I've Moved to WordPress

I hope you'll continue to check out my posts over there.  Here's the link to my new website.  It also contains a link to my blog.

A Gray Day in Manhattan

I haven't gone out on a good long walk to take pictures in a few weeks, but I have a reason for that. My niece and her adorable son are visiting us for a few weeks and I've been too busy having fun with them to be able to go off for long periods of time.  The most I've been able to do is take a few pictures here and there when we take my nephew out for a walk.  I have been able to get a few interesting shots.  Of course, my niece laughs at how I can't just go out for a walk.  I have to take a few pictures.

Today was a different story.  I was able to get the afternoon to myself so I decided to go out to Herald Square.  I usually go to either Times Square or Union Square and at this point, I definitely needed a change of scenery.  I'd love for that change to take place in another country, but that is something to discuss in a different post.

Since it was Herald Square, you had the usual crowd of tourists and weekend shoppers.  It was packed and yet I still saw so many people walking with their heads down and completely focused on their phones.  I'm not surprised and yet I am.  I have no idea why people do not pay attention when they are walking.  I remember a time when I used to work in the Times Square area and as I was waiting for a light, a guy (busy talking on his phone of course) almost stepped right in front of a truck that was passing by.  I yanked his arm back, but damn.  People need to pay attention.  Even if it isn't to avoid bodily harm, how about just being considerate of other people who may not appreciate you walking into them because your head is in the clouds?  The girl with the glasses is even looking at two phones.  In spite of my ranting, I have to admit that this photo amused me.

It was a good day of shooting.  I took around forty five pictures and I ended up keeping about twenty pictures, so I'd say the day was a success.  We all dream of working for ourselves rather than someone else, so I found this enterprising young lady really cute.

I was so busy taking pictures that I had no idea what her sign said until I got home and got the pictures on my computer.  I admire her business sense, but I would have used a marker to make her business intentions more clear to people who were hurrying by.  I hope that she didn't spend too much on those flowers, but I definitely admire any young person (or anyone in general) who has an entrepreneurial spirit.

The day came to a close when it started to sprinkle.  I had already been there for a few hours, so I decided to just pack it in and go home.  When I got off the train at my stop, it wasn't raining and I was holding on to the hope that I could make it home before it started to rain, but of course that didn't happen.  I hadn't brought an umbrella with me, but at least I was wearing a hoodie.  Even though it was kind of cool outside, I wasn't about to let my camera get wet, so I unzipped my hoodie and used it to shelter my camera from the rain.  My family thought it was so funny that I would rather catch a cold than let any rain get on my camera.  Hey, camera people will understand. Right?

What Should You Share and What Should You Save?

This is a question that I've been asking myself a lot lately.  I used to post to Flickr a lot of what I had photographed that day.  I've been using Flickr on and off since 2006 and I love it.  I love looking at the photos that other people have taken.  I love the interaction between other members. It's a great place to pass a few hours.  There are so many talented people there that you could spend all day there and never run out of fascinating pictures to see.

I think part of the problem is that when you have a good day of shooting, it's difficult to pick and choose which photos to post and which ones to keep for yourself.  If you're like me, you'll wish you had chosen differently no matter which photos you chose to post.  (Much like decisions made in life.  Ha ha.)  You want people to see really good photos, but you don't want to post all the best photos and then when you are selling something to a client (if you sell your pictures), the best photos you have are already on the internet somewhere.

Another thing is if you have multiple accounts (Flickr, blog, Instagram, Facebook page, etc.) it becomes even more difficult to choose which photos you should post.  Should you post one photo on each account?  Should it be a different photo or would it be acceptable to post the same photo to each account?  For my photography, I only have two places where I post.  My Flickr page and my blog.  This is one of my favorite pictures that I have posted on both my flickr page and here:

 I tend to post more pictures to my Flickr page than to my blog because on Flickr I don't feel like my photos need to tell a story or be relevant to one particular topic.  With my blog, I feel like the pictures illustrate the point that I'm trying to make about whatever I happen to be writing.  I'm working on a few projects at the moment, so even though I still take as many photos as I used to, my habits of posting the majority of what I've taken (specifically to Flickr) has gone down a bit.

Here's a photo I've kept to myself for a while.  It may not be the best photo I've ever taken but it just struck me as odd and that is why I had to capture the moment.  I was walking through Tompkins Square Park and it was a nice day outside, so of course there were a lot more people to photograph.

So what are your ideas on posting photos?  Do you generally stick to one photo or do you post a series?  Do you post the same photo to each account or do you try to provide some variety?  Also, what are your reasons for either keeping the photos to yourself or posting them?

Where Do You Need to Improve?

For me, it's in the area of night photography.  I love looking at relatively crisp night shots, with every detail visible.  My favorite night photographer is Marius Vieth.  I think his photos are absolutely amazing.  My night photos could definitely use some work.  I usually take photos in the day time.  When the sun goes down, my day is pretty much finished.  Recently, I've been having the desire to shoot new things, and since there is always something new to learn, I decided to try night photography again.

These pictures were taken with my Canon S110 point and shoot when I stepped out to go to the grocery store tonight.  Unless I'm taking photos of my family or friends, I always shoot in manual.  I used to shoot in aperture priority, but I just got into shooting in manual mode after a while.  I'm also challenging myself to not edit my photos in any way.  No dodge, no burn, no cropping, etc.  Not even straightening a crooked picture.  None of the little things that a lot of us don't really consider to be altering a photo, so these pictures are straight out of the camera, unedited.

1/40, f4, 5mm, ISO 1600

1/25, f4, 12mm, ISO 1600

I think the first picture isn't that bad.  It's relatively sharp, at least to my eye.  I like how the street lamps have that pointed star pattern.  I'd love to take my T4i out with a tripod and see what kind of shots I can really get, but in my neighborhood, when the sun goes down, best not carry anything that will trip you up or weigh you down, or to put it more plainly, don't carry anything around your neck that's worth more than your head.

The second picture is blurry, but not so blurry that the details of the picture are lost.  For night shots, I like them to either be complete devoid of people, or without only one or two people at the most.  I like to capture things the way that I see them.  Even though New York is referred to as "the city that never sleeps", unless you go to someplace like Times Square, you don't really see that many people at night.  The night time is usually a very isolated time, and I like to take pictures that capture the mood of darkness.  The loneliness, the isolation, and how even with all of that, the night can still be beautiful in it's own way.

What area of photography do you feel that you need to improve?  What methods do you use to better your photography?

Show or Tell?

I love photography.  I love taking pictures.  I love seeing pictures that other people have taken, whether it's street, landscape or whatever.  I love reading and looking at photography books and blogs.  It may sound silly to some people, but I feel like photography makes me feel complete. Whenever I go out, whether it's to run an errand, spend time with family or friends, go for a walk, etc., I find myself involuntarily looking for what would make a good shot, or I hastily reach into my bag for my trusty point and shoot to photograph a great moment before it's gone.

In a lot of what I've read, either in books or online, a lot of photographers favor not giving any kind of background on their photos and letting their work speak for itself, and letting the viewer try and figure out for themselves what is going on in the scene.  While I enjoy this method from other photographers, I myself go the opposite route.  Sometimes you need an explanation.  Not a ten page essay on the situation, but just a few lines about what you observed.

Union Square, NYC 

For this picture you couldn't not see this guy.  I'm not sure what his deal was.  He was just going up to people and talking to them and then moving on.  No story of any kind is needed for this picture (in my opinion, of course).  His unusual outfit speaks for itself.

This picture, in my opinion, needs an explanation and it can be found here.  This picture makes me laugh every time I see it, mostly because I remember my brother's reaction when I showed this to him.  

I like both ways of presenting photos.  Sometimes, a photo truly can stand alone.  Other times, an explanation just adds to the photo.  Every picture has a story, and sometimes sharing that story makes the viewer connect more to the photo.  It just really irritates me when I read about how things should be.  Photos either should be in black and white or in color, but not both.  You either should shoot street photography or landscapes.  You shouldn't have a story with your photos.  You should let the viewer make their own stories.  Personally, I feel that the only "should" is that you should shoot first and foremost for yourself.  If one day you feel like shooting landscapes and the next you're drawn more towards street shots, do that.  If you take photos based on what other people feel that you should do, isn't that like living your life for someone else?  Be creative.  Take risks.  If people like it, great.  If they don't, well that shouldn't be your problem.  As long as you are being true to yourself and your art, then photograph whatever moves you.

Subway Entertainers

I try not to take the trains too often.  I prefer to take buses to wherever I'm headed.  The trains are just too crowded and hectic.  Walking through train stations makes my heart pound.  Everybody seems to either be running or cutting in front of someone else who is running.  Then there is the added stressor of getting a seat or being body checked by someone who barrels through a crowded train if they even sense someone getting up from their seat.

We also have to deal with subway musicians and other entertainers.  Who are those guys who do the flips and other acrobatics on a train?  I wonder if they've ever kicked someone when they're flipping around?  You can't go into a subway without seeing someone playing some kind of instrument with their instrument case opened in front of them with a bunch of change and a few stray dollar bills already in the case.

Delancey St. station on the Uptown F platform

 

Subway musicians are as a much a part of the NYC subway system as the transit riders themselves.  From the guys at the 34th St. Herald Square station who seem to have a preference for Michael Jackson songs, to the random rappers, a capella oldies singers, classical musicians, etc., a ride on the trains means free entertainment, whether it's wanted or not.

So what are your thoughts on subway musicians/entertainers?  Are they a welcome addition to an otherwise dreary subway ride?  Are they an all around annoyance that makes you wish for earplugs? Or does it depend on the type of mood you happen to be in that day?

To Edit or Not To Edit

I finally caved and bought Photoshop.  I know that as photographers/amateur photographers, we should be well versed in any kind of program that will make our photography better.  I was always opposed to editing my photos.  I felt that if there was something in them that ruined the photo, I would rather get rid of the photo rather than alter it and remove the object.  I would just try to get a better photo next time.  I think my being opposed to editing was brought on by seeing overly edited photos.  It was almost like seeing a completely different photo than whatever it was that originally caught the photographer's eye.

All of this changed for me when I was out taking photos in the Bronx.  I went to so many places in the Bronx the week that this picture was taken, but I'm almost positive it was in Woodlawn.  I was walking down the street and walked past a cemetery.  After a while, I passed by a beautiful house which I could only assume was the caretaker's house.  I took this picture across the street, right by a gas station.

An absolutely gorgeous house ruined by an ugly yellow pole.  Since I had never really edited my photos in any major way, I never had the need for Photoshop, but as the days passed by, it started to gnaw at me.  That ugly pole looked so out of place.  So today I finally gave in and bought Photoshop Elements 12.  This is the result:

I think it looks much better.  I also removed the sign that was hanging on the gate.  Now I'm not saying that this is a good Photoshop by any means, but I'd say that for my first time doing this kind of editing, that it isn't bad.  I like how now when I see this picture, I focus on the house rather than the other distracting elements.  I still don't want to do any major edits on my photos, but a little fine tuning here and there doesn't hurt.

What are your feelings on editing photos?  Do you do some corrections here and there or are you opposed to editing in any form?