BACK TO KYRGYZSTAN: A Photographic Journey With Jean Gaumy
Jean Gaumy’s initial project sought to photograph a Kyrgyz community living in the very high mountains of Tajikistan. However when he arrived in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, he found the border was closed due to the recent assassination of a Tajik politician. After a waiting period at the border, it became clear that he had to find a replacement plan. Playing with chance and luck, our protagonist decided to travel to Kyrgyzstan, a place seemingly captured in time, trusting in the people he would meet. Following gut instincts is just part of the photographer’s job, as usual….
This first episode focuses on his arrival in Biskek.
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OK, let me jump on this one and state 2 important facts:1) these pictures were taken in October 2012, at a stage at which we did not have but the very first prototypes of the Leica M. That´s the reason why Jean went to Kyrgyzstan only with the M9 to begin shooting and was brought a prototype of the M after a few days; 2) this is the begining of a series which shows how a photographers works in real life on a timely limited assignement and in that case copes with a subject that does not jump into your face. This is not about showing proofs of performance for the Leica M; this cannot be compared with a personal photo project for which the photographer has more time and freedom. Out of respect for a photographer that engages his name on this challenge, I´d like you to keep this in mind.
By the way…..this is how Leica is: we don´t present you technical perfect pictures of a beautiful scenery taken with a tripod, we show you a photographer at work. I am sure that you´ll be able to see the first technical tests from independant testers pretty soon.
^JJ with Leica
Let me tell :I am not at all convinced by these pictures. The exif shows a mix of M9 and new M (typ 240) pictures. The skin tones on the ladies in wedding dress are just ugly.
I don’t find either the M9 ones (Coca Cola picture) worthy of an M9 !
The photograph probably used a very bad raw processor to generate these these poor quality jpeg files.
Anyway, I won’t put 6200 Eur to achieve such poor pictures !
as if leica would send a guy with the new m away take some shots and totally make sure the pictures (plus the exif information that says leica m) got published before the camera is presented. it was the same with the m9, exif said m8. i don’t know why all this is such a big deal. the pictures doesn’t look very special in my eyes, sorry…
For the love of God… give the camera to somebody who is going to create some compelling images that will help to show off the camera & lens!! These are freaken boring. Who gives a crap. Is there nobody in charge of marking!? Leica has potential buyers all over the world just holding their breath for something exciting. I WANT to want this camera… and all Leica needs to do is pour a little “gas on the fire” to make me put my list on a waiting list. Instead they pour water on this glowing flame of anticipation with these totally boring releases.
I remember when Canon came out with the 5Dmk2 with video and they gave it to Vincent Laforet to create those first videos… and people went nuts with frenzied excitement! This is LAME.
Look at the photo of the meat market… there is all kinds of noise & pixelation around the first guys face. WTH? Maybe I was stupid to consider getting a Leica digital camera… I will stick with my M6.
Chris
Interesting response to a sensor that was not yet used.
I don’t know why there are so many technical comments…i find this extract a good little story about a man exploring a place and realizing a personal work…I don’t think it was a camera test…??
thanks all.
seeing the video I spotted many more compelling stories/people to capture.
looking forward to a better series of tests.
I have the Leica M9 and love it. Yesterday I almost pre-ordered the Leica M Type 240. Last night I found this site and after seeing the sample photos I’m glad I did not place the order. I didn’t see any improvements over the M9. Shai W hit the nail on the head with suggestions to improve the M9. Lose the CMOS sensor, video, and live view, keep the CCD, the 6400 ISO, and the improved rear display, add GPS and you have a perfect digital camera. Meanwhile, the $7000 for the M Type 240 can be better used elsewhere.
I think it is fair to check the prototype and not enhance the photographs with some elaborate set up as the Japanese Camera vendors do and then let people imagine that the camera did the trick. However, what was taken was as candid as it can be and thank Leica to have the courage to present it to the world the way it is. I am sure Leica M is a great camera and there will be people who will be able to show you the best out of it. I am eagerly waiting for it but, as Leica said the M9 is there to stay for some more time. The CCD sensor does wonders to images which I presume the CMOS in M will match up but may not replace.
It will be a while for me to catch with the M and I think I can well run with the ME for now, which is slightly better than the M9 because of its improved shutter and the color, which I like. However, the used M9′s would be a great buy for now.
à 6200€ je préfère faire un don à une ONG pour sauver des vies que d’avoir le sentiment d’appartenir à un mythe disparu …
un produit de luxe rien de plus … est ce que ça a encore du sens à notre époque ?
Leica M an absolute Legend!!
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I find it interesting that, seemingly knowledgeable Photographers, would state their notion of “withdrawing their names from a wait list” for the Leica M because of a few images they have found to be, at best “unimaginative” in viewing.
You would have to be fairly myopically focused to think a 24 mp sensor isn’t going to produce STUNNING images upon it’s release, in a new Leica.
What’s really wonderful is the response from M9 owners stating (other than higher ISO noise) that it still is one of the better imaging machines out there.
What happened to Jean Gaumy??!! he forgot photography???
The photos are really good. A different style from JG. Sort of like Alex Webb.The colors less intense though. Adieu Kodachrome.
Leica allowed the shots to be seen without vast “shop”. Interesting how many commented here and elsewhere about the sensor..
Leica is perfect for this type of journalistic reportage.Simple camera, one or two lenses.The limited means allows the photographer to be creative, on his own terms.
Way to go!
Please quit picking on the photographers or sites like this will cease to be.
That said. It is just a 24 meg digital sensor. Even Leica can’t save that. Looks like typical digital. No lens character in the OOF areas. Hard sharpness or not sharp.
I’m going back to film. No joke.
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