Wedding Photographer at Work

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

It was a beautiful day for a dramatic wedding picture at Crissy Field.

Resting Those Tired Dogs

Leica M3, Leitz 50mm f2.8 Elmar, Kodak 400CN

A tourists rests his tired feet on a bench at the Modern Jewish Museum Plaza. When I first walked there, he apparently thought that I was worthy of a picture so he brazenly photographed me and my Leica. Later, I returned the favor by getting his picture, LOL! :) He was shooting a large Canon DSLR with what looked like a large wide angle prime lens.

--Warren

Follow Me!

Leica M3, Leitz 50mm f2.8 Elmar, Kodak 400CN

I am very interested to know what you folks think of my recently posted shots from my M3, and whether or not they are anywhere near: "in the style of HCB" :).

Also, I wouldn't mind some discussion about this month's project either online or offline (individually) if you're so inclined. We can discuss any image, talk about what worked or what didn't work, and why.

As always, viewing an exhibit is very inspirational for me, and I think in this case, it was really fun to go out to Yerba Buena Gardens right after viewing the HCB exhibit. Using my M3 w/50mm made the experience especially pleasant.

Thanks,

Warren

Photo Spot

Leica M3, Leitz 50mm f2.8 Elmar, Kodak 400CN

Since RFF only allows two entries for their "Decisive Challenge", I am posting some of the other images that I made from that day (Nov. 14, 2010).

It was hard to choose only two pictures from the bunch that I took.

--Warren

Dad, I'm Done Walking!

Leica M3, Leitz 50mm f2.8 Elmar, Kodak 400CN

Plaza Seating

Leica M3, Leitz 50mm f2.8 Elmar, Kodak 400CN

Fun hanging out together

D200
My son and his girlfriend were having fun just climbing around the trees at the Fitzgerald Reserve.......remember the days when we only had the future and few responsibilities.  Very special days

**Dolph

Hiding

D200

This little girl was running around the Fitzgerald Reserve forest with her pink shoes and bright blue outfit.  When I went to take a picture of her in this brown and grey woods she decided to play hide from me.  Maybe he cannot see me......

Self Portrait at Brunch

Lumix DMC-GF1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

We went to Nopa Restaurant for brunch a couple of weeks ago. I took advantage of this interesting mirror scene to take a mirror self-portrait.

Any ideas for the December Project?

Added later: I forgot to say: I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Day :). It was a cool, clear day here in SF. We went out for a walk in GG Park before the big Thanksgiving dinner. I'll post a couple of shots from the park, taken on Thanksgiving, and also the weekend before.

--Warren

At SFMOMA with RFF, Pic #3

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

Fellow RFF'er, Reese, went downstairs to the lobby of SFMOMA to try out someone's Ricoh GRD camera. I think several of us spotted her down there and took some pictures of the scene, so I'm sure I'm not the only one with this picture.

Of course, I did not have the right lens for this, but I just used what I had, and the resulting picture seems good enough for web viewing even after the severe cropping that I did. Fortunately, the superb resolution of the Lumix 20mm helped a bit.

--Warren

my HCB entry

This is titled "Woman on a Train"

snowy outdoor table

Last year was really odd, we didn't get any snow that stuck. This year it looks like we're making up for it! Taken with a Leica M8, with 35/1.4 pre asph summilux, wide open focused on the front top part of the table. You can see a bit of "glow" on the left where the snow on the closest bench meets the next bench rock ;)

At SFMOMA with RFF, Pic #2

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

This is Mark (I think), a fellow Leica user and as I found out that day, a fellow fountain pen collector and user.

Can anyone guess what he's doing?

--Warren

At SFMOMA with RFF, Pic #1

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

After the group finished viewing the HCB exhibit, we stood around near the balcony waiting for everyone to finish. I had an opportunity to take a few pictures of some of the attendees.

I don't think this is in the style of HCB so I won't include the Nov. project label on this one. What do you think?

--Warren

More Sonoma Square

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 14-45mm

Here are two more from that day in Sonoma Town Square, before I move on to other pictures.

--Warren

Carefree Days

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 14-45mm

Children playing in Sonoma Town Square on a pleasant autumn day.

--Warren

Autumn Color

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 14-45mm

This will fill in the autumn colors that were missing from the previous picture :).

The grass and leaves were backlit by the late afternoon sun.

--Warren

Autumn Leaves, Sonoma Town Square

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 14-45mm

Under the 3rd Street Bridge, Napa River

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 14-45mm

3rd Street Bridge, Napa River

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 14-45mm

We took a drive up to Napa and Sonoma on Nov. 11th (Veterans Day), more photos from this day are on the way. :)

--Warren

Island of Calm in a Sea of Chaos

Our 2-day NYC photo safari this weekend was a hit! I designed this photo tour for Washington Photo Safari and also served as the guide and instructor.

The last stop on our Midtown segment Saturday was Grand Central Terminal. I took the gang up to a balcony, where I knew they'd see an overall view of the main concourse. I suggested that besides some straight photos, they try some longer exposure times to catch the movement of so many people.

I didn't bring my normal photo rig, but I had my tiny Canon S90 in my pocket as usual, and I thought I'd try some of my own medicine. Noticing that one fellow was standing almost stock-still (just right of center in the lower third of the frame,) I concentrated on him as most everyone swirled around him.

at the market

Sunset Ship

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 45-200mm

A little break from all the HCB-style B&W shots :).

--Warren

Barns & Nobel Shadows

I headed crosstown the other day on a mission to Barnes & Nobel. The day was brilliant, and the sun was just about overhead - not normally a great time for photos.

But when I saw the pattern of shadows on the stairs, I thought it might make a good background for some people in an HCB-like setting. I took several as people came and went - this is my favorite of the bunch.

Taken with a Canon S90 digicam and converted to B&W via Channel Mixer in Photoshop.

Hand Trucks

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

Let's Go

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

Golden Gate Promenade

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

remember that hcb also spoke of using geometric patterns in his images...this is a big part of being able to recognize one of his shots so quickly...

i hope to get in some shooting time tomorrow...

Family Outing

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

Scarves

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 20m f1.7

Patina

Found one I liked... thought I'd share it here.

It's a rail over the top of a bridge.

Pedestrian, Fremont Ave N

So I have been thinking about the HCB project and went out today looking for decisive moments, or something of his manner. I began to realize that to be this kind of photographer, you have to be patient but think quickly. At least that's how it felt to me... I read the wikipedia link Warren sent out (thanks by the way, it was really great!) and then peeped into the galleries to soak up as much of HCB as I could, without too much depth.

I think his city photos are my favourites. The 30's in Paris... they are full of interesting perspectives and angles, and fun composition really. I have recently been becoming more interested in city photography. However, getting people in my shots is never a draw for me... And it is comical but I was thinking about it like being a spy or something!! LOL. I think reading that HCB used to tape/paint his cameras black to "mask them" or make it less noticeable so that he could capture these genuine moments really kicked that thought off. Hiding the camera... hmm.... I may not be a good spy yet, but we'll see how the month goes... I don't want to creep myself out by creeping on unknowing subjects!! (Anyone else feel this way??)

This shot was my favourite HCB style photo from today. It reminds me most of the the photo "Alberto Giacometti, rue d'Alésia" of 1961. The feeling of being behind something, masking the camera sort of.. and the street being a good portion of the setting... and it was a rainy day. This was not a celebrity or even someone whose name I know but he has a peculiar look on his face.. and I thought it was maybe a decisive moment of thought for him... one that no one else shall ever know :) We can only guess.

Please feel free to critique, comment, or converse... I wouldn't mind some tips on how to capture people on the street without feeling invasive.

A Warm Evening at the Beach

Olympus Stylus Zoom 140 DLX, Fuji Superia 400

Simon's panoramic shots inspired me to experiment with using the panoramic format (by cropping, not by stitching).

This is another camera that I inherited because my friends know that I still shoot film. These pictures are part of my first test roll through the camera. These pictures were taken during a recent heat wave. Ocean Beach was crowded with people getting relief from the heat. The zoom range of the Stylus 140 DLX is 38mm to 140mm. I found that while the lens is quite good, I was not used to the slowness of the lens, and the bulkiness and awkward ergonomics of the camera. For me personally, the camera was not fun to use.

--Warren

Sutro Bath Walkabout Set

Nikon D100, Nikkor 24mm f2.8

Here are the rest of the pictures from the walkabout session when Dolph was in town.

--Warren