Thrilled to be included in the latest Progressive Street e-zine featuring Australian photographers!
Sydney Winter | 2018
How to break out of a photography rut
We have all been there. We walk the streets with our camera, looking for that image that never comes. The light is wrong. There are no interesting characters. There is nothing happening on the street today. It’s overcast. Its too bright. Its the middle of the day. The sun is too low. It’s behind the buildings. There is a feeling of insecurity and uncertainty. They are on to you. You are being watched. Glared at. Your timing is off. There is just no damn time in the day to get out and shoot. And you don’t want to share or print anything. Your camera is too heavy, too obvious. You are underwhelmed and want to give it all away and shoot macro. At least the damn things stay still.
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No matter what image I use here, I am doomed | Sydney, 2015
Street Photography not street snapshots
I was speaking to a friend the other day about street photography. He is what I would call a photography enthusiast and is interested in all aspects of photography, cameras and related topics. On street photography, he said that he didn’t get it - he said that all he saw were the same old pictures of people walking down the street - snapshots of strangers.
It made me think about why he had this impression and what he was talking about and I think I know exactly what he means. There are a lot of images out there on the web, instagram and other photography sharing sites passing off as street photography, and I think there is a lack of substance in the type of street photography that people are putting out there. This is a thought piece on how we all can learn and grow as photographers in general. What I am writing here is very much for me. Hopefully it helps you too.
Read MoreTips from a National Geographic Photographer
Searching around YouTube for discussions about documentary photography I came across this gem from silberphotography.tv, interviewing former National Geographic photographer Bob Holmes. Holmes is an award winning travel documentary and food photographer, and in this interview he discusses his approach to what one could call the “National Geographic” style of documentary photography. What this translates to is awesome light, amazing subject matter and effective composition combined with a masterful use of the camera and lens as a tool to tell a story. I'd like to share some of my takeaways from the interview below.
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High contrast silhouettes and shadows | Sydney, 2018
How to shoot high contrast black and white Street Photography
I've written previously on the blog about shooting with intent - that is, heading out with a theme in mind and shooting images that match that theme. This provides a focus and a goal for your photography, and starts to create a body of work that perhaps one day could become an exhibition, photo story, book or a series of prints on your wall. One of my favourite themes to shoot is scenes with high contrast shadows and silhouettes, in black and white.
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Rain
These are not tears they are drops of rain,
This is not pain, it is a window.
Four ways to avoid getting punched in the face when doing street photography.
If you are interested in getting started in street photography, you’ll no doubt be looking to get out on the street and start shooting scenes of every day life. If you have had any success capturing that amazing moment when an every day scene looks like some sort of conceptual art, you know how addictive street photography can be.
However, it can also be daunting to step out into the world with a camera and make images on the street. Lots of thoughts come into your head. What will he say if he catches me? What will bystanders do, or think, if they see me taking photos of those unsuspecting citizens? Do I look like a creep crouching down like this taking a picture of this shadow? Will that guy punch me in the face if I take his photo?
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