I’m one of those atypical people who don’t enjoy getting a brand-new car. I admit that I like visiting the dealership, looking at different models, and comparing features. But when the moment of truth arrives, when it’s time to take the new car and hit the road, I find it especially overwhelming and I don’t enjoy it at all. In fact, it takes me months to feel comfortable again, to enjoy driving, to relax and stop thinking about the car as an object so I can focus on driving as an experience. It’s a process that, if I could avoid, I gladly would.
I know the experience of something new can be exciting and motivating, but not for me. And the same thing happens with cameras. I like learning about new releases, looking at their features, comparing models, and even considering the possibility of buying one, but on the day I actually use it for the first time I feel lost and disoriented. There are no automatisms, and every action requires conscious thought. In the end I don’t enjoy the experience, the process dissolves into the purely technical, and the results are rarely satisfying. Just like with a car, I need a certain amount of practice before I feel comfortable and reach the level of competence that allows me to fully enjoy the process without distractions.
That’s precisely why I think today’s photograph has some merit. Determined to switch from the analog world to the digital one, I spent some time considering several options. It was a step I wasn’t entirely convinced about, and in my uncertainty I decided to be cautious and buy a camera that didn’t require a major investment so that, if regret appeared, I could easily reverse the decision without taking too much of a financial hit. Everything was very reasonable… until I saw an offer for a Leica M11-D that I couldn’t turn down. It’s the digital camera closest to the analog world, and after all these years shooting analog Leicas, the change felt inevitable. Once again, emotion won over reason.
As expected, the first contact was somewhat disconcerting, but to my surprise, much less so than I had imagined. Once the basic setup was done, the camera handled almost exactly like a Leica M6: aperture, exposure, focus, and default ISO. Those four values define the entire experience. But unlike the M6, after taking a photo there’s no need to advance the film, and more than once my thumb instinctively tried to move the film-advance lever.
Once I got past that unconscious impulse, my second mental barrier was shot restraint. With film, every frame matters, so you shouldn’t waste it by ensuring a shot or repeating compositions. But with digital you can afford that, and I’d even say it’s advisable, so I had to deal with forcing myself to shoot more and overcome that analog austerity.
The last major change compared to my previous cameras is the ability to choose the ISO value. Although I began with the automatic setting, the exposure readings were confusing, so I eventually decided to choose ISO manually, and I must say that the freedom of adjusting this parameter whenever I want, without changing a roll of film, is absolutely liberating. Facing a particularly dark scene and being able to set ISO 800 still brings a smile to my face. Coming from such a restrictive world as analog photography clearly has its rewards.
And thanks to this smooth transition made possible by the Leica M11-D, my visit to the small pier at Soto del Barco, in Asturias, was especially pleasant. From the kindness of the fisherman I met there, who encouraged me to take as many photos as I wished, to the fog that suited the place so well, and the perfectly calm weather that invited slow photography, reflection, and simply enjoying the moment. The photographs emerged naturally, and the initial insecurity slowly turned into the photographic experience I enjoy so much.
The little M11-D reminded me of so many sessions with my analog cameras that, at the risk of making a premature judgment, I think I’ve chosen well. Only time will tell whether this digital phase will stay with me for many years or whether nostalgia for the analog process will pull me back to film. But what’s clear is that the initial experience couldn’t have been more positive, and that makes me trust that this path has a long future ahead. I hope the promise holds.
