June Creak

Welcome to June’s Creak from the Chair.

Welcome to summer TLS!  And it looks like being quite a warm one again, always good for picture-taking.  Enjoy it fully.

I have two subjects for the June creak.  First up the 2026 TLS exhibition.  Whilst TLS’ finances are on an even keel, we are not in a position to fund a full exhibition, as we last did in 2024.  So we have decided to repeat the virtual exhibition success of 2025, but add in a more significant awards event to celebrate the talent of TLS.

Exhibition Submission deadline is August 23rd.  

Entry could not be simpler, all members are encouraged to share two colour and two mono digital* entries (film scans are fine of course) by email to:  chair@leicasociety.uk

Exhibition Awards

The awards event, where winners will be announced, for the first time – and prizes given – will be open to all who entered the exhibition. We will be providing celebratory refreshments. All other TLS members are welcome too, on a first apply, first gain ticket basis, based on venue capacity.  Full details to follow.  We are hoping for a date in mid to late September.

It promises to be a great event, all entries will be shown on large screen/s.  Winners and Highly Commended will be encouraged to say a few words about how their image was created.  It will be a perfect opportunity to mingle with TLS’ community over a few drinks and snacks.  A celebration of TLS’ talent indeed.

I should also stress that the entries will form the basis of TLS’ 2026 print magazine, so a further incentive to participate.  Please take part, it is so vital to TLS’ offering and to TLS’ future.

Summilux steel rim

Secondly, and much more flippantly, one of my tongue-in-cheek lens opinions.  This month’s victim is the reissued 35mm Summilux steel rim.  There are some great reviews out there, and as always Mr Slack says it so well.  My amateur ramble is limited to my opinion and a few snaps which I hope demonstrate my pontifications.

I love the lens actually.  I use it wide-open and on occasion, it delivers unique atmosphere, particularly in back-lit people studies.  Bokeh and glow can be wonderfully atmospheric… I love the rainbow flaring too.  But there is a caveat:  When you nail it, it is uniquely special.  The hit rate is something of a game of chance at 1.4.  It either excels, or can look like an error.

Dolly Parton once quipped about her appearance:  “It costs a fortune to look this cheap”. And whilst the 35mm SR is actually well-priced in Leica world, I still see it as the Dolly Parton lens, but I love Dolly Parton!

I would describe it as a special-effect lens, which is highly effective, but you would need a more conventional back-up or main, to safely cover an important shoot.

I rather love the risk aspect though, it’s a delightful lottery. I hope the images demonstrate why.  Enjoy your image making in these warm weeks.

Warmest regards, Giles

*Please ensure images are sent as JPEG 1600 pixels on the long edge, with the Title and information on the camera/lens used. Images can be made with a Leica lens on another camera body. They can also be made using any of Panasonic’s Leica MFT lenses.