Some thoughts coming back from NYC

[Lauffray]

I like to shoot street and living in a relatively small city, I sometimes find the lack of sartorial diversity slightly uninspiring.
So I was hoping that my latest quick trip to NYC would provide some change, however I was surprised to find that it was not entirely as I expected.

True, new yorkers dress differently than montrealers, but not so much among themselves.
I had the same observation when I was in Paris a year ago, and had to go out to the 20th arrondissement, a "colorful" neighborhood (whatever that means) looking for new things.

This isn't a rant about the homogenization of a globalized world but I wonder whether it was always like this, if density or habit has made me indifferent to something that really is there.
A friend of mine once remarked that those fascinating things I find in old photographs (cars, people, clothes) were just as "average" back then as the clones of same model cars, chain coffee shops or clothing brands I find unexceptional today.

I don't know, perhaps I look too hard for that interesting, uncommon thing sometimes, thoughts ?

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Lauffray

I don't know, perhaps I look too hard for that interesting, uncommon thing sometimes, thoughts ?

I've thought about this a lot in my photography and, as you have seen a little bit over the last weekend, I tend to photograph the common. However, what is common now will not always be common and over time, the meaning of photos change (or mean different things to different people). Sometimes I photograph things just because in 30 years I won't remember the cheesiness of the moment and will just look at the photo at face value.

There's still plenty of interesting uncommon things out there, but I think it is hard to find it on vacation. I think it is best to do this in your own city where you are more comfortable and can keep going back often.

[Lund]

Some days I can see the fascinating things in everyday life. Those days it's easy to find photo opportunities. Most days I'm to used to it to even see anything special in it.

[I Love Film]

Most of the world has standardized on clown costumes.

[Lauffray]

Yes I saw that John, I've put this at the heart of one project I'm doing right now.
I think I'll always have this question, whether to look for and photograph the interesting, uncommon, strange or to simply document what is as it is ?

Btw, I see you've changed your avatar to the X2

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by Lauffray

I don't know, perhaps I look too hard for that interesting, uncommon thing sometimes, thoughts ?

I think revisiting the familiar again and again helps me notice changes and differences.

Perhaps from shooting with John there has been some influences because I've started shooting a few series; one of them is of padlocks, a subject that is rather common and abundant in an urban area, but certain locks just seem interesting, because of composition, the lighting, the contrast... You'd be surprised at the amount that I find that are open and unlocked. LOL.

Sometimes its looking at the most common to find the uncommon.

I don't own a car and to help afford film and Leica I walk almost 2 1/4 miles to and from work to save on Metrocard costs. Earlier this week I took this picture of a fire hydrant that was surrounded by litter due to a construction fence that seemed engineered to capture anything wind blown by the Second Avenue Subway work site. The litter added a nice background and foreground to my composition, but the most dramatic element was this tree that was sprouting nearby that created subjective contrast.

Today on my walk I intentionally returned to the same fire hydrant wanting to shoot it in different light and with a different filter. I was initially dismayed because someone had cleaned up all the litter that made my initial composition so wonderful, but soon realized that the sprouting tree was not growing from a crack in the sidewalk, nor the base of the fire hydrant. What made today's group of shots so interesting is that today it became clear that the small tree is sprouting from the hose connection on the hydrant. How delicate is life, yet how many people noticed?

Anyways I tend to almost always carry a camera even if I'm not actively shooting.

Cal

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Lauffray

I think I'll always have this question, whether to look for and photograph the interesting, uncommon, strange or to simply document what is as it is ?

Don't question it until it becomes clearer for you... just do both.

Btw, I see you've changed your avatar to the X2

Yep, I ordered one and I'm a bit corny. I will sell all of my M stuff. I'm dangerously close to being exiled from RFF due to my camera choices.

[tom.w.bn]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Yep, I ordered one and I'm a bit corny. I will sell all of my M stuff. I'm dangerously close to being exiled from RFF due to my camera choices.

Why that? RFF is mainly about X100, X1Pro and m43. You have to search for rangefinder topics with a magnifier.

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

I'm dangerously close to being exiled from RFF due to my camera choices.

"Why do we love you?" I say. LOL.

Don't tell anyone, but my Leicas have not been used a lot lately. One M6 has been shelved for a while since I've been shooting Nikon SLR's more, and another M6 is currently getting a $300.00 CLA because I jammed the shutter but good.

My Nikons cost less and don't need all that maintenance. Lately I've been toting a Nikon F3P rigged with motor-drive and Noct-Nikkor. I just rigged a Nikon F2 with DE-1 eye-level prism with a 28/2.8 AIS I bought yesterday.

Cal

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by tom.w.bn

Why that? RFF is mainly about X100, X1Pro and m43. You have to search for rangefinder topics with a magnifier.

True, I guess it's devolved into a forum for cameras that aren't DSLRs.

[kbg32]

Lauffray - depends what neighborhoods of NYC you were in. Touristy areas are definitely not very "colorful" and represent a homogeneity that is utterly boring and visually, as well as culturally uninteresting. I work downtown near Battery Park a couple of days a week, and it is visually uninspiring. Tourists, office workers, food truck, the overly hyped Seaport. One big food mall.

[Lauffray]

Yes you're right, it depends on the neighborhood, most of midtown is what you describe, I have been to Harlem though, that seems more interesting. Always best to know locals that can take you off the beaten path

[Lauffray]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Don't question it until it becomes clearer for you... just do both.

Too much philosophy I suppose. I have done that, I end up chucking the pictures in the archives pending future edit, I think it's much more difficult to take an interesting picture of something ordinary

Yep, I ordered one and I'm a bit corny. I will sell all of my M stuff. I'm dangerously close to being exiled from RFF due to my camera choices.

cool ! I'm curious to see what that's like

[robklurfield]

Imagine walking down the street and seeing this haircut. And, then, walking half a block more, seeing someone else with the same haircut.

NYC Westside in the 20's.

Lauffray has a point.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Lauffray

I think it's much more difficult to take an interesting picture of something ordinary

I agree...and it's what interests me about photography in general these days.

[hlockwood]

Back in June of 2010, I spent a weekend in NYC, walking everywhere. I found much that was interesting, even in mid-town. I look forward to doing again; I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

See the shots here,
http://www.pbase.com/hlockwood/nyc_june_2010&page=all

Harry

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by hlockwood

Back in June of 2010, I spent a weekend in NYC, walking everywhere. I found much that was interesting, even in mid-town. I look forward to doing again; I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

See the shots here,
http://www.pbase.com/hlockwood/nyc_june_2010&page=all

Harry

Harry,

Next time you leave Boston and come back to NYC send me a PM so we can go shoot.

Recently moved to Madhattan. Now I feel like I just use to be a hillbilly from Queens. Somehow my photography has changed. Now I'm editing all this medium format urban landscape I shot over the years that speaks of lonelyness and abandonement (industrial areas).

Cal

[Lauffray]

Interesting you say that Harry, I've been to Boston 3 times in one year and have had no problem continuing to make pictures, whereas I don't see myself shooting more in NYC this year. Anyway, I have yet to develop what I shot in NYC so we'll see

[Lauffray]

Cal I'm really interested in seeing some of your pictures, the MF stuff too, maybe bring some prints next time I'm in town

[dmc]

I agree that, what you found interesting in old photos, were the ordinary of the time. If you shoot the mundane today, in fifty years these shots will seem interesting to viewers then. There are shots of everyday life that can be interesting today, especially shots of ethnic lifestyles. Sometimes the mundane can become interesting when shot at different angles or exposures. At the end of the day, those that cannot see what you have shot will find your photos interesting.

[jsrockit]

Jerome, now you've done it... when you come back, we will bring you to more interesting places.

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by robklurfield

Imagine walking down the street and seeing this haircut. And, then, walking half a block more, seeing someone else with the same haircut.

NYC Westside in the 20's.

Lauffray has a point.

Rob,

As you know, I don't get my hair cut that often, and on my last haircut I made a mistake and went to a new stylist for a cut where my hair was somewhat butchered. Thankfully my hair is still long enough for a ponytail and a healthy dose of hair epoxy glues down all the layers that remain.

As shown above Asian hair can be rather unruly. Kinda resembles the bad case of bed head I had back in the seventies when they took my photograph for my hack license. Also back in the seventies there were very few Asian cab drivers. LOL.

I might get another haircut later this month before June with yet another new stylist. Hopefully everyone will still recognize me. LOL.

Cal

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by Lauffray

Cal I'm really interested in seeing some of your pictures, the MF stuff too, maybe bring some prints next time I'm in town

Jerome,

The weekend you were here was kinda dead. John and I generally shoot every week. Originally we wanted to do the "Dance Parade" and capture everyone getting ready in the staging area near the Flat Iron Building.

Last year I kinda stumbled into the event because I was looking for all those people claiming it was the end of the world in Union Square, it was as if they all ascended, but they were all hiding from me in Times Square I would later learn.

Anyways the best thing at the Dance Parade staging area was this Pole Dancing School float last year. Imagine being backstage as a group of girls kinda put on a private show for my Mamiya 6 equipt with a 50/4.0 wide angle on 22d Street.

Anyways I did get one shot of the end of the world people. I was heading onto the subway when I saw this old guy with a sign who looked like farmer from Iowa holing a sign stating the world would end on a certain future date and that now was the time to repent. It just so happened that in the background was a sign and the stairs leading down for the downtown number 6 train. It was a marginal exposure that at a slow shutter speed on my M6, but it also happened to be my last frame on my roll. LOL.

Sometimes its just being in the right place at the right time with your camera.

Cal

[thegman]

I guess the problem with street photography is that you're shooting people just going about their business, to/from work etc. It can be very boring, because 99% of us do it every day ourselves. If you go out at night, however, you can probably catch all kinds of drunken antics, but it's probably an unpleasant experience all round.

[robklurfield]

Cal, at our age, you should be happy you have hair to worry about.

Originally Posted by Calzone

Rob,

As you know, I don't get my hair cut that often, and on my last haircut I made a mistake and went to a new stylist for a cut where my hair was somewhat butchered. Thankfully my hair is still long enough for a ponytail and a healthy dose of hair epoxy glues down all the layers that remain.

As shown above Asian hair can be rather unruly. Kinda resembles the bad case of bed head I had back in the seventies when they took my photograph for my hack license. Also back in the seventies there were very few Asian cab drivers. LOL.

I might get another haircut later this month before June with yet another new stylist. Hopefully everyone will still recognize me. LOL.

Cal