Issue 161 of the SNYC Newsletter
Greetings everyone! What’s going on? Are you having fun shooting? I’d love to hear about why. Are you not having so much fun shooting? I’d also like to hear about that. I’d like to think that photography should be fun. It almost always is for me. We can share and learn from each other.
Lately, my fibromyalgia and migraines have flared up. So it presents a challenge. But I don’t shy away form challenges. I’m still getting photos that I really like. It’s about the quality and not the quantity.
I was already intentionally slowing down when shooting. But walking with a cane has really caused me to slow down. As it turns out, that’s not a bad thing. Hence the topic in this issue is Walk Slow.
When I’ve mentioned that to people recently some of them look at me like it’s a radical idea! Cool. There isn’t just one way to shoot and I hope that I can offer you some tips that will help to up your game in photography.
Thanks to all the new and returning customers! I really appreciate it and I always work to make certain that everyone gains some one-on-one instruction. I’ve heard that many workshops don’t. Ouch.
Also, thank you to all the new subscribers and everyone who has been following for awhile now. And as always, Happy Shooting!
Comments and suggestions are always welcome.
The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes. Marcel Proust
Corrections Department - Grand Central Terminal Clock
I’ve been providing photo tours and street photography workshops in New York City for 12+ years. As a licensed New York City tour guide, I make a point of learning as much as possible about the history, culture and daily goings on in the city. Sometimes I get it wrong through no fault of my own.
Many years ago I took a tour with a man who worked for Grand Central for a few decades. We viewed the inner workings 13 floors below street level, walked on the catwalk that you can see in the large windows and we were treated to a wonderful performance.
What I didn’t know and only just learned is that he perpetuated or created a myth about the value of the clock in the main terminal. For years I’ve been telling people that the 4 faces on the clock are made of opal and that the clock is valued to be worth $10-$20 million dollars. While the clock is an icon and a real gem, it’s made of glass. Oops.
I love coffee and I love it when I get treated to one :-) But 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 again. Mucho love.
Street Photography Tip - Walk Slow
The problem with technology (there isn’t just one) is it delivers quickly (it seems never quickly enough) and it looks so easy. Phone camera technology is guilty of this, and for me, phone photos are too perfect. You’ve probably heard my rants about perfect photos. If not, don’t worry, they’ll be back.
But regardless of what camera you use, when you slow down, everything, everything changes. Yes, I said it twice. You can only see what you take the time to see. Part of my Seeing With New Eyes series of street photography workshops is about noticing the things that are often overlooked.
I’ve taken people through neighborhoods that they are very familiar with and they’ve seen streets and things that they’ve never noticed before. Think of it like a kind of urban archeology. Things become more apparent when you move slowly.
So what’s the hurry? People often comment that they aren’t able to capture the bicycle wheel shadow on first attempt! I’ve done it hundreds of times. So I make it look even easier than it is. Though it’s not that difficult. Slow down.
Street photography is about the observation of humanity. To observe it it is necessary to stand back a little and when you slow down you might even notice something like the afternoon shadows of bicycle wheels. Another obsession.
When you just glance at things, you merely see the surface, the facade of things. When you slow down other things reveal themselves to you. It’s almost like magic at times.
Sometimes a shadow or reflection is the thing that will cause me to notice something that I never saw before. And yes, I photograph in the same neighborhoods over and over again. There’s always something new. The above photo is just a reflection. No special tricks.
I can’t show you everything. I can show you the things that I notice and that people are often saying to me, how did you see that? We see what we want to see. We see what we are looking for. But we can also just stop and really look at what’s around us.
Moving slowing and seeing slowly is just a form of concentration. Yes we live in an attention deficit disorder world and to boot, many street photographers would like for you to think that you have to chase the shot.
When I find a good location I’ll spend a little time there. Maybe I move a little in either direction or look around me. Things tend to move quickly in New York City. But even so, if you’re patient and the area isn’t really crowded, you may still find that you’re seeing things that you wouldn’t otherwise notice.
Moving slowly actually starts with the beginning of your day going out shooting. I tend to organize everything the night before so I don’t have to rush in the morning and discover that my batteries aren’t charged or that my sd card still has previous photos on it.
Recently I had a workshop and the attendee forgot to bring his battery. Another customer ran out of space on their sd card. Life happens. Yes. Not everything is always ideal.But when you’ve had a good nights’ sleep, had a meal and prepared everything beforehand, it’s a lot easier to slow down and concentrate on what’s going on around you.
Biweekly Photo Assignment - Circles
There are many choices for circles - clocks, letters, bicycle or car tires, hats, framing using a circle, glasses etc etc. As always, it’s about having fun and being creative.
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:
There’s a photo in this video using a circle. What a coincidence!
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.
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! The new Substack App is a very cool way to access this and many other newsletters.