Looking Back …. Leica SL (typ601) Test drive

     It was June 21, 2016. I was at Samy's Camera (LA) picking up the recently released Leica SL. The evaluation copy had been organized by Tibor(RIP old friend) through Ebi our regional Leica rep. The SL came with an f/2.8-4.0 24-90 Vario-Elmarit lens, a good range, however quite heavy. I had the use of the camera for a week. At the time was looking to move away from Canon, they were late in the mirrorless move. One major consideration besides cost itself, since I was shooting pro boxing, was service … more on this later. The body and lens total with sales tax was around $15k … I had to sign a voucher for full value. At the time I was not only shooting Canon, but also Leica M (typ 240) and Leica MM (typ 246).
Putting the camera through its paces. I shot a range of situations as well as some boxing training in the gym. Although the output is color, I convert to b&w, my preference as to how I show my work. Here are 16 shots from that test drive. I left 2 shots in the native color.

My very first shot....since I spend a great deal of time at the beach, 

it seemed like a good starting point.

As mentioned color shots are a rarity.

Next up, boxing. A young Oscar Valdez was traing while 2 other fighters were sparing at The Rock.

Oscar on the heavy bag.

Then down to Little Saigon. Iced vietnamese coffee, with iced tea chaser.

A Buddhist nun at Chua Hue Quang. One of the many Buddhist temples in the area.

Sunken City in San Pedro, Fermin Point, perfect for landscape & seascape.

Walker's Cafe, unfortunately did not survive the Covid Lockdown.

A final shot, San Pedro looking towards Terminal Island.

    In a 5 day period, numerous locations and 391 shot, I put the camera through its paces. The full gamut of my photo needs. I was left with a very positive impression. Interestedly enough, a week after this test shoot I started another TV series. The file was put aside, actually forgotten. I just very recently resurrected it, and felt I needed to do the test drive justice with this post.

As always all images are copyrighted, ©PeterPolitanoff, and may not be reproduced without explicit consent. You are more than welcome however to point to or mention this page.

    

Tsukiji Fish Market Closed

After 83 years the Tsukiji fish market closed this past Saturday (October 6), it will reopen Thursday (October 11) at its new site on the Toyosu waterfront. I guess on my next trip to Tokyo I will have to visit the new site.

Here are some images of the old market;

As always, all images are copyrighted, ©PeterPolitanoff, and may not be used without explicit consent.  You are more than welcome to link to the site.

All images shot with Leica M typ240 Monochrome camera and Leica lenses.

The Last Days of Yonekura Gym, Tokyo Japan

     The last fighters have completed their training, the final bout to be fought. At the end of this month Kenji Yonekura (former Olympian and OPBF Bantamweight champion), due to to failing health, unable to find someone to take over the reigns, will be forced to close his gym. The Yonekura Boxing Gym, which opened in 1963, will become part of Tokyo’s boxing history. The gym has produced 50 champions including 5 world champions.
     Several of my friends who trained at the gym, asked me if I would like to shoot some images of the last remaining days. I agreed. I took the train from Shinjuku to Mejiro Station, walked a few blocks along the train tracks, and arrived at the gym. The building looked very non-descript, the only tip off was the boxing caricatures.

Entering the Gym you immediately feel the sense of history. Not only the age and character of the physical structure but also the history displayed on the walls. A prefect movie location.

Only a few fighters who had not left for other gyms were there training and still living at their quarters upstairs. Some fighters and trainers went to Misako Gym in Itabashi, others went to Teiken Gym in Kagurazaka. One of those remaining, Tsuyoshi Tameda, has a fight coming up the end of this month, the others were staying until the lights were turned off and the doors closed for the last time.

Kimihiro Nakagawa on the speed bag.

Tsuyoshi Tameda with his trainer Takehiro Shimada, watching training videos in preparation for his August 22 fight. This fight will be the last where a fighter represents Yonekura Gym. I am sure it will be filled with emotion. I would like to be ringside for that one, but regrettably I'm 5500 miles away.

I managed to talk trainer Chikara Machida into showing off on the speed bag.

Peering into the window, I thought what a shame, all this history will be lost.

Leaving the building, off to catch a train, to another boxing gym. I walk away having made a few more new friends, and having captured some of Tokyo and Japan's boxing legacy. A 53 year legacy for Yonekura Boxing Gym.

All images Leica M typ240 & Leica M-P typ240, w/ Leica 35mm & 50mm lenses

As always all images are Copyright Peter Politanoff / RedStarImage, and may not be reproduced without explicit consent. You are more than welcome however to link to this site.

A Link to my Magnum Photography Awards 2017 Submission

https://www.lensculture.com/magnum-photography-awards-2017/event-submission/334332?utm_campaign=96-submit&utm_content=submit&utm_medium=social&utm_source=fb-social

As always all images are copyright Peter Politanoff

Casting in Bronze at The California Sculpture Academy; 2016.12.03

The plaster molds had been prepared the week before. Dried and in the kiln heated to a temperature of 1400-1500 degrees F. The molds must be hot enough to accept the liquid bronze which will be at 2200 degrees F.

For todays pouring 120 lbs of bronze are melted in the furnace.

 Academy founder,  Brandon Roy outlines the order of the steps in the procedure.

 Impurities in the liquid are removed by adding salt and piece of glass, this forms a slag which is easily scraped off the top of the molten mass.

 Once the bronze has reached temperature and is in a liquid state, the plaster molds are removed from the kiln,

 Then placed in dry sand, to keep them upright and in place for the pour.

 One of the plaster molds broke while heated in the kiln, the pouring cup had broken off from the mold. Brandon is quickly patching the mold. Since part of the pour was an edition of 5 pieces, it would have meant another several week delay to complete the order.

 The crucible with the liquid bronze is raised from the furnace and put into a special yoke.

 After the metal has set up the molds are pulled out of the sand, left to cool for an hour or so before the plaster is removed.

Special thanks to Brandon Roy, The California Academy of Sculpture, and VetArt.Org.

As always, all images are copyright Peter Politanoff and may not be reproduced without explicit consent. You are more than welcome however to link to this site.

All images shot with Leica cameras & lenses