If you’ve been contemplating a shift in your photography, especially if black-and-white imagery has intrigued you, you’re not alone. Sometimes, a new tool or a different approach is what it takes to reignite your creative spark.
Coming to you from Goughie, this fascinating video unboxes and explores the Leica M10 Monochrom, a camera that’s as specialized as it gets. Goughie explains that despite his love for color photography, he’s decided to commit to a full month of shooting exclusively in black and white, diving headfirst into a realm of photography that he admits he doesn’t fully appreciate yet.
The Leica M10 Monochrom isn’t just about capturing black-and-white images. It’s about committing to a style that requires you to think differently. Goughie discusses how using this camera has already changed his approach. For example, he’s found himself shooting at smaller apertures like f/8 and f/11 more frequently, and he’s been amazed by the camera’s shadow retention and high-ISO performance. The camera’s ability to pull details out of shadows is remarkable, allowing for a level of depth and texture that he didn’t expect. However, he also notes that the M10 Monochrom is unforgiving with highlights—once they’re blown, they’re gone, a stark contrast to the flexibility you might have with color cameras.
Goughie’s experience with the M10 Monochrom over a four-day weekend trip offers a deeper insight into what it’s like to use this unique camera in real-world situations. He took it on a trip to Arundel, a small town with a massive castle and a couple of local breweries. This trip provided the perfect backdrop for testing the camera in various lighting conditions and settings. He notes that while the battery life isn’t as strong as his Leica M11, the image quality more than makes up for it. The high-ISO capabilities are particularly impressive, with images shot at ISO 12,500 still holding up incredibly well. This performance, combined with the camera’s minimalist design, has made Goughie reconsider his initial hesitation about black-and-white photography.
If you’re curious about how this camera’s files hold up, Goughie dives into the editing process as well. He shows how the images straight out of the camera are anything but flat, with excellent contrast and resolution that even rivals his M11. The lack of a color filter on the sensor gives these images a sense of sharpness and clarity that’s hard to match. However, the real surprise comes in how much fun he’s having with the process, from shooting to editing, despite his initial doubts about black-and-white photography. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Goughie.
