July’s Creak from the Chair
Dear TLS community, I hope you are enjoying this hot summer…perhaps too hot and dry for many, me included. But clear skies bring good light and that can yield a good photo harvest.
We hope you enjoyed the second edition of the online magazine, I think Phil Coomes has delivered another content rich edition which features the talent of our Society so effectively. We are working on edition three and that should also set a high bar.
Talking of high bars, entries for the 2026 TLS exhibition are steadily arriving. And the standard is extremely high already. Thanks to all who have contributed and please keep them coming; for those yet to share, please take the plunge. We love to see your images and plan to use them as the body of the annual TLS review printed magazine.
To remind on rules: Four images per entrant, in colour or mono, or a mix of both. Must use a Leica camera and or lens. Awards for best colour and mono pair and best overall image received.
Deadline is August 23rd, please send entries to chair@leicasociety.uk, and of course I will happily answer any questions too.
We are hoping to stage an awards event in the Autumn, details to follow and all welcome to attend, we may need to charge a modest entry fee to help with venue and F&B costs. We will keep that as low as possible. I hope to share the plan in my next creak, if not before.
To close out my July creak (and you will be relieved to know there is no August creak, we all need a break) another non-expert lens opinion. Lucky lens this month is the 28mm f5.6 summaron.
The smallest lens Leica makes for the M and that is a significant part of its joy. No one is disturbed by such a discreet and rather charming device, it enables candid snapping opportunism with ease. And can often spark conversation and engagement. It’s the friendly lens.
Yes, f5.6 is a reality-check for we ‘lux lovers: It is a very different look and low-light is not its friend, even on an M11. It thrives in good light and the little summaron, focussed carefully, still separates subject from background. I do on occasion use it on a bike ride, set at two meters focus at f5.6, it captures the world I see, so well. And its tiny size is why I fling it, with an M, over a shoulder for a bike ride, a walk, even a business meeting…and that is a true benefit. You always have it with you.
In summary, the summaron 28 is a very useful companion for travels and for when you just need the lightest, most discreet rig. It’s a pocket sized gem and great fun to use. I love it. It is a joyous niche and I hope the snaps shared show why.
Enjoy Les Grands Vaccances.
Warmest regards, Giles
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