Brett Buchanan Photography » photos

Leica M9 + Summilux 35mm ASPH

Brett — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 06:42:41 +0000

The Leica M9 is a beautiful accomplishment that honors the legacy of the Leica name, while advancing to the world’s first full-frame digital rangefinder.
Paired with the Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens, it’s a combination that I can’t put down.
I hope to talk more about the camera and lens, but for now, enjoy some images from my first 2 weeks with this beautiful and small setup:

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/1.7 1/60

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/2.0 1/60

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/2.0 1/750

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/2.4 1/180

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/1.7 1/180

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/1.7 1/60

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/2.8 1/250

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/2.0 1/30

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/1.4 1/12

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/9.5 1/500

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/1.7 1/60

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/1.7 1/15

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/2.0 1/30

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/6.7 1/90

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/2.0 1/30

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/4.0 1/8

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/2.8 1/30

Leica M9, Summilux 35mm ASPH; f/2.0 1/30

swim meet

Brett — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 20:50:40 +0000

here’s a recent favorite image from my niece’s first swim meet.. way to go abby!

masters thesis

Brett — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:16:11 +0000

after a few intense months of editing my masters thesis and writing a corresponding essay, i’ve finished the program and submitted the following project as my thesis. take a few moments to explore “beyond the reach”

The Flash meets Spiderman

Brett — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:21:41 +0000

One of my favorite images from Halloween in Austin the other week.

Archive Roundup

Brett — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:15:09 +0000

While sorting through many years of images today, I gathered a few images I like that slipped through the cracks.

A stir fry chef at the IFEC convention in Austin, TX

Petri dish for UT Focus on Science Publication

KDH Dance Company’s modern dancers at One World Theatre

tbg headshots

Brett — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:25:50 +0000

tbg inc., a landscape architecture firm, hired me to photograph some informal headshots of their employees in their backyard.
i made use of a westcott sunlight reflector and a diffusion panel for lighting these portraits. it was nice to be without cables, cords, and clutter of strobes while making use of available light.

Published in The Knot

Brett — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:05:54 +0000

The Knot Texas featured a recent wedding I photographed with Sharon Nicole in a 5 page editorial feature.
See the online story here.
Many thanks to my 2nd photographer Sharon for providing some of these great images and to the event planner Carmela Hartman for pitching the story. It was a beautiful wedding at The Wildflower Center with aspects of a traditional Chinese ceremony.

lights out product shoot

Brett — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:40:07 +0000

product shoot for a national candle company based in austin, lights out.
the brushed metal and metallic labels made for some nice and shiny images.
add a plate of acrylic underneath and you get a subtle reflection as well

fixed on fixed lenses

Brett — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:34:51 +0000

within the last few months, i’ve shifted from primarily shooting with zoom lenses to shooting with two fixed lenses. and that’s pretty much all i prefer now when i shoot digital.. canon’s 24mm f/1.4 L and their 50mm f/1.2 L.

not only do i gain a simplified and expected perspective, but the images are tack sharp at 100% and have a quality of light and color that can’t be beat for this range of equipment. i used to load myself down with 2 heavy cameras with zooms and often would be fighting with my gear. i now have to physically move in and out a lot more but it keeps me and my eyes active and i like traveling light. i feel i can focus on the picture making process much more.

one of my professor’s in my master’s program, homer sykes, has frequently reminded me to slow down and not shoot like i’m handling a machine gun, to be more thoughtful and purposeful with my images. and i think the switch to fixed lenses has helped me do that. i don’t feel like i need to shoot every detail, interaction, etc. anymore. and visually, i’m giving myself a little more breathing room.

the switch to film has helped me slow down even more (partially because i pay a few dollars for each image in film, developing, and scanning) i should be getting the film back from the texas-mexico border shooting in the next two days and will share some of that shortly.

in the mean-time, enjoy two images from a recent wedding from my two favorite lenses

Canon 5D, Canon 24mm f/1.4 L:1/200 sec at f/2.0

Canon 5D, Canon 50mm f/1.2 L: 1/400 sec at f/1.8

Austin Art Garage political action auction

Brett — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:56:36 +0000

Alrighty, looks like I need some discipline on habitual updates. Today’s update is what I’m currently preparing for printing. It’s an image I shot in 2005 on an urban neighborhood street in Christchurch, New Zealand during a five month journey across Southeast Asia and Australasia. It was shot with a classic 1950′s Leica M3 camera.

I’m having a standout mounted print made for Austin Art Garage’s Political Action Art Auction. You can read more about the cause, the event, and how to win this print here.