Issue 141 of the SNYC Newsletter
Greetings everyone! While life is getting back to what it used to be, I’m looking through some of my photos from one year ago. The streets were kind of empty back then. It’s a good method of comparing where we were and where we are now.
More people are registering for workshops and booking private tours as well. We are starting to come back. Notice, I’m not using the word normal. What is normal anyway? We are finding our way back into a changed world.
New rules and new methods provide us with the opportunity to rethink how we were once doing things and what it is that we used to call normal without even using the word.
What did you do last year and what are you doing now? Maybe we can even create new and good habits as we slide back into being a little more out there in the public again. Yes, we move slowly taking our steps carefully not knowing what we may encounter. And maybe we really are seeing with new eyes again.
As always, happy shooting and stay safe!
The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes. Marcel Proust
I have created a Buy Me a Coffee page and I’m still trying to figure out how to create the button with the link on it. I’m a little challenged with some of the technical stuff
In the meantime, the link above should work. 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 still free for all.
Thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee!!!
Caution
This newsletter might be too long to view in your inbox if you use Gmail or other providers that limit the length. You may have to view it in a browser to read it all.
Did you know?
You can like the newsletter at the top and at the bottom of this issue? You can also share it on all of the usual platforms. And, best yet, you can comment! Yes, your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Dialogue is cool.
MY Rules about Shooting Street Photography
I think that it’s good to go over some of the basics about street photography and what it means to you and what’s acceptable or not. Here are some of MY rules about street photography. I emphasize that they are mine and perhaps not yours or those of others in general.
No zooming in or shooting with a telephoto lens. I think about what I would find acceptable if someone else did that to me. Kind of creepy. As well, a telephoto will get you a portrait rather than a street photo.
No shooting people that look like they might have a drug, alcohol or psychological problem. Their response could be erratic and I prefer to avoid an unpredictable confrontation.
Always be respectful no matter who you are shooting including homeless people. If you don’t have respect for humanity, you probably shouldn’t be shooting street.
Street photography is always candid! If you ask for permission to take a photo that’s a street portrait and it’s no less valid as a genre. It’s just different.
If you shoot a street performer or a person who is begging for money, you have to give them money. It’s only reasonable to do so. Otherwise you are taking advantage of them.
While street photography done in a public place is legal, it’s also important to think about the footprint that you are leaving. Are you contributing to a better world or are you disrupting the flow of the environment?
New York City Update
Attention International Travelers! It would seem that the border will be opening beginning in November. So far it seems that proof of vaccine and a recent negative Covid test will be required. I can’t wait to see you again!
Broadway shows has begun to open on a gradual basis. Again with proof of vaccination, negative test results and masks.
About 85% of adult New Yorkers have been vaccinated and the numbers continue to rise. As well, most New Yorkers continue to wear a mask anyway. It would appear that it’s really a sign of respect.
Some restaurants and other businesses are disappearing like the Gray’s Papaya location pictured above. But a number of other businesses are reopening and some are really doing quite well. Lots of outdoor dining!
Museums and galleries are filled with fabulous exhibits!
Did you know that I have a section on my website titled Discover New York City with some of my favorite indie businesses? They are all places that I love and you might not find otherwise.
What Makes a Photo Work?
A photo is good when you can capture one thing like say eye contact. A photo is even better when you can use the rule of thirds as well. Added to that there are 3 people, a triangle, with a sense of movement and friction involved.
Every 2 weeks we have a photo assignment. Each of those assignments is one possible photo that you can capture. Sometimes you’re able to capture a number of them in one photo.
A good photo is a good photo. But sometimes you can capture a trifecta or even better. One thing that goes into the whole process is luck. That’s right. Sometimes you get lucky.
When you really give your attention to street photography, when you can stand back and observe what’s going on around you without distractions like previewing your photos, you are making your luck. That is to say that you’re able to respond to and capture an image that has many aspects to it.
It doesn’t necessarily happen everyday or even every time you’re out shooting. But it becomes more possible the more you shoot.
So the pandemic made it possible for me to capture the above photo. The lines and the graphics led to a minimalistic photo. I call the repetition of the crosswalk lines and the line on the bus, visual rhyming. I borrowed that term from literature. I don’t know if it has ever been used for images.
Patience is a virtue. We were taking a kind of break and staying in one place for awhile when this image was there right in front of my eyes. Slowing down and staying in one place for awhile can be a very good technique to capture some good street photos.
Sometimes the final step in that process is processing the photo. This photo works particularly well in black and white as it provides even more overall emphasis. So when you’re thinking about the biweekly photo assignments and you’re working on the different techniques it’s possible that you may find a number of them working in one photo.
Happy composing while shooting!
Biweekly Photo Assignment - Movement +
Post photos that display motion in one form or another. You can include motion blur, panning and even just the obvious movement of people crossing the street. As well, like the article above, you can also post photos that display more than one technique at a time.
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 @shootnycity. If you're not a member of the Facebook group yet, all you have to do is request to join.
It would be great if as a group people would comment on photos submitted as well. Let's have fun! Happy shooting and sharing! And you can connect with other people that you share an interest with.
Always Be Prepared
There are many things that you might think about before a day of shooting. The obvious ones are having an empty formatted memory card and extra batteries. You might also be preparing for the weather. Yes, those are important things to do.
But the one that maybe gets overlooked, maybe one of the most important things is your mood. If you haven’t eaten or slept well, it can be difficult to focus on shooting. I suggest you add those to your preparation. Just like prepping for a physical workout.
Further Viewing
This is an interesting take on the idea of deleting your photos. I’ve often thought about this. We don’t throw out film negatives. Why delete digital photos?
Upcoming Workshops:
Workshops are still a maximum of 3 people. Social distancing and masks are required. And with fewer people in each workshop everyone can gain even more individual attention.
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!