Eric’s Note: Hey streettogs, I wanted to share this great opportunity hosted by Photovoice, a charity that combines social advocacy and photography! If you have ever wanted to give back to the community (while obtaining some great street photography prints) – check it out! More info below :)
Photovoice: Leading practitioners from across the world have come together to offer their work in an online sale to raise money for the charity PhotoVoice. The Street Collection includes beautiful, dramatic, comic and moving images that capture the energy and idiosyncrasy of everyday life on streets across the globe. Over 300 prints will be available at just £100 each. This is a unique opportunity to buy outstanding street photographs at an affordable price. Many of the prints available are well known but have never previously been available for purchase.
Eric’s Note: Streettogs Gallery is an on-going feature and intiative by Manila-based street photographer A.G. De Mesa. Click here for more info.
A.G.:I’ve been following Lem’s work over at Flickr for quite some time now. He is what I would classify as a classical street photographer with mastery of light, timing, and overall visual design. His terrific use of black and white reinforces that aesthetic especially when he utilizes it to for silhouettes.
I want to emphasize that Lem’s photographs are really good. Although recently, he is posting something that is really unique.
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Hey guys, if you happen to be in Melbourne (or closeby) check out the exhibition launch of the G-STREET Photography Contest on Thursday, 19 April, 6pm at No Vacancy Gallery, QV Building in Melbourne. Originally I couldn’t make it- but now extending my stay here in Melbourne just so I can attend!
Make sure to come out and meet other passionate street photographers, and chat it up with the judges of the contest, Michael Baranovic and Tamara Voninsky.
The best contest entries (not just the winning ones) will be exhibited alongside the judges’ works. Come and see if yours has been put up for all to view and admire!
Canapés and drinks will be served. Please RSVP today as seats are limited. Family and friends are welcome!
Had some time to catch up with my good friend Brian Day, a street photography local in Detroit. We chatted about shooting street photography in Detroit (the pros and the cons) as well as his new Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – which is a fantastic camera – with its quirks (like every other camera out there).
As discussed in the video, apparently the Fujifilm 35mm F1.4 Lens gets “aperture chatter” which is pretty damn annoying when in broad sunlight. If you are interested in getting the X-Pro 1, I’d probably get the Fujifilm 18mm F2.0 Lens which is roughly a ~28mm full-frame equivalent that supposedly doesn’t get “aperture chatter”.
However some of the pros of the camera mentioned include the ridiculously clean high-ISO (I shot at ISO 12,800 in JPEG and it looked better than my old Canon 5D at 3200 ISO) as well as the great image quality. However considering that the body is starting at around $1,699 – the camera isn’t cheap. If having an optical viewfinder is important to you, I’d get the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 and the Fujifilm 18mm F2.0 Lens and stick it in manual focus (1.2 meters) and zone-focus at f/8-f/16 all-day.
If you want a camera that is a bit more affordable, has incredibly-fast auto-focus, as well as great image quality + high-ISO – check out the new Olympus OM-D with the Olympus 12mm f/2 lens. The great thing about the 12mm lens is that it has “real manual-focus” on the lens, as well as hyperfocal marks for zone-focusing. Not a big fan of the Electric Viewfinder (the refresh rate is apparently twice as fast as the old model) but I prefer optical viewfinders.
Both are great cameras, but remember not to get sucked too much into GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)! If you already have a Fujifilm X-100 or any other Micro 4/3rds, I wouldn’t upgrade. But if you own a DSLR and want less weight and bulk when you are out shooting on the streets, both cameras mentioned above are great cameras.
For those of you who have the new Fujifilm X-Pro 1- have you experienced this “aperture chatter” and what is your take on the camera? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Hey streettogs, FYI but the call for submissions for the 2012 Angkor Photo Festival is now open! There is currently no imposed theme, and no limit in terms of the number of images you can submit to be considered. Submit below!
Eric’s Note: This week I am pleased to share the work of Mike Aviña, a street photographer based in Northern California. His images have a strong film noir style, and exuberant swagger. Check out his thoughts about his work and images below.
Mike: I like taking pictures, obviously. I think it is rooted in some sort of drive to capture and freeze reality and hold on to a piece of time—probably ultimately not a healthy instinct but if it is channeled well maybe I can make some strong images. These thin little slices of time we get in pictures are difficult but the shots that work are sort of like gasoline on the fire. I can’t really explain it more than that.
Recently I met Colin Westerbeck, the author of “Bystander: A History of Street Photography” and he shared some great stories with me. One of the stories he shared was the great friendship that Garry Winogrand and Joel Meyerowitz shared. They would hang out a ton, go shooting, eat with one another, and critique one anothers’ work at each others’ houses.
When it comes to street photography, I personally like to shoot with other people. Although you probably get the “best” photographs when going by yourself, going along with a buddy or a couple of friends is a great way to stay motivated, have fun, and still get some great shots. Imagine like having a gym-buddy (they will get your ass out of bed to go workout). Same thing with having street photography buddies (they get your ass off the computer at home and go out and hit the streets).
For this blog post I will describe how you can start your own street photography community, and the benefits that it will bring you!
Hey streettogs, I am excited to announce that my good friend Todd Hatakeyama (the owner of the Hatakeyama Gallery) is undergoing a plan of creating a dedicated classroom, to continue to nurture the local arts scene in Los Angeles! The Hatakeyama Gallery was used to featured numerous photography workshops, exhibitions, and is on the Downtown LA art walk route! The venue would be used as a hub for all photographers to meet and interact, while giving a location for up-and-coming photographers to display their work as well.
I know it has been a while since I featured street photography from the community – but here is the last batch of great shots I have noticed on Facebook! If you would like to get one of your shots featured in the future, make sure to upload them to my Facebook fan page! (I prefer using Facebook because it is easier to sort/look through all the photographs).
Some tips to get included in the next post:
Don’t use watermarks on your photographs or white/black borders. They are often distracting to the image and take away from the power of the photo.
Don’t over-process your photographs. Once your photo looks too “HDR’y” you should tone it down.
Street portraits are great – but try to incorporate the subjects/backgrounds more.
Get good lighting. Try not to include shots that have been shot mid-day.
Think about balance and composition. Don’t have your subjects too center-focused.
Don’t shoot people’s backs. Sometimes they work but typically they don’t.
Think about the statement your photograph is trying to say. Is it just a person of a person walking on the streets, or something more?
Generally photos of street performers/homeless people are cliche and not very original. Try to find the extraordinary in the ordinary- rather than capture ordinary photos of extraordinary people.
Keep reading to see if your photograph got included in the post, and see all the great images!
Eric’s Note: I am happy to feature the work of Stéphane Daniel, a street photographer based in Montreal. Check out his background in street photography and his images below!
Stéphane: During my childhood in France I first learned photography from my father, who showed me how to make a right exposure on his Ricoh. To be quite honest, I remember it as somewhat boring. I also remember for Christmas one year, I received a an ugly red full automatic camera. As a student I used to record “souvenirs” on disposable cameras.
The day I finally had a decent salary, I bought an EOS300 and start to travel with it. Until that moment my life changed. I discovered on photo-magazines the way to shoot with a 24mm, I visited photo exhibitions in Paris and fell in love with Depardon, Salgado, Cartier-Bresson and Nachtwey’s black and white pictures.
Note: Photos used with permission from Martin Parr
As of late, Martin Parr is one of my idols in street photography. I love his never-ending passion for street/documentary photography (Alec Soth recently called him the “Jay-Z” of documentary photography)- and the thought-provoking images that his photos tell. For this article I will share 10 things that I learned from Martin Parr and his work that I hope will help you in your street photography as well!
Some behind the scenes footage from my student exhibition at the UC Riverside Extension Course I taught this quarter (I showed some of my photos as well!) Many of the students had never shot street photography before, and I was very proud of the images they were able to create during the quarter! Thanks to Colin Westerbeck (author of Bystander: A History of Street Photography) who helped edit and sequence the student photos as well!
*4-2-12 Update: We have randomly chose a winner, and it was Julien Rath! His winning comment was below. Stay tuned for the next free giveaway! :)
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The good folks at Custom SLR (one of my site sponsors) has generously provided a Custom SLR Glidestrap + C-Loop($64.95 value) for a give-away on the blog! You can have the chance to either win this great strap which is perfect for street photography- especially on your DSLR, Leica, or rangefinder camera. It takes a ton of strain off your neck- while letting your camera hang to the side – perfect for getting ready for “the decisive moment”. You can see a sample video of it in action here.
To enter this giveaway, all you need to do is:
Share your tip on how to re-inspire yourself in street photography when you are feeling uninspired (in 7 words or less)
There are three ways to enter (the more ways you enter, the more chances to win!):
After a month-long trip in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and London – finally had some time to sit down and think about my travels, my friends, family, and what I want out of life. Traveling has been tough on me mentally, physically, and emotionally – but it has been through the support of the community and those close to me who have helped me keep on going!
Also watch the video above to hear about my crazy story of leaving my luggage at home (and surviving a month on the road without it!). Thanks again so much for everything guys :)
A nice and fun review of the new Fujifilm X-Pro 1 from Kai Wong from DigitalRev TV. Check it out and subscribe to their awesome show today – or else Kai will hunt you down ;)
Still haven’t had the chance to play with the new Fujifilm X-Pro 1- but have been hearing great things about it so far! Hopefully I will have the chance to shoot with it on the streets soon and let you guys know what I think!
I recently taught a street photography workshop in Kuala Lumpur at the Leica Store Malaysia and had a phenomenal time. Huge shout-outs to Shannel and rest of the Leica Store Malaysia crew for making it such a successful workshop! The above video include some snippets shot with my GoPro HD camera in the streets of Kuala Lumpur during the workshop. As you can see, nobody got punched in the face – and most people in the are are extremely friendly!
Also check out my upcoming street photography workshops below, and click more to see all 162 snapshots from the workshop!
April
4/14-4/15: Melbourne, Australia – Introductory – Info – Register now – Sponsored by Michaels –Only 2 spots left!
Thanks to Martin-Neep who found this hour-long interview with street photography master Henri Cartier-Bresson. If you have time later today, grab a nice cup of hot cocoa- kick back- and enjoy!
Share some insights you find interesting by leaving a comment below!
For those of you who may not know, this quarter I taught my first online street photography course with UC Riverside Extension titled, “All the World’s a Stage: Introduction to Street Photography“. Many of the students who enrolled in the class had no experience with street photography before, yet have done incredibly well in the course.
This Friday (3/23) from 6-9PM we will be exhibiting the best street photographs taken by the students from the course.
Eric’s Note: I am very pleased to share the work of Fabrizio Q on the blog this week. I met Fabrizio while I was in London, and saw his “160 Yen” series – a project he worked on while living in Tokyo. It is a strong project full of the idiosyncrasies of Japanese life– all jammed inside the Tokyo Yamanote Line. See more about Fabrizio and the project below.
160 yen
Fabrizio: I have always been fascinated by the pulse of Tokyo life, by its pure, elemental energy, by how the city and its inhabitants embrace each other like partners in a dance: naturally, gracefully, in perfect unison.
In April 2010 I had the opportunity to spend a whole month in this great city. While I had been shooting in the streets there previously for photographic projects, this time I set off with a very precise purpose – documenting the countless aspects of Tokyo life by photographing commuters throughout the day.
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Editing in street photography is one of the most important aspects to know. When I refer to “editing“, I am referring to the act of choosing your best images, rather than “post-processing”. However nowadays when most photographers refer to “editing” their work, you can almost determine with 99% accuracy that they mean “post-processing” their work. Due to this confusion and interchanging use of the word “editing” – the true art of editing of choosing your best work is a lost cause.
For this article, I will attempt to explain why editing is so important in street photography and give practical tips and advice on how you can become a better editor of your work (and how to ask others for advice as well). Keep reading if you want to find out more!
In this Google+ Hangout video, Magnum Photographer Martin Parr talks to Aaron Schuman, photographer and curator about his own personal work, capturing the uniqueness of boring objects, how to take non-cliched photos, and his general insight about photography. You must check this video out, probably the best 18 minutes you will spend all day! :)
One of my favorite quotes from the video was when someone asked him what one phrase of advice he would give aspiring photographers (14:18 mins in):
“Find the extraordinary in the ordinary” – Martin Parr
See more interesting insights over at Martin Parr’s blog and check out his book, “Common Sense” (which is mentioned in the video).
Which quotes from Martin did you find most inspirational? Share them in the comments below!
Darkon Coan, one of the readers of the blog, recently shared me an image of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s famous “Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare” shot in 1932 compared to what it looks like now in Google Maps shot in 2008. Fascinating to see how little has changed in that period of time!
While I was teaching my street photography workshop with Gary Tyson from F8 Photography in Hong Kong, I had the huge pleasure of being interviewed as well. In this video I talk a bit of my reflections on the workshop, as well as general questions about my approach and thoughts on street photography in general. Great production by Gary and the rest of his team!
F8 Photography runs workshops and training in Hong Kong and Cambodia for photography enthusiasts, more information can be seen at the website, f8photography.com.hk or on the blog at f8photography.com.hk/blog
Any other questions you got about shooting street photography in Hong Kong or anywhere else in the world? Leave me your questions in the comments below!
If you want a quality-education in street photography, I recommend either buying, borrowing, or browsing though some of the books below. Books that are bolded are some of my personal favorites.
Eric’s Note: Streettogs Gallery is an on-going feature and intiative by Manila-based street photographer A.G. De Mesa. Check out more info here.
AG: Photography is nothing without seeing. The light, colors, shadows, contrasts, patterns. Human life in general. And it is in seeing that a good photographer will be able to replicate what was seen in a photograph.
This is one of those works that really invites you to just see.
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My good friend Mijonju from Tokyo recently got his hands on the new Fujifilm X-Pro 1 in Tokyo and made this little mini-review on it. Hope you find it entertaining and helpful!
Make sure to subscribe to him on YouTube and follow him on Twitter.
Eric’s Note: For this feature, I am pleased to feature the work of Tomasz Lazar to the blog. Having seen tons of street photographs, I don’t see photographs that often move me. However looking at the work of Tomasz takes me to another world– one full of energy, excitement, and darkness. Quite possibly one of the best street photographers out there, and has had the recent honor of winning the World Press Photo of the Year for News, 2nd place. All of these photographs in this post are from his “Theater of Life” series.
Tomasz Lazar – freelance photographer. He was born in 1985 in Szczecin. Graduate West University of Technology, Computer Science. First year student at the Univesity of Opava – Photography. He participated in many workshops such as Tomasz Tomaszewski, Edddie Adams Workshop in the USA. Winner of photography competitions in Poland and abroad (including the Sony World Photography Award, International Photography Award, BZ WBK Press Photo, World Press Photo).
I just finished my street photography workshop in London with Charlie Kirk (two cute dogs) and thought I’d make a quick GoPro video on the behind-the-scenes action! The footage shows us shooting in Brick Lane in London, with the students shooting on the streets (with a little bit of encouragement from myself and Charlie!).
Over the last few months, the amount of haters and online trolls I have attracted has increased exponentially. They are everywhere—on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Blogs, Online forums, and the worst—YouTube (I swear, half the things people say there…).
To be quite honest, I used to take a lot of these hateful things to heart—and it still does sting pretty hard time-to-time. Growing up, I always took criticism very personally—but through my experiences on the blog and my online social presence has helped me overcome (mostly) all of this haterade people on the internet love to drink.
For this post I will talk about a bit of my experience with haters on the internet, and some advice I would give to anyone else dealing with online trolls whose sole mission in life is to make you feel like crap (while they are still living in the basement of their parents’ house).
Recently when I was in Kuala Lumpur, I had the great pleasure of meeting Robin Wong, a passionate local street photographer. He was also lucky enough to get a test-unit of the new Olympus OM-D EM-5 directly from Olympus, and tested it extensively the past few days.
As mentioned in my last post, you don’t want to fall victim to GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). However if you are using a DSLR and find it too bulky or have a point-and-shoot and want something a bit beefier yet compact, I found the Olympus OM-D EM-5 a pretty solid option paired with the Olympus 12mm f/2 Lens (which is great for zone focusing). However if you already have an Olympus EP-3 or any other relatively Micro 4/3rds camera out there, I wouldn’t recommend an upgrade.
If you got any questions about the camera, make sure to ask Robin Wong over at his blog.
