Dress the Part - It's a Polaroid Thing

A street photographer friend, Valerie Jardin, sent me a text the other day with a photo of a Polaroid T-shirt she saw in her local Target.  I guess she knew I liked to play with instant cameras, so she sent me the photo.  I was in my office at the time, but I about bolted out of my chair to run to my local Target to get one.   Steve, calm yourself, you're a professional finance executive so such trivial issues don't bother you!!! Uh, sure, right...hey is it 5pm yet??

Anyway, you know the story and so now I'm the proud owner of a Polaroid themed t-shirt.  I've already worn it during a street shoot the other day.  It's super cool.

This Week in Photo - Street Focus - Episode 49 with Valerie Jardin

Sunning in Los Angeles - Canon AF35F with Kodak BW400CN

I had the honor of being street photographer Valerie Jardin's guest on her Street Focus podcast this week. I've known Valerie for about 3 years through social media & workshops. Even though I primarily do studio based editorial / commercial fashion and portrait work, readers of this blog know I also do street photography, primarily with a Sony A6000 and film cameras. We spent about 45 minutes talking about street photography, percent of usable photos, how to get into a street photography meet up group & an appropriate starting aperture for street photography.  

When I was on her workshops I've used multiple film cameras when I wasn't using digital.  Something about film is just right.

Being on the podcast was a blast.

Here's a link to the podcast and Valerie's links:  

Street Focus Ep. 49 with Valerie Jardin

A Podcast Worth Following - Valerie Jardin's Street Focus on TWiP

If you are reading this blog you may not know my primary photography jones is editorial fashion & portrait photography.  My fashion & portrait work is digital, with a sprinkling of instant photography for giggles.  Shameless plug alert - check me out at my portfolio site & blog.  However, if you are on this blog you also know I'm into film & street photography.  Most of my personal and "walk-around" photography is street photography.  I've met interesting & creative people through street photography.

I follow a number of street photographers and regularly read about the genre.  That's how I discovered Valerie Jardin.  I first heard her through "This Week In Photo" (TWiP), a weekly podcast about all things photography hosted by Fredrick Van Johnson.  One of the podcasts I listen to regularly is TWiP.  Valerie is a regular co-host.  I started to follow her through social media, and although she's a digital girl, her street work is uber.  I joined a workshop she hosted in Minneapolis and was hooked.  She has skills.  I was on her June workshop in Paris where she told us about her upcoming street photography podcasts named appropriately "Street Focus" on the TWiP network.  She had her first listener, this guy.  She's up to podcast #7.

I wouldn't normally talk about Street Focus on this blog because it's mainly digital, but oh, hold on!  This week on episode # 7 she interviewed London based street photographer Walter Rothwell.  And you know what?  Yep, Walter shoots exclusively FILM.  Not only film, but he shoots mainly in panorama mode with a Hasselblad X-Pan.  I've been lusting for one of those beauties for some time, but they are pricey.

But wait Steve, in street photography, aren't you supposed to get close and shoot 35mm format?  Yes & No, you can do whatever you want.  Although the trend is to "get close", street photography lends itself to panorama.  Especially in big cities with lots going on like NYC, LA, Hong Kong or Paris.  Check out this YouTube video from DigitalRevTV that talks about the X-Pan.  I used to live in Hong Kong and from experience it was panorama heaven.   

Anyway, Valerie interviews Walter Rothwell on episode # 7, and it's really intriguing.  A good back & forth on his style, his background, his techniques & how he works.  I immediately checked out his work, and really enjoy it.  I like his purity of B&W and the very contrasty nature of his street work.  Some of his images brought a smile to my face.  Lots of action in those panoramas.  Very different than a close up street portrait or close urban scene with a single point of focus.

I also feel three of Walter's comments were spot on.  First, "slow down".  You don't need to take 500 photos during a street shoot (like I might do in a model shoot)  Walk slower, blend in, and selectively shoot.  This is particularly appropriate in film.  I find myself doing this as well.  Also, when you are moving slower you blend in better.  The second comment is to re-visit your old images.  You will likely find gold nugget images you originally passed by.  So true and I find I do this all the time.  Finally, carry your camera all the time.  You may not always take a photo, but at least you are prepared and your eyes are scanning for a potential photo.  I do this all the time.  I ALWAYS have a camera on me, even if it's just my iPhone.  

So, all you film street photographers, do yourself a favor -  check out Walter.  Also, while you are at it check out Valerie & her podcast on TWiP.   Now all I have to do is get over to London and convince Walter to spend a day with me walking through London's streets.  Maybe he'll let me put a roll through is X-Pan.  Come on, a boy can dream.

Photos I've Taken - Paris In The Summer

I visited Paris in June for a photography workshop with host Valerie Jardin.  It was great.  A full week of non-stop 24/7 photography.  Not only did I spend most of my time going digital I also brought along my trusty Olympus XA.  Here's an earlier blog post about the XA.

A fun little camera.  Anyway I used both Kodak Portra 400, but also a few rolls of Ilford XP2 Super 400.  A few shots.  All images were scanned to disc instead of printing and then imported into Adobe Lightroom.  I really enjoy doing street photography with digital, during my Paris trip I took a Nikon D600 & a Sony Alpha A6000, but something about film for street photography is just....right.

Paris streets with light leaks

Waiting for a fare

Busy side street

Down a side street

Olympus XA - Mini Rangefinder

The actual camera that Jim gave me

I was recently given an Olympus XA.  This is a cool little film camera.  Jim Keller from the Indianapolis Photo Venture Camera Club, PVCC, gave it to me since he knew I still shot film.   I've never shot nor did I have an Olympus XA, so yes sir, I'll take it.

With the camera came an A11 flash unit, that screws into the side of the camera.

The A11 screwed on

The Olympus XA was made between 1979 - 1985.  I have no clue how old this camera is, but it's in pretty good shape.  No cleaning needed since Jim kept it in good shape.  The specs, reviews and instructions said this this "one of the smallest 35mm rangefinders".  I like rangefinders.  The camera has a 35mm f/2.8 lens.  The camera shoots aperture priority metering.  Shutter speed goes from 10 seconds to 1/500.  ISO (ASA) range from 25-800.  Focus is manual.  Just set ASA based on your film, and set the aperture to your desired setting.  f/5.6 is highlighed so I'm guessing this is the sweat spot.  Once the aperture is set the camera sets the appropriate speed which is visible in the rangefinder.  That's it. 

For a small pocketable, quasi-point & shoot this is pretty good spec range.  One nice feature of the camera is a clamshell cover that slides over the lens and opens revealing the lens & rangefinder.  This is nice.  The camera is surprisingly heavy.  Also, batteries required.

I took the camera to Paris with me as my walk-around film camera.  I loaded it with Kodak 400 - 36 and ran 4 rolls through it.  I had shot one roll through it before and was impressed.  Guess what, it works perfectly.  It's easy to handle, switch settings and click around.  It's a good street photography camera because the leaf shutter is completely silent.  There is only a slight click.  Wind the film with the small thumb wheel.  

The only problem with the camera was I sometimes set the aperture too small so the shutter speed was too slow for street photography.  About 10% of my photos were out of focus.  That's simply a learning experience.  I had only one image of the 4 rolls that appeared to have a light leak.

I like this camera.  Easy to use.  Super easy to load, and super stealthy.  I'll use it again, and try it with the A11 flash in the future.

Photos from Paris during a street photography workshop with Valerie Jardin.

Shadows at sunset

Eiffel Tower

Large scale grafitti 

Business people power walking

Paris side streets