Streetphotography

Keep warm !

Beauty and the Beast

Winter is here for good in the streets of Nuremberg. Temperatures have dropped below freezing and yesterday we had the first snow flurries of the season, even though it didn’t last very long.

But for sure it’s getting a bit uncomfortable when roaming the streets with the camera in my hands. And as the pretty lady with her lap dog in the photo above (taken with my Olympus PEN-F and the mZuiko 25mm F/2 prime lens, specs are 1/180 sec @ f/2 and ISO 200), I’m using gloves to keep my hands warm. The thing is, regular gloves are not very handy when it comes to operating the camera with all the little dials and buttons. And I’m not a big fan of wearing fingerless gloves (what is the sense of having those, when your fingertips are freezing off). But there is something like a hybrid model. A real photographers glove.  A glove with which one can simply fold the tips of thumb and index finger to the side.

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I found those somewhere on the web last year (searching for photographers gloves), and they are the real thing, after testing them the rest of last winter. The crests are foldable on both gloves, by the way. It is super easy to use, so maximum you have the tips of thumb and index finger cold when leaving them exposed to operate the cam. An essential piece of gear for winter photography, not only for the street shooter.

If you look for tips and inspirations around photography, check out my free Learning Center.

Wish you a great Wednesday – and stay warm!

Marcus

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Rhapsody

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As I have stated many times on this blog, one of the most important aspects of my blogging is getting in touch with people from all over this planet. Since starting the “Streets of Nuremberg” nearly three years ago, I have connected with many wonderful people. And with some, even virtual friendships have developed over time. One of them is Rhapsody. Now living in far away Nevada, she has her roots in a small village about an hour by car from Nuremberg. We’ve been talking about meeting each other in real life for quite some time. Now that she came back to Germany to tend to family matters, we finally turned virtual plans into reality. Yesterday I drove out to pick her up and take her to nearby historic town of Schwäbisch Hall, where we did spend a splendid day together, a day full of great talks, photography, sightseeing and enjoying some local beer and food. For the photos of our trip continue after the jump…. (more…)

Never too late
Never too late | 1/100 sec - f/4 - ISO 1600 - 100mm

Never too late | 1/100 sec – f/4 – ISO 1600 – 100mm

For me it is never too late for a good hot Espresso. I can drink it in the morning, I can drink it in the middle of the night. I love my small coffee breaks when shooting in the streets, and I love my Espresso when doing some post processing late in the evening. I find it gets my creative juices flowing.

Image shot with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and the mZuiko 12-100mm F/2.8. Image specs 1/100 sec @ f/4 and ISO 1600, 100mm focal length.

Post processing in Adobe Lightroom Classic CC.

If you feel like picking up your camera and are looking for tips and inspiration around photography, check out my free Learning Center.

Wish you all a great Sunday!

Marcus

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Hello November
Nightstand | 2018 | 1/4 sec - f/8 - ISO 1600 - 12mm

Vespa| 2018 | 1/4 sec – f/8 – ISO 1600 – 12mm

October has been good to us, especially weather wise, now November is upon us. A.k.a. the “greyest month of the year” (in the northern hemisphere that is). It’s getting cold and damp, daylight is getting shorter and shorter.

The perfect time to head out into the streets to capture interesting shades and textures under the streetlights, without having to wait too long that it gets dark.

Shot with the Olympus PEN-F and the 12mm F/2. Image specs 1/4 sec @ f/8 and ISO 1600. F/8 was needed for the extended depth of field I wanted to achieve, having everything sharp from foreground to background, and focusing 1/3 into the frame. Obviously, this resulted in a slow shutter speed of 1/4 sec, which still can be handheld due to the good image stabilization of the PEN-F.

Wish you a great All Hallows day and a good start into a creative November

Marcus

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Rainy Sunday
Black & White

Black & White

Back home from Memphis I found that whatever was left from an amazing summer in Germany has left. It was raining all day with temperatures close to freezing.

The best thing to do? Meeting up with old friends. Instead of a planned hike we escaped into a well-known art gallery. A perfect place for street photography on a rainy day, unless you want to go for the first puddle shooting of the wet season.

Although I had my E-M1 in the backpack, I left in the locker and shot with my iPhone 8 plus. Which is perfectly suitable for street photography.  And in a gallery environment, it even has its advantages. Other visitors tend to totally ignore you when you shoot with a phone. They don’t even bother walking out of the frame. This would have been a different story if I have had the E-M1 with the rather large 12-100mm in my hand. For more photos from my gallery shooting continue after the jump… (more…)

Shopkeepers Dreams
1/250 sec - f/4.5 - ISO 3200 - 100 mm

1/250 sec – f/4.5 – ISO 3200 – 100 mm

What are they thinking about? This series  of shopkeepers, all waiting for customers, all lost in thoughts, I took while strolling through Genoa’s medieval old town. An awesome place for Street Photography.

1/320 sec - f/4.5 - ISO 3200 - 100 mm

1/320 sec – f/4.5 – ISO 3200 – 100 mm

 

1/250 sec - f/4.5 - ISO 3200 - 100 mm

1/250 sec – f/4.5 – ISO 3200 – 100 mm

 

1/200 sec - f/4 - ISO 3200 - 100 mm

1/200 sec – f/4 – ISO 3200 – 100 mm

Grab your camera, head to the streets and take a themed series of photographs. It helps to train the eye! Try it!

Wish you a great Friday!

Marcus

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Travel Day (14)
1/160 sec - f/1.8 - ISO 1600 - 17mm

1/160 sec – f/1.8 – ISO 1600 – 17mm

Yesterday I did pass through my favorite airport passenger walkway again, the tunnel between between concourses B and C of Chicago O’Hare’s Terminal 1, with its ever-changing light show. I was connecting through ORD on my way to Memphis for a one and  a half day workshop.

The thing is, the colorful photo (Olympus PEN-F, 17mm f/1.8 prime lens, image specs 1/160 sec @ f/1.8 and ISO 1600) does not properly reflect my mood after spending a day in the fangs of United Airlines. It should have been pitch black high contrast monochrome picture.

First there was the 8h 40 min flight from Frankfurt to Chicago on an aged Boeing 777. That product (and I flew business class) is a total disgrace, from both the seat comfort as well as the service (both from flight attendants as well as the food quality, which was just plain bad). Totally sub-par, when compared for example to Delta Airlines and Air France that have similar rates (and similar old planes).

But it didn’t stop there. The worst was still to come. The flight from Chicago to Memphis. We left ORD with the five (5) hour delay. Initially, the flight seem to leave on time, the United Express plane was at the gate and we were getting ready for pre-boarding. Then came the news that there is maintenance required for some kind of ventilation system. We waited one hour, waited two hours. The expected departure time shifted in 15 minute intervals, so we were required to wait at the gate. Then they said the need to tow the plane to the hangar to get it fixed. After three hours the announcement was we get a replacement plane that will be brought to the gate shortly. Another hour passed, there was no plane. Then came the announcement that also the replacement plane had a technical issue they found out during the trip from the hangar to the gate and needs to undergo maintenance as well. ARE YOU KIDDING ME, UNITED AIRLINES??? ONE PLANE BREAKS DOWN AND THEN ALSO THE REPLACEMENT PLANE???? Then we had to wait another hour until they finally managed to conjure a functioning aircraft, and all of this at their principal hub. We left O’Hare with a five-hour delay. And all we got was a simple “sorry for the delay”. THIS DAY WAS A TOTAL DISGRACE, UNITED AIRLINES!!!!  I hope the return trip does turn out better. Every time I swear that this would be my last flight with that outfit. I hope that at least they get me home safe.

And at least I got to do some shooting in my favorite airport tunnel. For more photos continue after the jump… (more…)

Smoke but no fire
Keep Calm | Genoa | 2018 | 1/50 sec - f/4 - ISO 1600 - 100mm

Studies| Genoa | 2018 | 1/50 sec – f/4 – ISO 1600 – 100mm

After yesterday’s coffee photo (a vice I admit adhering to) here is one with a bit of smoke.  Like coffee drinkers, also smokers claim they can relax over a cigarette, although I personally can’t find why that is, with all that smell. But I do admit, a passerby puffing steam can make for an interesting street image. And this lady sure looks relaxed, as she is studying real estate offers in a shop window in Genoa’s old town.

I thought of converting the photo to monochrome, but eventually decided against, as the blue-yellow-blue sequencing of colors makes for an eye-catching color combo (as blue and yellow combined always does). Also, her blowing smoke (and looking) towards the upper left corner and her body shape angling towards the lower left adds a triangular component to the composition. And there is a story, as you would wonder what she might be looking at (in case I hadn’t told you before).

Taken with my Olympus OM-D E-M1 and the mZuiko 12-100mm F/4 – image specs 1/50 sec @ f/4 and ISO 1600,  100mm focal length.

Have a great Wednesday!

Marcus

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Street Photography Quick Tip (16)
Order Here | 2018 | 1/320 sec - f/6,3 - ISO 200

Order Here | 2018 | 1/320 sec – f/6,3 – ISO 200

Street Photography Quick Tip 16 – Capture what captures attention

My Street Photography Quick Tips are short, easy to read and easy to use tips that I think could help you while shooting in the streets.

When shooting Street Photography, I’m always on the lookout for photographs that have the potential to make the viewer stop and think about the story behind it, before swiping on to the next image.

In this photo, the contrast between the bright face and the darkness of the window behind should capture the attention of the viewer. Then comes text, which is also something we more or less automatically scan. “Order here”. What is it that can be ordered from this girl? Also, the hand written sign about not accepting American Express cards tends to attract attention more then the logo cards of the other credit cards.

How do you see it?

Photo taken with the OM-D E-M1 and the mZuiko 12-100 F/4. Image specs are 1/320 sec @ f/6,3 and ISO 200.

Make sure to regularly check out my free Learning Center for all of my tips and inspirations around photography.

Wish you all a great week and a good start into the week!

Marcus

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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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