Issue 164 of the SNYC Newsletter
Greetings everyone! There are so many different ways that you can shoot and I spend much time discussing this in my workshops and in this newsletter. But you can also focus on the presentation of your photos. In this issue I am featuring a number of diptychs from 2020.
We are three quarters through the year already. Have you had a look at your photos from 2022? It’s a good time to have a look and see what you shot and choose your favorite photos of the year. Time to organize. Heads up, there will be a Fave Photo Contest again this year and the faves are chosen by you (not me.) I’ll announce it in upcoming issues.
Thank you to all the new and returning customers of my street photography workshops and private photo tours! It is such a pleasure to meet everyone and see your photos. And thanks for reading the newsletter.
As always, Happy Shooting!
The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes. Marcel Proust
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.
Don’t Believe the Hype
1. There are many methods of believing the hype and the first one is to believe that algorithms are an accurate method of determining the worth of a photo. Of course, you already know that.
And yet, it’s easy to get caught up in the trap of thinking that a particular photo isn’t very good because it received less likes or even that it’s really good because it received more likes.
I gave up worrying about how many likes I get awhile ago. I say that I am learning how to cheat social media by spending more time with fewer accounts and in which a large majority are mutual connections.
I have a limited amount of time for social media. How much time can you actually spend looking at one photo in an environment that pushes so many for you to view?
2. People often believe that they have to know how to shoot in Manual mode to call themselves a photographer. As I have written about before, a camera is merely a tool.
It is fun to explore some of the different features that cameras have when you have the chance and it’s good to try switching things up every once in awhile. But shooting in Manual mode isn’t something that I even do at all. I don’t suggest it for street. However, that doesn’t mean that it can’t work for you.
You are a photographer if you take photos. That doesn’t imply that you are good or bad, only that it’s an activity that you participate in no matter your camera, experience or style.
3. Too much advertising and too many photographers (that are often sponsored by camera companies) would like us to believe that we need to buy new equipment. It’s possible that you might outgrow your camera or that you need a new camera or lens because it has the ability to do something that your other equipment doesn’t.
I’m a real cheapie when it comes to spending money on new equipment. The only thing I might suggest is buying a new fixed focal length lens. Fortunately, my camera has a fixed lens so I’m not even thinking about that! A new lens will change the way you see.
You do need to be happy using your camera. I can’t imagine trying to write with a crayon unless maybe there aren’t any other writing implements available to me. I always think twice or thrice before buying new equipment.
4. You don’t have to travel to take photos unless your goal is to be a travel photographer. I know many photographers that only shoot when they travel. It is my belief that for the most part you should be able to find things to photograph where you live.
Some people don’t like to shoot by themselves. You can find a photog friend, join a camera club or even take a workshop. You can also focus on trying out new things to photograph. One easy subject is shadows and light.
Starting a project is a good method of breaking out of the routine of only shooting when you travel. Shooting often and trying out new subjects is a really good method of improving your photography skills.
5. Don’t believe that a portfolio review is a good method of knowing if your photography is any good. I know of people who’ve had portfolio reviews and not had a good or meaningful experience doing it.
If the reviewer doesn’t take photos of a similar style as the one you are trying to achieve, it is pointless. We all seek approval and want to know that others like our photos, that they like us. But paying someone to spend 45 minutes looking at your photos is a very incomplete process of getting to know you and your work.
I highly suggest that you take the photos that you enjoy. Follow your eyes and not what you think others will like. Approval is the biggest trap on social media. Will you be happy if your photo gets a thousand likes? Then what?
6. Don’t believe that there’s only one way to shoot street or any other genre of photography. Developing your style and improving your work is a long process and it is one that relies on you taking enjoyment in what your doing. It also takes courage.
Social media is typically the method that we see the majority of what’s going on in the photography world. That and advertising. But if you spend time looking at the work of photographers and artists, you may find that there are many other possibilities out there.
I get a great deal of inspiration immersing myself in books and documentary films about photographers and artists and it helps me to see what’s possible. I look for different styles and techniques that speak to me in a personal way.
7. Don’t believe the hype. Do question the so-called authorities who are typically also known as social media superstars.
There’s something predictable about the photos that get churned out by the superstars. I also find them a little too perfect. Yes, I’ve written about my distaste for perfect photos before.
Photography is a language. It is a form of communication. Ideally it should reflect you and who you are. It is a lifelong pursuit for me and I always look forward to another day of shooting and I hope that you do as well.
Further Viewing - Daido Moriyama
Moriyama is a photographer that inspires me not only with his photos but also his thoughts on photography. I highly suggest his book How I Take Photos. This video is in Japanese with English subtitles.
Biweekly Photo Assignment - Shadows & Light
Shadows & Light is the most basic of photography assignments. Yet, it is one that you can continually explore. It is the thing that can make or break a photo and it’s simple to do. As always, be creative and you can submit street, abstract or anything in-between in which the focus is shadows and light.
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.
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.
Good article Leanne. And thanks for including the Daido Moriyama video. I've seen it before but always good to revisit. Simple approach at its best. Compact camera and then a quick monochrome conversion, upping the contrast, in what looks like Silver Efex Pro. I have a couple of his books purchased second hand from Japan and they're always worth dipping into. Thanks again.
Great article! I think there’s a time and place for manual mode but it’s certainly not every time. I’m personally enjoying aperture priority mode and it affords me the time to focus on the act of photography rather than the mechanics of the camera.