Not always “on”

Social Media | Berlin | 2018 | 1/40 sec - f/2 - ISO 2000 - 12mm
Messaging | Berlin | 2018 | 1/40 sec – f/2 – ISO 2000 – 12mm

Most of us photographers don’t only shoot solely for our own archives, but share our work on our blogs and social media accounts (Instagram, 500px, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter). To find recognition, collect likes and comments.  And who doesn’t like to receive positive feedback?

But it shouldn’t turn into an obsession. I’m picking up my camera because I want to create art. If I shoot an image that visually pleases me, I’m totally happy. And if some of you like it as well, after I post in on my blog, that’s even better. My blog posts are automatically posted on my facebook pages, but I have to admit I rather infrequently check my facebook, be it my feed or comments/notifications. Flickr I hardly use anymore, on 500px I’m practically a no-show.

On Instagram I have two accounts  – Travimago for my travel images, streetsofnuremberg for the street photography. I have days where I post regularly on Instagram, followed by weeks where I am not active. Probably that shows in my followers there, only about 100 and 200 respectively. It spikes a bit when I post, then drops again to that level. I don’t see Instagram as an outlet that brings much benefits for me, also because I like to share some info with my photography, that I can do only in a limited way on this platform. And that probably no-one reads anyway, as Instagram is a swipe and like only medium. So as I’m not on a hunt for  likes and followers, I feel there is no real need to invest much time on my Instagram accounts. I mainly use it as a picture archive that I have on my phone where I can quickly show particular images to other people I talk to face to face about my photography.

So my main outlet is this blog, that requires already much of my time, preparing posts and photographs, writing, answering comments and browse to my feed from the many blogs I follow myself. Generally, the interaction through blogging beats anything I find on other social media channels.

As I mainly restrict myself to blogging, I’m not constantly “on” to check all social media channels, checking my likes and count my followers. Instead I use the time to pick up my camera and create art which is much more gratifying.

The above image was taken with my Olympus PEN-F with the mZuiko 12mm F/2. Images specs are 1/40 sec @ f/2 and ISO 2000.

If you look for tips and inspirations around photography and want to use the weekend to pick up your camera, check out my Learning Center.

Wish you a great weekend!

Marcus

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Weekend Rush

Weekend Rush
Weekend Rush | 2018 | 1/200 sec – f/3.5 – ISO 1600 – 12mm

Who says people aren’t in a rush on the weekend? Example of walk-by street photography. I kept the camera (Olympus PEN-F with the 12mm F/2 prime lens) in front of my chest and just snapped away at interesting looking people. I set the shutter speed at 1/200 sec, kind of the minimum required to “freeze” moving people, especially when I’m moving myself.

Obviously there is a lot of hit and miss in this approach, but actually I’m enjoying this “hunt” as a kind of photographic challenge to myself. You need to know your camera pretty well, as just a slight tilt in the wrong direction will result in chopped-off heads or people only half visible in the frame. I used the 12mm (24mm full frame equivalent), so this is as wide angle as it gets in the streets. And it means I need to be awfully close to my subjects to fill the frame.

Try it yourself, there is a lot of fun in this type of photography, and trust me, no-one will notice you snapping away, as long as you are moving as well. Obviously, having a small, inconspicuous looking camera like the PEN-F helps.

Check out my free Learning Center for many more tips about Street Photography.

Wish you a great Sunday!

Marcus

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A Street Photographer’s Dialogue

Variations on a Tunnel

Chicago Color Therapy 02
1/160 sec @ f/1.8,  ISO 1600,  17mm

Here are some more variations from the passenger tunnel between concourses B and C of Chicago O Hare’s Terminal 1. I took the photos while connecting through ORD last week. They show a different view of the tunnel than the photos I showed in my post “Travel Day (13)“. A good example how you can play with your camera, working the scene with different creative approaches. For three more images continue after the jump…

Continue reading “Variations on a Tunnel”

Totally in sync with multiple clients

Prom Fun
Prom Fun | Seattle | 2018

With the latest update to the Lightroom app (Adobe Lightroom CC 2018) as well as to the desktop version (Lightroom CC Classic), Adobe has finally given us users of the photography suite what we have long been waiting for: the possibility to import our self created presets into the mobile Lightroom CC environment.

Sure enough I had to put it to as test immediately. Once I had imported them from the vaults of the desktop version (they typically reside in the folder /Users/<yourname>/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings), they synced perfectly fine across all my mobile clients (iPhone/iPad) via the Adobe cloud (which you get automatically as part of the photography suite subscription).

Now I get even more mobility in my creative post processing work. Basically, I can now work on a RAW file (or jpg) residing in the Adobe cloud on my iPad, using my proven presets, while I’m on the road. Then it syncs perfectly back also into my desktop version, where my main Lightroom catalogue resides.

Me and many other users have waited for this for a long time. Thanks Adobe!

For plenty of other tips and inspirations around photography head over to my free Learning Center.

Wish you a great Friday!

Marcus

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Thunder Night

Gloomy Night
Thunder Night | Nuremberg | 2018 | 1/8 sec – f/2 – ISO 320 – 17mm

The hot summer weather came to a shrieking halt today, as a series of heavy thunderstorms passed over the Streets of Nuremberg. Nature is in dire need of the water after weeks of drought. And after spending the last evenings in the beer gardens of the Old Town, today people were rushing to seek shelter from the arriving torrential rains.

Time for me to work through my emails and catch up with blogging. There is an advantage to everything.

Taken with the PEN-F and the mZuiko 17mm F/1.8

For inspirations around photography head over to my free Learning Center.

Have a great Thursday!

Marcus

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Flower Power
Flower Power | Nuremberg | 2018 | 1/10 sec @ f/4 – ISO 200

After my rather moody last post it is time for a colorful new edition of my “Instant Inspirations”, something for you to try to overcome photographers block or if you simply want to give your photography a new angle. The 23rd episode is for those of my readers who would like to get more into Street Photography, but are hesitant to shoot obvious street portraits of people or even asking interesting looking subjects to “make” their portrait.

For starts, you can try to shoot people who are engulfed in their every day business, unaware of the photographer aiming the camera at them. Obviously, using a longer lens (or zoom) does help not to get too close. But even with a wide angle lens, the camera up at the eye, you can wander through shops, bars or your local market, looking for interesting scenes, people, gestures, colors, patterns – and press the shutter when something catches your eye and gets your creative juices flowing. Move naturally, shoot, and trust me you will not be noticed.

Bar Work-3
Lost in Thoughts | 2018 | 1/60 sec @ f/5.6 – ISO 320

Try different focal lengths, apertures and shutter speeds. Experiment, shoot with the curiosity of a child. Have fun.

Share your results by posting links in the comments section.

For all other episodes of my “Instant Inspirations” as well as my “Street Photography Quick Tips” head over to my free Learning Center.

Have a great Friday

Marcus

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Matchday

Nuremberg World Cup-2

Finally the World Cup fever is properly settling in. I was in the kitchen all morning preparing food for a big soccer party with our neighbors this afternoon when Germany takes on Mexiko in their quest to defend the Cup. The weather is fine, so we’ll watch together in our driveway on the big screen. Plenty of food and drinks and hopefully a good match. Let the games truly begin…. Continue reading “Matchday”

Game On

True Fans | Marseille | 2016
True Fans | Marseille | 2016

The World Cup has kicked off in Russia. Soccer is the national sport of Germany, and 80 Million head coaches are trying to figure out the best starting lineup for the first match of the defending World Champion on Sunday versus Mexico.

As I write this I’m sitting on my couch and watch the match of tournament favorite France playing the Soccaroos from Australia. Amazingly, they are tied at 1:1 going into the last 15 minutes…. Continue reading “Game On”

Sticky Attraction

Sticky Selfie
Sticky Selfie | Seattle | 2018 | 1/80 sec @ f/4, ISO 200

What do people do when outlasting the frequent rains of the Pacific Northwest? They chew a gum. What do they do with the gum once they are finished chewing it? They stick it to a wall. Well, this certainly beats spitting the gums on the ground, where innocent tourists step on them. It definitely is somewhat disgusting. But it’s also cult. The Seattle Gum Wall, below the famous Pike Place Market. If you want to see more, continue after the jump. Viewer discretion is advised 😉 …. Continue reading “Sticky Attraction”

Color appreciated

Purple Lips
Purple Lips | Seattle | 2018

A bit of color would be so much appreciated! Because it is super grey outside. Grey as in fog. My flight from Amsterdam to Zurich just got cancelled due to foul weather. I’m now flying back to Nuremberg, hope that I and my bag arrive in time to catch a flight to ZRH from there. I never had a turnaround at my home airport. Like arriving at 2pm, getting the bag off the belt, booking a ticket and doing the check in for a 3pm departure. There is a 7pm flight as well. I just need to get to Nuremberg. Color appreciated!

Olympus OM-D E-M1 with the mZuiko 12-100 mm F/4. Image specs are 1/125 sec @f/5 and ISO 200. Shot outside of the Museum of Pop Art (MoPOP) in Seattle.

For  tips and inspirations around photography in general check out my free Learning Center.

Wish you a great start into the weekend!

Marcus

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Headin’ Home

Headin' Home | Seattle | 2018
Headin’ Home | Seattle | 2018

There is the saying that every journey starts with the first step with putting the sunglasses on your nose. That’s what I will do today, as in about three hours I will head to PDX airport for my flight back home. Well, home is not exactly right, as in Amsterdam I will make a connection to Zurich where I will meet The Significant Other and the Big Boy at the house of friends, where we spend the weekend. Weather in Switzerland should be nice as well, so I might keep the sunglasses on all the way 😉

Olympus OM-D E-M1 with the mZuiko 12-100 mm F/4. Image specs are 1/500 sec @f/5.6 and ISO 200.

For  tips and inspirations around photography in general check out my free Learning Center.

Wish you a great Thursday!

Marcus

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Wordless Wednesday

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Keep Out | Seattle | 2018

Olympus OM-D E-M1 with the mZuiko 12-100 mm F/4. Image specs are 1/200 sec @f/13 and ISO 1250.

Have a great #WordlessWednesday !

Marcus

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