The Real Sir Robin 12/9/24 The Real Sir Robin 12/9/24

Which Flash To Use For Street Photography

For years, when people asked me which flash I used and recommended, my answer was always the same: the Lightpixlabs FlashQ Q20II. This tiny, innovative flash became a trusted companion, for my Leica Q3 and every Leica Q camera I’ve owned since 2015. I loved it so much that I bought several units myself and enthusiastically told others to get one too. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

Recently, I’ve stopped recommending the FlashQ Q20II and no longer use it myself. Today, I’ll share the reasons behind my decision, the challenges I’ve faced, and introduce you to an alternative that has not only met but exceeded my expectations.

Why the FlashQ Q20II Was My Go-To Flash

Let’s rewind to 2019. When I first picked up the FlashQ Q20II, it was love at first sight. Its compact size made it perfect for street photography. It was packed with clever features like:

Built-in wireless receiver and a tiny transmitter.
Rechargeable batteries, with the ability to charge them directly in the unit.
Easy off-camera setup, making it versatile.
A set of color gels for creative lighting effects.

For a street photographer, this was the dream package. The flash quickly became an essential part of my gear. However, over time, I started noticing flaws that made me rethink its place in my toolkit.

The Problems I Encountered

While the Q20II offered an excellent starting experience, three recurring issues led to my decision to move on:

1. Overheating

The first problem surfaced after an extended trip through Asia. After heavy usage, I noticed the reflector in the flash head was burned, as was one of my color gels. I contacted the company, and to their credit, they replaced the unit. However, they warned that the flash wasn’t designed for frequent high-power use. Despite being careful with subsequent units, the same overheating issue cropped up again—even with minimal use of full or half power.

2. Slow Recycle Time

In fast-paced environments, like crowded streets or events, every second counts. Unfortunately, the Q20II’s slow recycle time became a liability. At even moderate power levels like 1/8th, the flash would take over a second to recharge, causing me to miss potentially great shots. For a professional or passionate photographer, that’s a frustrating limitation.

3. Misfires and Interference

The Q20II’s tendency to misfire grew more frequent over time. Worse, because it randomly assigned wireless channels, I often found myself battling interference in crowded settings where others were using the same flash. Imagine someone else’s trigger firing your flash—or vice versa. That’s a dealbreaker for me. That happened a few times for me when I was shooting with friends who were using the same flash or the Lightpixlabs flash triggers. Especially, when teaching workshops it got rather annoying.

What’s a better alternative?

After enduring these issues, I knew it was time for a change. My criteria were clear: I needed a compact flash system with better reliability, faster recycle times, and no overheating problems. That’s when I discovered the Godox X3 flash trigger and TT350/V350 flash. The V350 is basically the same flash that is using a rechargeable battery instead if double AAs and it that lasts up to 500 shots at full power. On top of that, the recycle time is even a little bit faster over the TT350.

Why Godox?

The Godox system checked all the boxes:

Increased Power: The TT350 offers nearly double the power of the Q20II, making it more versatile for different lighting conditions.
Faster Recycle Times: No more waiting around—the TT350 recycles much faster, even at higher power settings.
Overheating Protection: Built-in safeguards ensure the flash can handle demanding usage without damage.
Compatibility: Godox has now released a Leica-specific version of the X3 trigger, but I’ve decided to stick with the Panasonic version that I picked up earlier. It works seamlessly with my Lumix cameras, Leica Q3, and even my Leica M6 in manual mode. However, it’s crucial to set the trigger to “legacy hot shoe” mode in the menu to ensure everything functions properly.

The system also offers the flexibility of using AA batteries, which are readily available—a lifesaver for travel photographers.

An even better alternative would be the Godox V350. It’s essentially the same flash but uses a rechargeable battery instead of AA batteries, lasting up to 500 shots at full power. Additionally, the recycle time is slightly faster compared to the TT350.

I have both the TT350 and the V350, but I tend to grab the V350 more frequently out of convenience. Its rechargeable battery and faster performance make it my go-to choice for most situations.

Master Street Photography with flash

If you want to master using flash in street photography, check out my video course! It’s designed to help you understand how flash works and how to use it to your advantage, enabling you to create incredible images out on the streets.

Farewell, FlashQ Q20II

Despite its flaws, the Q20II deserves credit for being the flash that introduced me to using flash in street photography. Many of my favorite shots wouldn’t have been possible without it. However, for photographers who rely on dependable gear, reliability is non-negotiable.

If you’re an occasional flash user or working in less demanding scenarios, the Q20II might still be a viable option. But for those like me who need a flash that keeps up with fast-paced environments, the Godox TT350 or V350 paired with the X3 trigger are far better alternatives.

Final Thoughts

The FlashQ Q20II had its moment in my camera bag, but I’ve moved on to a more robust solution. If you’re experiencing similar frustrations or just want to explore better options, I highly recommend checking out the Godox X3 and TT350/V350 setup.

What About You?

Have you experienced similar issues with the FlashQ Q20II? Or have you found a flash system you swear by? Let me know in the comments!

The Real Sir Robin 4/24/24 The Real Sir Robin 4/24/24

The Leica Q3 Look

When Leica introduced the Leica Q3 in mid of 2023, they also introduced some sort of film presets, somewhat similar to what Fuji is doing with their film simulations. As you might know, I am not a jpg shooter because I love the ability that raw files give me. However, I wanted to give these Leica Looks a try and see what it is all about.

I was particularly interested in the two color looks, Leica Classic and Leica Contemporary. The other three available looks are black and white and didn’t spark my interest. So, after trying them out, I really liked the look they gave me but in very contrasty situations, they are not very useful since the jpgs don’t have much headroom for post production. That bothered me and I wished the looks would also be available for raw files.

So, the first few months, I was shooting RAW+JPG with switching between the looks. That helped me to emulate the look and to create a Lightroom presets that comes fairly close to the original Leica Looks. However, now I can use them even when shooting while having all the benefits of the dngs.

Just to give you an idea, here are a few examples:

Leica Classic

Leica Contemporary

I think, the results speak for themselves. Finally, I can use the Leica Looks and shoot raw only. And the cool part is, that these presets also work with other Leica cameras that don’t come with these Leica looks and also cameras from other brands as well.

If you want to use those Lightroom presents too, you can and it is absolutely free! Simple, subscribe to my brand new newsletter and I am going to send you the download link.

The Real Sir Robin 2/15/24 The Real Sir Robin 2/15/24

Shooting Thaipusam

Last month, while I was in Kuala Lumpur, I finally had the chance to photograph the infamous Thaipusam festival. Upfront, I wasn’t really sure what to expect but it was much nicer than I could ever hoped for. I was joined by Edmond (edmondstreetz) and he recommended that we should at night in order to avoid the masses of photographers who would inevitably get in the way of each other. So, we arrived there at around midnight and shot until the morning and it was insane. If you haven’t watched it, check out the video to learn more about the festival and to see us shooting and trying to stay awake during the night.

Below the video you’ll find photos that are included in the video and some additional ones.

The Real Sir Robin 1/29/24 The Real Sir Robin 1/29/24

Thaipusam in Kuala Lumpur - a Street Photograpgher’s Paradise

Last week, after returning from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, I had the pleasure to attend the famous Thaipusam festival. Today’s blogpost is however more focused on the days prior to the actual event. Why going to the festival? Well, my friend and fellow street photographer Edmond (edmondstreetz) told me about it around a year ago and I knew at some point I had to come and see it for myself. I don’t want to spoil it but it was totally worth it.

The photos you can see in this post had been taken a few days before the actual festival and it was already a lot going on and it gave me an idea about what to expect during the two days of the event a few days later.

The Thaipusam festival, celebrated with unparalleled fervor and devotion, holds a special place in the hearts of Hindus around the world. One of the most iconic and grandiose celebrations occurs at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves is a unique blend of religious customs, cultural expressions, and spiritual fervor, making it a captivating spectacle that attracts pilgrims, tourists, and locals alike.

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Murugan, the God of War, and is observed during the Tamil month of Thai (January-February). This festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati, the mother of Murugan, presented him with a divine spear to vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. Devotees believe that by participating in the Thaipusam rituals, they can seek the blessings of Lord Murugan for strength, protection, and the fulfillment of their wishes.

Batu Caves, located just north of Kuala Lumpur, is an iconic site for Thaipusam celebrations due to the monumental golden statue of Lord Murugan and the towering limestone caves that house several Hindu shrines. The site's natural beauty adds to the religious ambiance, making it a focal point for both worshippers and spectators during the festival.

The most extreme form of penance is the act of carrying a "paal kudam" or milk pot, which involves piercing the devotee's cheeks, tongue, or other body parts with sharp objects. Despite the physical pain, devotees display an unwavering faith and determination, considering their sacrifices as acts of devotion and penance.

***10. Leica Q3, 1/400 - f/8 - ISO800***

***11. Leica Q3, 1/640 - f/8 - ISO800***

Beyond the spiritual and religious aspects, the Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves is a cultural extravaganza. The vibrant procession to the caves is accompanied by rhythmic music, traditional dances, and the chanting of hymns, creating an atmosphere of joy and celebration. The entire event is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Hindu community in Malaysia, and it provides an opportunity for people of different backgrounds to witness and appreciate this unique manifestation of faith.

***12. Leica Q3, 1/500 - f/8.0 - ISO800***

***13. Leica Q3, 1/1000 - f/8.0 - ISO800***

***14. Leica Q3, 1/500 - f/8.0 - ISO800***

***15. Leica Q3, 1/800 - f/8.0 - ISO800***

The Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves has gained international recognition and has become a significant tourist attraction. The annual event draws visitors from various parts of the world who come to witness the spectacle, experience the cultural richness, and capture the spiritual essence of the festival. The global awareness generated by Thaipusam at Batu Caves contributes to the promotion of religious tolerance, cultural understanding, and the appreciation of diverse traditions.

***16. Leica Q3, 1/800 - f/8.0 - ISO800***

***17. Leica Q3, 1/500 - f/8.0 - ISO800***

***18. Leica Q3, 1/320- f/16 - ISO1600***

The Leica Q3 was the perfect tool to capture these scenes, especially because I was using flash. I shot mostly at aperture priority and let the camera pick the shutter speeds. The ISO was set to 800 in the beginning and a little later on I raised it to 1600. You might asked yourself why, but the answer is fairly simple. The flash power is only effected by ISO and aperture and the shutter speed was used to control the ambient light.

The Leica Q3 has a leaf shutter and can sync flash at any speed of its mechanical shutter and that makes everything so much easier. So, it can go up to 1/2000 and that allows me to raise the ISO as high as I need to get the flash power that I want to achieve. Since, I use zone focusing and I want most things to be in focus, I usually shoot at f/8 or even f/16 but that would normally also mean that I had to use my flash at max power. However, I try to avoid that because it kills the batteries much faster and also after each shot I would have to wait a few seconds for the flash to be ready again. By shooting at higher ISOs, I can comfortably set my flash to 1/8 power and avoid all those issues. And to be honest, the Q3 can handle ISO1600 very well and even when pushing the files later on in Lightroom, there is hardly any noise.

***19. Leica Q3, 1/320 - f/16 - ISO1600***

***20. Leica Q3, 1/200 - f/16 - ISO1600***

***21. Leica Q3, 1/160 - f/16 - ISO1600***

***22. Leica Q3, 1/800 - f/13 - ISO1600***

***23. Leica Q3, 1/500- f/16 - ISO1600***

***24. Leica Q3, 1/125 - f/16 - ISO1600***

***25. Leica Q3, 1/320 - f/16 - ISO1600***

***26. Leica Q3, 1/200 - f/16 - ISO1600***

***27. Leica Q3, 1/400 - f/16 - ISO1600***

***28. Leica Q3, 1/50- f/16 - ISO1600***

***29. Leica Q3, 1/1000 - f/16 - ISO1600***

Stay tuned, more to come!

The Real Sir Robin 1/15/24 The Real Sir Robin 1/15/24

A day of shooting in Georgetown/Penang

Nestled on the northwest coast of Malaysia, the captivating city of Georgetown, the capital of Penang, is a melting pot of diverse influences, blending colonial architecture, vibrant street art, and a delectable fusion of cuisines. While I was in Kuala Lumpur, I wanted a break from city life and went to Georgetown for a few days. But of course, me being me, I had to hit the streets to see what I could come up with.

***1. Leica Q3, 1/100 - f/11 - ISO800***

***2. Leica Q3, 1/320 - f/11 - ISO800***

Georgetown's history is woven with threads from various epochs, creating a rich and diverse cultural landscape. Founded in 1786 by Captain Francis Light of the British East India Company, Georgetown played a pivotal role in British colonial expansion in Southeast Asia. The city's historical significance is evident in its well-preserved colonial architecture.

***3. Leica Q3, 1/200 - f/11 - ISO800***

One of Georgetown's most captivating aspects is its cultural diversity, a harmonious blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences. The city's UNESCO World Heritage status, awarded in 2008, recognizes its unique architectural and cultural heritage.

Georgetown has gained international acclaim for its vibrant street art scene, transforming the city into an open-air gallery. The streets are full of murals and installations that narrate tales of the city's history and culture. The famous "Children on a Bicycle" and "Little Children on a Bicycle" murals by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic have become iconic symbols of Georgetown's artistic charm. But we all know that I didn’t come here to do the touristy bits.

I was shown around by two local photographers. In the morning I went on a stroll with Thinnesh (https://www.instagram.com/thinnesh.jpg/) and we did explore some of the markets and streets in the historical part of Georgetown. It wasn’t all that busy but nonetheless it was great seeing some of the cool sights.

In the afternoon I was joined by Sean (https://www.instagram.com/thisseanchai/) which was great fun and we got really lucky with an event, that was taking place in one the parks. It was an opening ceremony for the upcoming Chinese new year festivities. A lot of people gathered there and a leading politician of Penang came to help pulling up a huge lantern. Besides that, a local dancing school showed a performance which was nice to capture. Besides us, there were many other photographers and of course the local press was covering the event as well.

But before the event we went to a few jetties which were very interesting to photograph. Two hours before sunset, you’ll find a good amount of people going there to have their photos taken or just to hang out until the sun has set. For candid photography this was great and if you come into town, it is a place I would recommend giving a try.

***5. Leica Q3, 1/500 - f/16 - ISO800***

***6. Leica Q3, 1/500 - f/16 - ISO800***

Of course, I used the Leica Q3 for all of the shots and except for a few photos all were shot using flash. During the event in the evening I ran out of batteries but luckily a nearby convenient store got me covered and I was able to pick up some AA.

***10. Leica Q3, 1/15 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

***11. Leica Q3, 1/15 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

***12. Leica Q3, 1/15 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

***13. Leica Q3, 1/15 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

***14. Leica Q3, 1/15 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

***15. Leica Q3, 1/15 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

***16. Leica Q3, 1/15 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

***17. Leica Q3, 1/15 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

***18. Leica Q3, 1/15 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

***19. Leica Q3, 1/15 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

***20. Leica Q3, 1/15 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

***21. Leica Q3, 1/8 - f/8.0 - ISO1600***

Would I recommend Georgetown for street photography? If you want to relax for a few days and also want to shoot on the side, then I think Penang can be a good place to shoot street. People are very friendly and with a little bit of luck, you should be able to come up with some great shots.

The Real Sir Robin 7/11/23 The Real Sir Robin 7/11/23

Leica Q3 and Low Light

Yesterday, I finally had the chance to give the new Leica Q3 a proper test. Since I got mine, I used it a little bit but so far I haven’t done any street photography. However, yesterday I had the chance to bring it to a concert which is a very tough environment for any camera.

The band that played is called Sick Of It All from NY and it’s one of the biggest names in the Punk and Hardcore scene. Normally, they play big festivals and larger clubs but Cafe Central in Weinheim is fairly small and it was packed to the rafters. For me as a photographer, it’s surely one of my favorite venues for concert photography because there isn’t any barrier in front of the stage and the band get’s in very close contact with their fans.

Yes, for some it might seem crazy to bring an expensive camera to such an event but I have insurance in case something goes wrong which did not happen.

To my surprise, I was the only one taking photos which used to be different in the past. For me, that was a good thing and I got a very good spot very close to all the action.

Photographing concerts like this isn’t that easy because the lighting situation can be challenging. The light sources changing up constantly and especially the red light is a pain in the but because it’s almost impossible to get a proper white balance. For those cases it’s better to convert the images to black and white because in color they would look really bad.

Now you might think that a Leica Q2 Monochrom would probably be a better option for this kind of environment and yes in terms of high ISO it would be better. However, because you are dealing with very bright light sources, you would need to underexpose a lot to make sure the highlights are not totally blown out which happens easily with a monochrome sensor.

So now, how did the Leica Q3 handle the situation? Well, in terms of high ISO I think it did pretty well. Some of the images were shot at ISO1600 and higher and in Lightroom I even bumped the exposure by up to 2 or in some cases 3 stops and the results look still very good. The last image for example was shot at ISO 16000 and was pushed in LR by 1.5 stops and it is still very usable.

In general, because of all the action I had to shoot at 1/250 of a second. In the beginning I tried to shoot at 1/125 but that wasn’t fast enough.

I was also curious about how the autofocus would keep up. I shot mostly in af-c single field and that worked alright. I also tried using af-s single field but that wasn’t ideal because of all the fast-paced action. Yes, I could have used face detection but I am pretty sure that that would have not worked that well.

In front of the lens I used a Black Pro Mist 1/4 filter and all the RAW files were processed in LR.

Enough talking, here are the images.

The Real Sir Robin 8/29/22 The Real Sir Robin 8/29/22

Shooting The Notting Hill Carnival With The Q2M

Shooting street photography at the Notting Hill Carnival with the Leica Q2 Monochrom

Sometimes good things happen very unexpected and that is one thing that makes life as exciting as it is.

So, while I was in London for my street photography workshop someone told me that there was a big event going down and it happened to be the world famous Notting Hill Carnival. I’ve heard about it before but I had no idea how big that event gets and that it attracts more than a million people each year. Of course, it was at the same time as the workshop but it was also a great opportunity to shoot and luckily my students thought the same way.

On Sunday early afternoon we went and were greeted by an overwhelmingly big crowd. It took a litte to get into the groove but then it was a lot of fun to shoot. We focused mainly on the parade which went on for a long time and after 4 or 5 hours we left the place because the noise and the massive crowd were tiring and we were starting to get very hungry and also the toilets were a little gross to say the least.

I only had the Leica Q2 Monochrom with me and my little flash that came very handy that afternoon. Well, some might think that it isn’t a good idea to shoot such a colorful event in black and white but I’d disagree. To me, the colors were a little too much and distracting and especially with the flash the photos came out great in monochrome.

Normally, I use a color filter on my Q2M but this time I was shooting without any filters and if you are wondering why I was shooting at ISO800…. simply because I wanted to give the flash an easier time. I was shooting at 1/8 power and the batteries lasted all day long for a couple hundred photos.

The good thing about the Q2(M) is the leaf shutter that makes it very easy to control the ambient light because the camera can sync the flash at any given speed up to 1/2000.

My aperture was set to f/16 to get as much in focus as possible because there was so much going on and I wanted to get very close. And of course I was using manual focus which was set to 1m for most of the shots.

The Real Sir Robin 8/28/22 The Real Sir Robin 8/28/22

Was It Worth It To Get Up This Early?

Early on during my trip to Madeira we went to place in the east of the island to watch the sunrise and it was absolutely beautiful. But back then I had no time to shoot a video or take photos on film. However, I wanted to go back there after finishing my assignment and I did. But that meant to get up super early because it was a 30 minute drive and the sunrise was very early in the morning. After arriving I wasn’t very hopeful that the sunrise would be any good and even though my app told me differently it was overcast the whole time. Nevertheless, the scenery looked stunning and the sky was somewhat dramatic. Despite the lack of sun, the photos turned out great again. On this day I only shot Fujifilm stocks. My GF670 was loaded up with Pro400H and later with Acros 100 and in my Olympus OM2n was a roll of Venus 800. Developing and scanning was again done by Carmencita!

2. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Fujifilm Venus 800

4. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Fujifilm Venus 800

10. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Fujifilm Venus 800

15. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Fujifilm Venus 800

16. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Fujifilm Venus 800

17. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Fujifilm Venus 800

19. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Fujifilm Venus 800

20. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Fujifilm Venus 800

22. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Fujifilm Venus 800

23. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Fujifilm Venus 800

24. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Fujifilm Venus 800

The Real Sir Robin 8/21/22 The Real Sir Robin 8/21/22

On The Road Shooting Film

After the the challenge shooting the sunrise over the clouds it was time to hit the road to find other beautiful spots on Madeira. Unfortunately though, the weather or more specifically the lighting wasn’t on my side and it was mostly overcast. However, the scenery was still lovely and after several attempts to see and capture a beautiful sunset it finally happened on top of a mountain again. This time it was the second highest peak which is almost as tall as Pico Ruivo. My Olympus OM2n was still loaded up with Kodak Portra 400 and in my Fujifilm GF670 I shot a roll of Kodak Ektar 100 and later some Portra 800.

Again, thanks to Carmencita the scans came out nicely!

1. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

3. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

6. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

7. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

9. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

15. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

17. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

The Real Sir Robin 8/14/22 The Real Sir Robin 8/14/22

Trying Myself As A Landscape Photographer On Madeira

Back in May this year, I had the opportunity to go to the Island of Madeira for a photography job. It’s not a place I usually go since there isn’t much going on in terms of street photography but since the landscape is so beautiful, I had the idea that I could try myself as a landscape photographer. I had two film camera with me and a bunch of film ready to be shot. In this case I loaded up some expired Kodak Portra 100T into my Fuji GF670 medium format camera and some Portra 400 into my Olympus OM2n. The expired film was overexposed by a couple of shots and it turned better than expected. Also the roll of Fujifilm Across 100 looks amazing. One reason is probably also the fact that Carmencita did such an amazing job developing and scanning my rolls.

2. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

5. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

8. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

11. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

13. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

14. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

16. Olympus OM2n - 28mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 400

The Real Sir Robin 7/31/22 The Real Sir Robin 7/31/22

Shooting The “Digital” X-Pan In Istanbul

A digital version of the Hasselblad X-Pan is probably a camera that a lot of people are dreaming of. Well, let's find out how it would feel to shoot that camera. My Lumix S5 has a 65x24 crop mode which is the same aspect ratio the X-Pan shoots in. When opening the RAWs in Lightroom the crop will still be there but of course you could change that afterwards, which I didn't do in this case. It would be amazing if some camera brand would stick two 35mm sensors together and release that as a digital X-Pan. Or even two APS-C size sensors which would already be really nice but I don't think that this will ever happen.

The Real Sir Robin 7/10/22 The Real Sir Robin 7/10/22

Shooting Street Photography At Night In Acapulco. Stupid Idea?

After a week in Mexico City I headed back to Acapulco and I wanted to shoot an episode at night. I’ve mentioned it in an older blog-post that the city is considered to be one of the unsafest in Mexico or even in the whole world. Nevertheless, I wanted to give it a try and to be honest, it went very well without any issues.

Again I was shooting the Leica Q2 Monochrom with a Black Pro Mist 1/4 filter. If you look at the ISOs under the photos, they look crazy high but in reality I wasn’t pushing the ISO that much. As you might know, in order to preserve the highlights, you have to underexpose in high contrast situations and bring up the shadows later in post. For instance when I shoot an image at ISO3,200 and it is underexposed by 2 stops and then I add these two stops later in Lighroom, the photo will look almost the same as shooting it at ISO12,800 without underexposing the image. Though, the big advantage is that you can safe the highlights from being blown out which is especially important when shooting a monochrome sensor.

The reason I am mentioning this is because the ISO values you see under the photos represent the settings I was shooting the image plus the adjustments later in Lightroom in case I did any. This way it makes way more sense than just giving you the ISOs without the information about the post processing.

Even after using this camera for almost 1,5 years it still blows me away how far you can push these files and how clean absurd high ISO can look.

The Real Sir Robin 7/3/22 The Real Sir Robin 7/3/22

My New Film Camera Is Awesome!

When I was in Mexico City I was checking out some local camera shops with my friend Alejandro. That day I couldn’t find anything that I was interested in or the prices where too wild. However, a few days later I spotted a camera that I hadn’t seen in that shop before. The guy told me that it just came back from service and the camera comes with a 50mm f/1.8 and also a 28mm f/2.8. After trying out the camera I couldn’t resist and I pulled the trigger.

The camera I am talking about is a Olympus OM2n in pristine condition. After buying the camera I put in some Portra 160 that the guy in the shop gifted me and I shot an episode. The video wasn’t planned but sometimes that’s the way it goes.

As always, processing and scanning was done by my favorite lab Carmencita and they did a terrific job.

The Real Sir Robin 6/26/22 The Real Sir Robin 6/26/22

Shooting Street Photography in Mexico City’s most notorious neighborhood.

It’s Sunday afternoon and what would your normally do in Mexico City? Of course, you go to Tepito and do a little bit of street photography. 😁 I’ve heard many stories about that place and in general people will tell you that is not an area you should go to, especially when carrying an expensive camera around your neck. Nevertheless, when my buddy Alejandro told me about this flea market we could check out which is located right next to Tepito I said sure, let’s go. Already on the way there, Alejandro told me that we have to be careful and keep an eye open because of potential thieves. Which makes sense, since the place was packed with people and there is always the chance that somebody might take advantage of the situation.

After walking around for a while we then ended up in Tepito and there were no tourists around at all and we got some funny looks. It didn’t feel dangerous in any way but we felt that it probably wouldn’t be a wise idea to stick around for too long. Besides that it was so busy that it wasn’t too much fun shooting there either.

In the end, we had a fun afternoon shooting in Mexico City and I would say that the mission was a success.

The Real Sir Robin 6/19/22 The Real Sir Robin 6/19/22

Shooting Medium Format Film in Mexico City

It felt like ages since the last time I was shooting medium format but in reality it was only a few months without touching any. The camera I was shooting belongs to my friend Alejandro and last year I was already trying out the Fuji when I was in Mexico City. Back then I was thinking about buying a new medium format camera which resulted in me picking up a Fuji GF670. In this case it was a GA645 which is actually not a bad choice, especially these days with current film prices. You are getting 50% more images out a roll of 120 film and that will make a difference. The camera is considered to be a point and shoot but you can set ip manually. However, it is a little cumbersome to do and when you put in a new roll of film it will reset all the settings. I forgot about that and it ruined a bunch of shots since I was shooting wide open at f/4 instead of f/8 how I initially set up the aperture.

For the street shots I used the flash and that actually works very well. It’s not very powerful and you have to get close otherwise it won’t really show up in the photos. Later on when we shot portraits of each other I switched over to autofocus and the flash was turned off.

The Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 expired ten years ago but the results look nice, especially when you take into consideration that I was probably not stored in a fridge and instead was sitting on a shelf in a camera shop. On top of that Carmencita did a brilliant job scanning the negs!

Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

2. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

3. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

4. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

5. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

6. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

7. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

8. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

9. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

10. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

11. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

12. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

13. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

14. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

15. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

16. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

17. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

18. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

19. Fuji GA654 - Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160 (expired)

The Real Sir Robin 6/4/22 The Real Sir Robin 6/4/22

Taking The Leica Q2 Monochrom For A Stroll In The Streets Of Mexico City At Night

After spending some days in Guadalajara it was time to move on to a place I was very familiar with because I’ve already spent a decent amount of time in Mexico City last year. Like a year ago, I was able to borrow a medium format camera from my friend and shot an episode with it but since I don’t have the scans back yet, here are some images I shot on my trusty Leica Q2 Monochrom. Similar to the last videos I was again using a Pro Mist 1/4 filter and to be honest, I don’t want to shoot without it anymore, especially when shooting at night. My friend Alejandro was shooting his Leica M6 but his 35mm lens only opens up to f/3.5 and that makes things difficult when shooting in low light.

18. 1/500 - f/1.8 - ISO5000 (pushed 4 stops in Lightroom)

The Real Sir Robin 5/29/22 The Real Sir Robin 5/29/22

Shooting Street Photography In Guadalajara At Night

Just one day after filming the last episode in Guadalajara at night, my friend Ricardo came all the way from Queretaro together with his son for a day of Street Photography. The city was very busy and we decided to also shoot at night and I recorded the session to share with you.

Again, I used the Leica Q2 Monochrom with a Tiffen Black Pro Mist 1/4 filter because I really liked the results I was getting the other night. Before buying a monochrome camera I wasn’t a fan of using filters but since then I started to enjoy color filters and now also that pro mist one which gives the images a more vintage look.

In case you are wondering why I picked such a slow shutter speed when I shot the guy with a finger in his mouth. Well, the plan was to get some motion blur in the background with the moving cars and then suddenly the guy stuck his finger in his mouth and turned around. I have another picture with way less motion blur but I like this one more because it looks more dynamic and I don’t really mind that the photo isn’t that sharp.

Too bad that the film photos Ricardo took didn’t turn out great but he just recently got back into shooting film and that was his first time shooting at night with his film camera and I guess now he knows that manual exposure is the way to go.

The Real Sir Robin 5/22/22 The Real Sir Robin 5/22/22

Using This Filter At Night Is Awesome

When I was in Guadalajara I finally had the chance to try out a filter that I hadn't shot before. A friend recommended to give a Black Pro Mist a try and I did. After reviewing the results I can say that the Leica Q2 Monochrom with the Pro Mist is a great combo, especially when shot at night. Highlights are rendered much softer and the resulting look is very pleasing to the eye, at least to mine. 😁

The Real Sir Robin 5/8/22 The Real Sir Robin 5/8/22

This place is insane!

Maybe some of you remember the video I shot last year in Mazatlan Mexico, a place that was a lot of fun to shoot. Well, on this trip I had to go back there and I do it again.One more time it was absolutely crazy because there where so many people having a party on the beach and the best part is that there was pretty much nobody walking around with a camera documenting what’s going on. As a foreigner I stood out like a sore thumb, especially with a camera around my neck photographing random strangers. However, nobody really cares what you are doing and that makes it a truly great experience. The Leica Q2 Monochrom with a read filter was the perfect tool for the job.

The Real Sir Robin 5/1/22 The Real Sir Robin 5/1/22

Night Street Photography in Puerto Vallarta

Well, a place that is buzzing with life in the day time might also be a great place for shooting at night. I took out the Fuji X-E4 along with the Voigtländer 35mm f/1.2 to have some fun shooting. With a large aperture of 1.2 the lens is a very good choice to shoot in extremely dimly lit environments like I was on that night. Besides shooting some street I could also help out a local photographer who didn’t bring any lights for her shooting. She got lucky that I had an LED light in my camera bag and I assisted her for roughly 30 minutes before continuing to shoot. What a great night!