices and testimonials
If you are interested in Gdansk, Poland model workshops / photowalks get in touch via the mailing list as I will be booking more events.
Travel plans
- February 2023 Travel – Lanzarote & Lisbon – Get in touch if you want to meet for a workshop or photowalk
- March 2023 Travel – Spain & Possibly Poland – Get in touch if you want to meet
- April 2023 Travel – TBC
- May 2023 Travel – TBC (Spain I think, to teach a workshop) – Get in touch if you want to meet
February 2023 – Coming Up
I still need to start shooting more medium format film as my 35mm supplies are going down fast. I just got a new Hasselblad lens to try to persuade myself to shoot 120! Sigma have kindly sent me two lenses to review so videos to follow and I’m also waiting for the new Voigtlander 75mm f1.9 and a new lens from TTArtisan. More London 1:1 workshops booked for February and I hope to announce some forward dated small groups events soon for those of you on the workshop mailing list. Have a great day!
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts to try to improve the service!
YouTube video – spotlight
My first video in February will be 90mm lenses for Leica cameras with examples using both Leica M and Nikon F mount Voigtlander APO-Skopar 90mm f2.8 lenses.
Monthly Updates: Videos+Blogs
Previous Newsletters (+ Video Links!)
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First Time Reader? See Below
> UK Workshops
I teach basic to advanced level photography to anyone with a camera. For full details see workshop prices and testimonials + join the mailing list for dates.
- UK – London (Most popular)
> Overseas Workshops
Happy to travel worldwide to run photography workshops. See list below for some of the planned countries. Join the mailing list to submit your interest.
- Poland – Gdansk, Bydgoszcz, Warsaw. (Same price as London )
- Hungary – Budapest. (Same price as London workshops)
- Spain – Valencia-Alicante region. Multi-day, More info coming soon!
- Tenerife/ Lanzarote – Small group/solo + model, multi-day. More info soon!
- US – New York. I will trying to plan a visit perhaps later in 2023.
- Your country – Want me to fly to your city? Get in touch!
Some advantages of meeting in your city include (1) you don’t need to travel (2) I will give you model contacts in your city that you can keep in touch with after I leave. This has worked well for photographers in the past. The flipside of that is, if you rather come to the UK for a London workshop you have the excuse for a holiday!
Want to learn how to take portraits?
Join my Patreon where I teach model photography and we have 2x 1 hour general photography Zoom calls each month
Meet the models! Join a workshop
Do the same as Jorge from Mexico and book one of my 1:1 workshops