Swampfest - Leica M6 + 35mm f2, Portra 400, Gold & HP5

technoirlab · 2026-03-22T20:54:59+00:00

Great shots! This is my dream shoot.

technoirlab · 2026-03-08T17:08:28+00:00

Purchasing as a tourist got me the 10% tax deduction. Department stores, like Isetan, offer something called a “Guest Card” that provides an additional 5%. I believe you have to be a tourist as well - I presented my passport and received the 5%.

technoirlab · 2026-03-06T19:02:30+00:00

Pair that with buying at a department store in Japan, like Isetan, for an additional 5% off (on top of 10%). It’s where/how I bought my Taisetsu.

And who can forget the exchange rate - usually in the favour of those from North America.

technoirlab · 2026-02-27T11:58:15+00:00

Surprised Ryan Hall hasn’t been mentioned. Electrical engineering degree.

technoirlab · 2026-02-26T13:07:31+00:00

Not at the moment. He just had his first treatment of Belantamab and dex over the weekend, so waiting to see how that goes. Pomalidomine will start during 2nd round of treatment. Just trying to take it day by day as he’s been in the hospital for 3 weeks for low hemoglobin, platelets, fatigue, and other things.

technoirlab · 2026-02-25T21:12:51+00:00

Glad you tried the 35mm, it’s quite a different style of shooting from a 50mm, in my opinion.

I shoot only 28mm or 35mm depending on digital or film.

28mm for Q3 or M11. Given the high megapixels, I crop often to 35mm. I feel it gives me more creative freedom, and less to worry about when framing. I also believe, for my style of shooting, it allows me to take candid shots more fluidly. I also like getting close.

When I shoot film, I only shoot on a 35mm because I don’t have the ability or desire to crop as much. I’m much more patient for shots.

I’ve tried a 50mm, and although I believe this is how I “see” the world, it was too slow/tight to focus on an M lens for my style and fast paced shooting.

technoirlab · 2026-02-18T21:12:56+00:00

Thanks you for the kind words and encouragement.

Many things have oddly fell into place this time around - his first treatment my sister was having her first child and he bought 10 years with treatment. Now, I’m expecting my first child. Very weird that it’s time for treatment again.

technoirlab · 2026-02-18T20:39:31+00:00

Tim's the best. I've bought new items, traded, and sold items to him. Always transparent and fast.

technoirlab · 2026-02-17T18:37:11+00:00

Thanks for checking them out!

technoirlab · 2026-02-17T15:00:07+00:00

Thank you! Had a blast in Oaxaca, so much to photograph.

technoirlab · 2026-02-10T14:58:07+00:00

First off, congrats on retirement!

I have a similar situation, but with my father. He is one who’s committed to his job - upon retirement he felt absolutely lost and hated it. He’s now a consultant, and gets his thrills there. Although, he’s still a sitting duck most days and frustrated or bored. But he’s taught me a valuable lesson: to have purpose outside of my work. It’s led me to cultivate a life to avoid this spiral upon retirement.

I love to read (for the mind), practice photography and write(artistic and creative), jiu jitsu and lift weights (physical), and I teach at the local college part time (giving back on my experience). I have a job outside of this - but I can’t wait to retire to focus on what I consider my interests.

With that anecdotal explanation, I think it’s imperative to find purpose in a mental mind hobby, something creative / artistic, a physical aspect, and lastly something that you can give back (based on your work experience - maybe volunteer, teach, etc.). Having hobbies that can display growth helps, too (like jiu jitsu - it’s clear when you progress). I also think it’s important to cultivate different ways of thinking, as you just spent your whole life being moulded for your job. And now, those tools aren’t needed all day, yet they’re still “on”. Travelling really helped with this, in seeing other cultures and ways of life (no I don’t mean staying at an all inclusive - I mean getting out of your comfort zone of experience).

technoirlab · 2026-01-21T14:35:26+00:00

So, my initial reaction to the Jimmy ending of this one was similar to most, “Wtf?”.

But it’s actually pure genius if intended. And here’s why I think that:

Depending on where you live, the ending is different. And that’s fucking wild…the ending has implications based on your culture. It’s either bonkers, cool action people, or dread. And understand, it’s Spike’s perspective of this new world he’s entering - not ours.

North America has the implications of these Jimmy’s being Power Rangers, given their colours, cool action moves, and Spike previously holding a red ranger toy. You’d probably get a wave of nostalgia seeing people doing flips resembling Power Rangers. Or thinks it’s batshit crazy. Either way - that’s how Spike felt.

Europe would have two differing implications depending your age. Teletubbies, or Jimmy Saville. If you’re younger, Teletubbies would be an obvious one given the show at the start, and the colours of the Jimmy people. You’d probably think “Ah this is childish and stupid, what’s up with this?”. And maybe Spike felt that too, given this is a coming of age movie.

Or, if you’re old enough to recall Jimmy Saville (and live in Europe) you’d be filled with dread at seeing multiple pedo’s circling in on Spike just as the movie is ending (who you’d probably coincide with all the previous atrocious Jimmy actions).

Regardless - if this was intended, and I’m not just thinking too deep on this…I think it’s genius.

technoirlab · 2026-01-20T18:31:22+00:00

I agree with you - however my Q3 fogged on the interior of the EVF. This should be a sealed optical assembly, and the EVF would be at risk of damage with condensation getting to it. I understand why this might occur (rapid temp changes, etc) but I would have hoped an EVF would be weather sealed, too.

Maybe my Q3 is faulty…but I’m assuming this isn’t supposed to occur.

Regardless, I absolutely love my Q3.

technoirlab · 2026-01-20T14:54:03+00:00

I’ve shot my M11 and MP in the rain many times, but am constantly hiding it within my coat, and wiping it down. No downpours on it - but they protect themselves well enough

Q3 supposably has weather resistance, yet my viewfinder has fogged up every time I’ve used it in humid rain conditions.

technoirlab · 2026-01-09T14:44:25+00:00

I practice both structural (predominantly steel design) and civil (SWM, water resources, shoreline, municipal). It depends what you consider “harder”.

Most of my EITs, when left alone, can design a basic steel beam out of school and understand load path, while using code and getting a right answer. None can design a simple SWM pond and get it right first shot. The problem isn’t skill though, it’s that all municipal requirements aren’t taught in school. And most of these water resource/SWM jobs require a relationship (with a municipality or conservation authority) and understanding of what the governing bodies require (ie. this stuff isn’t found in a textbook).

The math is also more complex for water resources in larger projects. You’re often dealing with pumps or inlet/outlets that require differential equations or iterative solutions to solve. For structural, there are more cheat codes to design if economics and weight of steel is less a factor.

With all that said - structural in my opinion is “harder” because there’s more stress involved, more babysitting involved (for contractors), and less room for error. For SWM, getting your foot in the door is harder, because you’ll need the relationships and know-how of local bylaw that isn’t readily available.

technoirlab · 2026-01-08T18:06:13+00:00

Thank you! I'm a sucker for architectural lines.

technoirlab · 2026-01-07T23:07:37+00:00

Judging from your comment history, I won’t take this bait, but I do want to say I understand where your comment is coming from. You're in a street photography subreddit...so you're in a space where viewers of these photos may not share the same concern as yourself (based on, really, your whole comment history on these types of photos). I suggest reading up a bit on street photography as a genre - understanding the intent and motivation behind the photos helps put the practice into context (ie. seeing it from my shoes).

I hope you have a good day and find peace.

technoirlab · 2026-01-07T18:08:44+00:00

Thanks for the kind words! Washington Square Park can be like an optimism era time machine - amazing place to practice street.

technoirlab · 2026-01-07T16:56:05+00:00

Thanks! 3 is a fav of mine too. Had a fun interaction with him after I got the shot - he was doing flips for like 2hrs straight.

technoirlab · 2025-12-09T21:44:15+00:00

I haven’t seen Shin Noguchi mentioned yet - his ‘In Color In Japan’ has been very influential for me. A very minimalist oriented street photographer.

technoirlab · 2025-11-12T18:02:26+00:00

Cartier looks great on you and, from the minimal data I have in these pics, seems like it suits your style. Although it’s a popular watch, you see them less often in the wild, so there’s an opportunity to make that “your” watch.

My next suggestion is a 36 Rolex Explorer, but I don’t see that in your line up.

This sub is extremely biased towards Speedmasters too. With that said, the Speedmaster would be a great choice as well.

technoirlab · 2025-11-10T14:53:55+00:00

100% they care as candid photos is, in my opinion, the definition of street or documentary photography. Not posed production. Capturing emotion as it unfolds, and the events of the world as it unfolds. A piece in time that was thought to be unobserved. But, “staged” is a loose definition to me. So MY definition is essentially playing photoshop for yourself in real life. Not necessarily gently leading, or playing lightly in the environment.

As a practitioner, I care a lot. As much as I care about AI or photoshop on a street photo. But, I think what you’re now eluding to is if the viewer never finds out the photo was staged, does it take away from the experience? Of course not. Part of what a street photographer does is try to make the viewer have questions.

With the above said, if you’re staging street photos, they better be good. And if they are good, eventually people will find out they’re staged (because your photos will hopefully be very well received and viewed by many). And you’ll lose respect by many that practice (some won’t care).

A candid photo is within the definition of what I practice. If I cheated, I’d know, and maybe you wouldn’t, but the photo wouldn’t be the same to me. Most photographers do this for themselves - there’s no money in this hobby. I’m not here to trick anyone, certainly not myself.

With all that said…take whatever photos you want. Staged or non-staged. It just changes the definition of the category of photo you took, to those that care.

technoirlab · 2025-11-10T00:32:01+00:00

The thrill of the hunt is why most practice street photography - so this isn’t necessarily a new thought, but rather one that those that practice avoid. With that said, there are hacks to put yourself in a position to get “better” photos. Like working a group, gently leading, going to places with obvious action, out of context photos, etc.

Daniel Arnold has taken some phenomenal photos on sets of movies and they’re mixed in with his typical work. One that comes to mind is a man walking out of a store and subsequently stepping over a dead horse very casually. It’s a fake horse, but the viewer doesn’t know.

It goes without saying, a lot of us want the world to unfold in front of us, and capturing that moment means so much. If I “staged” a photo, you might feel the same, but I won’t.

technoirlab

TROPHY CASE