Retrospective May 2025
We're at five of these already...
Here we find ourselves again, another month flying past at light speed. It really does feel like this month has been the first and last week with just a blank space in between. I really do find these newsletters cathartic in the sense of looking back and acknowledging the things that I do month to month.
This is especially helpful in the current phase of life I am in. My daughter is now 15 months and keeps my wife and I on our toes in the best way possible. My day job as a software developer is also doing really well so we’re all incredibly busy solving good problems to have.
This month I wouldn’t say there is much final products to show but a lot of irons in the fire for things to come and new projects to work on. All in all it’s been another very good month.
I reached out and started submitting some images to True Stock this month. I had seen some ads of theirs on Instagram and after doing a little more looking was really interested with them as a company which is why I reached out originally. I ended up jumping on a call with Tanmay the CEO and we went from there.
Stock photography is new to me but I like that True Stock is all Australian based so even snapshots I have taken around that feel very Australian can appeal to clients.
I was talking to Iain Farrell from the Prime Lenses podcast earlier in the month about printing and photo books and he mentioned Blurb’s trade books being a good value for money option for printing. I would love to print more bodies of work like the images from Queenstown I took but making a book can get expensive quick. These little trade books could be a great option to get ink to paper on a smaller scale. Watch this space.
There is always another lens isn’t there?
I feel that one plight almost all photographers have is the always ‘whats next’ feeling with gear. I love gadgets and gear so it plagues me. My current research is on 28mm lenses for my M10. After buying the Voigtlander 35mm Ultron I have started thinking about other focal lengths I don’t really use and if they deserve a spot in the bag. I am in no rush with a 28 so it’s often quite a passive look, also I am kind of waiting to see if this Voigtlander 28mm APO comes into existence that was really brushed over at CP+ earlier in the year.
Prime Lenses - Focus Points
The video is out! It came out a day after last months newsletter hit inboxes. It was such a fun chat and there is now another one which is the part 1 with Perry.
This was a little side quest we went on after a lunch in Robertson and wow it was a gem. Perfect length for my daughter to explore without being to far or hard for her little legs. the 600mm loop track was absolutely stunning and I couldn’t believe that it was walking distance from the main street of town.
Captured my interest
Fujifilm X Half - Well hasn’t this just split the internet right down the middle. I have spoken to so many people who sit on both sides of the fence. I personally sit in the camp of happily acknowledging that it is over priced (at RRP), and a lot of marketing fluff. Having said that the more I learn about it the more I think its stupid… but I love stupid things and I want one desperately. This really feels like it could hit a following of bringing back things that are fun for the sake of fun. They don’t have to appeal to everyone but the people that love them deeply love them.
Also the launch of the Panasonic S1II and the Sony FX2 also having a lot of complaints being made about them really does show that it doesn’t matter what is launched, someone will have a strong opinion about it.
Very Good Presets - Monochrom L - The latest preset pack from Dave and the team at VGP instantly perked my ears when I heard what it was based on. As someone who has owned one of the Leica Monohrom sensors with it’s pure black and white sensor giving you results that are just different. I still look at images I have taken on that camera and there is just something about them thats incredible. This preset pack is based on the goal of getting as close to that as possible which is no small feat.
The Real Reason We Pick Up A Camera - My measure of a brilliant video like this is that no matter when I watch it I want to pickup a camera and head out to take photos. Jay Moxais is a fantastic photography and brilliant story teller.
Small prints, BIG IMPACTS - I loved this idea. I have an Instax mini link 2 and love printing out little images for some small albums we have around the house. I also sent an Instax version of the larger print I sent to Iain form Queenstown. I may have already ordered tiny stickers to use on things by the time you’re reading this.
Brandon Talbo’s live streams - I have enjoyed a Friday morning ritual of joining into Brandon’s livestreams he has been doing which have been really great. He chats to some really good guests and is very responsive to the chat giving some great insight.
Best of May 2025 Gallery
That wraps up May
Another month down and we’re halfway through the year already, Really crazy to think as it feels like it has gone past so quickly already. Looking through my Lightroom catalog for the year shows an interesting spread. Lots of photos being taken (except for March for some reason). It’s been a very good year for taking photos, and here’s to may more.
Bye for now,
Tom
