First Time Shooting? Part 1 – Safety and Comfort
Wedding Pics on the busiest bridge in NYC!
Before you head out for the very first time, either on our walk next week or on your own, the two first things you need to think about are Safety and Comfort. And they do go hand in hand. And by safety, I’m not talking about the big thugs most new Street Shooters worry about but rather making sure you do not hurt yourself out there!
Be aware of your surroundings at all times. The streets are alive. People are about, moving around, a clear path could have a dog there in half a second, oh, and watch out for cars. Then there are the cracks, pavers, and other obstacles. Over the years I have seen people fall, stumble, break gear and even an arm. From what I have seen it is all because people were not aware of their surroundings and not conscious of what was going on around them. Don’t just step out on the street to get a better angle! Look for cars and cyclists first! Also, don’t just step back, there’s a good change someone is behind you.
Learn to pick up your feet. If you drag your feet around most days and find you always hit little rocks, cracks, un-even pavers or slabs, you may want to make a conscious effort to start picking up you feet.
Street photography is not a race. You can slow down. Take the scene in. Look around. Be aware. This process of looking around, even behind you, all the time, is what can get you those great images. Things will not always happen in front of you. This is also part of being ready. I will discuss being ready in an upcoming post.
The next thing to think about is comfort and this leads to safety also. First and foremost, make sure you have good comfortable shoes with good soles! Your soles should not be old dried up rubber that becomes slippery in wet weather. Ideally, they should have some tread and they should keep you warm if the temperatures are colder.
The next rule of comfort is ‘Keep Warm, Keep Dry’. If you hit the streets on a cold winter day or a rainy day, it’s very important to keep warm and dry. Wear the proper clothing. For me a hat is essential to keep the rain off my glasses. It also helps keep me dry, and my bald head warm. If its cold, I’ll wear an appropriate warm jacket. If its wet, I’ll wear a parka. If I’m not sure about potential wet weather, I have a light packable shell that I bring with me.
When you are cold or wet, is when you will most likely make a mistake. Keep your hands warm in winter. Fingerless gloves work well. So remember, Keep Warm, Keep Dry, be Aware!
Note: You can click on most images on this site to get some commentary on the image or to leave comments or question on the image.
| Part-2 >
Main Street
So I walked Main Street today in preparation for next weeks walk. Well, ok, so I could get a great doughnut and latte. And by the way, it was the best Peanut Butter & Jelly doughnut ever. Thanks Lucky’s Doughnuts! Another reason I wanted to head out was to use this camera as I have never used it for Street Photography. It will need some getting used to. All part of the process. Note: If you click on the images you may get some commentary and the Meta data is there!
I know I suggested we perhaps extend the walk down some arms off Main Street but perhaps we I should have considered how I do street photography. I like working smaller areas and found myself walking up and down Main Street several times. Again, it goes to learning about the area you are working. We can discuss this option and the benefits of this vs. the benefits of walking new streets (and why you would).
Posed = Street Portraiture
I encountered some really nice people today and again it reminds me of why I love doing this. A group of three young people I approached. One shouted nice ‘Leica’. They were more enthusiastic when I announced it was a Fuji. Anyways, had a nice chat with them and a got a few posed photos.
Street Portraiture
I spotted a great window decal (that we will visit on the walk) and a young couple eating behind the glass. I took a few shoot from the hip shoots but as I walked along, noticed I had missed it. 10 minutes later walking the other way I went back and they were still there. WTH I thought, and decided to properly frame and get the image I wanted. Took a bunch of shots. Then I went into the café and spoke with them. Ali and his companion were really nice. I let them know about this site where they may see the image.
I encounter a young woman with red sneakers I really liked. Quick, ask if you can photograph them. Sure she says, I get a few shots and then she introduces herself as Jen. I let her know about the site. I received a tanks and a big smile.
This is Jen in her Bright Red Shoes!
I must have spoken to about 20 people including a shop owner and my barista. When walking the streets, if you go where and when people live, rather than when they are at work, you get the real people. You get couples together. You get the friends having fun, or the two characters walking into the Weed shop. People are doing things, instead of being on their way to or from work, in a hurry. If you visit the downtown business district week day, yes, you will have the ‘Vancouver’s not very friendly’ crowd. Visit where people live their lives, smile, and you will meet the very nicest people!
Missed the shot. Its at f/2.2 (check your settings) and shot from the waist while walking.
A great afternoon.
Ian McDonald Street Photography Workshops
This is a great opportunity to learn from a recognized long time street photographer. Ian has announced two Vancouver based Street Photography workshops for 2018. He has also announced workshops for Toronto, Montreal and Paris. The dates for the Vancouver workshops are June 15th to 17th, 2018, and August 10th to 12th, 2018. You may want to book early!
You can register for his workshops on his website here.
Street Photography Presentation – Lionsgate Camera Club
I will be presenting a 2 hour (with break) presentation on Street Photography. Topics include everything from the History Of Street Photography to You and the Law. We will see an assortment of images from the Masters and some of Jean-Francois’ work. Equipment will be discussed along with some Tips & Tricks to help you get better results. There should be time for a little Q&A.
Event Details here
Class is In Session
Bang!
For those of you that are wanting to start the On-line class, here is some information.
Please Subscribe to this Blog (link at the right) via E-mail, this will help keep you informed.
Go to the Learn Street Photography Menu and read the About this Class page. Then go to Part-01 and read all the required materials. Note that the very first thing to read (Introduction to Visual Sociology by Howard Becker) is probably the most difficult to get through as it reads a little like a scientific paper. Push through it as its worth reading. The others are easier.
This class is meant to be done at your own pace. There are things that are asked of you that are designed to specifically address different elements of Street Photography. It is important that you do them if you want to get everything you can out of this class. This includes setting up your Free WordPress site where you will post your notes and images. This is where you can have friends or peers review your work, offer CC or make recommendations. It also serves as a log of your work so you can see how you progress over the years. The writing component of street photography is a helpful and powerful tool that will make you a better photographer.
As I have just set all this up and created the site in the last two days, we may run into some obstacles. If you have any issues, concerns, or suggestions with any of the class materials please let me know. Note that I will be doing this class one part at a time and posting my results and observations here. See you on the streets!
Also, you may want to read the post below this one as it will help introduce you to me and how I got started in Street Photography.
A New Journey
Part of a study of division of space.
OK, so it’s not new. I have been doing street photography for some time now. My journey started with my annual ‘step out of your comfort zone’ challenge where I push myself to learn new things. I try to choose new things to learn that I don’t want to learn but should. The new acquired skills always come in handy.
In the fall of 2012 I challenged myself to do street photography. I decided to take a one evening Street Photography workshop with Vancouver based Barry J. Brady on August 30th, 2012. I have been doing street photography ever since.
Tension shot from the hip.
The images shared in this post are from that class outing. Nothing special, but they are what got me hooked. In an upcoming post I will discuss these images, why I shot them as I did and what lessons I learned.
Why did I choose Street Photography? Street Photography can be done by anyone who owns a camera. Any camera. It can be done anywhere, in any city. But, like with other genres, there are specific skill sets required and time and patience must be invested. And again, like with most other genres, it’s important to know, understand and have an intimate knowledge of your subject!
Your subject is not just the places and the people, its all of it. It’s the people’s actions and reactions, interconnections, transactions, and emotions. And, as usual, it’s about the backdrop and the lighting and the timing. Oh, and don’t forget about the composition! To know street photography is to know human nature. And above all, you must see things unfolding before they happen to be ready for the decisive moment.
I enjoyed this part. I enjoyed being on the streets, loitering as it were. Carefree. Observing. Watching. Photographing.
Caught!
I have photographed in Europe, the US including NYC and in Israel. Each country is unique, each city different, each neighborhood a new adventure. But, street photography is not just about shooting in new places. It’s about the people and getting an understanding of those people and their neighborhood. That can only be achieved by returning to the same hoods over and over again. Meeting the actors and players. Learning who to follow, who to watch and who to ignore. Along the way, you take it all in and become comfortable with the places and people and atmosphere. Ever watchful.
I want to share what I have learned on my Street Photography Journey with you on this site. I will post articles and a large reference section with links to other articles, downloads, and videos. I have posted an updated 11 Part Street Photography Workshop that you can do on your own, with a friend, or in a group or club. In the Spirit of Eric Kim’s “Open Source Photography” from which I have based the workshop, it is all available on this site for free (*please note exceptions below). I will host some inexpensive photo walks and continue to host my Street Photography Workshops if you need or enjoy hands on guidance. But either way, I hope you can join me on this journey. See you on the streets!
*Any images or articles on this site are fully copyrighted by me or their respective owners as indicated. I do grant use of my images for web based non-commercial educational use only and only with credit provided. Need my images for other purposes, please contact me as I am always trying to help out. Please don’t steal images.
Eifel Tower from Trocadero Square