pagespicsZack Arias Challenge
Posted on July 23, 2020
Numerous photo challenges were set during the world’s period of isolated lockdown. I started three and finished one! This challenge was set by Zack Arias (google him), and was to make a short video of the time spent in lockdown. Now the challenge is completed, I wish I had taken more video. The exercise has definitely made me think that I really don’t use my camera to it’s full capabilities by being a ‘stills photo purist’.
I’ll warn you now – there is nothing super exciting here to see. The final product is more for my own memories than anything else. Watch if will, you have been warned! However, I will not return the 2:16 of your life.
Other Challenges?
I did try two other challenges. One set by the rather fantastic Ted Forbes, and another by Thomas Heaton – look em up on youtube if you don’t follow these challenges already. Neither of these task took off, but maybe I’ll look at them again on a rainy day. Currently my challenge is to continue to record my time in Blenheim, ideally with some superbly shot street photography! Drop a line below if there is a challenge you have completed – don’t forget to leave a link to share your work.
Keep Clicking, Chris
An Apology to Landscape Photographers!
Posted on July 16, 2020
It’s an odd thing, how we can mentally beat ourselves up over something we said ages ago, and certain words come back to haunt us. My latest mental rumination comes from a comment I said about landscape photography. I said it was easy. In fact I went further than this, stating that if you lived somewhere that looked good, all you had to do was step outside your door and take a photo. Now I’m in New Zealand, and my current accommodation is a stones throw from some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. I’m talking about a misty township set amongst rolling green fields, and rows of grape vines leading to snow-capped mountains. It should be easy. It’s not…. Landscape photographers, I am sorry and I was wrong. It turns out landscape photography is quite a challenge!
Why Landscape Photography?
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I am currently recording my time spent in New Zealand’s South Island, and will continue for however long this may be. This ‘project’ will hopefully cover travel, street, and portrait photography. In addition it will inevitably include close family. To document NZ without recording the majestic ‘Lord of the Rings’ landscapes, would surely be remiss. I am also getting pulled towards this genre by Thomas Heaton’s excellent Youtube channel (google it – you will be entertained and informed!).
So it’s Harder than it Looks?
My most recent attempt at landscape photography took me up the Wither Hills, which are situated about 1km away. I got there on my mountain bike and proceeded to peddle up the hill. Actually I ended up pushing the bike. Here is the first problem, getting to a spot that looks good can take a lot of work! As with all genres of photography, lighting makes or breaks a photo, hence my early-morning start. Note to self: spectacular sunrises do not always happen, and I seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time for the shot I had planned! The third challenge is post-processing. There is a LOT of post processing undertaken with the landscaping crowd, far more than with the conservative approach of Street Photography. Shooting RAW means that some level of post processing will always be needed, but I am still finding my feet when it comes to developing a ‘style’. Luminar 4 is one programme that helps bring the most out of even the poorest landscape photos. However, this genre is sure to stretch my photoshop skills.
Try it Yourself
Landscape photography definitely provides something new to try, and studying this genre will make me a better photographer. Any time spent studying light is time well spent! If you do try this yourself, you will probably need a tripod, particularly if you aim to shoot in low light. In common with street photographers – a strong pair of shoes will also come in handy!
If you do have tips or resources on landscape photography please let me know below. I’m learning!
What Next?
Documenting a quieter place is a challenge. The anonymity of a city is lost, and the candid snapshot feels more of a threat. Asking permission and seeking interesting characters may be a way forward. On a wider scale, the opportunities for far-flung travel photography appear to be receding, or at least becoming a greater challenge. Photography on the doorstep is to be one current path forward. Either way, a day spent with a camera in-hand is sure to bring some peace and joy.
Peace, and take care wherever you are taking photos, Chris.
escaping the slump
Posted on July 2, 2020
“When you’re in a slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.”
Dr Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Site Update, more gear, and another poem
Posted on May 22, 2020
As Covid 19 restrictions start to lift, we are hopefully getting back to some Street Photography! While my Sony is off being repaired I am going to be shooting with my trusty Olympus Em5ii AND a new camera…. sort of. I have been loaned a manual Cosina CT1G, which means I am going to be playing with film again. The camera is matched with a 50mm 1:7 Pentax prime lens, a favourite focal length of mine. Apparently this lens works best around f4, so we will see how it goes!
This week I have been dipping into the Annie Leibovitz ‘Teaches Photography’ course. I’m going to look at two salient issues discussed during this Masterclass. The first is the importance of photographing family and friends. Family tend to have more patience than strangers. They also get used to you and forget that you are there, providing the opportunity for a candid frame. As usual, I like to edit my family pics in black and white, just so they differ from my other work. Some of the most iconic photo projects have come from studies of family and friends, and here I am thinking of Sally Man’s ‘Immediate Family’ and Nan Golding’s, ‘The Ballad of Sexual Dependency’. Both great books that should hold a place on any photographers shelf.
Fleeing India, Luminar 4 and shooting flowers (and potatoes).
Posted on May 1, 2020
This post is being writing from New Zealand whilst under ‘supervised lockdown’. This comes from the NZ Government’s superbly planned emergency exit from India. Supervised lockdown is turning out to be a life of luxury in a very nice hotel in Christchurch. The meals are so good I am considering taking up food photography. Freedom is limited for the next two weeks, putting street and travel photography well out of reach, so brace yourself for photos of an empty carpark!
On fleeing India, I did manage to take a few snaps of the airport, deserted streets, and Covid 19 signs. I also managed to bust the focus joystick on my Sony A7iii. This trip is going to be expensive.
Luminar 4
If you look carefully at the photo of the Covid 19 sign, you may see something is not quite right. The photo is a ‘cheat’ as I changed the sky. I have also done this in the photo below. Changing the sky is a difficult task in Photoshop, and something I am unlikely to try. But this task is a breeze when using Luminar 4. Doing this feels like cheating, and is not something I intend to make part of my everyday workflow. For the two photos included in this post (the second image is posted below), the skies used are not even my photos. I guess for travel photography I may start collecting fantastic images of skies for use with Luminar 4, we will see. However, I can’t see this practice as something that can be undertaken for Street Photography. At the moment the juries out on how I feel about replacing skies. But it is a fun tool to play with whilst under lockdown!
Nothing But Flowers (and Potatoes)
Well to round of this extremely exciting blog post I will fill you in with my current project. Flowers. Not normally a flowers guy, but I’m walking round a garden everyday and that is what I see, so that is what I will shoot. There are people, but there is an odd atmosphere around the place and I have not yet become courageous enough to ask the people guarding the facility for a snapshot!
One competition that has caught my eye is the Potato Photographer of the Year Award. This is judged by non-other than Magnum’s Martin Parr. The competition raises money for the Trussell Trust Charity and costs a fiver to enter, so a bit of a bargain. There is also a chance to win a camera, which would be useful since I bust mine on the journey to NZ!
Well that may well be the first and last photo of a flower you will see on this blog, but who knows, everything is changing at the moment! Next week I may have a photo of a potato to share. While you are here, please take the opportunity to support this blog through ‘buy me a coffee‘, a platform that helps support artists and bloggers. Details at the end of this post.
That is all for now folks, now I’m off to find a potato.
Keep Clicking, Chris
If you enjoy following this blog, the feel free to buy me a coffee! Support is appreciated.
LockDown Projects
Posted on April 17, 2020
It is a challenge keeping a travel and street photography blog running when you can’t travel, or go out on the street. However, photography is my form of meditation, it keeps me sane and is not something I can just stop doing because of Covid-19! At the moment I am keeping a visual diary running. Obviously a diary is a little more personal than most of my projects, and I am including photos of family and friends who are locked down with me. This will be something I can look back on in the future, and is a project I encourage everyone to try.
The Selfie
For my selfie project, I worked on setting up my home studio for Rembrandt lighting. I think in this image I am turned a little too much to my left for a perfect ‘Rembrandt’ shot (if you google this style of photo you will know that there should be a small triangle of light on my left cheek). I spent an evening rigging the lighting, tripod and remote triggers. It is technically not a selfie, as I had my son Taeko press the shutter once the setup was complete. He now claims this photo as one of his own! This pic was processed in Photoshop using the ‘Damn Handsome Brush’. No comments please!
Panning
At the moment I am allowed out the front of my compound. The usually busy road is strangely quiet. However, there is still traffic passing, which provides the opportunity to practice my panning skills. Below is my favourite photo so far. If this is a challenge you would like to try, then there are heaps of great articles on how to achieve this style of photo. In India many people ride without a helmet. Having no helmet is certainly not the safest way to ride a bike, but it makes great photo opportunities.
Movie
Finally, I am trying to make a short 5 minute movie on my time in lockdown. I can’t say this is going particularly well, as recording video is not something I often think of doing. I have made a hyperlapse of the sunsetting, as viewed from my balcony. Watching the sun go down with a decent brew of tea is a highlight, and something that helps me get through each day of quarantine. Unfortunately, watching this clip it becomes obvious that my camera sensor needs cleaning. I have always left this to the professionals, but with the current state of affairs I may have to try this myself!
New Zealand…
Lastly there is a chance my next blog post will be written from New Zealand, so there is hope for my travel photography. The NZ government is rather ungenerously put together an emergency flight for Kiwi’s and their families at only $5,500 per person. There are three of us in the Page family that need to head home, and the thought of how much gear $16,500 would get makes my eyes water! If you enjoy this blog, then this is clearly a great time to buy me a coffee. The ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ app is a simple way to keep creatives creating, and caffeinated!
Please stay safe out there and let me know in the comments section of any lockdown photography challenges that are keeping you busy.
Keep clicking, Chris
Quarantine, Eric Kim and more…
Posted on March 26, 2020
“If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.” — Jim Richardson
The Cao Dai
The above images are of the Cao Dai, in Vietman. The photos were taken in 2013, a time when my interest in Street and Travel Photography was just starting to bloom. The location definitely falls under the category of ‘interesting’. The women all wear white, which is always going to provide a repetitive theme to any photograph. In addition, the worshipers are set in beautiful symmetric geometric patterns. If you are thinking of a location for travel photography, the Cao Dai can be found in Tay Ninh, which is 4-5 hours outside of Ho Chi Minh City.
Travel and Quarantine.
Thinking about travel, and re-visiting old photos is about all we can do at the moment. I am currently one of the 1.3 billion people in India under lockdown. Fortunately, people are allowed to walk around their compounds, and allowed out to shop for essential items. My photography is focused on recording everyday life at home, and it is challengeing to make anything look particularly interesting (anyone want to see a photo of the 3rd cup of tea I have made today?).
Photos from my recent travels to the kitchen. Future travel plans include the bedrooms and lounge…
Eric Kim
I love Eric Kim, and have downloaded all his free stuff and subscribe to his blog. However, I disagree with his latest advice re Covid-19. I have paraphrased his email below.
We are currently going through a very epic time in human history. The question: SHOULD I be out shooting photos right now? Some thoughts:
First of all, if you don’t want to go out and photos, don’t. Only go out and shoot photos if you want … of course, legal laws permitting. Right now is history in the making!
Right now is a decisive moment in human history. It can be your unique chance to make some truly epic photos. Your duty as a photographer — not just a snap-shooter of random stuff. No — you are a documentarian, a historian. Someone who is creating something epic for future generations of humans. Your photography is legitimate, important, and great.
Sorry Eric…
…but this may be an epic time in human history, but it is also a tragic time when people are getting sick and losing loved ones. The health advice is clear – staying inside is going to save lives. We can make the world a better place by sitting on our sofa and watching TV. Yes, the photos coming out of areas that under quarantine are awesome, but these images should be taken by people who are meant, or need to be there. Remember we are photographers, not doctors or paramedics and our photos are not going to save the world.
On a Positive Note
If you are stuck at home, then there are heaps of free courses for you to work through. Here are some of the offers that are out there for online leaning.
- Skillshare have photography courses, and are offering 2 months of free membership.
- The PPA (Proffesional Photographers Association) are offering free courses. However, these look more like business courses for photographers.
- MIT are offering a course on documentary photography and photojournalism. It looks awesome and I may have a go at this.
- If you have no one to photo but your family, you could try this family portrait course. It is free at Bluprint.
- https://photographycourse.net/ also appears to be offering free tuition courses.
If you know of any other courses worth looking at, please share them in the comment box. That’s all for today folks.
Take care and keep clicking, Chris
Introducing the Sony Mavica.
Posted on March 13, 2020
I think this may be the silly season for Street Photography blogs. As Covid-19 becomes more prevalent, many of us are finding Street Photography to be an increasingly perilous task. Today I tried going out, taking photos, and not touching my face. Firstly, I concluded that not touching my face is impossible. Secondly, the highlight of any street/ travel photography session is a cup of hot sweet Indian ‘chai’, or a cold mango kulfi, both of which include a lot of finger action. Anyway, I’ve been trawling through my archives, where my personal journey into digital photography started, in 2002 with the Sony Mavica.
The Sony Mavica was the first digital camera I ever used. It saved the photos you took straight to a floppy disk and was powered by AA batteries. I don’t think the version I used would have been the first model, which came out in 1998. The camera was not mine, but was purchased by the school I was working at (Thornberry Middle School, in Lancing, UK). I can’t remember if I actually had permission to take it home with me, and suspect it was on an unofficial loan!
The photo I was going to post featured my eldest son, on the first day he rode a bike. This image appears to have been lost, which demonstrates the importance of properly backing up your work. Due to my negligence you are now presented with a photo of me and my rather fabulous looking wife. I’m not sure if my looks have improved, but the quality of digital images certainly has!
What is your oldest digital photo? Feel free to email them in and I can put them up on a page.
Take care and keep clicking, Chris
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