Issue 172 of the SNYC Newsletter
The last year was a very busy one for me. Busier than ever before. And I am way behind in going through photos taken in 2022 and 2021 and etc etc. I never seem to catch up.
I was thinking that I would find my favorite photos taken in 2022. NOT the photos that received the most likes on Instagram. It’s a rather ridiculous statistic as I often find that my favorite photos and the highest number of likes don’t match.
It is helpful to know what others actually think when they are of a somewhat like mind. But it is perhaps more important that you like your own photos. What’s the point of making photos for likes if you don’t actually like them? Is that like prostitution?
So in this issue, all the photos are ones that were passed over during the hectic pace of things. They are all abstract street which I adore. I shoot it frequently. I don’t share it often. I typically post more typical street shots that I know/think that people want to do in my workshop.
Thanks to everyone who has taken a workshop with me and thank you to all the subscribers!
Happy Shooting and Reviewing!
The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes. Marcel Proust
I write this newsletter to share my thoughts & experiences on street photography. I hope that you find it of use in your journey. If you are able to, you can support me by buying me a coffee. No sweat if you’re unable to contribute. The newsletter is free for all. Thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee!!! Maybe one day we’ll be able to have a coffee in person. Mucho love.
Happy Reviewing & Processing
So I’m always talking about shooting and being happy shooting. I don’t often find the time to really spend on viewing and processing photos that I’ve taken. I take a lot of photos. I took my main camera in for repair today and the Shutter Count stopped at 230,000. That’s for the last 9 months!
The joy of going through my photos starts as a mess. I try to put all the keywords on my shots and give them a once over and then all of a sudden a year or more passes. I’m always attempting to be organized. Best laid plans.
The joy is in discovering photos that I forgot about or don’t even remember taking. There are many photos in my quick collection. Actually, way too many. Rainy days are great for shooting. Fortunately, January and February are typically slower months for me. So I’m stealing time.
I call these photos abstract street. But in reality they are just reflections. No fancy tricks. The only real difference is that I spend a few more minutes processing them than I typically do with standard street photos.
Somethings take more time than others. It took more time for me to see these photos and decide how to work with them. I can say this in hindsight as for quite awhile now, I’ve been shooting jpg and raw and using my jpgs with film recipes and almost no adjustments. That’s straight ahead street.
When processing is already done, it’s much easier to see which photos worked and which maybe not. Sometimes photos need to marinate and be viewed at a different time with a different vision. And sometimes new methods of processing make the decision easier.
I realize that these photos will be unexpected for some of you. Perhaps I am involved in too many styles. Maybe not. But the artistic journey branches off into many areas. And yes, it always takes courage to reveal yet another side of what you do.
And I love photography and experimenting and discovering new ways to express myself through photography. In my workshops I’m always working to help others follow their eyesight and find their vision.
Street photography allows for many different possibilities and if you are inserting your own style into what you do, you’re making it your own. That’s the coolest part of it all. I am also a creative writer and it’s the same kind of buzz as finding some momentary satisfaction with a body of work newly created.
It’s so so cold outside here in New York City. That in combination with the still shorter daylight hours, is a great time to delve into the mess and preview. I’m still shooting a few days a week. Shooting tomorrow. Both digital and film.
The beauty of photography is that it’s like learning a new language. You can always use different words to express the same thing. You can always find new ways to shoot and angles to do it. It’s like mental aerobics. Use it or lose it.
I have heard that for some, the brain atrophies. It gets stuck in a rut. But, getting out of the rut shouldn’t have anything to do with traveling or buying new equipment. Maybe a lens to match your vision. Otherwise, I’m always showing people how to see with new eyes. You can also slow down and review what you’ve shot.
Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. That’s what the newsletter is about.
Curious Frame is Back
So I took a bit of a sabbatical from Curious Frame. Life got a little too busy. Revue shut down last month and I moved Curious to Substack. You can now see the entire archive online and also in the Substack app which is a great way to read newsletters at your leisure.
In a world that is overpopulated with images, Curious Frame is where I share my thoughts on photography. It is always about ‘seeing with new eyes’.
Biweekly Photo Assignment -Urban Landscapes
I say urban landscapes because there needs to be a human element to the photo. Something manmade. So a pure landscape of a beach or a mountain isn’t enough. Just one more element is needed. It’s always about creativity.
This is a voluntary assignment if you want to take part. You can submit your photos to the Facebook group for Shoot New York City and also on Instagram tag @shootnewyorkcity. If you're not a member of the Facebook group yet, all you have to do is request to join.
Further Viewing
Alex goes on an almost 19 minute rant, but it’s worth it. Do you really want sharp photos? The answer is of of course, maybe experimenting is worth a try.
Upcoming Workshops
Workshops are a maximum of 5 people Workshops are only scheduled on weekend days. If you would like to have a weekday workshop or a workshop in other areas of NYC, let me know with some lead time and I’ll see if others want to also attend it. Otherwise I continue to provide private workshops on weekdays and in other neighborhoods.
The Chinatown workshop on 12 February occurs during the Lunar New Year celebration.
For those who haven't done a workshop or photo tour with me in the past I have a number of reviews on my website and also on TripAdvisor! Workshops are both for people who live here and also travelers, as are photo tours.
Photo tours are one-on-one and arranged on an individual basis for both neighborhood and photographic style and can be designed as a workshop as well. They are customized to your interests and level. Thank you for your patience and Stay Safe!
I like the thought about the lens match. Sometimes all it takes is to switch lenses in order to see things just a little differently and get excited once more.
Great reading, Leanne. For some reason I haven't yet found anybody around here who is interesting to talk photo with and wants to do it. I really like these gritty (my english?) raw diptychs of yours.