Street Photography is Weird.

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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

Shooting the Bride and Groom.

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One of our friends asked me if I could photograph their wedding, and they got a swift thanks but no thanks. When I was focused on my street work, and to be honest, I thought wedding photography was beneath me. Talk about being narrow-minded.

It was a decision that I soon regretted, and I would like to say sorry to my friends for that swift and final no. The wedding went ahead. We all had a great time but looking back, that was probably the push my photography needed. But hey, we live and learn.

Since turning down my friend’s offer, I have gone on to photograph numerous weddings either independently or as a 2nd photographer. So why the change of heart? It became noticeably clear that if I were to progress, I needed to challenge myself and see what I could do.

Once I broke through my own ignorance barriers, I started to open my mind to other photography work offers. All have had there own learning curves, and I have gained some valuable experience on the way.

There is something about the energy of the wedding day that gives me this buzz of excitement. Everything from the bridal prep to the first dance is pure energy, and we all get swept along on this wave of emotion, and I am there in the middle of it, trying my best to stay sharp and keep focused.

My coping mechanism for all this nervous energy is to stay tuned in to my environment, practice some mindfulness, and treat the day as one long street photography walk.

Like I have said before in my previous blogs, why be something I am not when its easier to be me.

In October, I will be shooting the wedding of Abbie and Matt. They are a wonderful couple, and I have known Matt for many years and regard him as a good friend. It will be an absolute pleasure to photograph their wedding, especially after everything that has gone on this year.

The wedding photography industry is a tough nut to crack, and there are thousands of photographers out there all chasing the same clients, breaking into the industry takes time and balls of steel.

Is Wedding Photography something I want to pursue as a full-time business? Maybe in the future, but I am simply happy being the street photographer who enjoys shooting the bride and groom.

Keep the Faith

KV

Lockdown Reflection

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As we slowly grind our way out of this never-ending lockdown, I have done a little bit of reflection on the past few months and tried to make sense of it all.

In the beginning, we witnessed the selfish and the self-centred of this world clear the supermarket shelves with no regard or thought for anyone except themselves. Greed was king as they believed this was the start of the apocalypse—shameful behaviour by people who should know better.

Early on, I decided to turn the news off and delete certain apps as my brain was melting with the constant bombardment of fear-driven information.

The Government failed to get a grip of the situation, which left many of us in limbo, and once the lockdown kicked in, it was too little too late. Granted, they have tried to keep business afloat with bucket loads of cash, but it will all need to pay back the taxpayer.

There have been some positives, especially our overdue appreciation towards the NHS and the overworked, underpaid key workers.

We have seen some beautiful acts of kindness from all walks of life, which have restored some of my faith in humanity.

Away from photography, my real job is Telecommunications, so I was classed as a key worker.

My colleagues and I had the task of “Keeping the UK Connected”,, and I am proud of what we achieved in these difficult times.

Its been a time for gratitude and being thankful for what I have.

There have been some tricky days, but we have come through this together and made our little unit a bit stronger as a family.

Photography wise I have used these strange days to start writing this blog which has given me some escape from the ongoing situation. I am fully aware that my writing skills are not that of Oscar Wilde or Shakespeare, but I have done this for me and my sanity, but if just one person gets something from what I have written, that will be a bonus.

Over these past months, I have delved deep into my back catalogue, and it has been pleasing to see some growth with my work. Progress, not perfection, is always key.

It will be a pleasure to see the streets of Manchester bustle with activity again as the one thing that I have missed is life itself.

Time to give 2020 a jump start.

Keep the Faith.

KV

CASTLEFIELDS MANCHESTER FUJIFILM X100F ACROS RED

Progressing the Process.

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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.

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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

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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

Under the Influence #4

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Jane Bown - Exposures

I was introduced to Jane Bowen’s work when a good friend of mine gave me his spare copy of the book Exposures. Each portrait is different, but they give us this little glimpse into the subject's true persona looking out from the page.

Jane Bown worked for the Observer newspaper for over five decades, and in that time, she photographed the great, the good and the not so good of politics, music, art, and theatre.

Observer editor John Mulholland called her "part of the Observer's DNA".

What can we learn from Jane Bown and the book Exposures?

She was uninterested in the latest camera equipment and mainly used second-hand cameras, with the Olympus OM1 being the one she favoured the most. There were no gimmicks to her work, no props, no glamourous studios or locations. Everything was done with the available light. The camera was already set up, and she could be done and dusted within 15 minutes.

Jane Bowen was extremely reluctant to speak about her work, and the quote “photographers should neither be seen nor heard” is a testament to that approach.

Jane Bown, photographer, born 13 March 1925; died 21 December 2014.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2009/oct/18/jane-bown-60-years-portraits

Keep the Faith

KV

Marinade Your Work.

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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

Under the Influence #3

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Kevin Cummins.

Kevin Cummins has documented British music culture for the last 40 years. From the Punk scene in the ’70s to the Madchester era of the late ’80s to the Cool Britannia days of the mid-1990s and everything in between.

As NME’s chief photographer for much of the ’80s and ’90s, he provided us with some of the most iconic images of that time, and I was an avid reader of the NME in them halcyon days.

 The images of Shaun Ryder hanging off the E on the Hotel sign and the paint-splattered Stone Roses, which both graced the cover, are now defining moments from that era. And let us not forget his work with Joy Division that will seal their legacy forever.

Kevin Cummins's contribution to British culture's historical documentation is something that we will probably never see again. That is why is he regarded as an icon of documentary photography.

For further reading and prints, go to his website - http://www.kevincummins.co.uk/

Recommended Book – Looking for the light through the pouring rain.

Cummins has raised the status of his work to the level of art. - John Peel

Keep the Faith

KV

Comfort Fear.

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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

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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

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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

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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

Mental Mental Mental

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Keeping your mind fit is just as important as keeping your body fit.

Being creative is a great way of turning off the noise that rumbles around in your head.

Photography saved me from me. Street Photography is like meditation as it allows my mind to switch off from the mundane bullshit that we all have in our lives. Every now again, I can become lost in the moment. It is as though I am connected to something else, and that is me getting out of me.

Practising mindfulness is also a great way to get that connection. Tune in to your surroundings by listening to the sounds, and slowly you will get that connection. Try it for yourself.

The art of photography is not for everyone, but I honestly believe that we all have some form of creativity waiting to be discovered.

It is the little things that start big things.

Being creative will not cure mental health, but it will help you find some purpose in your life, and who knows, it may be the calling you have been searching for.

Keep the Faith.

KV

FUJI FILM X100F - MANCHESTER

Can't buy me Likes

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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

That Robert Capa Quote.

You know the one  “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.”

It is usually banded around freely on FB Groups by photographers critiquing other photographers’ work with no real understanding of its true meaning.

But is this famous quote really aimed at the street photographer?

Yes, getting close can bring context and narrative to the image but standing back from the scene can also bring in more of the story that will create mystery and leave the viewer asking questions.

Once we start being noticed, the scene then starts to deteriorate, and we then become part of the story, and in some ways, we are then orchestrating the outcome.

I like to look for the scene and then wait for the actors to indulge in my narrative, but once I’m noticed, then our subjects begin to act in a different way, and the natural flow of the image is lost.

As Saul Leiter once said, “I spent a great deal of my life being ignored. I was always very happy that way. Being ignored is a great privilege.”

Keep the Faith

KV

the never ending lockdown.

I have been lucky with this lockdown as I am regarded as a key worker so I am still in work which has been a blessing but I must admit I am feeling lockdown frustration.

At first, it was quite a novelty seeing the City streets deserted but now it has worn off and I am missing friends’ family and just life itself.

My street photography is slowly going down the pan as getting out with the camera seems more like a crime than a hobby. Admittedly I have had the odd walk through Manchester, but it is not the same without people.

My heart goes out to the photographers who do it as a full-time job and are now looking into the financial abyss.

For me, it is about having a little bit of gratitude. I have my health my family is well I have a job and there is food in the cupboards. It is a shit time for everyone, but we need to dig in as nothing lasts forever.

Keep Well & Keep the Faith.

KV


First Words

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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