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

Pictures of the Day with the new Nikon

Getting some good results with the Nikon at the weekend.
Being trying close up and distance portraiture and also some composition framing.
I don't know what it is about this camera but people just do not realise there picture is being taken.
It must be due to the fact that it is black I guess.  Anyway here are some of the results below.
Now I have been paid I will be back using my film cameras next week which is always good for the learning curve.  You tend to get a bit lazy with digital and also a bit click happy.
cheers.

Nikon S9100

Marley

Southville

Southville

Broadwalk Shopping Centre

Southville

Nikon S9100 Coolpix and other bits and bobs

Ok so I ditched my Panasonic Lumix and purchased a Nikon S9100 and can I just say Daido Moriyama uses this camera. Him along with Lewis Hines are my two biggest influences in photography.
Bought secondhand off ebay for £50, which is slightly more than I was hoping to spend.
Took it out for a test run today with some good results.  The zoom is really good, not that I will be using it that much and at full zoom still maintains good resolution.  Never really been into cameras.  I hate it when people go on about fancy cameras.  I get bored really quick.  "I dont want to know about ya camera mate,  I want to know about your pictures"  My early pictures were nearly all taken with a disposable camera.  SLR cameras are no good for Street Photography.  My Minolta rangefinder and Olympus XA2 are really good for SP and not very expensive at all.  The Minolta AL-f cost me £14 and the Olympus XA2 cost me £10.  Film and developing costs mount up though and to shoot exclusively on film would be very expensive.  

People say to me , I never knew you were into photography and the truth is I never was into photography. I just assumed photography was just about Fashion, Nature, Journalism and Beauty not just taking random pictures of people for my own curiosity.  Well it turns out it is a photographic medium and I have only found this out recently hence why I have upped my game a bit and started taking candid pictures again.
Here are some of my early pictures with a disposable camera and my other camera's that I have been using recently.

Taken with 110 film when I was about 11

Taken with a Disposable camera mid 90's

                                      

Minolta AL-f

Panasonic Lumix

Olympus XA2

                                              

Nikon S9100

Alt-J (∆) - Taro - Robert Capa

Robert Capa was a Hungarian war photographer, photojournalist and also the companion and professional partner of photographer Gerda Taró.

This was written by Alt J as a tribute to his life and work.
Great song