A few shots with the Fujifilm X100F in Barcelona Airport whilst waiting for the flight back home to Manchester.
street photography
Perfect Strangers.
It's a strange time for the creative, especially the street photographer who thrives off the busy streets. The lunchtime rush is no longer there, and the race to get home has all but disappeared.
We have a city in slow motion, and it can be difficult to find that creative thread.
For me, photo books are a great source of inspiration, and my latest addition is.
Melissa O'Shaughnessy – Perfect Strangers.
This book has been like a breath of fresh air, especially in these uncertain times.
Melissa is our modern-day Helen Levitt, as both are beautiful humanists. I know that is high praise, but I would like to think if Levitt were alive today, she would be taking these kinds of images.
The framing of the subjects on a moving street is a testament to the hard work and dedication needed to produce good quality work on the street. And I, for one, admire that dedication.
Look closely enough, and you start to feel the sensation of the hustle and bustle of the city street.
We are there in the crowds, being pushed along and seeing what she is seeing. We witness kindness and, at times, tenderness, but there is also this movement that only adds to the narrative.
With each turn of the page, you can feel the rhythm of New York.
I have never had the privilege of watching Melissa work the street. I imagine she is so stealth-like that the subject only sees her for a fleeting second, and then she is gone looking for the next stranger.
Joel Meyerowitz wrote that this book would become a historical document in 20 -30 years. These images show us what the world looked like before Covid.
If you are looking for inspiration, I suggest adding this to your collection.
Thank you, Melissa, for giving us your Perfect Strangers.
Keep the Faith.
KV
Like for Progress
Like for Progress.
We can get bogged down with the constant barrage of images that we see online.
Instagram is a prime candidate for this. The more we look, the more we can become caught in the snowstorm of images.
We can look at the number of likes and see this as a success factor that has a knock-on effect on our progress. Our progress should not be graded on the number of likes we receive because that will always negatively affect us.
It was a conversation with a fellow photographer and a good friend who got me thinking about how we look at progress.
He was telling me about an image that he had taken and the thinking behind it. He explained the process and the way the composition came together. And to be fair, it is a decent enough image. The colour is spot on, the depth of the image is good, the technical aspects are all correct.
All in all, this is a successful image and one that he should and was proud of, but he based the success of that image on the number of likes he received. Reread it. He based the image's success not on the technical aspects of the fact that he had taken a decent photograph but also on the wider audience's engagement.
Social media is a game, and we are all being played off each other. Thankfully, I stepped out from that arena a long time ago.
Keep the Faith
KV
Northen Quarter , Manchester FujiFilm X100F
Somethings never change.
With the lockdown restrictions beginning to ease, the homeless and the unfortunate are steadily returning to the city streets.
As a rule, I never photograph the homeless as they do not choose to be on the streets.
There was something about this scene that made me press the shutter button.
I could see some emotional upset and comforted each other; they are lost in that moment so much, so they do not even see me with the camera.
We will never know what was going on. It could be one of a hundred things.
Maybe it is the prospect of a night on the street or the realisation that they have no money for the simple things we take for granted like food and a warm bed. We will never know the truth.
This pandemic has changed the way we live our lives, but some things it seems will never change.
Street Photography is Weird.
I wouldn’t say I like street photography – Not my words but the words from a friend.
At first, I was a little bit confused by this statement because I am a street photographer, and this is my thing, but then I realised it is not the like, but maybe its the understanding of street photography that he doesn’t understand.
Street photography from an outsider looking in can seem a little bit strange. We walk around open spaces and take pictures of strangers. Sounds weird.
Some use street photography for documentary purposes, and some use it to express their creative mind.
To get a real understanding of street photography, we need to delve into the back catalogue of those that have gone before us. I have made it my business to study Gary Winogrand, Joel Meyerowitz, Cartier-Bresson, Saul Leiter, Harry Gruyaert, Alex Webb, and Tony Ray-Jones, Ernst Haas and many more. It is not about emulating them. It is about seeing the possibilities.
What I love about street photography is not knowing what you will see. You cannot go out there and think I will get this or that because it does not work like that. You must go with the flow, and if it happens, then it happens.
I go out there with a blank canvas, and sometimes I will return with what I think is a masterpiece and then there are the days that I can come back with a bag of shit.
Slow down, take your time and get some decent footwear.
Keep the Faith
KV
FUJIFILM X100T CLASSIC CHROME -MANCHESTER
Progressing the Process.
My life before photography was pretty chaotic. I was on a downward slope with no exit plan. So, when I eventually sorted my shit out, and the clouds of doom began to lift, I decided to fuel my interest in photography.
In the early days, it was all about nailing the image and shooting anything that moved. My approach was very sporadic, and I was blinkered because there was no real direction for my work. I was too busy looking for my next hit as I wanted photography to make me feel better about myself.
I could see myself burning out with the days of failure and frustration because photography was not providing me with the constant highs.
So, what changed? Me, I had to change because I was the problem.
It took me a good few years to find a style and an approach that I enjoyed doing. Nowadays, I work mostly in colour, and yes, I enjoy working with light and shadow, but I try and keep progressing bit by bit.
I still have them days when nothing is going my way, and I can find myself in the right place at the wrong time, but I no longer get frustrated and start questioning why am I doing this.
The difference between then and now is that I enjoy the process instead of expecting the process to make me feel better. There is no progress without failure.
Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, we all get there in the end.
Keep the Faith
KV
FUJIFILM X100T CLASSIC CHROME - JULY 2017
Print your Work.
It amazes me how many photographers do not print their work.
We spend hours perfecting our images for it to be uploaded on social media to be viewed for 5 seconds on a little screen!! The connection between us and the image is still not complete as we only see the digital copy. It is like downloading music. Yes, you have it, but you do not own it unless you are holding the CD or Vinyl in your hand.
Once we print our work, it then becomes a physical thing which in turn becomes more personal. We are then connected to our own work.
Now, I am not talking about printing huge gallery prints in gold frames, but small A4 prints or 6x4 ones; it does not really matter; at least we have that image in our hands.
This is a documentation of YOUR work which will be around a lot longer than storing them on a phone or a laptop. Basically, we are hiding them away in our little flies or uploading them into this imaginary cloud, and who knows what will happen to all that in the future.
We take the image, then edit the image we then present it to our audience, and the final stage of that image should be the printing of your work.
An online portfolio is good, but a portfolio than you can actually hold and see is priceless.
Keep the Faith
KV
Some of my recent prints.
Colour v Mono
The colour v black & white debate is something that I had a good few years ago and I decide that colour was the way forward for me.
This was partially due to my purchase of the X100T. Once I set the camera to classic chrome and looked through the viewfinder it was like a switch going off in my head and I was sold, hook line, and sinker.
Black and white still have its place especially with my commissioned work like weddings and portraits but with street photography is was going to be colour. For me, it is the difficulty of the two as there is a lot more thinking required, as all the elements need to be spot on for colour to work on the street.
I am not disregarding BNW but there is always the temptation to cover up the faults of the image by clicking that black and white button in Lightroom. And I think we can all agree that you cannot polish a turd by switching it to BNW and pumping up the clarity.
This is not me saying all BNW street work is shit because that would not be right as there are some superb street photographers out there who are producing some beautiful images in black and white.
And this is the point that we go full circle. I recently acquired the Fuji Film X100F and I am in love with the Acros film simulation settings especially the Red & Yellow filters. It was like a déjà vu moment when I looked through the viewfinder and I was seeing this beautiful grainy BNW image.
It is just small steps back into the world of BNW, but I am enjoying the process, so much so that I have opened another Instagram account for my BNW work.
Have I missed working in black & white? Yes and no but if I can have a slice of both worlds than I am happy with that. At the end of the day it is all about doing the things that make you happy.
New Instagram Page - https://www.instagram.com/kv_mono/
Keep the Faith
KV
MANCHESTER - X100F ACROS+RED
Marinade Your Work.
First thing first, I am not talking about smearing your camera or laptop with BBQ sauce.
How many times have you been out on a street walk, and you think you have a couple of keepers in the bank and then rush home, get the SD card out, turn on the laptop find your keepers, give them a quick edit and upload them on to social media? From the street to social media in a matter of hours!
In my early days, I thought this behaviour was normal until I started to see the work that I was posting was not that good, or my image choice was not the correct one. At first, I put this down to experience, but then I realised that I was still emotionally attached to the image.
Over time, I have learned to step back from that day’s work and put it on the back burner and let them “marinate” doing this has helped me critique my own work without the emotion and excitement of that day.
Having this system has allowed me to build up a steady back catalogue of work.
Ask yourself, why are you uploading your work that quick? It could be one of a hundred things, but I have a sneaky feeling that you want that added gratification of not only taking a fine picture but the rewards of likes on social media.
Slow down, and the true rewards will come.
Keep the Faith
KV
MANCHESTER - 20TH JANUARY 2017 - X100T
Comfort Fear.
We all feel safe in our little photography comfort zones, but if we occasionally break out of it, then that’s when things can happen. We can get that lightbulb moment that pushes us on to the next level.
But what stops us from stepping out of this imaginary zone? And the simple answer is Fear.
Fear of being ignored, fear of negativity, fear of only getting a few likes on Instagram!!, fear that they will see your weak side or is it the fear of failure that keeps us in our little box.
Photography is about pushing our own creativity, and let us not forget why we picked up the camera in the first place. We did it for us, and we did not do it for likes and followers; we did it because we wanted to be creative.
I have always believed that if people enjoy my work, then that is a bonus, but if I start playing to my audience, who do I please them or me.?
This brings me on to my attempt at still life photography.
It was quite different from my usual work style, but I enjoyed the therapeutic process, and it got me out of this mental comfort zone.
Keep the Faith
KV
Under the Influence #2
Alex Webb.
Magnum Photographer Alex Webb is best known for his complex and vibrant street photographs from Latin America, Europe, and Africa.
It was in 1979 that he made the transition from black and white to colour and the rest you can say is history.
When I was taking my first steps into the world of colour street photography his image from Tehuantepac, Mexico taken in 1985 was the one that fired my imagination.
If you are not familiar with the photograph, then I will describe it the best way I can and hopefully, you will find it on your next search for inspiration.
There are blue and white stripes on the building and monument which match the children’s clothing. At the forefront, there is a boy spinning a ball that looks like a globe of the world. Within the frame, there are 7 subjects and each one is serving a purpose not only are they bringing balance, but they are moving the viewer’s eye forwards then backward. But the most remarkable thing about the whole composition is the basketball going through the hoop at the top left of the image.
What can we learn from Alex Webb?
For me, its to try and look a little bit deeper, be patient, and trust your instincts.
I will never get to Alex Webb’s level, but I use his style of photography as a guideline for what is possible. And in street photography anything is possible.
Recommended Books – The Suffering of Light is a must for anybody’s collection.
"I only know how to approach a place by walking. For what does a street photographer do but walk and watch and wait and talk, and then watch and wait some more, trying to remain confident that the unexpected, the unknown, or the secret heart of the known awaits just around the corner" - Alex Webb
Keep the Faith
KV
Fujifilm Love Affair
I purchased the Fujifilm X100T about 5 years ago, and it was a game-changer for me.
The film simulation Classic Chrome opened a whole new way of seeing, and it was then that I decided to work more in colour.
My street settings for CC are quite simple.
Highlights -1 Shadows + 2 Colour +2
White Balance, DR, ISO all on Auto as I want the camera to do the donkey work.
Why the T? This is such a versatile little camera, and I have taken it to the limits, and it has never let me down. Even in trying conditions, the T keeps going.
I have shot a full wedding with it; my bare fist boxing was all done in jpeg, and probably 90% of my street work has been done with this camera. I have hardly ever used RAW, and that is because the jpegs give me everything I need.
But my love affair with the T is nearly over as I recently acquired the X100F, and this is a thing of beauty. It has renewed my interest in Black and White with the beautiful Acros film simulations.
It is just like the T but with steroids. ISO is better, the focus is sharp and quick, and it looks and feels good.
I also own the Xpro1 with the 35mm 1.4, again a superb camera that can be temperamental at times, but this camera can produce some beautiful images when it is on it.
Everyone is different, but I like to keep my set up nice and simple I do not chase after the next big thing in the hope it will make me better photographer as its practise that makes you better.
When things are not going right, always remember it is not the camera's fault. It is the idiot holding the camera.
Keep the Faith
KV
X100T Classic Chrome
Under the Influence #1
Harry Gruyaert.
The Belgium photographer is still a constant source of inspiration for me, and his self-titled book is the first one that I reach for when I need some direction.
In his early days, he was regarded as a maverick. A pioneer someone would not conform to the rule book. This photographer sees the world in rich colour, so he decided to photograph it that way. He found a style that suited him and then worked on it and made it his own.
By his own admission, there are no narratives to his work, only shapes and light.
His use of heavy colour mixed with punchy blacks draws the viewer into the frame, and there are no constraints to his style of work as he moves freely between street photographer and documentarian.
In the book Edges, he provides us with some beautiful seascapes that still have that “Gruyaert” look.
Harry Gruyaert is a great starting point for any photographer looking to experiment with colour.
Recommended Books – Edges & East /West
Keep the Faith
KV
Can't buy me Likes
The hunt for likes and acceptance on social media is something that churns my stomach.
My favourite one at the moment is getting a new follower and seeing how long it takes for them to unfollow me!! Honestly, people could be spending their well-earned money on something more satisfying than buying likes and followers.
Do not be fooled into thinking that if you pay to get more Likes and followers, it will make you a better photographer because you are only fooling one person, and that is you.
Social media is a necessary evil. Treat your work as something personal to you. Do not get wrapped up in the daily bullshit of people-pleasing. Be you and the artist you want to be.
Better to grow it organically than to have it controlled by a robot.
Keep the Faith
KV
First Words
So here goes on my first post.
I will be mainly writing about photography, especially street photography, but I will also chuck in a few life experiences.
If it’s gear reviews you want or a how-to-do guide, then you are in the wrong place.
I will be mentioning what cameras I use and probably why I do use them. Still, this section of the website will about me sharing my photography experience, what inspires me, who inspires me, and the things that motivate me to do photography.
I won’t win any prizes for my writing skills, but you might enjoy what I have to say if you can look beyond that. It is not perfection; I am looking for just a little bit of progress.
Feel free to leave a comment but don’t bother leaving anything negative, and if anyone starts being a dick, they will be blocked, and I will probably name and shame you on social media.
Keep the Faith
KV