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From July to August this year, I spent two full months in Downtown Toronto — not a whirlwind sightseeing trip, but a chance to slow down, stay in the city, and truly live it for a while: a Canadian "life experience." Most days my feet had no fixed destination; or rather, I'd wander in a general direction, getting to know street corners and alleyways on foot — my eyes always catching those unguarded moments flickering in the light and shadow.

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The Slow Philosophy of a Manual M Camera — and the Good Mood It Brings

I love heading out with my old companion, the Leica M240, paired with the Mandler 35mm F2. The M is a classic — dependable and compact (though not exactly light) — my most-carried combo. And thanks to its understated presence, people rarely even notice when I raise the camera.

The purity of the Leica M and its manual focus force me to slow down with the world. I don't press the shutter often, yet I still come home with photographs I love. Immersed in that "manual world," every press of the shutter feels full of ritual and focus.

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The Leica SL3s Plays Supporting Role This Time

Sometimes I bring the Leica SL3s for more deliberate assignments or portraits — its precise framing and autofocus are where it outshines the M. But on a whim this time I packed the M240 as well, so the SL3s ended up playing second fiddle, making only the occasional appearance on the trip.

On Leica's recently released M EV1: if you plan to shoot with adapted M lenses, the SL3s offers a far better adapted experience — an excellent EVF plus strong photo and video performance, manual or autofocus, your pick. A Leica SL3s (NT$168,000) plus a used Leica M240 (NT$70,000–90,000) could even cost less than a single Leica M EV1 (NT$259,000)!

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The Subtlety of Medium Format

On special occasions I'd pull the medium-format Hasselblad X2D from my bag, paired with the XCD 55V. The medium-format sensor's fine detail and color depth pushed the layered feel of Toronto's streetscapes to the absolute max.

This frame stays with me: as I was composing, the woman had her back to me — then suddenly she turned and glanced my way. She was startled. So was I...

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Photography Is My Connection to the City

Wandering city streets with a camera has become an essential part of how I travel abroad. It's never a burden — it's a way of connecting with the city. Only through passion and curiosity could I have kept these frames.

It was my first night living downtown. The evening air was cool, and I watched a homeless man walk straight past, ignoring the cars. Beyond the photographic moment, it stirred something deeper in me — had he once been someone entirely different?

We all hit low points in life. Through the ups and downs, keep your heart positive — don't give up, for dawn always arrives. Let's keep encouraging each other. / Winter 2025 / Written in Taipei

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