As promised, this is the second set of images that I took during an Instawalk through the Nuremberg subway system (read part 1 here). Thanks to Igers Nürnberg and VGN for making it possible. We were allowed to bring tripods, and did shooting in stations and out of the front window of our driverless subway while traveling between stations.
A few weeks ago I did join another Instawalk organized by the admins of the Nuremberg Instagram community. This time a group of local Instagramers with their cameras and tripods toured through the Nuremberg subway system. We were properly authorized with photo permits (thanks VGN for making it possible), because normally underground photography is strictly prohibited.
I know I’m neglecting my blogging, but life is kind of crazy these days. But not only my writing is affected, I also haven’t had time to go out shooting in what seems a lifetime. That said, I still try to capture at least one image a day. I even have embarked on a couple of 365 challenges but never finished one. But sometimes it just hits me, and I pull out whatever camera I have with me (and if it is my cellphone) and look for something to shoot. And if it is capturing legs in the subway. Who cares. A small visual pushup. And a satisfied feeling after. There are better days ahead!
My life continues to be on a fast track these days. Sometimes I feel like a subway train racing through a tunnel, occasional streaks of light, a rare stop in a station, moving again. Not unpleasant, apart from the feeling that there is not enough time for all I need and want to do (like finally posting the images from the Instawalk through the Nuremberg subway system organized by the admins of the Nuremberg Instagram community that I did join a few weeks ago).
Life is really in overdrive these days, with the job that pays the bills clearly in the drivers seat. The little free time I have is filled with post-production work of the various photo-shooting specials I’ve squeezed in the last weeks. And I have another busy weekend ahead, before heading once more across the pond coming Monday for a short trip to Chicago. And then I’m looking forward crossing the finish line for a long (and free) Easter weekend. Until then my life will really be in a rush.
After a two-week holiday break, tomorrow I will return to the job that pays the bills. The thing is, it feels as if I’ve left the office just yesterday and that I’m in need for a break. Isn’t this crazy?
This morning, The Significant Other received a text message from a friend reading “Wenn die stille Zeit vorbei ist, dann wird es auch endlich wieder ruhiger”. Probably the translation into English doesn’t really carry over the meaning in German – “When the quiet time is over, it will finally be calmer again” – as over here we refer to Christmas also as the “Stille Zeit”, the “Quiet time”.
With all the celebrations (Christmas, New Year, birthday) and a little skiing trip, plus all the shopping, visits with friends, shows, movies we saw…spirit soaring, body wrecked 😉
The above image is another from last years NYC trip that I have never posted. Right now I would love to take a two-hour subway ride snoozing happily away. Taken with the OM-D E-M1 with the mZuiko 12-100mm F/4. Image specs 1/25 sec @ F/4 and ISO 1600, 70mm focal length.
After receiving so much positive feedback for the kickoff of my “Instant Inspiration”series (link to episode 1 at the end of this post) here is episode 2: Go out and shoot a motion blur image. These two photographs I took in the Munich subway with my Ricoh GR II. I used Shutter Priority to set a low shutter speed of 1/6 sec (top image) and 1/8 second (image below), both were shot at f/11 with ISO 1600. What also works in these images are the complimentary dominating colors blue-green and red-yellow. The photo above I shot out of the train window as it arrived at a station. For the image below I stood at a platform shooting the arriving train with a waiting commuter in front. So next time you want to do something against your photographers block go out and shoot a motion blur photo using slow shutter speeds. You are invited to show your results by posting a link in the comment section. Go out and have a blast!
Sometimes I turn Street Photography into Subway Photography. There are various good reasons for that. In the underground you can escape foul weather. On their way to and from the trains people are mostly in a rush so they tend to oversee the “hunting” Street Photographers. And in the subway cars travelers are often so focused on their smart phone or their books and papers that you have a very good chance to go unnoticed while taking candid portraits. For other good reasons to take your Street Photography below ground and more subway photographs continue reading after the jump. Continue reading “Street Photography Below Street Level”→
“Exodus” – Olympus PEN-F 1/6 sec @ f3,2 and ISO 200
Saturday I was in town for some deliberate shooting. Rather then my normal strolling around to see what comes in front of my lense (as usual my favorite m.Zuiko 17mm f1,8) I set myself the goal to capture some motion in my shots. Experimenting a bit I found that 1/6 of a second is a pretty good staring point capturing people in motion to get this distinctive blur, while keeping the rest of the pic (static objects) sharp despite handholding the shots, thanks to the great 5 axis image stabilization of the PEN-F (same as in my E-M1).