Passerby Ends. M Begins.

Passerby is now closed. A dozen is a good number. 

But Passerby is just a name. The project continues. The next series of wee books will simply be called M. 

Those of you using Instagram may have noticed that I have made a change. 

In an effort to absolutely simplify everything I do, I have made the move to the M digital rangefinder system. It has taken me till age 55 to do so. I turn 56 June 9th by the way.

My business account on Shopify has made this possible. No credit card required. Nor bank loan. No interest. Simply a one time reasonable fee and a percentage of future sales until camera is paid for. A superb facility. 

The drive for simplicity is a reaction to how technology is getting in the way with ever increasing complexity and choice. It was getting in the way of me and the moments I seek to photograph. The electronic viewfinder. Great tech but a sort of barrier somehow between me and the real world. It's yet another screen interpreting the world for me, rather than a true, real representation of actuality. 

Then there's image stabilisation, video, auto focus points, film simulations. I have neither need nor interest in such things. 

What I admire about Leica and the M lineage, is the directness. The immediacy. The speed. All manual control and rapid response. Their's is an analogue like approach allowing the image maker total control over all decisions in how to realise the latent image. That's as it should be, at least for me. There's a purity here which is essential.

All photographs © Paul Treacy 2025. Mayfair, London, 1st June 2025. Leica M typ 262.

As before, each issue of M will feature work made since the previous one. Seeking mystery and menace in the everyday, wherever I happen to be. 

Since I have spent most of my adult life in London, then that will be my most consistent subject. The city and its occupants. Our era. Hopefully providing material for future perusal and posterity. That is the street photography tradition. 

I will make a4 prints available as open editions alongside each future M.

The first M will be available soon.

Thanks for your time.

- Paul.