Here at Red Dot Forum and Leica Store Miami, we are all avid photographers that love sharing our passion for Leica. We don’t just talk specs – we actually use the gear. Whether we’re on a Leica Store Miami Photo Adventure or just capturing everyday moments, we always have a Leica with us.
Oftentimes we get asked what we like to photograph – SL or M, landscape or street, black and white or color. While we all dabble in a little bit of everything, we each have our own favorite gear and different styles of shooting. Below we've put together a little gallery of what we’ve been shooting lately, and the stories behind the shot.
We’d love to see YOUR favorite Leica images too! Share your “Behind the Shot” photo on Instagram. Tag @leicastoremiami with the hashtag #leicastoremiamiBTS
Peter Dooling – Young Monk in Bhutan
LEICA Q3 | f/2.8, 1/500th sec, ISO 1250
Peter Dooling has been with Leica Store Miami since 2012 and heads up the Leica Photo Workshops Program, planning and leading workshops around the globe. He was born in Philadelphia and received degrees in Geography and Philosophy from Pennsylvania State University. He fell in love with photography as he traveled the world while working for United Airlines and it has been his passion ever since. When he’s not helping people improve their photography in exotic destinations, he’s spending time with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs in Carrboro, North Carolina.
“The Leica Q3 is a natural fit for me. I’ve loved the Q since the original Typ 116 was released in 2015. In recent years, I’ve brought a Q3 with me on most of our photography workshops. It makes for a great complement to my SL3 kit and I mainly use it for people pictures and behind the scenes shots.
This image of a young monk at the 18th-century Chorten Nyingpo Monastery was taken with the Leica Q3 on our Leica Photo Adventure to Bhutan in 2023. Although I also had an SL kit in my backpack, I chose the Q3 for this environment because of its size, speed and unassuming nature when photographing people. When I saw this boy in the window, I quickly brought the camera to my eye and snapped a few pictures – and then he was gone. The Q3 is the perfect camera for fleeting moments like this one.”
Jose Rovira – Early Morning at Schiphol
LEICA Q2 MONOCHROM | f/2.5, 1/250th sec, ISO 200
Jose Rovira is perhaps best-known as the producer of Red Dot Forum Camera Talk, our in-house livestream about all things Leica. Jose joined our team as a Leica Specialist in 2019. Always with a Leica in hand, he loves documenting daily life, spending time with his family, friends and cats, going to the beach, watching historical documentaries, anything having to do with sports, and of course, checking the latest Bitcoin news.
jose@leicastoremiami.com | IG @jroviraphoto | www.jroviraphotography.com
“The Leica Q2 Monochrom is still one of my favorite cameras—compact, easy to use, and stealthy. Whether I’m traveling, working on a project, going out to dinner, or just hanging out with friends, it delivers high-quality black and white images in any situation. Its ability to shoot cleanly at very high ISOs makes it incredibly versatile.
Airports are one of my favorite places to photograph. There’s always something happening, with people from all over the world, all moving through a chaotic yet strangely orderly environment. When shooting in monochrome, I tend to look for shapes and lines. One of my favorite features of the Q2 Monochrom is the ability to preview RAW images in black and white directly through the EVF.
I took this photo early in the morning at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Light was streaming through the windows, casting shadows from the horizontal blinds onto the floor. The lines from the chairs, ceiling, and reflections added structure to the frame, while the lone man brought in the human element.”
Colin McKinley – Milky Way Over Death Valley
LEICA SL3-S & SIGMA ART 14MM F/1.4 DG DN | f/1.4, 10 sec, ISO 2500
Colin McKinley has been part of the Leica Store Miami team since 2016, planning and guiding Leica Photo Adventures across the U.S. and around the world. Originally from Boston and now based in Denver, he specializes in adventure photography, landscapes, astrophotography, and music photography. When he’s not leading photo trips, you’ll likely find Colin hiking, climbing, or skiing in the Rocky Mountains—or dancing under the stars at Red Rocks Amphitheater.
colin@leicastoremiami.com | IG @colinmckinley_
“When it comes to low-light photography, the Leica SL3-S is the undisputed champion. Whether I’m out in the desert photographing the night sky, or shooting the stars on stage at a rock concert, this is the camera I know I can trust for the cleanest images at high ISO.
I made this photo during our recent Leica Astrophotography Workshop in Death Valley National Park, California, in April 2025. This time of year, the Galactic Core of the Milky Way rises very early in the morning. We scoped out this location the night before, and used the PhotoPills app to visualize the composition, so that when we arrived at 4am we knew exactly where to stand and which direction to shoot. This image was taken around 5am, just before dawn – but that orange glow you see on the horizon isn’t from the sunrise. It’s actually light pollution from the Los Angeles metro area, about 200 miles away!
P.S. I’ve also got to give a shoutout to the previous-generation SL2-S, still one of the best low-light cameras on the market. Right now, you can find some incredible deals on pre-owned models. Even if you’re not doing night photography, it’s a great backup body to keep in your bag alongside your main SL camera!”
David Farkas – Last Light at Lagazuoi
LEICA SL3 & 24-90MM VARIO-ELMART-SL ASPH | 50mm, f/6.3, 1/15 sec, ISO 200
David Farkas is a self-admitted Leica junkie and an avid photographer since he was seven years old. David has decades of experience shooting with just about every Leica camera and lens made within the last few decades and is a respected journalist in the Leica world, publishing Leica news, in-depth camera and lens reviews, field tests and technical articles on Red Dot Forum. He can be seen co-hosting the popular Red Dot Forum Camera Talk on YouTube with his long-time colleague and co-host Josh Lehrer. David is also one of the primary guides for Leica Store Miami Photo Workshops, leading trips all over the world and racking up way too many miles. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, rock climbing, hiking and downhill skiing with his family.
david@leicastoremiami.com | IG @davidfarkasphotography
“This image was taken during our Leica Photo Adventure in the Dolomites in September 2024, while staying at Rifugio Lagazuoi at nearly 10,000 feet. We’d been out shooting all afternoon, wandering the trails atop the peaks with something to photograph in every direction — jagged ridgelines, distant valleys, and ever-shifting clouds. But as the day wore on and the light started to wane, it became clear we were in for something special.
As the sun approached the horizon, the sky exploded with color in every direction, casting vibrant hues across the alpine landscape. Then, as the sun dipped behind the mountains, the light turned from angular and warm to soft and painterly. The clouds stacked into perfect layers, catching the lovely blue, purple and orange tones. I’ve often found that my favorite sunset images aren’t captured at the moment the sun hits the horizon but in the minutes after, when most people are packing up for dinner.
Of course, staying out has its cost. It was brisk that night, with wind chill pushing the temperature down to around freezing (0°C). The warmth of the rifugio and a hot meal just were mere steps away. But the scene unfolding in front of me was too good to abandon. As I always tell workshop participants in moments like this: the pain is temporary, the picture is forever.
I captured this frame just minutes after sunset, using the SL3 and the 24–90mm Vario-Elmarit. The SL3 is my main landscape camera, just as the SL2 was for the four years prior. I’ve carried this kit all over the world, through harsh conditions and demanding shoots, and never once has it let me down. Even after hours in the wind and cold, the SL3 performed flawlessly, never missing a beat. It’s a true workhorse: reliable, rugged, and ready for anything.
When people ask how I get shots like this, the simplest answer is often the most honest — because I was there. In landscape photography, preparation and patience go a long way, especially when paired with a little bit of luck.”
Adam Barkan – Gatklettur Sea Arch
LEICA SL2-S & 24-90MM VARIO-ELMART-SL ASPH | 24mm, f/16, 4 sec, ISO 100
Originally from New York, Adam Barkan has called the Magic City home for over 20 years and loves documenting its rich heritage and cultural diversity. His passion for photography began in childhood, spending countless hours exploring his dad’s camera store, fascinated by the variety of cameras, lenses, and accessories. Adam brought that passion to Leica Store Miami, where he’s been part of the team since 2021. When he’s not at the store, you’ll find him at the gym, traveling with his wife, or providing multimedia services for local non-profits.
“The Leica SL2-S truly does it all. Robust, responsive, and built like a tank, it's ready for whatever Mother Nature throws its way. Its full-frame sensor delivers stunning image quality with exceptional dynamic range, and when paired with the Vario-Elmarit 24–90mm lens, it becomes a powerhouse for travel, landscape, and adventure photography.
I captured this image while exploring Gatklettur, the iconic sea arch on Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula, during our Leica Photo Adventure: Iceland. We set out early to take advantage of the soft, golden light just after sunrise. In the cold coastal air, the SL2-S’s weather-sealed body gave me complete confidence. I mounted the camera on a tripod and slowed the shutter to capture the motion blur of the waves, creating a striking contrast against the sharp, textured basalt. Shooting at f/16 ensured tack-sharp detail from the icy stones in the foreground to the snow-covered peaks on the horizon.
If you're looking for a rugged, all-purpose Leica system that can handle serious photography in any environment, the SL2-S paired with the 24–90mm is as versatile and capable as it gets.”
Kirsten Vignes Martin – Afternoon in Lisbon
LEICA M11 & 35mm APO-Summicron-M | f/5.6, 1/640th sec, ISO 64
Kirsten Vignes Martin has been with Leica Store Miami since 2012. After working as a Leica Specialist in our Coral Gables Store for 7 years, she moved back home to Minneapolis and began working remotely as our full-time marketing manager. Kirsten also leads several of our workshops and serves on the board of Leica Society International.
When she’s not doing Leica things, you can find her paddling one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes, hiking with her husband, or playing trivia at a local dive bar.
“Lisbon is a dream for street photography. In rain or shine, monochrome or color, its centuries-old buildings and patterned tiled streets just beckon to be photographed. I could wander through Lisbon for days, exploring each quaint little neighborhood, sipping on vinho verde, and listening to the sounds of fado fill the air.
This image was taken during our street photography workshop with the one-and-only Rui Palha, an incredible photographer and an even more incredible human being. If you ever get a chance to take a workshop with him, don’t pass it up.
Initially, I was drawn towards the light in this scene as it cut through the buildings and saturated the reds and blues. We often say “Leica red” when referring to the red dot logo, but when I think of “Leica red,” I think of the way the Leica M11 sensor renders reds so perfectly. No other sensor would have captured this scene quite the same way. Mesmerized by the light and the color, I started lining up a shot, and then – as if Bresson himself sent her – this abuelita with a blue coat and a darling perm started walking into the frame. Talk about serendipity. “
Josh Lehrer – A GT3 in the Flowers
LEICA Q3 43 | f/2, 1/250th sec, ISO 100
Josh Lehrer has been with Leica Store Miami since early 2010, beginning his Leica journey less than a year after graduating from RIT with a photography degree. Since then, he’s developed a strong passion for Leica collectibles, using vintage glass on modern cameras, and memorizing Leica part numbers. When he’s not chasing supercars around, you’ll find him co-hosting Red Dot Forum Camera Talk on YouTube.
josh@leicastoremiami.com | @jalehrer7
“My style of automotive photography has always leaned toward the use of longer lenses, so Leica’s series of Q cameras—with their fixed 28mm focal length—rarely made it into my kit when I knew I’d be around exceptional automobiles. The introduction of the Q3 43 changed that for me, and I was excited to take it out on a photography outing with a friend and his Porsche.
This shot was a spontaneous moment during a more “serious” photo session at the Sweet Springs Resort in West Virginia. The car was parked beside a staircase leading to a lower lot, and I noticed an opportunity for a unique angle through the hostas and flowers. The Q3 43’s APO-Summicron lens offered razor-sharp rendering and beautiful focus fall-off, helping me capture a subtle, layered composition that balances nature and machine.
It was one of those instances where everything aligned—the light, the setting, and the gear—reminding me that spontaneity, where a Q camera truly shines, often yields the most memorable images.”
Brandon Woods – Toejam Backlot
LEICA M11 MONOCHROM & 28MM ELMARIT-M F/2.8 ASPH | f/4, 1/250th sec, ISO 20,000
Brandon Woods is the newest member of the Leica Store Miami team. Having lived in Asia and the Caribbean before moving to the States, Brandon brings a global perspective to his work. With a background as a freelance Director of Photography, he continues his pursuit of storytelling and cultural significance—always behind a Leica lens.
brandon@leicastoremiami.com | IG @woods.bm
“As a street photographer, my gear has to keep up—whatever the lighting, wherever I am. Whether I’m at a nightclub at 2 a.m. or walking through Coral Gables Park during golden hour, I reach for the M11 Monochrom without hesitation. The flexibility it gives me is unmatched.
Shooting with a monochrome sensor unlocks creative possibilities that a standard color sensor just can’t replicate. Combined with its triple-resolution sensor, the M11 Monochrom delivers low-light performance that outpaces its predecessors—the M10 Monochrom and the M246. The tonality, dynamic range, and overall image quality from this camera are simply unmatched by anything else I’ve used.
I captured this shot while wandering the dance floors at Toejam Backlot in the Wynwood Arts District during Miami Music Week 2024. I was using the 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH, a compact lens with a slower maximum aperture. Thanks to the incredible high-ISO performance of the M11 Monochrom, I didn’t have to compromise. Even in such a low-light environment, I had complete confidence that I could get the shot—freeing me to prioritize things like lens size and overall kit weight without worrying about light-gathering ability.
That kind of freedom lets me focus on what really matters—storytelling, movement, and mood.”
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