My Love of Photography (And Cycling!)
One of the things I like to do is just sit for a few minutes and think. And, I thought that this might be a good time to start a “View from the bench” posts, much like my view from the saddle posts. I know it’s sad, but hey, it’s a little something to otherwise fill my time.
While I always like to process images as little as possible, if at all, some times it’s a requirement of every shot.
Here, for instance this shot taken from my Spark. It lacks depth and colour. Visually, it just didn’t stand out.
However, a little time spent in the Google Photos editor tweaking exposure, clarity, saturation and blacks improve things.
Shadows have a bit more depth, the colours are less muted but still hold the autumn setting.
You don’t take a photograph, you make it
Ansel Adams
So, don’t be afraid to play with the sliders, just don’t overdo it, and keep it realistic and you’ll do just fine.
I do a lot of street photography. Most of the people I photograph, don’t notice, or plain just don’t care. However, there are some that will look at you when you take the image, with that quizzical look in the eye. There are others who will ask, out of pure curiosity. And then there are others who are just down right hostile, which I hasten to add are in the extreme minority. Like this message I got through my ipernity site last night.
I found a picture of me on this site and demand u remove it.
This is a gross invasion of my privacy and against human rights.So remove it as quickly as possible. I will look to make sure. I will contact a law professional to sue you if you dont.
Now, this is just rude, and hostile, so it naturally got my back up somewhat. I may have considered removing the image, if it had been phrased with a little more care. But as such, knowing I am in the right I am refusing to remove it.
If your on a public street, in the UK, I have every right to take an image. There are occasions where I wont, such as people leaving hospitals, clinics or such. But generally, it’s all fair game. After all, this breach of their human rights, how do they feel about the amount of CCTV that watches them in a day, let alone the number of stores that you walk in, and get captured on in store CCTV. That argument just does not hold water.
I put my professional head on and crafted this reply.
I’m sorry you feel like your privacy has been invaded, but the fact is you where on a public street, and as such are open to be photographed as there is no expectation of privacy in public. Had you been a little more polite in your approach I may of considered removing it. However, the image will be staying online.
Please feel free to contact a solicitor to clarify this if you wish.
You also didn’t mention which photo it actually is, can you please supply the full URL of the image?
Many thanks
Michael.
I now await a reply, or a letter from their Legal Advisor 🙂
Its always worse when your legs are half sized.
There is a part of every street photographer that causes the heart to skip when the subject looks right at them.
I really enjoy catching other photographers in the act. The moment the eye is at the view finder, nothing else matters. Hundred things rushing through the mind. Is it in focus? Is it at the right shutter speed, aperture? Then the gentle squeeze on the button, and that glorious clack as the mirror flips. The world could be ending around you, but it does not matter until that mirror slaps up. Looking through that view finder, you are no longer part of it, you are simply a viewer, an onlooker looking at the subject, distant. It’s a strange mindset.
I am very guilty of judging people with their cameras. I see another photographer and I instantly look over their gear. I just can’t help it.
All sorts of people are out there with their cameras. Some big DSLR users, photographing the Minster, with the DSLR, and the in built flash pops up, and they have the same kit lens and uncomfortable next strap on the camera as the day they bought it. I have a want to help these people, show them what they, and their camera is capable of, but that would be so wrong of me.
So hears to everyone with a camera. Go out, use your cameras however you see fit. Enjoy it, use it, love it. Live for that clack.
Dont worry about other people, just enjoy your photography. 🙂
More photographers in the act: http://www.ipernity.com/doc/mikethompson/album/486729
Yesterday saw Leeds Pride march down the HeadRow in Leeds in all its multicoloured gay glory.
I went out with a standard street kit, as the subjects I would be photographing where not really that far away from me, and the Parade its self was not hemmed in by barriers, so I was free to move about and get the better angles.
Up until 2pm, everyone was stuffed into Millennium Square, waiting for the parade to start. There was all sorts of people there, all interesting. I had a hard time taking my camera away from my eye 🙂 There was quite a lot of Police about, but they where enjoying the day, giving out candy, and having their photos taken with the kids. I saw one Police officer at one point do the YMCA, to the amusement of his colleagues. It’s good to see the Police engaging in events like this, instead of being aloof and above it all.
At 2 pm, the parade started, to the cacophony of whistles and drums galore.
The parade route was down the Headrow toward the main stage at Briggate, where Sophie Ellis-Bextor was due to play. I followed the parade down, on the opposite side of the road. Getting ahead of people I was getting in place on the traffic islands along the route, and crouching on the corners to get the shots. However, I committed my cardinal sin on a few occasions, I was so busy taking the images, I forgot to check and alter the settings on the camera a few times. I really need to stop and think sometimes.
It was good not to be hemmed in by barriers, and be able to move about through the parade, it makes a change as I am used to having to battle my way around the crowds to find the angles. I had taken my standard street kit, but most of the images, I used my standard 50mm, I switched to a 30mm once. I never used my 85mm at all. there was just no need for that extra reach. I had packed a flash. I took it out of the bag the night before to save weight. I really wish I had taken it now. By the end of the parade, the light had changed massively, rain clouds where acting as a giant shade and I had to boot up the ISO to compensate. A flash would have helped massively in these conditions. Oh well, cant be right all the time.
It was hard work, by the time I got down to Briggate I was knacked, but I was slap bang in the middle of the parade, and I could not get shots fast enough. So many interesting faces, where to point next? I was aware of the other photographers around me, but I was the one in prime place, and I loved it.
It was a great day, and I’m please I had the opportunity to photograph the event.
You can see more images, other on my ipernity album http://www.ipernity.com/doc/mikethompson/album/479779 with more being added as I work through the massive amount and edit them.
Another image from the Race For Life Event
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