Monthly Recap 🔴 Jun26
Photography related posts, videos and hopefully a source of inspiration!
Flickr portrait of the month (Most liked)
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Founded in 2013, I share my experiences and reviews of Leica, film cameras, lenses + more. View the last 100 blog posts and search 400+ articles. Photos? See Flickr and Instagram.
Last month
May started at a friend’s villa in France for a multi-day cycling trip, next the annual Patreon meet-up in London, followed by a flight to Poland. Coming up – photos, updates plus the latest YouTube videos and blog posts from the last 30 days.
Trying to catch up
After struggling to keep up with life over the last few months I’m starting to make headways again. I’m still well behind on Substack and Instagram posts but I’ve uploaded images to Flickr and managed 4 videos in 9 days towards the end of May. The most for a long time.
YouTube – boxing myself in
After publishing almost 600 YouTube videos I think most people now see me as their goto guy for Leica M mount lens reviews. That’s great, but the problem I’ve created for myself is, if I dare to make a video that isn’t a rangefinder lens review, views are down 65-75%. (3 people even unsubscribed when I posted my latest video as I dared to try something different).
More variety
I love testing lenses (Really – I do it for myself) but it would be nice to be more than just a lens review monkey. I’m trying to mix things up a little as I’m sure not everyone wants to watch constant lens reviews. For one, it can get expensive watching weekly lens reviews if the lenses are good!
My plan is to perhaps do –
- 60% lens reviews
- 30% other reviews (Lighting, analogue stuff, latest tech, like action cams)
- 10% miscellaneous (More about actually making images than just gear talk)
My ask is, if you see me post a video that isn’t titled “Lens X”, perhaps still give it a click regardless of the title. Why? I do the same stuff most weeks – travel, test stuff, photograph models, shoot Leica, shoot film, document it all, repeat. All my videos contain these same topics even if I’m mentioning a different product.
Print baby print
OK my latest obsession is printing. I finally treated myself to a home printer and the joy it brings is seemingly endless. I’ll make a YouTube video with all the info when I can, I’m just waiting on some more photo paper to arrive to test.
I think normal people would likely approach printing like getting a new camera or lens. Buy it, use it, enjoy it, done. Not me. As a lens review junky I can’t just use a printer with one paper or one default setting. Instead I need to do a million test prints using 30+ different papers types and multiple profiles per paper.
Safe to say after 100+ hours of printing I fast tracked my learning pretty quick and I can now make really nice prints.
New Print Store
Last year I had photobook zines printed externally (I have a couple of the Travel books + Legacy model books remaining). Now I have a printer I can control everything in house. Time to print some of my favourite images as limited prints!
For June 2026 I’ve done my first print launch since setting up this blog in 2013. 15 different images split over postcard sets and large limited prints.
- Large prints (Limited prints, run of 10 for each size)
- Girls with Cameras (Collectable postcards, set of 5)
- Analogue Travels (Collectable postcards, set of 5)
If you’re interested in a 1 of 10 print grab one today before I announce them on YouTube. (Shipping costs are now calculated at checkout and it’s a flat rate so you can save with multi-buys).
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Annual Patreon meet at PhotoLondon
Every May we have our annual Patreon meet at PhotoLondon where guys fly in for the weekend to get together. This would be our 4th year and it was our biggest gathering so far.
PhotoLondon moved from Somerset House to Olympia this year and the new venue was a big improvement. (I say that, the light was great but they need more seating areas better food/ drinks options).
The problem with attending these events as a group is we chat so much and people stop to say hi (Great meeting some of you!) Even with the full 8 hours? from opening we still struggled to get round to see everything. (Upstairs was a mad rush in the last hour before they kicked us out!).
If you need some inspiration to start printing your work, I highly recommend attending a gallery event like PhotoLondon. See what people are selling and it might give you ideas for your own work.
A few film scans from the main day. You can see more in my Yashica T3 post.
London photoshoots
We had Sofia join us for the Patreon weekend so we did some photoshoot too. If you’ve already read the Yashica T3 article you will have seen these but here are a few colour film samples.
Poland Trip
After planning less travel for May I got itchy feet mid-month and booked last minute flights to Gdansk (sub-£40 return). (Way better than a day in London and the same travel cost!) See my Travel ebook for how.
A model friend picked me up at the airport and we did a location shoot day 1. Day 2 – I explored the city and met another model. Day 3 – The model from day 1 picked me up and we drove to a few locations then she dropped me at the airport after. A very productive and fun 3 days.
Model photography eBooks
Always wanted to try model photography? Start today with my eBooks!
London Leica workshop
I spend a day with one of my students in London and we walked around, took photos, caught the Uber boat and ended at a few cameras stores to get her kitted out. Photo below shot with my Leica MP.
Workshops in Europe this summer
After being flown to Texas to teach in April the weather is now improving for Europe for the summer. May was local London workshops, June I fly to Poland for a 2-day workshop in Gdansk and then travel to Prague to teach.
If you’re planning to visit Europe this summer and want to arrange a day together do get in touch and I can look to arrange to meet you (like I’m doing for the Poland and Czech Republic workshops). Check my availability
Help via Zoom
Zoom calls let me assist photographers around the world remotely. Whether it’s new cameras/ lenses, portrait lighting techniques or portfolio reviews I can help. Read the Zoom testimonials and check my availability.
Workshop survey
Complete the survey to register your interest in a MrLeica workshop near you.
Future travel plans
Here are my provisional travel plans. Maybe I’m coming to a city near you or somewhere you’d like to visit. Feel free to contact me to organise a workshop.
JUNE 2026
- Gdansk, Poland – 2-day private workshop (Australian student)
- Poland roadtrip – Testing camera gear with Patreon friends
- Prague – Private workshop (UK student will meet me there)
JULY 2026
- Spain – Joining family for their summer holiday
- TBC – Will book something when I get a chance
AUGUST 2026
- TBC – I’ve not had time to plan anything else yet
Coming to London?
Check my availability if you’d like to meet up while you’re in London –
Digital photographers
If you follow me you know I love Leica cameras and my preference for film vs digital.
- Digital cameras – Leica CL, SL 601, SL2S, M262, M10P + Lumix S9
- Lenses – See all lens reviews. I’m testing a few I can’t mention yet
- Editing with presets – All my images are RAW + LR preset
View GearList for recommended products & discount codes
Film photographers
- Film – I bought Kodak XX for 2026 but shooting colour/ old XP2 first
- Cameras – Really enjoying the Leica M4 and Leica MP 0.85 combo
- Film Developing – I use 1:3 Kodak Xtol + dash if Rodinal in 3 reel tanks
- Film Scanning – See this video for how I scan film using a Valoi Easy120
- Darkroom Printing – When I get time – Mostly 5×7 + some 8×10
- Photobooks – Check availability + Receive updates
- Prints – NEW PRINT SHOP – Coming soon – Receive updates
Colour film project ..gets extended
After trying colour film again at the start of 2026 I finished my developer and was ready to get back to my usual B&W. I then bought myself a Yashica T3 and that kicked off my urge to shoot more colour film.
If you read my latest article on “RIP Cinestill” you’ll know that I just bought some fresh Kodak Vision3 500T AHU film from Analog Revival. I got a few other films to try too + a new pack of colour film developer.
This means another 24 rolls of colour film to come in the next 8 weeks or so. I better get started!
Directory: Leica Repairs + Leica YouTubers
Have feedback following a Leica service, repair or CLA? See the Leica Repair Directory page. What are your favourite Leica YouTuber channels?
Latest YouTube videos
Catch up on YouTube videos (Last 30 days) –
Leica Lenses Magic with ANY Camera
THumb-sized camera
New Thypoch ksana 35mm f2 lens (M)
new 28mm edc – thypoch eureka 28mm f2.8(M)
my new point & Shoot (vs Leica)
3-way photoshoot (leica zoom vs primes)
Latest blog posts
400+ written posts (+ full res images) to supplement my YT videos
- New in LeicaLand: May26
- Will Kodak Vision3 AHU replace Cinestill?
- Yashica T3 (Affordable Contax T2 Alternative)
Patreon post (shared)
Join over 1000 members to see more content. Here are some Patreon articles you may have missed (Join us today!)(Patreon testimonials) –
- “I’ve learnt so much since buying my printer!“- Free to view
- “Tenerife Client Job” – Members
Coming up next month..
June it’s going to be busy. Workshops bookings for London, Gdansk and Prague plus a trip across Poland. It seems to be new lens season again too. I have 4 new lenses on my desk to review, 2 more coming in the post and 2 that have been delayed. (I also have a new light coming and a new scanner unit to test!)
I’ll be busy but on the plus side, this means lots of photography, plenty of excuses to shoot film and more new videos in the pipeline. Subscribe!
YouTube video – spotlight
The first lens YouTube video for June will be a new ultra-tiny 35mm f2.8 lens available in both M and LTM mount. Before that I might post a video sharing my latest photography obsession to try to inspire you.
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