pagespicsMumbai, Day 3
Posted on June 1, 2019
Mumbai continues to offer world-class opportunities for street photography. It is also hot. Very hot. I’m developing a Mumbai smell, and think my t-shirts and running shoes may soon need their own room. My camera is proving to be wonderful company. The batteries on the A7iii run forever, and I am shooting regularly at higher ISO, which is opening locations I would not be able to photograph using my M4/3 gear. Read on…
Dhobi Ghat
Yesterday I visited the Dhobi Ghat, a vast area that washes linen and clothing for 1000’s of individuals and businesses. This location has been the highlight of my trip so far, and I came away with some keepers, despite the harsh lighting conditions. It is the largest laundry ghat in the world (I got lost inside it).
Dharavi Slum
Dharavi Slum was something I don’t ever need to see again, although I am glad I went there. Pottery appears to be one core business in the area, and this created a haze of thick, eye-watering smoke. Most adults did not want to be photographed. However, there were 100’s of kids who wanted to be snapped, and then look at their photo. I obliged as much as I could, then feeling a little over-whelmed, retreated fast! This location was home to Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.
Worli Fishing Village
I arrived at Worli Fishing Village at 6.30 this morning. The shore line was full of rubbish, both washed up from the sea and thrown out of the houses. On the other side of the village I poked my camera over the sea wall, only to be greeted by a row of people defecating. However, this did not put me off heading back to the hotel for breakfast.
Today
Today I plan on taking a train to Mumbai’s Central Rail Station, which I shall catch from Grant Street. The station is a national heritage site, although I am more interested in the ride than the destination! Hopefully I will have enough energy at the end of the day to photograph some of Mumbai’s famous street-food vendors.
Tomorrow I head back to Bangalore, with a photos to sort through, aching legs, happy memories and a bag of dirty washing.
Take care and keep clicking, Chris
In case you missed it!
Mumbai, Day 2
Posted on May 31, 2019
Yesterday was a long day of exploring. After the a mid-day nap I headed out to Chor Bazaar, the interpretation being ‘thieves market’. The taxi driver dropped me off, pointed straight ahead and let me walk the rest of the way. Obviously I became instantly lost and took the next hour and a half finding the location. However, as is often the case, my best photos came from the area surrounding the location I was planning to shoot.
Mumbai, Day 1
Posted on May 30, 2019
I arrived in Mumbai last night and after a quick drink, went to bed for an early start this morning. At 5am I was up and out of bed, ready to shoot Marine Drive, an iconic location for Street Photography. I set out using the classic setup of a 50mm lens, set to f8. This set up is coined, ‘F8 and be there‘, as using this setting is most likely to result in everything being in focus.
Five Tips for Planning a Photo Getaway.
Posted on May 15, 2019
This month I will be heading to Mumbai for a weekend of photography. Mumbai has been shot to death by photographers far greater than me, but I am hoping that I will be able to capture something new and unique. Here are some of the things I put on my check list when planning for Travel Photography.
The photos for this article are part of a book project I am working on, with the working title ‘The Bangalorean’. You can hunt for more photos taken while shooting for this exciting project on Instagram, #bangalorean and #bookaboutbangalore.
Read MoreShould street photographers watermark their photos?
Posted on May 7, 2019
There is much debate on whether or not photographers should watermark, or place a logo on their photos. I am not going to sit on the fence here as I fall solidly into the NO camp. I will accompany this article with some recent un-watermarked pics!
Most people don’t care who you are.
Read MoreStarting a Project Part 3
Posted on April 26, 2019
Focus on a Skill-Set
Upgrading your skills is a sure-fire way to improve your photography. One way to do this you need to think of a goal, it can relate to how you shoot, or how you process images. Here are a number of project ideas to get you started, although I am sure many of you can think of your own. As you will see later, this relates closely to my KISS philosophy (read on!). Through focusing on just one specific skill at a time, your photography will rapidly improve
Starting a Project II
Posted on April 16, 2019
Part 2. Choose a Focal Length
Street Photographers love fixed prime lenses, and for good reason. Fixed focal-length lenses are generally cheap, fast, and produce sharper images than many zooms. For this project idea, I am going to suggest picking a focal length and sticking with it. If you only have a kit lens, you can still participate, just zoom all the way in, or out, and then leave the lens alone.
Starting 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.
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