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recently i got a new lens for my M4-P — a summicron 35mm, the fourth version or “bokeh king”. this one in particular is revered for how it renders out of focus areas. i’ve often felt the 28mm was too wide on this camera. funny, since i generally shooting with wide angle lenses. as the leica is more of a carry-everywhere camera, what i shoot is quite different than when i’m doing portraits or otherwise shooting architecture.

i was shooting the first of two test rolls with the camera and new lens last weekend. i stopped in my tracks on market street downtown, when i saw a girl crouching down on the street with a bolex. shooting video on film? i had to learn more. she was shooting towards the steam and sun, her husband was walking towards here. when they stopped, i struck up a conversation about their camera. it turns out they were shooting tri-x like me, and we exchanged meter readings. it was so nerdy. in any case, i can see why they were shooting at this place and time — the combination which totally made this shot below. the light, the steam, the environment. i shot a few frames as i talked to them. this image seems to not only shine in its own right, it captures the mood of my conversation with this young couple.

san francisco is just so beautiful. i prefer to walk around when i can, and when i do i am always noticing new things – beautiful light and shadow, curious juxtapositions, and interesting characters. i find myself missing the city when i’m gone. no wonder they were filming there, at that place and at that time. i’m glad to have shared this moment and crossed paths with this like-minded couple.