🔴 Monthly Recap – Oct25
Newsletter: 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
September saw me post the least videos since I started YouTube in 2019. When I had a 9-5 job (plus commute = 7-7 job), I had very limited time for photography. Since going full time with YouTube and quitting my Finance career a few years back I thought I’d have endless time. Sadly not.
For multiple years I was putting out two new YouTube videos each week. More recently, I tried to get fancier with the footage so videos took twice as long to make (same number of views and likes). That pretty much used up all my time each week which resulted in 3-6 months without developing any film.
By September, I was desperate to start developing my film again so I “used up” my available time processing some of my film pile. (I even managed a few hours in my converted bathroom to print a few images in the darkroom!) As a result video dropped to one per week. This might be the norm in the near term until I can catch up with everything.
Leica SL2-S presets
Finally I’ve made my Leica SL2-S preset pack for Lightroom available to download. Rather than 3 presets + 1 free this pack is bigger with 5 presets + 2 presets free. I use these presets to edit all my colour and black and white images from my Leica SL2-S camera. I’ve even been enjoying the presets applied to my Leica M10-P RAW files and Leica SL 601 RAW files. I hope you like them too and find a list of MrLeica presets here.
Photo books and prints
I’ve found a UK print company that looks promising so I’m hoping to make a photobook or zine available before Christmas 2025. I’m just waiting to receive paper samples so I can decide what my work best for my B&W images and then I can start to put the book together.
I’ve also started printing in the darkroom again after a break so look out for some examples in YouTube videos to follow. If you’re interested in my books or prints please add your preferences here –
Blog Insiders: New platform coming!
As mentioned last month my plan is to merge Patreon, Leica Club members and Blog Insiders all into one new do-everything platform. A mix of free access and tiered access and bringing all my services into one place. I hope to complete this over the next 12 months.
Help me, help you! (Poll)
If you’ve not already completed the poll please answer 5 quick questions –
Leica Owner? Join the Leica Club
- See full info here or enter your details below:
Portfolio shoot 2 – Czech Republic
This was my third visit to the Czech Republic in recent months. I asked Patreon Tobi if he wanted to go back to the forest cabin for more model shoots so we did that. See the location in the TTArtisan 75mm f2 lens YouTube video.
The plan was Tobi would drive from Germany and pick me up (plus bring the lighting gear). We’d do a 10K run each morning, I’d cook breakfast, then models arrive. Two full days of shoots then day three we head to Prague before I flew home. See the BTS videos on Patreon.
My goal was to test with digital and shoot the proper images on film (120 and 35mm). Plan is to then print some of the negatives in the darkroom. Here are a few samples –
Model photography eBooks
If model photography is something you’ve always wanted to try but you just don’t know where to start, check out my eBooks –
Leica workshops
My Leica and model photography workshops are usually in London but I teach in Europe too.
London workshops
Patreon Rich flew in from Chicago for a workshop with Hannah so we booked a studio in London. The first photo below was my most liked photo of the month on Flickr, shot with his beautiful Leica Noctilux 75mm f1.25 lens. Peter (now also a Patreon) joined me in London for a full day and we shot with Nicola in the afternoon.
Poland Workshop
Sundeep asked if he could join me in Gdansk, Poland in September so it was great to be teaching in Poland again. Gdansk is perfect for pure Leica workshops where we walk around the city master our Leica cameras (normally M cameras for this), and for model shoots.
As Sundeep was more interested in how I organise my Polish model shoots I arranged two models, Veronika and Amelia as part of our full day workshop. See a few sample photos below and download my free eBook to see how I find models.
Leica MP film photos
Sundeep was shooting along side me so it was fascinating to see how his film images looked. I’ll do a full post for Patreon but here are a few samples. We both used Leica M film cameras (I used my Leica M7, Sundeep had his Leica MP). I developed and scanned my own film, Sundeep got his film lab processed. We did use different lenses and I share two of his sharpest negatives (with Kodak T-Max 400). Well done Sundeep!
Book a workshop
Now you can check my availability and book your workshop in advance –
MrLeica 1:1 workshops
The beauty of 1:1 teaching vs. groups is I can meet your individual needs –
- Lightroom+Photoshop editing
- Film and digital cameras
- Portfolio reviews + Instagram
- Vintage lens/ camera help
- 1 or 2 professional models
- Available light, LED or flash
- Try before you buy (lenses)
- Indoor spaces or outside
- Leica gear shopping (old&new)
Remote tuition via Zoom
Zoom calls let me help photographers buying new cameras, lenses, and assist with mastering a Leica camera remotely. Students ask me to mentor them so I cover that too. Check my availability and feel free to get in touch. See Zoom testimonials.
Workshop survey
Complete the survey to register your interest in a MrLeica workshop near you
Future travel plans
Contact me to book a workshop. Here are my provisional travel plans –
OCTOBER 2025
- Poland, GdaÅ„sk – Photoshoots (GdaÅ„sk – YouTube) Request Poland workshops
- Budapest, Hungary –Â Photoshoots (Budapest – YT)Â Request Budapest workshops
- Netherlands –Â Private workshop + Photoshoots (Previous trip – YouTube)
NOVEMBER 2025
- Valencia, Spain – Join me for a private workshop (Valencia trip – YouTube)
- Alicante, Spain (near) – Join me for a private workshop (Alicante trip – YouTube)
- TBC – Want me to visit your city to run a 1:1 workshop? Get in touch!
DECEMBER 2025
- Poland, GdaÅ„sk – Meet-up + Photoshoots (GdaÅ„sk trip – YouTube)
- Lanzarote – Photoshoots (Lanzarote – YouTube)
- TBC – Want me to visit your city to run a 1:1 workshop? Get in touch!
Coming to London?
Check my availability if you’d like to meet up while you’re in London and book here.
Leica+Model Workshops
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
Download Leica presets
View GearList for recommended products & discount codes
Film photographers
- Film – Finally I’ve started to catch up with my B&W film developing!
- Cameras – Leica M7 is my current camera of choice (See video)
- 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
- Printing – Darkroom prints in my bathroom (Interested? Add your details)
- Photobooks – Interested in my photobooks? Add your details
Accidental double-exposure!
1930s Leica Ic on a morning run in Gdansk
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) –
Laser rangefinder for your Leica! CHI L.D. Meter
Leica Summilux 75mm f1.4 Review (Is it as good as the hype?)
Home scanning made easy! 35mm + 120 film – Valoi Easy120
Leica M film camera buyer’s guide (written version)
Latest blog posts
400+ written posts (+ full res images) to supplement my YT videos. (I’ve got a few articles written that I just need to finish and post – soon-ish*).
Flickr non-model photo of the month (Most liked)
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) –
- “Are you using “minimal quality” setting on your camera?” –Â Free to view
- “Leica M Users: Your lens brand isn’t the priority” –Â Members
Coming up next month..
For October I’ve received more workshop requests for London. I’ll be in Gdansk Poland, Budapest and The Netherlands for photoshoots and I need to make time to create more darkroom prints and work on my B&W photobook.
YouTube video – spotlight
The first YouTube video in October will likely be the MrDing 35mm f1.8 vs updated Funleader Artizlab 35mm f1.4.Both great lenses. See which might suit you the best!
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