Street Photography 101: Lesson 2

Lesson 2 Getting Closer. Reviewing my images from my first adventure back to Street Photography, I realized that there was a lot of space between my subjects and I. This frustrated me a lot, not only as a result but also as someone who is quite comfortable walking up to people and asking for a portrait. So my goal this week was to revitalize that feeling of asking subjects for a portrait while on the street. No matter how you feel about him, there is a street photography blogger by the name of Eric Kim who honestly was one to first inspire me into street photography as a genre. I think I found his blog by accident when researching 35mm lens and the site held my attention. Eric wrote a small book titled “Street Notes: A workbook & assignments journal for street photographers.” Purpose behind this book really is to break you into the art of street photography by giving you 15 challenges to build your confidence and skill set. Chapter 1 is the 5 yes 5, No’s challenge.

5 Yes, 5 No’s is just as it states, is to ask complete strangers for a portrait on the street with the hopes of them saying yes but the possibility of them saying no. Easy enough right…a basic game to get you not only confident in approaching people but also to realize that most people do not mind having their photo taken. The challenge for myself, since I was shooting film, is to get 12 Yes, 12 No’s with the thought I would take 3 shots of each subject totally 36 frames. I attended the Atlanta Streets Alive Festival where Peachtree Street is blocked off for 3 miles and give or take 3 hours allowing people to ride bikes, skate, skateboard, rollerblade, or even walk down Peachtree without the fear of getting hit by a car. Long story less long I only managed to get 10 portraits at this event, but I was happy with that because I took some shots of moments happening (I just could not resist). I decided to use my Canon EOS 1N for this experience and Cinestill BwXX film. My past experience lets me know more people are willing to say yes if you have what looks like a professional camera in your hand verses a point and shoot, but if you and more challenging experience the point in shoot is the way to go.

I will be honest though even at an event with a lot of people many of whom were comfortable having their photo taken, it took me a while to break the ice. I would not call it nerves that caused the hesitation but more me being selective of who I photography. Its one thing to ask the first few people I saw for a portrait, it’s another to be selective. However, some people would just walk directly to you and pose while some were perfect candidates for the moment.

One of the best things about this challenge is you never know what may happen after you initially ask for that portrait. You my find out your subject owns a photography store that’s near by selling film and film cameras. Some may give you pointers on how to use your DJI Osmo 3 that you have difficulty putting to use because you’re mainly focused on the photography and not capturing behind the scenes footage. Someone may even tell you the best products for your hair to keep it looking healthy and full.

If you’re like me you may have seen some photographers on social media approaching strangers and asking for photos, so there is nothing new to what I am doing. I won’t aspire to be like those who do this on a regular, as after a while is does get redundant or boring, I say this until it’s time to pull the medium format camera out and all I want to do is shoot portraits. However, I do enjoy capturing candid moments more verses posed moments. Though it may be easy to take 100s of photos of absolutely nothing for that 1 keeper, I know for me the main thing is getting close enough to where I know and the viewer knows who’s the subject of the image.

Atlanta Streets Alive was a good time, Hot, but a good time nevertheless. To continue with this Street Photography 101 lesson I am on I have a few dozen rolls of film collected over the past few years that I would love to shoot before going full fledge into using my Leica Tri-X and Portra 800 on a regular basis. The rolls of Tri-X and Portra 800 just mean more to me than a Kodak Gold 200 or Fuji Superia 200. Not that those stocks aren’t good Just as I build my skillset up I don’t want to waste those film stocks on mistakes especially giving how expensive Portra 800 is now. Therefore I will continue to experiment with whatever else I have in my fridge and a few other film cameras I have including using the Leica more.

Until Nexts time…

Street Photography 101: Lesson 1

First let me start with the disclaimer, I am not doing this to become famous nor receive a bunch of love or clicks. I’m simply doing this because this shit is fun. So with that being said…let me tell you about my first day out doing Street Photography Again.

Street photography is one genre of photography that I have always enjoyed partaking in as well as observing. Seeing what other photographers can produce while on the streets I have always admired and often times find myself getting lost in. For the past 8 years I have not taken a single photo on the streets purposely. I say purposely because anytime I find myself out and about I may take out my phone and make a quick image or two. Getting married, having a family, and moving 45 minutes outside the city, compromises were made on my behalf and honestly dampened my desire to even get off the couch. I found myself watching videos on YouTube and turning through more Photobooks than producing images of my own. But having a loving wife, she could recognize that something was wrong with me, something was missing, and therefore encouraged me to get back out there again and try.

Living just outside of Metro Atlanta, which is not the easiest city to take street photos due to the lack of foot traffic (most people commute by car) I often dread driving into the city, having had experienced in the past where there were no subjects out and about to candidly photograph. But having a loving wife again, who suggested I get out and visit the Atlanta Beltline as she knew the weather would be nice and the people would be out. All in my head and shit I was pushing back like sweets you don’t realize most people on the beltline are working out, running, walking, biking, therefore in my opinion not the best opportunities for street photos. But I took her suggestion anyway as an opportunity to practice, so go to where the people are right.

Saturday around 10:30AM I just took my Leica MP and 3 (three) rolls of film, 2 (two) rolls of Portra 800, and 1 (one) roll of Tri-X 400. I only managed to shoot the two rolls of Portra as I am not as familiar with it as I am the Kodak Tri-X 400. Both rolls I shot at 400, just to be sure I didn’t lose all the details it the shadows. As for the camera I sold a bunch of shit late last year to buy a used Leica MP and Leica 28mm Summicron lens. It was my grail camera and just before my 43rd birthday felt it was a camera to get finally. I am no expert with the range finder system yet, especially in a fast past environment like street photography. However, I have the camera so I’m using it, and I’ll be honest between the Portra 800, the Leica MP, and the 28mm lens I got my ass kicked. This was a good introductory lesson on my 6 mile walk from Krog Street to Piedmont Park and back.

Portra 800, now I’ve watched enough review videos to know that all Portra film stock needs sunlight hell they thrive in it. On this day the sun was out but it was an overcast day for the most part. The beltline didn’t help either as some areas are mostly shade, which is good for working out in the Georgia Heat but not great for me and these photos, as you can see below.

Now I fuck with this image a little bit because of the mixture of shadow and highlights but I definitely thought the sun would project more details on the woman roller blading especially her skates, it might be my shitty scan too though.

Same for this photo. I saw a set up for a wedding and the sun looked amazing highlighting it so I snapped a photo. Even over exposing Porta 800 buy shooting it at 400 I still lost a lot of details in the tree and ivy.

Yet in this photo though taken with very little shade Portra 800 is beautiful and reminds me a bit of a Commercial Still or behind the scenes shot.

Also the way the “photographer’s” hair, green top and blue bottom pop in this photo, is one reason I have come to truly respect film photography as it’s really difficult to replicate digitally.

The camera, I mean it works that’s about all I can say on its functionality, the light meter works but I did use a handheld light meter as well. I will say though that loading it the way the manual suggests and not how I’ve seen every YouTuber load theirs does work every time, there is no reason to ever touch the film while loading. Several people complimented me for shooting 35mm and one guy just flat out asked me if the camera were a Fuji or Leica, to which I replied Leica and his response “I’m jealous…you better watch your back” as if I’m in an open carry state not carrying not saying I want things to go there but you have to be prepared.

The lens, okay the lens was the most challenging. Clearly my eyes see in 50mm as I mostly zoned focused the entire time. Due to the speed of the film and maximum shutter on the camera being 1000 I found myself shooting a lot at f8 or f11 which is good because I could set my lens from 4ft to infinity and just shoot whatever captured my attention. What I didn’t realize was how far away subjects would appear in the negatives than they seem to appear in my viewfinder. I see why someone like Andre Wagner shoots with a 28mm viewfinder bright line. I am confident these mistakes will be corrected with time, but imagine my shock to see what I thought was 4 feet away was more like 8 feet.

I am not the tallest guy nor do I have the longest arms, but what I took away from this photo was 2 (two) things, 1 (one) Yes I am uniquely special!! and 2 (two) where you see the runner behind the card is where my focus was locked majority of the shots taken on both rolls. Which means I have way too much negative space in every single image. 3 (three) hours I am thinking subject are much closer than they are. I guess this is all apart of the learning experience. (The remaining images are so cropped you won’t believe it)

I know I have my work cut out for me, as most of these shots are taken from afar or from behind. I don’t have a fear of approaching people, but again the way my eyes and that 28mm lens were not on the same page I’ll get better about. I want to acknowledge my wife again for giving me her blessing to get out there, to not worry about her and the kids for a few hours, and just get lost in this hobby of mine. It felt good and I am definitely looking forward to getting out there again this week shooting Tri-X and perhaps mixing it week to week from here forward. The walk was amazing. The sites and subjects seen were great. The photos missed are not impacting at all, because I didn’t know until after I developed the film that the photo was missed. The fire is back to take more photos and improve each opportunity I have to do so.