Diary of a Street Photograper - Part 2

Day 1: City Centre, Bristol

Spent an afternoon shooting in the city centre this week.  Nothing really exciting happening.
Had a chat with a big Issue seller near St Nicholas market who agreed to a portrait shot.  Good subject becasue he was not all smiles.  Looking at the camera and smiling can really kill the shot. Sometimes I tell people to look away and don;t smile unless they have a really really interesting face.

Just off Corn Street near the court chambers I come across a very strange object dangling from the top window of a building.  It was actually a Doll covered over with a union jack umbrella. Oh I see now.  The baby doll, its been hanged.  Yes hanged..  What does this mean. I have no idea.  See what you make of it. Bristol is weird.

Walked up down to Nelson Street and caught a good one of a guy in a pub reading a book.

Day 2 : Stokes Croft

Back in good old Stokes Croft.  There is always something going on around here.
Decided to go a bit further up down Picton Street.  Spotted a mannequin in a doorway so took a shot of that.  A big black dude was leaning up against a post so sneaked up behind and took a back shot.  Looks ok actually but lost a bit of contrast on his head due to bad composition.

It seemed really quite so headed back down Cheltenham Road and took a picture outside a cafe.
Looking at it now it is well composed and looks as if the guy is saying something to the people in the Cafe.  I dunno maybe I have taking too many pictures recently but it looks like there is a story in the picture somewhere.  See for yourself.

Further down I caught a guy unloading stuff in to the shop and an interesting looking lady also was in the frame.  Looks ok.

Then I hear a crash and a guy screaming.  Oh dear a middle aged lady has just taken some bloke out with her car door.  He is not happy.  Is he hurt?  Do I take a picture of him on the floor.  I am not a photo journalist so wander over to see if he is ok.  Hey I got morals.  He is actually ok, not sure about the bike though.  So  things are starting to happen now as it usually does when shooting street but time is running out and need to head back to the office to do some work.

See a mirrored wall and cannot resist another reflection shot.  Did I say I was going to stop this type of picture taking.  Oh well anyway   someone has scribbled a box with smile above it.  A bit like a a frame.  Was this intentional.  mmm.  

Cross over the street to head to the bear pit and see a kid with his mum.  The kid is doing something really cool. I have this thing where I feel really uncomfortable taking pictures of kids,  but its going to be a well composed shot,  so i just take it but due to nerves I fluff it right up.  The picture sort of works on an artsy type level but other than that it really looks like its been taken by a guy who has not done his homework.  It would have been a really good picture If it was not due to my fear of  taking pictures of kids.  If someone was taking pictures of my kids I would not be happy. Lets end it there for now.

Another reflection shot.  Good,  Bad,  hard to tell.  I have done so many of these now I really should stop.  I am getting worried now.

Down through the bear pit I spot a dog on a table with two young lads (not kids)  so I take a snap.
The kid looks pissed off and I say I like dogs.  he says ok fine but he is not happy.  I guess I must look like a copper.

Couple of goths stroll looking in love haha, so I take picture.  Ahh young love.

And thats it untill next time :)

Photos of the day - Reflections.

I have been experimenting with reflections ever since I started taking photos again.
Not an easy technique due to having to deal with double the amount of content.  If done properly your pictures will be amazing, if not they will look terrible.

Here are my results today.  Still a long way to go I think.

I found it hard shooting today due to cold weather and a compact camera that is just not performing.
I have decided to get rid of my Panasonic Lumix and get a Nikon S9100.
I will still be shooting film but for my blog my pictures they will mainly be digital.
Will be writing a blog about the Nikon when I recieve it and also putting up some pictures of course.

Pictures of the day

Going to try and post pictures up as often as I can.
Wandered around the city centre today and decided to give them a black and white feel.
It is Monday and everyone is a bit flat so I kind of went with that mood.

Diary of a Street Photographer

Henri Cartier Bresson once said that a the difference between a good picture and a bad picture can be down to millimeteres or a fraction of a second.
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.  

Street Photography

Not to confuse anyone but I have changed my blog site to suit my Street Photography.
I will still be blogging about other things but the main focus will be Street Photography.
I am currently working on a project at the moment and hoping to hold an exhibition and sell some prints to raise some money for a homeless charity in Bristol.  There will be 2 themes.  The first will mood based and shot in black and white and the other will be shot in colour.
I have been taking pictures on and off since I was a kid and was always interested in the candid side of photography.  I managed to find some of my early photos which are not great but have a SP feel to them.  Here are some examples of my work so far.  Still a lot to do from now until June when I am hoping to exhibit.  I shoot using a Minolta AL-f and an Olympus XA2.
Thanks

Leapling - "Crooked"

Vintage Folding Knives

Not sure why I have developed a fetish for old blades all of a sudden. Must be harking back to my childhood when we used to sharpen sticks and throw them at each others heads. Carry one every day and probably use about 3 times, so its practical as well as fashionable.

Here is a pick of my collection so far. All Sheffield Steel apart from the larger one.
The larger one is US marine issue lock knife, not a folding knife. Difference being about £5000 fine and up to 5 Years in prison if caught with one.