Held annually since 2012, “Shot in The Heart of Melbourne” or SITHOM is a Street Photography and Photojournalism exhibition that celebrates the decisive, and often indecisive, but always graceful moments that occur within our gritty, yet beautiful city. Opening Night Friday 30th July. Exhibition runs until 9th August. Victorian Artists Society. 430 Albert Street, East Melbourne.
OPENING NIGHT
Friday 30 July 2021
Mythology of Place
Facilitated by Dale Rio, I am delighted to be able to invite you to join me and a group of photographers in a discussion about exploring and challenging the stories that we create in relation to place, and how people develop their own mythologies.
Thursday 1st July at 9.00 am (if the time seems strange that’s because it’s actually Wednesday at 7 pm in the US, EDT). Register via Zoom Link Below
Many people define themselves in regard to place; where they grew up, their chosen homes. But what is this self-definition grounded in? Does a place have an innate “personality,” or do we project our own interpretations of self upon it? Can tying one’s identity to place be restrictive or liberating? Can any single mythology tell the full story of a place and the people who live there?
Photo credit: Elisa Ferarri
I was very happy to have had an image selected for the online exhibition “A Remedy for Difficult Times” curated by Yvonne Dalchen.
“Our duty is to experiment” Alexander Rodchenko
During this time of 'Six Feet Apart,' photographers all around the world have been taking a good look at their reduced surroundings. Photography has a definite advantage; nothing is needed but the maker and some light. Even the camera is optional, light on paper, and some chemicals, anything goes. The camera can be tilted, moved, shaken, the image manipulated or not.
Abstract photography, in particular, is deeply subjective and often lets the viewer wonder about the process of its making. The pandemic has made the world strange, and photographers responded by reconsidering their reality as shadows and patterns. Life's outer defamiliarization is mirrored by making familiar things look strange, create visual puzzles, or even new worlds. The human shape is, if at all, distorted and only partially present. As Craig Raines says: "Now you don't see it, then you do."
Abstraction is often criticized as an intellectual game; however, there is emotion and beauty in these images that show a perspective of the world only possible through photography. By translating limited spaces and changed routines into new explorations, abstract photography works as a remedy for difficult times.
#lifeatsixfeet has grown to 5000 posts, and this gallery is a sampling of the experiments going on since March. Take a look to get inspired or connected. - Yvonne Dalschen
Exploring the familiar at night
Sometimes our local haunts and landmarks are so familiar that we struggle to find different ways to shoot them. It’s easy to lose interest and inspiration. However, shooting at night can give you an entirely different perspective. Just what does our familiar world look like after the sun goes down? Digital photography has made it easier than ever to make great images in low light situations. If you are after a new photographic challenge, shooting at night might be just the thing to enable you to try a new approach and to experiment with some new techniques. Indeed, many photographers have created whole bodies of work using night-time photography to explore this little known world. They have investigated themes of mystery, insomnia and intrigue, while the world is sleeping.
Choosing your subject matter
Anything that is lit up, like fountains, buildings, monuments and bridges work well. Skylines, especially if there is water to create a reflection, can look spectacular. Look for reflections and neon signs and play with light and shadow.
Shutter Speed
Try capturing scenes through windows of shops or restaurants. Can you find a place that is normally busy during the day and portray it differently? Other subjects that lend themselves well to night-time photography are fun fairs, ferris wheels and fireworks. Use a slow shutter speed to create light trails. Find a place where you can photograph passing traffic or public transport and experiment. Think about the atmosphere you are trying to create. Are you are capturing things that appeal to you or creating a mood or telling a story?
Controlling blur
If you want a very slow shutter speed, and sharpness is important, using a tripod will enable you to decrease your shutter speeds as much as you like. Remember to turn off image stabilisation and to use a remote shutter release, or set the timer on the camera. Even though it doesn’t feel like it, just pressing the button can cause your camera to vibrate, reducing sharpness in your image.
Lens choice
A wide-angle lens is probably preferable for night-time photography. Normally, to get a sharp shot, you need to choose a shutter speed at least equal to, or greater than, the focal length of your lens. For example, if you are using a 200 mm lens, your shutter speed should be 1/200, or faster, for a sharp shot. You will have to adjust your aperture and ISO accordingly and you might not want to work within that range (losing depth of field, increasing grain). Conversely, with a 50mm lens, you can shoot upwards of 1/50 of a second.
ISO
Modern cameras allow you to use a much higher ISO. At a certain point, the final image will have get grainy but, overall, you will still get a good quality image. Experiment with the acceptable limits of your camera and find out what level of grain you are willing to accept. You can reduce grain by using post-processing techniques. In Lightroom, for example, there is a “noise reduction” section and to increase luminance. Be careful not to go over board or your image will look unnaturally smooth and artificial.
This image would have benefitted from having a person crossing the road, you can put yourself in the frame if you have a tripod and it’s safe to leave your camera © Alli Harper Photographer
Last but not least…
With street photography, particularly at night, you may encounter people who are curious, or even suspicious about what you are doing. Know the rules that apply in the country or place where you are shooting. Remain friendly but move on if you feel unsafe. Make sure that someone knows where you are and carry a torch and /or fully charged phone. Enjoy getting out there and trying something new.
Photographing Children and pets
Children and pets are closer to the ground than most of us. If you kneel or sit down you will have a much better shot of their face and the world as they see it. Experiment with your angles. How does shooting down on them look? If you get down low and shoot up at them does that make them look more powerful? Does it say something different about them?
If you have a dog, lie down on the ground and try and get them to run towards you. Use a high shutter speed to freeze the action. Hopefully you will get a great shot with flying ears, paws in full flight, and a very happy facial expression. Sometimes our pets lie in hilarious positions - try a bird eye view (shooting from above).
Architectural Photography
When pointing the camera up at a building, we get an effect called Key stoning or tomb stoning. This is when the building looks as if it is leaning in. Of course there are “transform tools” in programmes like Capture One, Lightroom and Photoshop that enable you to correct this in post.
You can minimise it by trying to try and keep your camera on the same plane as your subject to avoid those sloping lines.
You will even notice that it makes a difference if you keep it in mind for mobile photography, you probably instinctively try and hold your phone so that it is straight.
Aerial and drone photography
We now have the possibility to photograph subjects as they have never been seen before. If you are lucky to be able to take pictures from a plane, remember to use a high shutter speed, good depth of field and make sure you are focussed on the ground and not the window. If you have a drone, think about all the wonderful things that you can reveal that we are normally oblivious to.
Experiment
Try really exploring your next subject. Try the “up, down, right, left” approach and see what you come up with, experiment with different focal lengths and distances. Try and mix up your standard approach to a subject and have fun trying new things out.
Landscape Photography
We all know the principle of a good image needing a foreground, middle and background. Think about the best way to frame your shot. Do you want to shoot down through the tree branches, from ground level with rocks in the foreground? Try and find the best angle for your composition that really puts your viewer in that spot so that they feel like they are there.
Lens Choice
As always, this plays a really important role. Robert Capa, the famous war photographer and member of the Magnum group said “if your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough” He was known to use an inconspicuous 35 mm camera.
The less bulky your gear, the more freedom you will have. Experiment with taking pictures that will make the viewer feel like they are right in amongst the crowd.
Photographing People
Often models are photographed from a lower angle. Their legs go on forever and they look assured and glamorous. However, most mere mortals don’t look particularly good if the camera is angled at our nostrils right?
It is often much more flattering, to shoot from a slightly higher angle, especially with older subjects. Don’t go too high or it will look really obvious, but standing on a step can achieve this easily or on the high end of a slope.
You can also try a bird’s eye view of your friends lying on the ground, or a worms eye view such as the one above
Don’t be frightened to photograph people
Portraiture can be challenging, not all of us are comfortable approaching strangers and asking if we can photograph them. You may be surprised at how willing most people are, if you ask them in a friendly manner. Failing that, we all have family and friends we can practice on. In many respects, this is the most important photography. We can take beautiful images of buildings and landscapes but when we look back, photographs that bring the most joy are often the ones with people in them – people we’ve met, spent time with; the memories of what we’ve done together. Portraiture captures images of the people we love, the children who grow up quickly, friends who move away and loved ones who are no longer with us. For this reason alone, it’s very rewarding to capture images of anyone who holds a special place in your life.
Engage with your subject and find out something about them
Let’s talk first about photographing people we don’t know. Brandon Stanton, who wrote Humans of New York, says he always approaches people in the way he thinks will make them feel most comfortable. If someone is sitting, he will sit next to them or squat on the ground. This is especially true of children, get down on their level when you are talking to them and photographing them. Where you can, spend time talking to your subject and asking them questions. Most people like it when someone takes an interest in them, the questions can be easy ones, favourite places, things to do, pets etc. If you are travelling and the person you want to photograph doesn’t speak English, a lot can be achieved with smiles and sign language, and the promise to send them a copy.
Choose your style of portrait
An environmental portrait is one that shows the person in their surroundings, it might be a vegetable seller at their stall or a swimmer by the pool. These sorts of portraits are usually taken with a wide-angle lens and share with the viewer something about that person’s world. Alternatively, you might choose to take a tighter portrait of the person up close, using a long lens to throw the background out of focus. TIP: The eyes are the key to the soul; always make sure that your subject’s eyes are sharp, take extra care if you are shooting at a low aperture like f1.8. Lighting is important too, do you want your subject to look bright and evenly lit or dark and moody? How will you achieve that look, will you be relying on natural light or able to use some fill flash?
Make them feel comfortable
Sometimes the best portraits are candid, either grabbed at the beginning of a session “just relax I’m just doing a test” or at the end when they’ve relaxed into it. Don’t be afraid to direct your subject. Give them encouragement, some people feel totally awkward in front of the camera and will be relieved if you give them some simple instructions, like “stand side on to the camera”, “try crossing your arms”, “look over my shoulder”, “drop your chin” etc. Getting people to lean on a wall can immediately make them feel relaxed. You can either pre-visualise, and plan, your portrait and props, or experiment with what you have to hand. Nervous subjects usually respond well to having something in their hands. Try something that tells us more about them, like a tool of trade or favourite object.
Shoot to suit their personality
Think about their personality. Are they a serious person? Sometimes you see far more of a person’s personality when they are in repose. Try and avoid asking people to smile for the camera. The image won’t look authentic because it’s easy to see when someone’s mouth is smiling but their eyes aren’t. Decide whether it says more about them to look straight into the lens or look away; try both. If your subject is fun loving, don’t be afraid to inject a bit of silliness to get them laughing. Kids often respond well to being told to pull faces (catch them after, when they are giggling!). Think about what you can do to make them loosen up or laugh, which can include instructions like “drop your shoulders”, “give your self a good shake”, “jump up and down”, “twirl”…. Use your imagination and match your tone to your subjects’ age, personality and how well you know them.
Look and learn and practice
Post processing and printing also provide opportunities to convey your subject’s personality. Decide if vibrant colour or black and white creates the right mood. Look at the work of portrait photographers you admire and learn from them. Above all, practice as much as you can and have fun.
Project Street 7.30
Currently on at Fox Darkroom in Kensington until 25th June. Last Saturday starting at 7.30 am, I met with 29 fellow photographers at Federation Square. The challenge? To shoot, edit, print, mount and hang for our exhibition which was to open at 7.30 pm the same night. I am happy to say that we raised nearly $12,000 for Kids under Cover.
To read more about the exhibition, head to the latest edition of Capture Magazine. All of the images can be seen by visiting The Fox Darkroom Gallery or online at the Project Street 7:30 website
This month I headed up to Sydney for the Head On Photo Festival. I was a semi finalist in the portraiture catalogue so went to the Museum of Sydney to see the amazing portraits on display as well as the finalists in the Mobile Phone entries. The standard of entries was just incredible, so much inspiring work. A particular highlight was meeting Maggie Steber, and seeing her work "The Secret Garden of Lily LaPalma".
Balnarring Beach on the Mornington Peninsular was the setting for the spectacular beach shoot highlighting Mrs. Tutton's new additions to the collection. With the sun putting in an appearance at 5.00 am it was an early start but worth it to see the beginning of a beautiful day and the local racehorses being exercised by the water.
Model: Martina Richardson, Assistant: Maurizio Salvati
When Imogen Tutton launched Mrs. Tutton, her range of equestrian clothing, she approached me to do the photography. In spite of threatening weather it was a very successful shoot and the day was captured by the talented team at Brave Films. Soon we will be doing another on location shoot at beautiful Balnarring beach. I can't wait to share it with you.
