5 Frames with a Leica M4-P on a Whisky Pilgrimage – By Nick Holt

Posted on November 10, 2018

Leica and film. Two words that seem to be forever linked in my mind. After playing around with a Leica Monochrom digital for a while it was inevitable that I would end up trying out a Leica film camera. After hours of pondering I decided to go for an M4-P body and a 1976 Summicron 35mm lens. My thinking was that I would save a bit of money by going with a meterless camera body and spend the majority of the cash on a vintage Summicron lens. I admit there was some trepidation in going meterless but I reasoned that it would help me build up more awareness of lighting conditions and add to the magic.

The camera and lens arrived a week before I was due to go to the Scottish island of Islay on my annual ‘whisky pilgrimage’ with a friend. I decided to leave my digital camera at home and document the trip entirely on Tri-X film. We sampled all 8 Whisky distilleries on Islay and also visited the distillery on Jura. Islay and Jura are very special places and I think I made the right choice going with black and white film. I shot 3 rolls of Tri-X on the trip, many after a whisky tasting. These 5 frames are some of my favourites and they are also the straightest!.

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Nick

Nick is a photographer and art director based in the UK. He uses a Leica M4-p for film and a Leica Q for digital. To see more of his work hit the Instagram button below. He also has a travel based blog and instagram at: www.instagram.com/the_aesthetic_atlas or https://aestheticatlas.com

18 Comments

StephenJ

November 10, 2018 at 8:31 am

The last time I was there was 1969 but you are right Nick the western highlands of Scotland are very special, as is your choice of photographic tool.

Having said that, I would say that you would take good snaps like those above, with or without a wee dram, with or without a proper Leica, with or without a light meter… And you would probably even make a decent snap with a digital jobby.

In other words, excellent snaps sir, great framing and contrast.

BTW: I like your Pythonic foot from your Paris flâneur.

Reply
Nick
November 23, 2018 at 9:46 am
Thanks for the kind words Stephen. 1969.. wow! Some things might have changed on Islay since then but probably not the important ones! I shoot digital on most of my trips but somehow Islay seemed to scream ‘shoot film’ at me for this one. It’s always a bit of risk though. Results not guaranteed. But thats part of the magic. Sorry for not repying earlier I was away for a few weeks.
Re: Foot. Yes.. big Python fan here!

Aukje

November 10, 2018 at 8:33 am

I like whisky, I love Scotland, and it has been too long since I’ve shot Tri-X. Lovely images, it reminds me that I still like Tri-X, so I’m going to shot some tonight!

Reply
Nick
November 23, 2018 at 9:41 am
Thanks Aukje.. I kept it simple on this one: One film stock and one lens. I wlould say Islay is an essential visit for you then!

Dominique Pierre-Nina

November 10, 2018 at 12:04 pm

Great choice. I can’t understand for the life of me why would Leica want to keep making cameras with the idea of or a sudo sole of a film camera such as the M10-D when the M2, 3, 4, 5,( 6 and 7 with light meter) are all one needs.