Issue 136 of the SNYC Newsletter
Greetings everyone! Is photography something you plan for or does it just happen? Do you only carry a camera when you are planning on taking photos? Do you put the lens cap on or put your camera in a bag too soon?
I’m so happy that my cameras are all rather small and lightweight. I only put them in a case when I need to protect them from rain or other elements. I don’t often use a lens cap. Oops.
So my camera is always hanging from it’s strap around my neck and almost always ready to shoot. I say almost because sometimes batteries die or SD cards fill up. Yeah, I’ve missed more than a few photos switching batteries or cards.
The photo above is one of those times when you just walk right into a photo ready to be taken. How cool is that? Lift and shoot. Either you get it or you don’t. Chance is your friend.
Exciting announcement! I have a new camera. I’ve barely had a chance to get it out of the box and set it up. So stay tuned. I’ll write about it and post photos from it in the next issue on August 1st.
Your comments, questions and suggestions have always been welcomed here. Please do share your thoughts. Thanks for reading and thanks to all of the new people from workshops and tours.
I’m looking forward to the international borders being opened up again. Still waiting for updates on this.
Happy shooting and stay safe! And have a good time.
The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes. Marcel Proust
Caution
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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.
Are We Having Fun Yet?
You may have noticed by now that I always write “Happy shooting” in each newsletter. I mean it too. I think that photography should be something that we enjoy. But happy shooting isn’t all. The process of photography extends beyond the act of shooting.
If you only see your photos in digital format you’re missing out on some fun ways of experiencing photography. In the opening photo of the newsletter, I hand-wrote some text around the photo. Nothing enlightening. Just playing around with an idea that I’ve been meaning to do for awhile.
My general sense about photography for a long time now has been that a photo should be able to stand on its own with text to indicate what the photographer intended. To a degree I still stand by that.
But if a photo really stands out to you, you may want to look further into what and why a photographer took a particular photo. There might be something more going on that you might not gather through the photo alone.
In the opening photo, I printed it and then wrote on it and scanned it. In the second photo, I merely placed one photo at a reduced size on top of the other. In this the third image, I made a copy of the original and flipped the orientation twice. One to put it in an upside-down position and then also to have the have the woman on the same side in both.
These are just 3 possibilities beyond the basic digital file. It’s fun to experiment with some of the possibilities of things that you can do with your photos. The photo itself is rather simple. It’s not likely to go down as one of my all time favorite photos of all time. But I do like the experiments and I may recall these photos much easier as a result.
Placing text on a photo can be a perfect marriage. It might not always be the best or only way to work with photographic images. But it’s worth a try.
Sharpness is a bourgeois concept. Henri Cartier-Bresson
The above photo was taken during a private street photography workshop in the Lower East Side. I was using one of the Mieke manual focus lenses without focusing or even zone focusing.
It isn’t really blurred enough for it to look like a painting. I might actually add a Gaussian Blur in Affinity Photo (it’s like Photoshop but better and costs a lot less.) I did a minimal amount of processing and then added a white frame. Then I realized that you won’t see the white frame in the newsletter. So I added a black layer to it.
If you feel safe in the area you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting. David Bowie
Don’t worry. I haven’t abandoned street photography. What I shoot and why I shoot is always evolving. Just like life, we change and our photography changes with it. I am no expert or purist. I am more of an explorer. Sir Richard Branson can take his space trip. My trip is in photography and art.
I don’t imagine that everyone will like what I do. When I was a teenager, I had this idea that we could like everyone and all be happy. It was also the days of peace and love. I’ve matured a little bit.
So I ask you, are you feeling pressured to produce and share photos that you think others want and/or expect from you? I share photos and I have no idea if others will like them. I’ve mostly stopped concerning myself with likes.
Go ahead and test the waters. Even if you decide to go back to what you were doing before, you will return with new knowledge and experience. I give you permission and I hope to encourage you to find and follow your path.
By the way, a big nod to my friend in England who has ventured into doing some rather abstract photography. Bravo! It takes courage to share works in progress and testing out new styles on Instagram.
Yes, it takes courage to throw yourself out there on social media doing new things. It bears repeating. But what are we seeking when we post to social media? If you’re looking for mass quantities of likes and followers, my advice probably won’t be helpful.
Perhaps, the first step is more about sharing what you’re doing and pushing yourself to be brave enough to do. Maybe it doesn’t really have much to do with how it is received.
Just do it, with no expectations. And do let me know how it’s going for you. I would love to share your experience with the readers and I won’t reveal your identity. We can all learn something from the experiences of others.
Are You Curious?
In the previous issue of Curious Frame, I wrote about collage and using photography in mixed media. I realize that people sometimes feel hesitant to try out new things. Whether it’s street photography, abstract street or art, you should feel comfortable to try things out.
When it comes to collage, you could say that it’s kind of like a jigsaw puzzle except that you get to choose which pieces go together. And it’s a kind of segue way from writing on your photos. You can check out the issue at the link above and you can also subscribe and the link below.
Social Media Corner
Oh dear, no comments on last issue. You can write me with whatever question or complaint about social media that you like. I am far from being an authority on it. But I think that it’s important to share what you have to say about it all because chances are, you’re not alone.
Have you opted out of some or all social media platforms? Why or what would change your mind?
I’m looking forward to a dialogue with you about this. Just hit reply. Thanks!
Biweekly Photo Assignment - Framing
I’ll let you in on a little secret, I can’t shoot straight to save my life! So naturally framing became a way for me to attempt to line things up. Whatever you choose to use as a device for framing is up to you. There are so many possibilities.
You can interpret this assignment and don’t be afraid to post creative photos. As well, it’s good to know why you chose the photos you did and it’s maybe best to post them individually so they don’t get buried.
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.
Further Viewing:
I recently watched a virtual opening of The Metropolitan Museums new exhibit The New Women Behind the Camera. Now I’m planning to go see the exhibit which is on until 3 October 2021. It looks fabulous.
I recently watched a virtual opening of The Metropolitan Museums new exhibit The New Women Behind the Camera. Now I’m planning to go see the exhibit which is on until 3 October 2021. It looks fabulous.
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!