Santino

52Frames - Week 16 - Portrait Of A Stranger

Along Lake Michigan

Chicago, IL

A fortuitous encounter with a willing stranger; I asked and he agreed.  Turns out Santino is a model, photographer, cinematographer, dancer and a few other creative endeavors that I cannot recall.  Here, he's executing his Michael Jackson move.

Leica CL @ F2.8 | 50mm | Fujifilm 200 (converted to b/w) | ISO 200

Leitz Wetzlar 50mm F2 Summicron

All Photographed 4/16/26

Complementary Comfort

Chicago, IL

The colors & reflections through the storefront jumped out at me. When Steve moved into the frame, it was a "must take" scene.

Leica CL @ f5.6 | 1/?? sec | 50mm | ISO 160

Leitz Wetzlar 50mm F2 Summicron

Photographed 4/9/26

Triplets

Chicago, IL

Leica CL @ f5.6 | 1/??? sec | 50mm | ISO 160

Leitz Wetzlar 50mm F2 Summicron

Photographed 4/9/26

Favorite Combo

52 Frames - Week 1 - Self-Portrait

Here we go...on to Year 7.  I intend to do the entire challenge in B/W...unless the prompt itself specifically requires color. l also intend to submit as many "slice of life" photos for the challenge as possible vs. staging the scene (like this photo).

2025 was a re-entrée into film photography.  Here I'm contemplating 2026 with my favorite film combination - Leica CL w/ Voigtländer 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic.

Sony A7IV @ f2.8 | 1/250 | 50mm | ISO 6400

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 1/1/26

Finished The Roll

I was itching to get out and finish a roll of film I had loaded in this camera, so on a cold day went to the historic town of Long Grove, IL for a photowalk.

Leica CL | 40mm | Ilford HP5+ | ISO 400

Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Mill Pond

8'-6"

All In A Row

 

Sleigh Ride

Testing The Ice

Long Grove, IL

Cold weather brought on the freezing of creeks and ponds. Fortunately, this one held, but this young person didn't venture out too far.

Leica CL @ 40mm | Ilford HP5+ | ISO 400

Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 12/21/25

Childhood Hero

Beers & Cameras-Chicago

Graceland Cemetery meet-up

Chicago, IL

An excellent meet-up, especially for those who've never been to Graceland before.  Of all the renown folks buried here, this is the one site I did not want to miss.

I remember meeting Ernie Banks in person at Wrigley Field as a kid.

Leica CL @ 40mm | Ilford HP5+ | ISO 400

Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 11/22/25

Expired Film Test

On 10/25/25, I took a drive up to Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, IL in order to shoot some landscape photos using a fairly new to me Leica CL film camera and Leica 50mm F2 Summicron lens.  I was fairly confident using these two pieces of gear.  What I was not confident about was how the 25-30 year old expired color film would perform.  I did convert some to black & white as it was more conducive to the subject matter.

In the end, I was reasonably pleased; but you be the judge.

 

Bronzeville

On 9/27/25, Beers & Cameras_Chicago and local photographer Malik Zambezi (@malikshotyou) organized a fabulous photowalk through the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago.  It was well attended by both B&C_Chi members and local community photographers, models and content creators.

The photograph of the model, Zy, below is my favorite of the day.  Taking a poll of my viewers - color or B/W?  Please let me know your preference.

 

The Walk

Message Of The Day

Golden

Zy

Zy

Sitting On The Dock

52 Frames - Week 39 - Soundtrack

Waukegan Harbor

Waukegan, IL

One intention with this week's challenge was to shoot it with film and process at home in time to meet the deadline.

Out shooting with a recently acquired film camera and a new (to me) lens, this scene immediately brought to mind the infamous Otis Redding song.

Leica CL @ 50mm | Kodak Tri-X 400 | ISO 400

Leitz Wetzlar 50mm F2 Summicron

Photographed 9/24/25

Packing Tape Hat Guy

Wolff's Flea Market

Rosemont, IL

One thing about shooting on film...you never know if you're going to get open or closed eyes 😬.

Leica CL @ f8 | 40mm | Portra 160 (expired) | ISO 160

Voigtlander VM 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 8/31/25

Conversations

Capturing scenes of people having conversations with inanimate objects at Wolff's Flea Market in Rosemont, IL on 8/31/25.  Photographed using a 1973 vintage Leica CL film camera w/ a Voigtlander VM 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic lens on expired Kodak Portra 160 film.  Home developed and scanned.

 

Conversation 1

Conversation 2

Old Russian Guy

Wolff's Flea Market

Rosemont, IL

He struck up a conversation after seeing our cameras. Didn't understand 90% of what he said, but in the end he agreed to a portrait.

Leica CL @ f8 | 40mm | Portra 160 (expired) | ISO 160

Voigtlander VM 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 8/31/25

Shadow Play

Taking advantage of the evening light to test out a new (to me) film camera as these two shadows approach from behind.

Leica CL @ f? | 40mm | Ilford XP2 | ISO 400

Voigtlander VM 40mm F2.8 Heliar

Photographed 8/2/25

Take Refuge...

Rain or shine, you're covered.  And the woman in the last photo was not taking any chances.

These were photographed at Old Orchard on August 5, 2025 using a 1973-1974 vintage Leica CL camera loaded with Kodak Ultramax 400 film and a 1948 vintage Leica 50mm F2 Summitar lens.

Calm Down...

Good street advice in Evanston, IL

Leica CL @ f8 | 40mm | Kodak Ultramax 400 | ISO 400

Voigtlander VM 40mm F2.8 Heliar

Photographed 8/5/25