Pictures of the day 130415

Ask anyone about street photography and they will tell you its probably the hardest forms of photography.
Trust me to pick the hardest medium.

Anyway I am still having fun I think :)

Diary of a Street Photographer Part 3

Due to only being able to fit in photographing in my lunch hour I am very limited as to how far out I can go so I decided to use my bike to venture out a bit further ie St Pauls.  Gasp shock horror.
When I mention to my colleagues the areas I take pictures they always say "urrgh oh no you'll get mugged down there".   Thing is even though I am not from Bristol, St Pauls is similar to a lot of areas in London where I grew up.  So even though I walk around with a camera I still blend in well because I am used to places like this.  Growing up in the 70's in a London suburb, as soon as you can walk and talk you are pretty much left to your own devices with very little adult intervention.  So armed with a few guidelines : 1. Dont talk to strangers or anyone who looks pervy.  2. Watch out for cars.  3. Home before it gets dark.  I spent a lot of my time outside exploring.

Anyway moving on.  Cycled up to Stokes Croft Parked my bike and walked down to St Pauls but to be honest it looked really quiet. So I changed my mind.  I was not scared or anything.  Honest guvnor.  It just was not going to happen.  So headed down to Montpelier which looked a bit more interesting.  Managed to catch a guy on a bike.  Cool.  I like the big thick white line.

Noticed a guy with a dog so took a few pictures of him with the dog low down to cut out space above.  Actually worked quite well.

Walking through Montpelier I notice a girl doing the dishes in a restaurant  window.  It looks like I can get nice tones from this shot so I take a few shots.   mmmm not bad.

As I walk down there seems to be a lack of people around so I just take pictures of crap lying around on the floor and then I spot a door with odd things on it so I wait for a subject to walk past.  Bam!
I like the two oranges in this and the fact the door looks like a smiley face.  Is it luck I wonder.

I also spot a window which is low down so again I wait for a bit.  Not for long though.

I like to take pictures of things that other people cannot take.  You wont see this montage again.

As I go around the corner I see a bit of an argument going on between a shop keeper and a drunk guy.

I mean the guy is pretty out of it.  I try to chat with him but its really difficult because he is so pissed.

I wonder if he will give me a sip of his gin. :P
As I head back I stumble across two oldish ladies having a chat.  I take a few pictures of them and they really dont have a care in the world bless em.  The contacts for this shoot must be about 8.  Contacts meaning, if you dont know, the amount of pictures that are taken at a scene.  To give you a rough idea, I took about 100 pictures today and the ones that I thought were good are the ones you see.  Photography lesson over. Lets move on.

As I am heading back through Stokes Croft I see some Asian guys busy doing stuff.  I think I took only one picture, I should of took more really but the guy was getting a bit suspicious.

Take a few across the road which come out ok.

 The next one is interesting because I actually nearly get killed taken this picture.
What I attempt to do is take a picture through a car window to the other side of the street catching someone else in a sort of juxtaposition.  The problem is I end up standing in the middle of the road.  It sort of works but sort of don't.  Take a look.

Anyway heading past a barbers which has loads of mirrors inside I see some guys smoking outside.  I ask them if they work there  and they do.  So I explain to them that I take pictures of the area and would love to do some from inside the barbers next week.  He seems really cool with this so I arrange next thursday lunch time. Stay tuned folks.

The last picture is probably the best.  I couple of lads are playing table tennis and I take a few pictures.  They tell me I have to get permission from there youth worker so I ask him and he seems fine about it.  Turns out he works for a charity that helps young homeless kids.  The youngsters are really cool and ask me to play table tennis with them.  Unfortunately I am way over my lunch so decline but next time I most definitely will.  Thats it till next time.

Photos of the day 070415

Been on a roll today.  Taking a few pictures near the harbourside.
Very sunny so had to set my camera to full auto everything.   It just makes things a lot easier and you dont have to think, just shoot.  Anyway I have been experimenting a lot with black and white largely due to my hero,  Daido Moriyama.  More about him later.  I can see my photography getting better. I  I know what I like and dont like, I know what may work and what may not and I will work a scene which has potential rather than click and move on.  Check out the results.

Photographing the Homeless - My moral standpoint

I have mentioned before about taking pictures of children and how it makes me feel uncomfortable.
I also feel uneasy about photographing homeless people.  I know that I am working on a body of work to exhibit for a homeless charity in September but it still makes me feel uncomfortable.
First off can I say that pictures of homeless people is more social documentary rather than street photography.  Some may argue this but that's just what I think.  It can also be seen as a form of exploitation.  For instance someone may not want there photo taken but do it anyway in the hope of getting some money or food.  So why do I still do It?

I have a set of rules when taking pictures of homeless people which I try to follow.
The first one is that I will always ask them first and never shove a camera in there face.
I will sometimes offer them money for a portrait shot but if they still say no I will give them the money anyway.  I will also explain to them in detail what I am doing and that I am trying to raise money for charity.  Most people that live on the street are actually really polite and never rude during the day.  There mood may change at night when it gets cold and there is no one around to get money off but generally I find them to be ok.

I am not saying there angels but the most grief I have had on the street taking pictures is just mainly normal folk threatening to call the police or accusing me of being the police.  Not sure whats worse.

Just because someone is on the streets due to circumstances does not make them a bad person.
You just got to ask yourself who would you rather trust, a politician or a homeless person.
I guess you would say neither but if you had to choose between them who would it be.

Here are some of my homeless portraits.  All consented of course... well except for the dude fast
asleep on the sofa bed.

Love this picture.  This couple did not even ask for money

This guy was a character.  Makes fag boxes out of scrap metal

 

                         

Penny or smile.  Cup of coffee and a smile goes a long way

Not sure if this guy is Homeless or just needed somewhere to crash

I partially hid his face

See this lady around a lot.  Very chatty and friendly

Abstract Art and Photography

Some photographers use there camera to produce works of art.
I have to say I have seen some of this stuff online and in magazines and I am struggling to get it.
The worst thing is when the artist or observer spend about 20mins using very long words to describe a picture of a door opening or a car light.  Yes car light.  Dont get me wrong some of it is nice to look at but you don't need to write a book describing the works.  Art is pretensions but trust me photography art is another level.  Its like they are trying to prove something.

Anyway surrealism and abstract art are used in Street Photography all the time and as I am still in the process of developing my style and skills I have decided to give it a go today.

Photo Me!

Mr Nosey

Selfie

Down to earth

Scream

Catch the sun

Spring Daff

Cuba

Slang Aperture