Leica CL as a Work Camera?
Kerry models the Juvelprydd Jacket
Leica CL + Voigtlander Skopar 35mm f2.5
When I say that I am a knitting pattern designer, people quite literally raise an eyebrow. It is difficult to explain to those outside my industry what it is that I do for a living exactly, and how photography plays a role in it.
The job of a knitting pattern designer is to design knitwear, and draft patterns {a combination of technical writing, chart-making, and math} which knitters can then follow to make these same designs themselves. Knitting pattern designers tend to work on a freelance basis, so various entities {yarn manufacturers, yarn shops, knitting magazines} can hire us to do this work. We can also publish patterns independently and sell them directly to knitters using a popular online platform created specifically for this purpose. When publishing a pattern independently, a knitting pattern designer needs to make their own sample of the design and get this sample professionally photographed. The photographs serve two purposes: as visual illustrations of the design within the actual pattern, and as promotional/ marketing materials to sell the pattern. Depending on the designer’s level of photographic skill and experience, they either hire a photographer to do this, or take the photos themselves. As I am fortunate enough to have experience with photography, I do the latter.
So in summary: I photograph knitwear. And my client - i.e. the knitwear designer - is myself.
From a stylistic standpoint, the work is a hybrid of fashion, portrait, and product photography. My designs have a specific aesthetic that the photos need to communicate, so it is all about achieving that. From a technical standpoint, I use a fairly low-tech setup in order to get the look I want, including natural light and manual focus vintage lenses.
Since entering this line of work in 2018, I have not deviated from my DSLR + vintage lens setup in the slightest - and had no plans to do so in future, since my existing equipment seemed to work well for the look I wanted.
The unexpected acquisition of the Leica CL turned everything on its head. I preferred the casual test shots out of the Leica to the shots I would have gotten out of my DSLR in the same context. But would that translate to knitwear photos? Having used SLRs and DSLRs for the past 20 years, I had difficulty accepting the possibility that I could get by without relying on that system.
Kerry models the Jadwiga dress
Leica CL + Voigtlander Skopar 35mm f2.5
Thinking on it rationally, the look of my knitwear photos was due the vintage lenses. The SLR body only served as a lens-holding mechanism. And since it was possible to attach these very same lenses onto the Leica CL, there is no reason I could not get the same look, if not better. I would have to wait a few days to test that theory, since using my (M42 mount) lenses required an adaptor I did not yet have. But the M-to-L adaptor had already arrived, and so in the meanwhile I tried the Voigtlander Skopar lens.
The weather during the only time I could get with a model was of course horrendous and we could only take a few shots in between heavy showers. But I managed to photograph both a pastel garment and a vibrantly coloured garment.
My initial reaction is wow omg! very positive. The dynamic range with the CL is noticeably better than with my old setup, as is the level of detail in the textures. The colours, even in bad light, are more true to life. And I am seeing less blowout in the ‘difficult to photograph’ colours, as well as less fringing effects {it was the sort of day when normally both would be a problem}.
I am trying to not get too excited, and will try different photo sessions before forming an opinion. But gosh, these look promising.
