The December Experiment
One camera, one fixed-focal-length lens, one picture per day. That's the idea behind the December experiment. As with the airport project, I want to keep the technology as simple as possible this time.
The lens
The APO prime lens series for the Leica SL is among the best you can mount on a full-frame camera. The set includes focal lengths of 21 mm / 28 mm / 35 mm / 50 mm / 75 mm / 90 mm. My pictures in Uzbekistan (see the articles "Plov" , "Fairground" , and "52 Pictures from Uzbekistan") were practically all shot with lenses from this prime lens series. For this project, I'm limiting myself to the APO-Summicron-SL 50 mm f/2 ASPH . The image quality of all focal lengths in this series is outstanding, the difference between sharpness and blur is very striking, and the resolution far exceeds the 60 megapixels delivered by the Leica SL3 sensor. And with that, a word about the camera:
The camera
Since the Leica SL was launched in 2015, I've been an avid user of this system. Last November, my friend Christian Habermeier and I were in Iceland testing a prototype of the SL3—the latest model in the series. The combination of ease of use, outstanding image quality, massive robustness, and photographic and cinematic versatility is a winning combination for me. Therefore, the Leica SL3 is my camera of choice.
Stay tuned
Wherever I am between December 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, I'll do my best to post a picture every day—here and on my Instagram account . The most recent picture will always be at the top:
Wednesday, January 1, 1:06 p.m.
I conclude the December experiment with this symbolic image: In the background, symbolizing the old year, is a slope inscribed with traces. Traces we have left in the lives of others, and traces that have been carved into our own. Beautiful and painful traces. In the foreground, the still completely untouched slope symbolizes the new year that lies ahead. May we have the wisdom to leave good traces in the lives of our fellow human beings and also in our own. I wish this for you and me.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/250 sec, f 16, 200 ISO
Tuesday, December 31, 7:35 p.m.
Along with myriad stars above our little alpine hut, I wish you all a happy and fulfilling 2025. Even though I'm not superstitious, you can make a wish because a shooting star flew past to the left of the house at the moment this photo was taken. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.
TIP: Since I didn't have a tripod to bring up to the cabin, I used a small wine crate as a tripod. That works in a pinch, too ;-)
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 50mm f/2 ASPH, 10 sec, f/2.0, 3200 ISO, wine crate as tripod
Monday, December 30, 6:46 p.m.
After about an hour's snowshoe hike, we arrive at our small alpine hut, whose wooden wall you can see in the background. This is where we traditionally spend our New Year's Eve. Ursula notices that there were a few visitors – but only four-legged friends. We are truly where the fox and the hare say goodnight (a German expression that could be somewhat profanely translated as "We are at the ass end of the world." But it is a very nice ass end ;-).)
TIP: As you can see, sometimes a headlamp is enough as a light source. The snow reflects the light onto Ursula's face, which I brightened a bit in Lightroom.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/30sec, f 2.0, 3200 ISO
Sunday, December 29, 9:05 a.m.
What at first glance looks like a city at night is actually part of the Christmas decorations: a string of lights that I photographed and then rotated the image 90 degrees. I adjusted the white balance toward blue, and the abstraction is perfect.
TIP: When taking photos, always remember that you can rotate an image for a stunning effect - be it 90 or 180 degrees.
Leica SL3 mit APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/100sec, f 2.0, 400 ISO
Saturday, December 28, 12:18 p.m.
Our niece Angi and a team want to revolutionize the textile industry. To achieve this, they founded Turns Faserkreislauf . We met her over the holidays and did a portrait shoot with her in my friend Christian Habermeier's studio. This also gave me the opportunity to test my new LED light from Parabolixlight . The results speak for themselves. I wish Angi and the entire team success in their project – for environmental protection, for a better quality of life on our planet. And, incidentally, the question arises: color or black and white?
Leica SL3 mit APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/100sec, f 3.2, 200 ISO
Friday, December 27, 9:30 a.m.
After a cold, frosty night, the first rays of sunlight hit this fascinating thorny plant (as I mentioned, I'm a terrible botanist and don't know the plant's name ;-)). I deliberately chose my angle so that the background is dark and the rays of light stream into the frame. I think this subject looks better in black and white. I closed the aperture so that the plant itself is in focus, but the background is still quite blurred. By holding down the aperture button, you can visually assess the effect of the selected aperture while taking the photo.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/2000sec, f 4.5, 200 ISO
Thursday, December 26, 6:01 p.m.
We have the great privilege of having our nephew Florian present his circus show to us every year around Christmas time. It gets more and more spectacular every year, and the number of spectators steadily increases. I shot most of the images with the 21mm SL, but I also shot some with the 50mm for a tighter crop. The image appears denser. And which version do you prefer – black and white or color?
A little tip for circus photography: choose a fixed aperture and shutter speed, spot metering and ISO on auto, AFC with face priority, and continuous shooting – this will help you achieve the best results.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/160sec, f 2.0, 400 ISO
Wednesday, December 25, 8:48 p.m.
I love teaching young people how to take photos. Sophia, the daughter of my brother-in-law, is incredibly talented and documented Christmas with my Leica Q2. I photographed her while she was taking photos, but I definitely don't want to deprive you of one of the amazing photos Sophia took. It shows three of her sisters and my wife Ursula opening presents.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/30sec, f 2.0, 5000 ISO
Sophias Bild: Leica Q2 with Summilux 1:1.7/28 mm ASPH, 1/30 sec, f 1.7, 3200 ISO:
Tuesday, December 24, 10:17 a.m.
When I plan an exhibition, I print the images in a reduced size and position them on our magnetic wall to assess their impact. Today's image is a small spoiler: I'll be exhibiting at photoSCHWEIZ 25 from February 7 to 11, 2025, and the image gives a small preview of my part of the exhibition. Of course, I don't want to give away everything yet, so I've chosen a small focus area. But I'll say this much: The focal point will be a lonely bus from Iceland. Information about photoSCHWEIZ 25 can be found at www.photo-schweiz.ch
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/200sec, f 2.0, 200 ISO
Monday, December 23, 10:41 a.m.
It's raining and snowing again – or how much sharpness does a picture need? Personally, I find the view through the wet windshield appealing. I took this photo while crossing on the ferry from Horgen to Meilen. I knew the blue railing would create an exciting color combination with the red taillight. The driver in front of me didn't start the engine until the very last moment, and I was only able to take two pictures before I had to drive off myself. Capture the moment… I closed the aperture quite tight to give both the water on the windshield and the subject itself enough structure. I slightly increased the contrast and clarity in Lightroom.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/40sec, f 11.0, 200 ISO
Sunday, December 22, 12:41 p.m.
This piece of stone is very special because it combines all four elements in one image: FIRE, because it's not a normal stone, but a piece of lava, formed by the fire of Iceland. WIND, because the wind blew the moss seeds onto the lava. WATER, because the water produced the moss. EARTH, because the moss is plant-based and turns into earth. It's crazy what you sometimes notice when you're taking out the garden waste in the pouring rain...
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/13sec, f 22.0, 400 ISO, Stat
Saturday, December 21, 8:15 a.m.
This morning at the hairdresser, I asked Giulia if I could photograph her for the December experiment. She spontaneously agreed. Giulia is not only a fantastic hairdresser at Kopfsache Schaffhausen , but also a coach .
Leica SL3 mit APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/100sec, f 2.0, 640 ISO
Friday, December 20, 3:10 p.m.
After photographing the dress rehearsal at the Altra Theater yesterday, today's performance ended to much applause. Theater and concert photography are challenging. My tip: Set the white balance manually to artificial light to avoid diluting the colored light. Mount a telephoto zoom lens (e.g., 70-200mm) on one camera for close-up shots and a fast prime lens (35 or 50mm, depending on the distance from the stage) on the other for overview shots. It's better to crop the scene a little too wide than too narrow, because the high sensor resolution allows for easy cropping.
Leica SL3 mit APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/50sec, f 2.0, 1600 ISO
Thursday, December 19, 1:41 p.m.
Today I accompanied the dress rehearsal of the Altra Schaffhausen Christmas Theatre with my camera. Thomas, one of the main actors, took a brief moment before the rehearsal began to take a selfie. For me, it was a perfect moment to take a picture of him taking a picture. The colors of his costume perfectly matched the red seats of the empty Stadttheater in Schaffhausen (a beautiful location). Tomorrow the seats will be full, and I'm already looking forward to the performance.
Leica SL3 mit APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/50sec, f 2.0, 500 ISO
Wednesday, December 18, 12:21 p.m.
The resilient tomatoes: A few small, cheeky cherry tomatoes have eluded my wife Ursula's harvest. And even though the tomato bush has long since finished flowering, the five little cheeky tomatoes are still in full bloom. Now I don't know whether to harvest them or leave them hanging on the bush 😉. I took this photo with the aperture almost wide open to blur the background.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/800sec, f 2.5, 200 ISO
Tuesday, December 17, 9:03 a.m.
Ursula baked cookies again yesterday, and to make room, she placed two egg cups upside down in an aluminum tray. My imagination made me see a face in them—especially when I placed a leek stalk underneath. The still life reminds me a bit of WALL-E, the lovable robot from the movie of the same name.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/40sec, f 6.3, 200 ISO
Monday, December 16, 11:47 a.m.
A little tip for the holidays: Try editing older images with newer versions of the software. I'm currently doing this with photos I took in India a few years ago and am discovering that I can still extract a lot of detail from the data using Lightroom's masking techniques. The prints prove it's worth it! I might post the results in the new year.
Leica SL3 mit APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/100sec, f 2.0, 200 ISO
Sunday, December 15, 1:29 p.m.
Schaffhausen is probably the only city with crocheted drainpipes. At least one... And then it might happen that a partygoer is missing a shoe. In any case, someone lovingly placed a shoe on the mailbox so that it would be clearly visible when the missing person returns. I added a suitable vintage effect to the image in Lightroom.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/60sec, f 2.0, 200 ISO
Saturday, December 14, 9:15 a.m.
I love shopping on Saturday mornings in Schaffhausen's beautiful old town. One of my favorite shops is definitely Daniele Gaumenschmaus: the finest Italian specialties and the best salami in town. Marco Peruch, the second-generation owner, is also a photography enthusiast, and when time permits, we chat a bit about photography. Today I asked him if he would model for my December experiment – which he was happy to do, of course, because he and the entire team are always so welcoming.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/125sec, f 2.0, 200 ISO
Friday, December 13, 7:29 p.m.
It's mulled wine and – here in Switzerland – fondue season, of course. Not a spectacular image in and of itself, but how lovely it is to have friends around a fire, chatting, and enjoying a delicious fondue. And by the way, it's worth noting the amazing cameras the photography industry has made available to us, allowing us to take great photos without flash, using only the glow of the fire...
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/25sec, f 2.0, 5000 ISO
Thursday, December 12, 5:08 p.m.
The fire juggler was the undisputed highlight of the Christmas market in Stein am Rhein. Everyone was thrilled, including me. I chose a slightly longer shutter speed to capture the dynamics of the flying torches while still getting the juggler's face somewhat sharp. And then I wanted the juggler to look relaxed 😉. That's always a good time to take a series of shots. Here's my favorite shot.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/40 sec, f 2.8, 1600 ISO
Wednesday, December 11, 9:45 a.m.
"Don't crack under pressure" – this advertising slogan came to mind when this clothespin broke in my hand last night. Many people have broken under the pressure of their circumstances, and it is often particularly difficult for them at Christmas time. Let's listen to one another and show compassion to those who have a broken heart. And if you have a broken heart (and believe me, I know what it's like), then seek help, talk to someone you trust. And if you can, then seek God's closeness, just as he sought ours. That's what we think of at Christmas.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/1000 sec, f 2.0, 200 ISO
Tuesday, December 10, 4:35 p.m.
It's always a great honor when someone orders a framed fine art print. And when it's three, that's fantastic. Thank you, David, for the wonderful commission, and thank you , Dani Arnold , for framing the pictures so beautifully. In the photo, you can see David and Dani looking at the pictures and discussing how we should frame them. Each print is individually created, and you can purchase any photo as a limited-edition fine art print .
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/80 sec, f 8.0, 2500 ISO
Monday, December 9, 1:04 p.m.
So, the cookie baking project is complete. And while I don't want to spoil the bacon—sorry, the cookies—for you (a saying we use in German that you'll surely understand), I do want to share a photo of the stylish boxes Ursula filled.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/80 sec, f 2.0, 400 ISO
Sunday, December 8, 11:43 a.m.
Cookie production is still in full swing at our house. The scent of lemons lured me into the bakery and inspired me to take a picture of the lemon grater. I find it fascinating to see the wear and tear on an instrument—not to mention the tiny crumbs of lemon peel, whose yellow I enhanced in Lightroom.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/15 sec, f 7.1, 400 ISO
Saturday, December 7, 1:28 p.m.
You can be annoyed by the rain or delight in the way it creates beautiful circles on the water. The coot certainly doesn't seem to mind the rain. And the silvery drops of water on its black plumage are also very photogenic.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/1000 sec, f 7.1, 3200 ISO
Friday, December 6, 9:52 a.m.
Photography is always about light and its reflections. This morning, while making coffee, the sun lit up the sieve of our Zuriga for a moment. I captured this fleeting moment. A few minutes later, the sun disappeared behind the clouds – and I was enjoying my cappuccino 😉.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/1600 sec, f9, 250 ISO
Thursday, December 5, 12:53 p.m.
While having lunch, I noticed the bent petal of this wilting flower, shining in the backlight. I stuck a semi-transparent piece of baking paper behind the blossom on the window, took the photo, and created the vintage look in Lightroom. Almost like a painting. Unfortunately, I have very little knowledge of botany and can't tell you the name of the plant, but perhaps someone of you can?
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/50 sec, f 7.1, 500 ISO
Wednesday, December 4, 11:40 a.m.
I always find abstract images particularly fascinating, where you can't see the scale at first glance or immediately grasp what they are. Like this picture. Is it a wave pattern? Are they landscape forms? No – it's a detail from Steve Lechot's beautiful Totem lamp , which sits in our living room. The play of light from the individual leaves that make up the lamp never ceases to fascinate me. And of course, the image looks special in black and white. I deliberately underexposed it to exploit the full spectrum from black to white.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/250 sec, f 10, 200 ISO
Tuesday, December 3, 9:42 a.m.
Another picture of sweet treats, but this time of a very special cake: It's a "chocolate bomb" that Ursula bakes only one day a year—my birthday. The cake is so delicious that every time I wish I had more than one birthday a year... 😉
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/80 sec, f 2.2, 640 ISO
Monday, December 2, 3:44 p.m.
You shouldn't just see the cookies, but also the master baker 😉. So here's a photo of my wife Ursula in action. Even though she's not quite well, the cookies still need to be processed...
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/100 sec, f 6.3, 4000 ISO
Sunday, December 1, 3:02 p.m.
My wife Ursula has been baking Christmas cookies since yesterday. This usually takes on a huge amount of dimensions, and the process offers a host of photographic opportunities. Here's my favorite photo from today: the sea of chocolate.
Leica SL3 with APO Summicron 1:2/50mm ASPH, 1/40 sec, f9, 4000 ISO
