I had a lot of fun shooting today but my pictures were not as good due to the HCB theory of the good and the bad.
After using up all my film a few days ago I decided to shoot with my digital compact today and try few techniques. Shooting from the hip is the one technique I have yet to try. It involves shooting from the hip or chest without looking at the viewfinder or LCD screen. Sounds easy but after trying this a few times around the Bearpit area of Bristol it was very hit and miss. Using a film camera to do this is not an option, this will have to be mastered using digital technology due to cost.
Anyway I managed to get one decent candid shot which I was fairly happy with except the girls head was clipped but was getting the feeling there maybe something in this hipshooting. The gesturing in the girls is spot on.
Strolling on I kinda gave up on this new technique and started snapping as I normally do.
In street photography you really need to warm up, it takes a while to settle in but once that mood along with the adrenaline kicks in there is no stopping ya. I stop outside the vintage market in Stokes Croft an there is a couple of old dudes sat outside chatting. I snap them and also a a lady with a very cute terrier. Not great shots but like I said I am warming up. I Have a look around and spot a 1950's vintage watch. Have a brief chat with the store holder and tell him I am interested but need to see the insides. Unfortunately for him and for me it won't open. mmmm oh well.
Moving further up Stokes Croft I am determined to try the hip shot again and catch a skater going down the wrong side of the road. Again not a great shot due to light and compostion but I am fairly happy with it.
The buzz is starting to kick in now due to all the activity and the colour of the area.
I spot a girl with pink hair and leoporard skin pants, the perfect camouflage for this area. She is taking pictures outside a shop. I decide to join in and then I am asked to have a look around inside.
Its run by three lovley girls who remind me of three sirens. You know, the mythical creatures that lead men to there death, Alas they turn out to be the complete opposite and agree to exhibit my work in there pop up shop in June.
I then decide to start heading back to the office but going down a different road. I spot a good subject in a shop but its a tricky shot due to the owner and the subject getting very suspicious. I take a few snaps, again not great due to the HCB theory and start having chat with the shop owner, reassuring her I am not from the inland revenue.
Moving on I take a candid shot of a lady with a baby. Lady doesn't notice but baby does, weird.
Further down I notice a gathering of people outside a Homeless hostel and it looks like one of them is playing golf, well and urban version, with beer cans and plastic bottles. This is gold to me haha. So I run up to them and ask the guy if I can take a picture. He is more than happy to demonstrate his new found sport of urban golf. The guys are a mixed bag. Some pissed\ some sober some aggressive. I felt like I fitted in with them and started taking a few more snaps of them which they did not notice or care. The mood quickly changed when a fight broke out and the community leader came out having a go at everyone and saying the police are on there way. Funs over, time to move on Daz.
On the way back I spot a couple chatting. The guy is smiling. I call it the Bristol smile and catch it on camera. The guy looks at me and laughs. "Taking sneaky pictures are ya" he bellows.
I tell him I am a street photographer and mean no harm (yeah right) and seems interested in this weird pastime of mine. I get his email and said I will notify him of my charity exhibition in September.
So plagued by the theory of HCB that millimeters and seconds can make or break a photo I am still in a good mood and happy that I have connected with people on a face to face level. So many people are walking around with there head in there Phones. Its almost like the phone is controlling them, missing great moments like the ones I have experienced today.
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