I’m going to switch back to pictures I made with the Leica M Monochrom for the next few posts. I gained access to a lovely rooftop garden and enjoyed the variety of the surrounding buildings. Best of all, an iconic New York City water tower sat proudly atop a nearby building, and I had to make a picture of it.

I also noticed that I seem to frame most precisely with the Leica. Is it because the manual focusing and extra care required to make a good photograph create just enough friction to slow me down and compose more carefully? Quite possibly. Maybe the camera isn’t making me a better photographer so much as encouraging me to behave like one. The downside of fast autofocus cameras is that they can encourage sloppy photography. I know because I can be guilty of it myself.

These two photographs were taken from the same rooftop, only a few steps apart. Those small shifts in position are often what make the difference

I think both pictures tell a similar story: a water tower perched atop a pre-war New York City building. However, I prefer the first photo because of its balance, wider perspective, and the off-center placement of the water tower. The white building in the lower left also creates a better visual balance with the rest of the neighborhood.

The second picture has a simpler composition. While I often gravitate toward the simpler image, this one feels slightly off balance. These are admittedly subtle distinctions, and you may disagree with my assessment. Which picture do you like better?

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