Initially, I thought I had messed up this shot entirely – but have come to kind of like it after a day of consideration. I have been focusing on a couple of key techniques lately reduce : look for simpler compositions that have less clutter isolate : make sure the subject in each image is […]
Continue readingIf you say “no” often enough…
Ever stop and realise that you haven’t seen someone you would normally call a “friend” for a long time. Suddenly, the realisation crashes into you that you have completely lost track of what they are doing and where they are at. They are not really a friend anymore, just somebody you used to know. Usually, it […]
Continue readingThings I Learned (and loved) Shooting New York City at Night – Part Three…
Here are some more thoughts on Street Photography after dark… Black Sky When you shoot something brightly illuminated against the night sky, it can turn out like a black curtain. The image above is the sign from the deli where the famous scene from Harry Met Sally was shot – the one where she fakes […]
Continue readingThings I Learned (and loved) Shooting New York City at Night – Part Two…
Here are some more thoughts on Street Photography after dark… Work the Windows Night provides some fantastic framing opportunities – the contrast between the dark of night and brightly illuminated windows is pretty, and nuanced with the inclusion of reflections on the glass. The reflections on this window are subtle, almost like fireflies drifting across […]
Continue readingThings I Learned (and loved) Shooting New York City at Night – Part One…
New York City is a place full of images waiting to happen at night. Here are some images along with some thoughts and learnings from a pilgrimage I made a few years ago to the Big Apple! My shoulder still aches just looking at the images. For this particular trip I hulked around NYC with […]
Continue readingFree Ebook Download #2 – 2015 Melbourne Street Photography Article Archive!
I have published all the articles from MSP in 2015 in a nice PDF book, suitable for reading at your leisure. Please feel free to share with anyone interested in Street Photography. Here is the link : Melbourne Street Photography 2015 Oh, and here is the link to the 2014 Articles : Melbourne Street Photography […]
Continue readingContax G2 Review – Autofocusing Rangefinder Brilliance!
I wish Contax was still making cameras. Every one that I have had a chance to handle was a pure joy. The Contax G2 is a fascinating little unit – an autofocusing rangefinder! The word “unique” gets bandied around a lot by people who have a limited grasp of it’s definition : unique juːˈniːk/Submit adjective […]
Continue readingMr Xpan – Fotodudenz (Matthew Joseph) Interview
Matt is an accomplished wide angle photographer, using some pretty special gear. Here is what I learnt by spending an hour with him at the Spread Eagle Hotel in Richmond whilst his partner attended her weekly “Richmond Knitters” stitch and bitch at the same pub… How did you get into photography? It was an accident, a […]
Continue readingCompact Cameras – Undiscovered Brilliance
Until you discover compact film cameras, you will never know what you are missing! I recently went out with a couple of old favourites, the Nikon 35ti and Ricoh GR1v… You can read more about these cameras here : Ricoh GR1v Nikon 35ti Compact 35mm Cameras There are plenty of others I would love to […]
Continue readingHow to lead a more interesting life through Street Photography… First Timer Primer
Things you hear when people are thinking about starting out in street photography… “What book should I read or class should I do?” “Where should I go?” “What is the best camera / bag / lens / etc?” “What do I do if someone approaches me after taking their photo?” The most important response to […]
Continue readingMamiya 7II Rangefinder Review
Everyone deserves a brand new medium format film camera once in their life. You can still buy these as new “old” stock on Ebay. If you have the means, spoil youself. Getting one of these babies, in a brand new, unopened carton is a special experience. They ain’t making many medium format film cameras any […]
Continue readingRicoh GR Digital Compact
Mid to long focal lengths have been my preferred lenses to reach for when heading out to see what is out there to photograph. My absolute favourite (which will probably change next week – like my fave camera of the week) is 135mm on 35mm. Long enough to get closer, and still short enough to […]
Continue readingStarting in Film Photography on a $350 budget.
So you have decided to have a crack at film photography? Here is my recommend “first go” kit for under $350. What do you need? 1. Film Camera Body (featured above) 2. Lens (featured above) 3. Film 4. Someone to develop and scan OR scan yourself. 1. Camera Body. Well, there is some good […]
Continue readingNikon 50mm f1.8 – The affordable nifty fifty
So, you just purchased a shiny new DSLR, despite my advice that you probably really needed a high end point and shoot compact camera… It came with a couple of lenses in the box, didn’t it? They look pretty awesome. Maybe you could even offer to shoot your cousin’s upcoming wedding with these new image weapons? […]
Continue readingHolga “Toy” Camera
Analogue is good. Overlay that with plastic and you get something great! Holga cameras were designed and started manufacture in China during the heady days of the early ’80’s. I suppose they were manufactured as a super economical camera suitable for a radiant socialist future. The are a medium format camera – ie. they take film like […]
Continue readingHolga Panoramic
This is one big ass piece of plastic. Seriously, this thing is massive! The Holga Pan 120 takes medium format film and shoots 6cm x 12cm negs – yes, 60mm x 120mm! The camera technically has a 90mm fixed focal length lens – the best estimate I could find for 35mm equivalency was a 29mm […]
Continue readingTilt Shift Digital Toy Camera
Tilt-Shift lenses are designed to help 35mm and medium format cameras achieve the same effect as a large format field camera. The bellows of a field camera allows the photographer to tilt the lens left and right, and shift it up and down relative to the film plate. There are a whole bunch of technical […]
Continue readingRicoh GR1V Camera Review
Simon Stephenson got me hooked on the Ricoh GR1V – a little surprise of a camera. You can now read my review of the wonderful newish digital version of the Ricoh GR here! Ricoh have a fair bit of cred in the compact camera space. The GR series of 35mm film cameras have continued into […]
Continue readingNikon 35Ti Camera Review
What a wonderful little camera. The Nikon 35ti was made from 1993 – 1999, the period of the “Great Resistance” – a time when the film companies thought everything was still going to be OK. Nikon mostly did not skimp on anything with this little beauty. The Lens is a suprisingly sharp 35mm F2.8 Nikkor. […]
Continue readingCompact 35mm Cameras
Hmmm, it would seem I am a regular breaker of one of the ten commandments handed down to Moses on Mt Sinai. “Thou Shalt Not Covet” It is tough when friends come along to a photography function with shiny new items. I find that as soon as I pick up a camera or lens that […]
Continue readingSome Fundamentals
Philosophy Street Photography is about urban exploring, wandering with a purpose. Lots of walking. Capturing people and places in a city, going about their business. Doing it on a regular basis is a must. Getting out the front door, onto a train every weekend. Going to the same places and seeing something differently, and sometimes finding […]
Continue readingStarting Out – Street Photography 101
Preparing to give it a try… Why give it a try? What camera do you need? What I am assuming you know. Where you can find out more. 1. Why Give it a Try? What’s your motivation? Street Photography is a worth challenge for those who are already familiar with their camera, and others looking […]
Continue readingVoigtlander R4A Rangefinder
Hankering for a Leica, but don’t have Leica cash in your pocket… Consider a Voigtlander rangefinder for that HCB experience on a budget! Despite the decidedly German heritage, Voigtlanders are now made in Japan. The Japanese make some very stylish and single minded cameras vs some of the current crop from Europe. Consider the latest […]
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