Camouflage

Camouflaged Peacock
Camouflage | Seville | 2023

A rainy day in Genoa gives me time to edit my photographs from our recent trip to Seville. I came across this one of the peacock already featured in this previous post. Not only shows this image the prefect camouflage its plumage provides to this magnificent bird in its natural habitat, rainforests. But the photo also demonstrates the things my eyes are constantly scanning for when roaming the streets. I’m always on the lookout for interesting combinations of light and shadows, colors and textures. I’m doing this also when I don’t even carry a camera (which practically never happens, as at least the iPhone and its camera is always with me). This is what I call my daily visual push-ups. In this photograph, it all comes together. Bringing home an image like this after a day of shooting gives me great satisfaction.

Taken with my Leica SL2-S with the Vario-Elmarit-SL 1:2.8/24-70 ASPH. Image specs are 1/400 sec @ f/8 and ISO 200, 70mm focal length. Post-processing (brightening up the shadows) in Lightroom Classic.

If you are looking for tips and inspirations to improve your photography, check out my free Learning Center.  

Have a great Wednesday

Marcus

Related Posts:

Street Photography Quick Tip 7 – Work the Scene

Street Photography Quick Tip 11 – Using Color Accents

Instant Inspiration (24) – Fine Art Wildlife

Hanging in there

Tilted

Girl standing at a tilted red traffic light
Tilted | Genoa | 2023

For today’s post I selected a color street photograph, one I call “tilted”. I generally love black & white street photos. Colors can draw the viewer’s attention away from the main subject of the photo. Bright or contrasting colors can create a visual noise that detracts from the overall composition of the photograph. This can be especially true if the captured colors are not balanced or if they do not complement each other in a pleasing way.

In some cases, however, the use of color can be intentional and can enhance the overall impact of a street photograph. The photographer might use color to draw attention to a specific detail or element within the scene, or to create a particular mood or atmosphere.

The slightly irritated view of the girl noticing a a photographer pointing a Leica SL2-S at her face would have just as well worked in black & white. But I felt that the unusual, tilted position of the little figure in the red lamp of the pedestrian crossing traffic light needed color to work, to get noticed.

The key is to use color deliberately and thoughtfully, rather than allowing it to distract from the main subject or message of the photograph.

I took the photograph with my Leica SL2-S and the Vario-Elmarit-SL 1:2.8/24-70 ASPH. Image specs are 1/400 sec, f/4.5, ISO 3200 and 61mm focal lenght.

For more tips and inspirations around street photography check out my free Learning Center.

Wish you all a happy Tuesday

Marcus

Related Posts:

Street Photography Quick Tip 11 – Using Color Accents

Street Photography Quick Tip 5 – Composition – the hidden subject

StoNur on the Road – Color Splash

Color appreciated

B&W or Color?

Ascensore Spianata Castelletto Genova
Ascensore Spianata Castelletto | Genoa | 2023

Anyone playing with monochrome conversions in post-processing knows the pondering question: B&W or color? Like I did when looking at this shot of Ascensore Spianata Castelletto, one of the elevators that connect the base of Genoa‘s old town with the higher quarters. From the terrace next to the elevator you have a splendid view across the medieval old town out to the harbor and the Mediterranean beyond. I decided I like the monochrome version better. I think it better fits the elegance of the art deco elevator house. What do you think? Check out the color version after the jump…

Continue reading “B&W or Color?”

Hidden Photographer

Hidden Photographer
Hidden Photographer | Genoa | 2023

Welcome to March. Technically we should have spring now. Unfortunately, it’s still winter outside. No wonder that the casual weekend shoppers head into coffee shops to warm up. Have you seen the hidden photographer? I’ve got myself a blond pony tail…

Playing with reflections is a great area of street photography. You should grab your camera (or phone) and go looking for interesting reflections yourself.

More tips and inspirations around street photography you can find in my free Learning center.

The image was taken with my iPhone 14 Pro and post-processed in Lightroom Classic.

Have a great start into March

Marcus

Related Posts:

Street Photography Quick Tip 5 – Composition – the hidden subject

Street Photography Quick Tip 13 – Shoot in a Coffee Shop

Instant Inspiration (6) – Storefront Windows

Instant Inspiration (14) – Car Reflections

Thanks for 7000 Followers

Today I want to say a heartfelt “thank you” – to all of you!!! When starting the “Streets of Nuremberg” back in January 2016, I would not have imagined in my wildes dreams that one day 7000 people will follow my photographic musings. I am truly grateful for each and every one of you! I’m grateful for those who stop by once in a while, and for those who are frequent readers. I’m especially grateful for the many friendships that have developed with great people from all over this globe. It means so much to me! Today this blog has reached a truly memorable milestone! Thanks for 7000 followers!

Have a great Wednesday!

Marcus

Related Posts:

Happy Birthday, Streets of Nuremberg

Blogger meeting with Streets of Nuremberg — Rhapsody Bohème

Recognition for the “Streets of Nuremberg”

Drinking from my own mugs

The winter that wasn’t

Winter Forest Sunburst
1/50 sec | f/16 | ISO 400 | 12mm

The last day of February is upon us. And it’s time to finally say goodbye to the winter that wasn’t. This winter was too warm, it was grey on what felt like 90% of the time, it was unusually stormy. We had some snow worth speaking off just before Christmas, that was it. The winter 21/22 was a winter to forget.

How it should have been shows this throwback photograph from February last year I took in the woods on nearby Moritzberg. While I get there is post-processing software out there that helps you to place a sunburst in any given image, it is much more gratifying capturing it in camera. You just need the sun, an object to partially hide it behind, and a camera that allows you to set a small aperture (I usually capture sunburst with f/16). E voilà!

The good news is that you can capture sunbursts also in spring. Now we only need to have a spring that comes with some sun days! But as the saying goes…hope dies last.

If you are looking for more tips and inspirations around photography, check out me free Learning Center.

Have a great start into March and an awesome (photographic) spring

Marcus

Related Posts:

Shoot against the sun

Time to relax with a coffee in the sun

Sun’s Out

Nuremberg’s Best Sunset

Antelope Canyon in black and white

Rock structures in Antelope Canyon

Arizona’s iconic Antelope Canyon in black and white. Seems a real contradiction. As the Antelope Canyon is an explosion in light and colors. But last weekend I visited an exhibition of renowned nature photographer Norbert Rosing with his breathtaking black and white photographs of nature’s monuments in the West and Southwest of the USA. His photographs are very much inspired by the work of Ansel Adams. They show an inspiring and exciting play of light, contrast and composition, which make these shots quite unique. The exhibition inspired me to look back at my photographs from a tour of the US Southwest back in 2012 and convert some of them from color to black and white. I started with images from amazing Antelope Canyon. I invite you to continue and take a special tour of Antelope Canyon in black and white…

Continue reading “Antelope Canyon in black and white”

November Blues

Motion blurred lady ascending out of a subways station into dark streets
0.5 sec | f/11 | ISO 1600| 25 mm

November is upon us. And with it the obligatory November blues. Many persons I know are dreading this month, as it is the month of remembrance of the dead, the month of grey, wet, foggy, cold dull days. There is lots of work in the garden to prepare it for winter. With the change of the clock to winter time this past weekend it is practically dark by 5pm. It is also the transition month between the last warm days of the year with the explosive colors of autumn and the happiness and joy of the upcoming festive season.

Continue reading “November Blues”

Castle Ghosts

Castle Ghosts
Castle Ghosts | Nuremberg | 2020

This is my last street photograph of 2020. People passing through the old city gate under the Imperial Castle. Like castle ghosts. Using my Olympus OM-D E-M1X and the mZuiko 12-100 with a long shutter speed of 2.5 sec to create the ghosting effects through intentional motion blur, both of the moving subjects as well as light intentional movements of the camera (ICM) to blur the old stones in the ancient tunnel.

“Sharpness is a bourgeois concept” is one of my favorite photographic quotes, said by the godfather of street photography Henri Cartier-Bresson. Always be open minded when you are out and about shooting. Experiment with whatever comes to your mind. You digital camera (or your smartphone) is just like the shovel that you used to play with in the sandbox when your were little.

Make 2021 your year to be more creative with your camera! If you are looking for tips and inspirations, check out my free Learning Center.

Have a great Saturday!

Marcus

Related Posts:

Street Photography Quick Tip 9 – Motion Blur

Instant Inspiration (2) – Motion Blur

Instant Inspiration (7) – ICM

Finding your photographic style

Castle in the snow

Castle in the snow
2.5 sec | f/4 | ISO 250

Another quick one from the recent snow day, showing the Imperial Castle in the snow. I love shooting into the light, be it artificial or sunlight. When used correctly, it makes for beautiful effects in your photographs. Just look at how the light from the street lamp falls on the reflecting surface of the snow. The shadows it creates add interest to the image, leading the eye into the frame to the brightest part and the massive tower behind.

The image “Castle in the Snow” was taken with the Olympus OM-D E-M1X and the mZuiko 12-100 F/4. Image specs 2.5 sec @ f/4 and ISO 250. Another quick tip for shooting in the cold: keep your spare battery warm in your pocket, to have it usable in case you need it!

If you are looking for tips and inspirations around photography, check out my free Learning-Center

Have a splendid Wednesday and stay safe!

Marcus

Related Posts:

Want snow?

Travel Day (16)

Stay Underground

StoNur on the Road – Blood Mountains

Up ↑

%d bloggers like this: