pagespicsStarting a Project
Posted on April 12, 2019
Part 1. Choose a Location
‘The important thing is not to stop questioning; curiosity has its own reason for existing.”
Sometimes our creative juices need a kick up the backside. One way to find inspiration is to start a project. It is unlikely Albert Einstein was thinking about street photographers when he made the above quote, but thinking of a question, or being curious maybe the key to creating your next photo project. This is the start of a three part series, where we take a look at project options available to street photographers.
A Eunuch, a Princess and a Snake Catcher.
Posted on April 4, 2019
What does a eunuch, a princess, and a snake catcher have in common? They are all included in the creation of a book, based on people living in Bangalore. Through this project I am getting to work with an inspiring team of people, and am photographing a diverse range of characters. Each of the people I am photographing has a colourful tale of life in Bangalore. On this project I am working alongside three fantastic ladies, who are writing, organising, interviewing, and finding a publisher. My role is the photographer. Here is a sneaky peak…
When people collaborate creativity increases, and this holds true for photographers. Teamwork does not necessarily come naturally to Street Photographers, who are quite happy spending hours at a time alone with just their camera. Recently, I have had the wonderful company of Kaveri, a travel guru and entrepreneur. Kaveri appears to know everyone in Bangalore, tells engaging stories and knows the best places to get breakfast. Having someone tell stories about the people being photographed adds a depth to the images which I hope will be evident in the final publication.
Street v Documentary
When shooting the street, there is no expectation to walk away with an excellent photo. Indeed, great Street Photos seldom happen. This differs to a scheduled photo shoot. For this project, each photograph is the result of hours of work and organisation (and not by me – I just turn up and take the photo!). The pressure is on to get it right, each and every time. This process helps to build a strong mental checklist…
- Is the ISO set correctly?
- Is the shutter speed fast enough?
- Are there any distractions in the background?
Moving out of our comfort zones pushes us to refine our thoughts. It is imperative to have your settings correct before taking a photo. Honing this skillset will lead to greater photographic consistency. After-all, there is nothing worse that a brilliant shot, ruined due to incorrect settings. We have all been there at least once! Sleep with your camera….
Keep Clicking, Chris
Royal Photography Society
Posted on March 18, 2019
Christopher Page LRPS!
I have finally gained the letters LRPS after my name. This stands for ‘Licentiate Of The RPS‘, and to put it mildly, I am quite stoked. To gain the Licentiate I had to submit 10 photos to be judged before a panel of experts, and if one photo is blackballed, you fail.
Bargain Books in Bangalore
Posted on February 22, 2019
It is often said, ‘buy books not gear’. This is not necessarily always the best idea, for instance, a good quality 50mm 1:4 lens will capture better photos than a well-read copy of The Hobbit screwed to the front of your camera. However, books are a brilliant source of information and inspiration. In addition, looking at a printed image beats an online photo every time!
Faces and the Portrait
Posted on February 13, 2019
All images in this article are my own, as I lack the rights to publish work from the artists discussed.
“To photograph people is to violate them, by seeing them as they never see themselves, by having knowledge of them that they can never have; it turns people into objects that can be symbolically possessed. Just as a camera is a sublimation of the gun, to photograph someone is a subliminal murder – a soft murder, appropriate to a sad, frightened time.”
― Susan Sontag (1977)
Pace and Street Photography
Posted on February 1, 2019
This weekend I will be returning to KR Market, which is one of my favourite locations in Bangalore for shooting Street. The market is a vibrant and colourful place, full of noise and bustle. The location is a challenge, as I enjoy capturing clear lines and clutter-free images. Often, I come away with only few keepers. However, the location is steeped in history and I feel it is worthy of a photo-book at some stage. As I keep returning with similar photos, I feel a clear focus on my own skillset is required. This weekend I am going to focus on pace.
Thinking on Bokeh, Blur and Backgrounds.
Posted on January 22, 2019
This article is aimed at newbie and intermediate photographers. Here we will look at the importance of thinking about the backgrounds of your photos.
Moving to the Sony A7iii for Street Photography
Posted on January 9, 2019
A move from Olympus Cameras.
This Christmas Santa delivered an A7iii. Actually, I got a good deal on it while stuck at Singapore Airport. Does this mean I am ditching my Olympus Em5ii forever? The M4/3 (Micro four thirds) system is flexible, lightweight, responsive and home to some great lenses. I am likely to keep the system as a high-end backup and a lightweight travel option. So why change systems?
Farewell 2018, Hello 2019…
Posted on December 31, 2018
Wishing all my readers a great new year, I hope it goes out with a bang. This month I have been busy with Wes Hardaker who has been guiding a select few photographers on the different applications of exposure control. I generally leave my camera set at -0.3, so it has been an education to finally play a little more with my exposure compensation dial.
Best of 2018. Part 2
Posted on December 17, 2018
This is the last post I will make before Christmas – so have a great break everyone. Here are my last favourite 6 photos from 2018.
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