August 2025
It has been quite a while since my last photo portfolio, so I’m very happy to finally be able to put up some new imagery after struggling with health issues for over three years. While I usually do my work with my trusted pair of heavy digital cameras, this portfolio consists entirely of images taken with my iPhone. It is a dinosaur too – by today’s fast changing standards – a hand-me-down 6S Plus that I am grateful for. Nonetheless, it is the eye and vision that matter, right?
Several weeks ago on my way to the dental chair I met someone on a BART train who I noticed had a Leica film camera, and we had a fun conversation about “old school” photography. I think he was about half my age, and exited about “discovering” film. I had to set him straight about darkroom fumes though. Let’s not go overboard. No more chemicals for yours truly if you please. I love processing photos on the computer screen and digital printing on quality art paper – it was a milestone in terms of innovation when both arrived, and desktop publishing and fine art printing became a reality for normal everyday users.
The first digital image I ever took if I remember right, was with a Sony Mavica that used floppy discs! Anyone remember those? I think it was around the time when the Macintosh SE and Plus came out, perhaps the Classic. It was very practical that you could insert the discs directly into the Macintosh. The precursor to modern CF cards. Continuing my conversation with the fellow on BART, we discovered we both shared an interest in the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson. What’s not to like? He was such a master of his craft.
Recently, while perusing the Apple website I was astounded at the leaps and bounds iPhone cameras have taken. Their top of the line iPhone 16 Pro Max model made for photographers, rivals professional DSLRs. What a technological advance, and a light year leap from the Mavica.
I have had a lot of fun with the images in this new portfolio, from photographing breakfast I made for my “kids” (all grown up), who protested to no avail that this was for “kids” when breakfast was served (I loved making it – and eating my fair share too), to Black & White images of small slices of life, to nature that I love so much, and of course special photos of my faithful cat Calvin. Can you find my “the decisive moment(s)” homage image(s)? Say the last two words quickly three times – think “Fox in Socks”. 🙂
Explore and enjoy,
Matthias Leue
Matthias Leue Photography 