Expanding Westward
We all learn something new from time to time.
All photos and work are original unless noted
Be you, always.
Yesterday I wrote a post about my Leica Street Photography workshop experience and I noticed while shooting that at times where I was waiting searching, and hunting that as must as we must anticipate we must ignore certain aspects within the streets itself. Somethings are for beginners to note others maybe who have been shooting for a long time I remember one thing a man at the workshop told me “There is a difference between taking pictures for a longtime and making photographs for a longtime.” He was saying how he had been behind the lens for over twenty years but only serious learning photography in the past year, and he is working hard to close that gap.
1.) Dont Shoot the Homeless or Street Preformers.
They speak nothing about the human spirit, capacity, lack the decisive moment and many many images taken in black and white with the main focus of a homeless man or woman is extremely boring. In street photography there must be a focus on something, but you cannot prove to me that the image above is thought provoking whatsoever. There can be great photos made with homeless people but its harder to make one of homeless people. Both are subtle word changes but very,very different. I avoid taking pictures of street performers because that is it, they are there in public and speak very little about humans in general, an provide very boring images. But I could take a picture with a street performer in it and make a very different kind of feel, and image overall.
2.) Don’t watermark.
Photo Credit: Bruce Davidson
Work on your style. Develop something in images that are so uniquely yours that if anyone tried to steal them it would be quite obvious it wasnt theirs. But in all honesty watermarks in the the huge semi transperent curisve letters dont add to your photo, it in fact detracts , and is a huge annoyance to many photographers.
Trust Me now I’m not saying it isn’t a safety issue or anything but in your street photograph, I’m not suggesting it isnt recommended I am saying don’t do it. Martin Parr, Alex Webb, Eric Kim, Charlie Kirk. I guarantee if they all uploaded an image online right now they would not watermark their photo.
3.) Dont be afraid to try new things.
Photo Credit: Walker Evans.
If you feel uninspired, hate all your images, and feel stagnant maybe ry out a different process that suits you. Photography to me is all about experimentation until you find something that suits you. Daido Moriyama shot with 1600 iso film underexposed this images then overdeveloped them. On a more contemporary note Justin Vogel shoots with expired colored film for his results, while other may use medium format and flash for their images. Try out new film, rent a camera or different lens for a weekend and shoot see how it works out. On a personal note I first shot digital but it didn’t suit me, my style i wanted this film look. Black and white wasn’t well for me either so I switched to color film and tried out a whole list of films before i narrowed down to few I would shoot with. Find our own process, your own style, and the rest above should follow through.
These past two days, i had taken a $350 dollar plunge into attending a Leica street photography workshop. Now, if you are like me a person who hasnt been to a workshop before I would reccomend at least attending a photography workshop of any kind, because you can never know what you can learn. And this for me was not so much of a huge learning experience, as ive been making my own personal journey in street shooting for almost a year now, but it was great to hear feedback, network, get treated to free beer and food and work with some frequent D.C shooters.
Day One
(one of the first images i made at the workshop.)
I met up with Matt Dunn a local D.C shooter and a few other serious Leica users where we were shown some of Matts great photographs as well learning some of his tips and techniques. All of us either owned, or were loaned M9s to shoot with for the weekend, with the lens of our choice. Matt opted that we study up on some the masters work serious weighing each image on why we did and did not like them. They included : HCB, Craig Semtko, Elliot Erwitt, Robert Frank, and Walker Evans. This was an introduction workshop so many still needed to learn to get close, and to help define truly what makes a good photograph?
I’m not a big fan of gear discussions but I must say shooting with the M9 is a blast. Many either shot with a 35 or 50mm but I rented the 28mm elmarit lens. I wanted the challenge of even going in closer, and i predominantly shoot with flash off hotshoe and film, digital on hotshoe was refreshing to use. We went out for two hours Matt arguing us not to chimp (look down at every photo on the screen after we take it) and I even urged a few others to take one extra closer than normal a close photograph isnt always a good one but being close does create in intimacy with the viewer, a gret photograph is supposed to put us there;in that moment.
After shooting and heading back to the hotel we were all urged not to look at any of our photographs and preform only minimal editing until the next morning. I did feel a bit out of place, everyone pulled out their Macbooks and Adobe Lightroom 3 neither of which I have. What you see here is straight out of the M9. We went out to eat but not before checking out Fotoweek D.C headquarters and a small celebration of free food and beer :) for this years Look 3 festival event in Charlottesville, Va. This will be my first year going so I am not sure what to expect. Alex Webb and Bruce Gilden will be having masters and insights talks on the last day of the event, which I am eager to hear.
Day Two
After 15 minutes of editing we went out, hailed cabs to The National Gallery of Arts I spy street photography exhibit (made a post a few weeks back) and went out to shoot at the Asian Heritage Festival. Another round of beers and found paid for by Leica and more shooting all the way back to the hotel where we showed a slideshow and critqued our best images.
We were pressed for time on both days due to questions, setting up, slight traffic so i wish it went on for at least another day! It easy very relaxing weekend and it was great to see different styles of shooting, play around with a few different Leicas and good to see my work instantly, as when i shoot film i wait at least two months before developing. I am hoping to get in an interview with our instructor Matt Dunn soon and well be working and putting out a few more articles this week. Feedback on my images would be great but, not necessary. Thanks for the read.
