leitmotiv

Bringing The Bass

Monto Water Rats Theatre, London

Nikon D7000 + AFS Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

The Old Post

Sete, France

Nikon F3 + AI Nikkor 85mm f/2 + Fujichrome Velvia 50

Through The Alleyways

Cessenon-sur-Orb, France

Nikon D7000 + AFS Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G, converted to B/W in Adobe Photoshop CS4

No Play

Union Street, Southwark

Nikon F3 + AIS Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 + Fujichrome Velvia 50

Tree Bark (detail)

Roquebrun, France

Nikon F3 + AI Nikkor 85mm f/2 + Fujichrome Velvia 50

I’ve been meaning to talk a bit more about my recent acquisition: the AI Nikkor 85mm f/2 which I found in a second-hand bric-a-brac store last month for a ridiculously low price of 15 quid. Having done plenty of research over the past year and more, I know that such lenses in near-mint condition usually go for prices way above 250 quid, and in relation to what I paid, I’ve literally gotten this lens for next to nothing. However, it was not acquiring a Nikkor lens at such a low price that has given me the greatest pleasure. It was that in usage, the Nikkor lives up to all expectations of being an incredibly good performer, even wide open.

The 85mm focal length is something that has always intrigued me due to its medium-long categorisation in relation to the oft-touted 50mm ‘normal lenses’ and the 105mm or 135mm focal lengths. An 85mm lens seems to be the sort of focal length best suited for natural-perspective portrait shots of people, allowing their head and shoulders to fill the entire frame with relative ease whilst having the background dissolve into a smooth wash of bokeh.

However, since I am not a dedicated portrait shooter, and my subject matter ranges from flowers, minute objects to sweeping landscapes and urban environments, the 85mm has certainly found a now-permanent place in my now burgeoning arsenal of lenses. This is such that I am finding it hard to justify having certain lenses (the Vivitar 70-210mm f/3.5 comes to mind in this case) in my camera bag. I may even choose to cut some lenses loose, but that is a separate matter altogether.

Throughout my little holiday in France, I came to realise how versatile the 85mm focal length was to me. Where I previously had to walk in much closer if I had my 50mm lens on the camera, or take many steps backwards when I had the 135mm, I find it so much easier when trying to isolate a certain object on a building (window, edge detail, miscellaneous objet etc) with the 85mm. It simply is perfect for my purpose of isolating a particular feature, and filling up the entire frame of the image with my subject if necessary.

I really look forward to taking more shots with this lens on my F2AS, and maybe it is time that I simply keep this lens on all the time and see what I can achieve with it. Let the fun times begin!

Domed Glory

St Paul’s Church Yard, City of London

Nikon F3 + AIS Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 + Fujichrome Velvia 50

Bloom Within

Labastide Rouairoux, France

Nikon D7000 + AFS Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 (double-exposure)

Inscriptions Underfoot

Serpentine Gallery, Hyde Park

Nikon F3 + AIS Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 + Fujichrome Velvia 50

The Guru

Labastide Rouairoux, France

This is my granduncle, whom I affectionately call my “Guru” simply because he gave me my very first acoustic guitar, and is a constant source of inspiration when it comes to playing the instrument. When he was younger, he too came to London to make a living by working at Guy’s Hospital as a nurse before retiring about 10 years ago. Since I’ve moved to London he has never ceased to encourage me not just in terms of playing music, but also in my photographic endeavours (he is a Nikon collector of sorts as well.) This picture is my tribute to his wonderfully warm and welcoming demeanour and the fact that even though we are 2 generations apart, we could not be less similar in terms of our passions.

Nikon D7000 + AFS Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G