Lee Jones
patreon
Back to the M11, and a change of heart with digital processing?
🕑 Added 2024-05-29 09:41:00 +0000 UTCAs I haven't been using it this year, I loaned out my M11 to a pal for a few weeks. When I got it back, I felt like taking it for a spin... and I'm kinda fucking with it right now?
My digital photography has taken a shift over the last 18 months or so, in that I've rarely shot it. I've predominantly been shooting film. In the handful of times I've shot digital, I've found myself less keen to work on the files - and my work flow isn't exactly slow, I have a couple of profiles/presets that I love and they get me 97% of the way - it's just not hitting the same as it used to.
So what's changed? I've found myself drawn to an even more minimal processing flow with digital files. Generally a small amount of tweaks to the RAW file, utilising the colours from the camera. What's interesting to me is that until recently, no matter what the camera, I've never been satisfied with this process, and that is what led me to ultimately finding some presets which were to my tastes. Maybe shooting film more has switched me off the 'film look' I apply to my digital photos, and now I'm appreciating them for their differences? I'm trying to figure it out.
My only gripe with the colours with the M11 is the magenta tint, which can't effectively be corrected with the in camera white balance. Some people mention setting up the camera with a grey card, but I honestly can't be fucked with that palaver. For now I'm just dialling back the tint a notch in post.
All this isn't to say I'm going to start declaring SOOC as though it means anything useful. I don't care how anyone processes their images - and anyone should process to their tastes - I'm just enjoying that my tastes are changing a little.
The other evening, I walked a different section of the beach we often go to with the dogs, and left the M6 at home.
The start of the walk the sun was behind the clouds, and as you can see from the first & last photo (of the same scene), the sun busted through for golden hour sunset. I actually prefer the non-golden hour scene. There's something very matter-of-fact about it that I appreciate more than chasing traditionally pleasing light all the time.
Anyway, here's some shots with the M11.
