12 March

Portrait: Emma And Robin (New Lens)

by Jon Katz
Intimacy

I’m glad I brought my new Petzval 58 lens to Brooklyn. I took it out and put it on my black and white camera (monochrome) I think there are fewer things that are more intimate than a mother feeding her child, and this was the feeling I hoped to capture. There was no natural light in the room and I had to choose the right aperture plate and focus.

I thought this was exactly the feeling I was looking for, Robin watching me and pointing, Emma holding her comfortably and naturally, the window offering what little natural light there is in an apartment in Brooklyn. The Petzval captures a feeling as no other lens I know or have had. I am in love with Russian glass.

And I love taking this portrait of two women that I love so dearly. I think the best portraits are of people you love.

12 March

Create Something. The New Lens Goes To Brooklyn

by Jon Katz
Create Something

I took my Petzval lens to Brooklyn yesterday to see my daughter and granddaughter, and I had a chance to test out the swirling background check. Appropriate enough, I saw this sign – Create Something  – which was fitting. It is never simple to take a photo with this lens, but I hand cranked the focus, inserted a wide aperture plate and made the sign the center of my focus, I set the Bokeh (background) meter to full, and I saw the effect this lens is famous for.

I liked it. Beyond that, the photo captured some the schizophrenic nature of the new Brooklyn, creativity versus corporate greed and growth. I think we all know how that comes out. The camera had a great first day with me, but it requires a whole new understanding of light and photography The Petzval 58 invented in 1840 and uses Russian glass.  It is a manual focus lens with no image stabilization or electronics and an ancient gear mechanism for focusing and uses metal places to set the Aperture.

It has a very distinctive look.

12 March

Windowsill Gallery: Peacock Feather

by Jon Katz
Peacock Feather

My new Petzval 58 lens does some amazing things with light and background. We got this peacock feather at a concert performed by the musician Athena Burke and Maria just put it in a vase on the windowsill. I was drawn to the shape, the Petzval takes some work, but the rumor were true, the Russian glass is different from any other. I did some in color, I’ll put them up also. This lens is very exciting. It is not for everyone, for sure, and is not simple to use. But I think the payoff will be worth it.

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