Leica Q

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Checking In

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It’s been so long since I last posted anything, I sort of forgot how to do it.  Let’s just say I was all thumbs trying to publish this update. Sadly, I haven’t picked up my camera either for more than 19 months. I'm hoping when I start to make photos again everything will fall into place as it relates to matters of timing, and technique.  There’s also the implied assumption that I’ll feel comfortable standing close to people again.


This post is my way of saying thanks for checking in, and that I'm still around and still COVID-free.  Like so many, I was hopeful we had turned a corner on the pandemic earlier this summer both in the US and Europe.  I even booked a trip to France for September that is no longer happening because of the rise in COVID cases both here and there.  This is the second time I've had to cancel a trip to France since the pandemic surfaced, and it isn’t getting any easier.  


Yes, I'm vaccinated, but given the higher risks of mingling among all the others who aren’t, I’m not interested in writing about what it feels like to have a breakout case or how my life has changed as a long hauler.  So for now, my travel plans are back on hold.


The cover photo was taken while I was testing out a Leica Q a few years ago.  As I mentioned in my last post, a few months later, I sold all of my camera equipment, and bought a new Q.


I’m still thinking about upgrading to the Q2M, it’s just that I've had a few distractions in my life since my last post.  Now that things have settled down, and travel is back on hold, I have some more time to tease out my buying impulse.

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Dreaming About a New Camera

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I’m not a photographer who collects gear. Years ago, I sold all of my 2 cameras - a Fuji X-T100, and a Canon 6D. I also managed to accumulate several L series lenses for my Canon. The Canon sat in a closet along with the accessories, and only the Fuji saw the light of day.

After a workshop in New York City, the Leica Q popped on my radar. I spent a considerable amount of time researching this camera, but despite all the specs, something was missing. I needed to hold it, and I needed to shoot with it. That emotion eventually paved the way for a rental period that spanned a long holiday weekend.

To this day, I remember the separation anxiety I was feeling as I boxed the camera to overnighted it back to the camera dealer. I didn’t want to give it up, and what gave me solace was the premonition I would someday own this camera, but only when I sold all my other camera gear. I priced all my equipment to sell because I didn’t want to prolong the sell-off period. I can honestly say if felt great to unload it all. When the proceeds of my equipment sales were within $500 of the price of a new Q, I pulled the trigger.

Many years later, I find myself in a similar boat. This time the culprit is the Leica Q2 Monochrom, yet there are plenty of differences between then and now. First and foremost, I already have a Leica Q, and secondly I have no place to go while Covid-19 cases surge in the United States and Europe. Until I’m vaccinated, I’ll be lying low. I don’t expect to be out in public shooting close-up images of humanity until next summer or next fall. It also means I won’t be rushing into this next purchase for many months which is good for my head, but even better for my pocket.

Once I’m vaccinated, I plan to make up for lost time whether that includes the Leica Q2 Monochrom or not, but like before, I now have a premonition.

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At a Standstill

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I’ve been in self quarantine since March 14th. In this era of Covid-19, I have no new work to share, and blogs that slip into states of inaction begin to decay with stale content. It’s been several months since my last post, and I’m feeling the need to publish something that acknowledges my absence, but at the same time says I haven’t abandoned this blogging effort.

So here’s the catch-22. Until there’s a vaccine to protect us from a lethal virus that’s so easily transmitted, how do I safely get in range of my subjects with a fixed 28mm lens and still capture details that make for an interesting image? Yes, it's a first world problem that takes a back seat to the current global crisis, and a lot will have to change before I need to act on my dilemma.

Meanwhile, my travel plans are on hold for the short term, and probably the long term as well. I was supposed to go to Montreal this month, but that has been canceled, and I still have a few rays of hope for a trip I booked to France this fall.

I’m thinking about some ideas for future posts. Stay tuned, and stay safe.

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Cold Snap

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What a difference a week makes. All I could think about today was staying warm when I met up with a friend to shoot some pictures in downtown Minneapolis. No wonder no one was out and about. It’s too cold for this time of year as the images below suggest.

As the city bus rolled to a stop in the image below, a woman, who looked like she was competing in a track and field long jump event, exited the bus. I actually got a shot, but I was too far away, and a street lamp pole was also blocking the subject. I was within range when the last passenger exited the bus. If it wasn't for the guy who is looking back at the woman, I would have deleted this shot.

It’s time to toughen up to the cold because another long winter has already begun. May it pass quickly.

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Seasonal Change

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It took me a few weeks to get excited about shooting in my city again after coming back from Europe earlier this month. This feeling is familiar to me, and I deal with it every time I get a chance to shoot in a new location.

We’re well into fall in terms of the leaves changing color, and many of them are on the ground swirling in the cold winds that will only get colder in the coming days. Here’s one stretch of my walk where the trees seemed to be holding on to their leaves.

While I was walking in downtown Minneapolis today, I enjoyed every moment of the bright sunshine and the days which are now numbered where I can operate without gloves. It’s likely we won’t have another day like this for the next six months. Here are a few more images I captured on my walk.

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Une Journée à Paris

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After I finished the Portuguese Camino, I flew to Paris for an afternoon of shooting, and a chance to be in my favorite city in the world.  And while I was alone this time, and free to set my own agenda, the only things that got in my way were the raindrops.  I was able to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time, but I was also forced to step out of the rain a few times. Darkness set-in early with the overcast skies, and I pushed into the early evening hours before I put my camera away for the night.  Here’s a sample of what I saw.

When I’m in Paris, I like to capture various expressions of love and affection. Often, my favorite shots exclude faces because there’s already enough detail in the frame for the viewer to process the image.

And here are a few other images to share.

I got up early the next morning with the intention of skipping breakfast, and making enough time to grab a coffee at the nearby café before hitting the streets. Unfortunately, the final hours were counting down before my 9-hour flight back to Minneapolis. I only had a few hours to shoot, but the pouring rain instantly changed my plans, and there would be no photos.

I still ran to the nearby café, but without my camera and without the need to rush that cup of coffee.  I was the only customer, so I stood at the counter and spoke to the barista in French, while he answered in English. Eventually my cup was dry, and before I knew it, I was on my way home, contemplating my next visit. 

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Camino Portugués

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I’ve heard a lot about Porto including the Porto Photo Fest which I missed by just a few weeks when I was here this month. I was in town for something completely different, but I still brought my camera to capture a few street images before the start of my hike on the Portuguese Camino to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.  Porto has plenty of old buildings, beautiful alleyways, cobblestone streets, and a commanding bridge that draws attention no matter what side of the river Douro you happen to be standing.

The next sequence of images was made from on top of the Ponte de Dom Luis I pictured in the photo above. Looking at the image below, could that be a fellow street photographer with a Fuji?

My camera has been idle for too many months due to other life distractions, and while it felt good to start shooting again, I could tell I had fallen out of practice.  I did manage to catch a few shots, and while there were many areas where I wanted to park in good light, and wait for the right subject to walk in front of an inspiring background, the circumstances didn’t allow for that since my wife was walking in step with me.  I was shooting on the fly and covering as much ground as possible while working through the remnants of jet lag.  

Here are a few more images captured during my 9-mile stroll that included lots of hills on this day.

I hope to return here some day to attend the Porto Photo Fest, and also have enough time to at least fill an SD card.

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Mon Habit de France

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There isn’t a day that goes by when I’m not thinking about France. I’m actively planning a strategy to spend more time here in my future. After a few days in Copenhagen, my wife and I headed to southern France for several days and finished up in Paris. The cover photo was taken in Montpellier, just steps from our apartment.

I noticed some themes in my photos as I often do when I’m photographing every day. I took several images of couples sitting at cafes, and in both of these shots below, the guys have expressions on their faces suggesting their thoughts are somewhere other than the table at which they are sitting.

I also captured some situations where someone was under observation, but may not have know it. The first image below is my favorite in the sequence.

I like to make pictures of people riding bikes, scooters and other modes of transportation, particularly when the subjects are stylishly dressed. I particularly like the first shot below given the expression, the fashion and the shoes.

Here’s an assortment of other favorites captured on this trip, and taken in the order of the cities listed: Aix-en-Provence, Paris, Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Montpellier, Carcassonne.

I’m already counting the days to my next visit this fall.

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Three Days in Copenhagen

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The Danes are supposed to be some of the happiest people in the world, and since I’m sort of the curious type, I thought it would be fun to see what makes them so happy. I must confess this all started when my wife gave me The Little Book of Lykke, by Meik Wiking. This book has lots of take-aways that can enrich your life. So with some new ideas to live by, off we went to Copenhagen for a taste of the Danish good-life. Of course I had my camera with me, and the book turned into a convenient excuse to practice my hobby in a new location.

Bicycles rule in this city, and probably the rest of the country. It’s also part of the secret sauce that makes the Dane’s so happy. They also like to walk when they’re not riding mass transit. Sometimes they even run as we see in the image below.

I was surprised at the fashion statements we regularly saw as we walked around Copenhagen. It ranged from haute couture to a French fry motif sweat suit.

And on the subject of fashion, this mime captured the attention of pedestrians as they passed by. It just so happens I saw the same guy kicking-off happy hour after he stepped outside of his cubicle later that day.

At times, the fashion and the public displays of affection in Copenhagen reminded me of Paris.

Sometime you stumble upon a setting where the lighting is great, and the leading lines are compelling, but you need the right human element to make the picture. Such was the case as I waited in this famous round tower in Copenhagen, but that subject never showed up for the party.

The next best opportunity was this kid who was making lots of noise from above as he descended the spiral ramp. All of a sudden he spotted me and stopped in his tracks while trying to make sense of the photographer who was blocking his path. He paused for a second, and then unleashed another burst of energy, and made more noise as he continued his spiral descent. I took two steps away from the wall so he could pass by and pivoted to take a second shot. If only I had slowed my shutter speed to blur his movement! In any event, this ended up being my favorite shot inside the tower.

We had just entered the train station for a short ride back to our apartment when we stumbled upon this woman posing on the floor. It must be a cultural thing I don’t understand, but I often see these types of shameless poses among a certain group of tourists traveling the world. Maybe they feel the same way about the kind of pictures I like to take?

If so…touché.

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Kind of a Yawner

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It actually felt like Spring today in Minnesota. Even though its well into the month, a freak snow storm is never out of the question at this latitude. It was a day of blue skies and bright sunshine as this guy’s expression summed up my photo walk. Nevertheless, it felt good to be out, and practicing.

I closed in on this group of guys whose opinions and points of view were as different as their age and race. The older gent had sharp words for the message these youngsters were trying to articulate.

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Don’t Hold Back

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It’s always interesting to notice how some people respond to the first warm days of spring as temperatures begin to climb in Minnesota. Today it reached 50 degrees, and I met up with a friend for a photo walk in Minneapolis to capture the sites and sounds of this seasonal transition. The guy below was dressed for the weather like most of the people we saw except he was also enjoying a smoke on his afternoon stroll.

And unlike the guy pictured above, the woman below was feeling the heat, and decided to peel off a layer as we see the sun highlighting her shoulder and her hair.

We heard our fair share of music blasting from cars with the windows down. While the guy below didn’t have music blaring from his minibike, the engine sounded like a runaway chain saw on Nicollet Mall. In the name of speed, the rider appears to have found the optimal posture to aerodynamically cut through the wind as the dog looks on.

These guys in the image below had some energy to burn as they put up their dooks, and turned the sidewalk into a boxing ring while pedestrians on both sides of the street took notice.

And on a lighter note, I couldn’t resist this scene of the dog resting his head on the table as his owner waited for her lunch to arrive.

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After the Polar Vortex

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It’s weather like we had this last week that re-affirms my plan to move away from this climate when I retire. Just four days ago, the temperatures were hovering near -30 degrees. Today, it was almost 40 degrees. Neither of these temperature extremes is normal, but any time the temperature is cold enough to support snow, I’m thinking relocation. At least it was warm enough today to meet up with a friend for a photo walk around Minneapolis.

One of the buildings downtown had a large accumulation of ice that formed a huge icicle from what was probably a water supply pipe that burst during the polar vortex. This giant icicle formed several stories above street level. The sidewalk was closed on the other side of the street as a crew worked to free the ice from the building. Naturally, this attracted lots of attention and a chance to photograph people looking up in amazement.

In my last post, I mentioned how I wanted to pay more attention to perspective in my photographs. As I worked the scene, this angle offered more visual interest given the elements that make up the background. I particularly like the abandoned flag poles aiming skyward as they play off the angles at which the pedestrians have cocked their heads.

I first noticed this guy looking up, and he couldn’t take his eye off of the worker removing chunks of ice with a wand spewing steam at high velocity. I like his posture, and how his hands are placed in his pockets, and his mouth open in a state of wonder. It’s interesting to notice how other passers-by follow suit, and before you know it, everyone is looking up.

I came back for a close up before moving on. There was also plenty of ice on the sidewalk in another part of the city as this woman in the photo below pointed out. I like the elements of perspective including the railing, the poles supporting the electrical lines, as well as the snow on both sides of the sidewalk, and the texture of the stone that wraps the outer wall of this building.

And finally, a winter embrace under the canopy. What first caught my eye was the architectural features of this structure as well as the different lines of perspective. The human element was the trigger that made me take the shot.

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A New Perspective

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It was a January dream come true. Sunny skies gave way to 40 degree temperatures, and the only snow on the ground was the stuff pushed into piles in parking lots. For those of us already wishing winter goodbye, it doesn’t get much better than this in Minnesota. I knew I’d see people out running and walking with their dogs like we see in the image below.

I got off to a slow start today as I experienced the usual episodes of clumsiness symptomatic of a student who doesn’t practice regularly. The best way to sum up my shoot is to say I had a nice walk. I never noticed anything worth chasing, no special places where the light was exceptional, and no compelling moments where I felt like I was in the right place at the right time.

After I got home, I deleted all but four photographs, and I could have easily done away with them all. I resisted that impulse because each of the four images in this post had elements of perspective that held my attention just a few extra seconds.

Railings, roof lines and shadows flirt with the subjects in all of these images, and suddenly I realized the images were more appealing to me. I wish I could say I deliberately took these photographs with perspective in mind, but this is just a small collection of accidents. Going forward, my goal is to actively work perspective into images to raise compositional interest.

The image below reveals three layers of activity. Three adult males dominate the composition, but I find the child’s expression most interesting. Finally, there is a woman on the left who is focused on the first of four steps before she is ready to look up. The overhang of the building and the railing produce elements of perspective that draw the eye through the image. I also like the detail of the lamps underneath the overhang that provides a steady rhythm in this setting.

I was more interested in this guy’s backpack than anything else. The leather pack looks fresh out of the box, in fact it appears the photographer forgot to remove the dangling tag. In any event, the fence adds another linear perspective to this image, and the other couple offers balance to a shot that is otherwise plain.

I left this last photograph in color to highlight the backlight that makes this guy’s ears look orange. There’s no post production hanky-panky here. His skewed hat against a lighter background is icing on the cake. Once again, I only noticed later how shafts of light separated shadows on the sidewalk. I also find it curious how everyone seems to be walking in each other’s shadow which enhances the element of perspective.

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Getting Out

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It feels like winter arrived more than a month ago, yet the season hasn’t officially started. For me, this is the most challenging time of the year to shoot photographs on the street. These days, when I see people out walking, they’re bundled in layers, often cold, and usually in a rush. The bursts of northerly winds bring back a word usage that’s been dormant in our conversation for almost seven months - wind chill. There are other signs of impending change as good light gives way to grey and overcast skies. It’s hard to get out when things are this way.

I picked up my camera for the first time since early October to shoot pictures at the Christmas Market in Saint Paul this weekend. The picture above was my first of the day, and I caught this guy trying to contain a yawn that slipped into a smile when he noticed my camera.

The colors in the picture below shout of winter, and I like how the subject’s face is surrounded in symmetrical colors and textures. The slightly red base of her nose is like a temperature gauge that confirms the chill today.

In the next shot below, I like how the fur lining on the woman’s hood almost looks like a funky hairdo. How about that guy’s laser-eyes staring down my camera lens? Even through the blur, his look is intense behind those powder-blue frames.

And finally, the woman below seemed slightly confused in this moment as her face radiates tension.

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Encouraging Words

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The weather was just about perfect for a marathon - mostly overcast skies, calm winds and temperatures in the upper forties. Something else about this day seemed nearly perfect.

There was a flood of emotional support directed towards family, friends, and total strangers running the Twin Cities marathon. It was refreshing to see this genuine compassion directed at all the runners on the course, particularly when compassion seems notably absent in this era of Trump.

In the photo above, I watched the woman in the grey jacket step into the street and shower this runner with praise and support. She was so emphatic, and I thought for sure it was her friend or some acquaintance, but the runner only acknowledged the support and passed by without saying a word.

Minutes later, I heard a big commotion down the street and witnessed another genuine expression of support. These two guys in the photos below knew each other, and while I didn’t have any details, it seemed like an unplanned reunion

The finger wag below appears to be a coaching moment and whatever the coach was saying, it seemed to propel the runner as she approached the 22-mile mark.

I positioned myself at a point on the course where the runners had to make a sharp turn to their left. I stood a few steps behind someone standing on the corner who acted as a human shield so I could get candid shots of faces rounding the corner. Here’s a sequence that conveys the true grit needed to run a marathon.

All age groups were well represented by the field of runners, and I was particularly interested in the older guy’s footwear in the photo below.

And finally, a panning shot using a slow shutter speed.

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Moments à Paris

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I knew I’d be coming back to Paris, but I never expected to return so soon. It was a spur of the moment idea that gained traction when I found an airfare too cheap to ignore.

The picture above is one of my favorites from this trip. As I noticed the elements of this image coming together, I made every effort to get as close as I could in the spare seconds I had before I took this shot. I actually have a sequence of three shots. The first two images I have show her puckering up before she notices me. As I got a few feet closer, she rolled her eyes and that’s the shot I wanted. While the background is busy, I think the subject is strong enough to overcome the distraction.

The moped windshield and the retracting shield on both of their helmets seem to be bouncing the sunlight in a favorable direction since much of her face and her front neckline are illuminated. One of the mirrors on the moped might also be reflecting some light. I like everything about her posture including her symmetrically positioned hands resting on the seat of the moped.

Paris is such an easy place to capture moments of affection, and like fashion, it isn’t limited to certain age groups. I’m always looking to capture these public displays of affection because unlike anywhere else, it just seems to belong here. In the picture above, I love the dappled light on the subjects and how the folds in their shirts are so well defined by light and shadow.

This time I started noticing hair color. Normally when I see bold hair colors, the clothing seems to reinforce the hair color statement, but not this time. Actually, the last picture is the exception to what I saw.

I got an early start on a sunny morning to capture long shadows, silhouettes and soft light. I made my way over to the Canal Saint-Martin and noticed this woman who just lit her cigarette. It was the sunlight bouncing off the sidewalk and her shirt, and lighting the underside of her chin that caught my attention. Part of her face is also rim lit by the sun.

As I started my morning walk, I noticed several interesting subjects pass by me. In a way I was sleep walking since I failed to capture them in the moment. I stopped in my tracks, surveyed the scene below and waited until an interesting subject passed through my frame. The woman in the hat below showed up first and waited to catch a bus. Then the guy on the bike made his way down the hill. I like the long shadow projected on the cobblestone street, and the white gloves he happens to be wearing.

A minute later, the Vespa came around the corner. In addition to the long shadow, I like how the man’s attention has been re-directed from the cobblestone road.

It’s always interesting to notice the non-verbal communication among adults when things aren’t going well. I see this all the time and I decided to start capturing it. The first image below was actually taken in Palavas-les-Flots on the Mediterranean coast when we were visiting Montpellier. I saw this couple talking to each other when I was further away, and as I got closer, they seemed to reach an impasse, and the body language says it all. Since there were two French flags flying, in front of a clear sky, I had to leave this in color.

Here’s another out of sync moment, and the guy clearly doesn’t like what he’s hearing.

Picnics don’t always take place in the park. I stumbled upon this scene in the Latin Quarter. Who needs a patch of grass to sit on when you can stand on a cobblestone street and have a stare down contest with the family dog.

In the pictures below, a woman makes it a picnic to-go. Then, a park bench gets turned into a picnic table. And the last image reminded me of a scene we’ve seen painted before by Seurat and Renoir that takes place on the bank of a lake or river, except here the subjects are more casually dressed and there’s a high-tech stroller in the frame..

The parks are also a fabulous location to capture all kinds of behaviors and expressions.

Here are a few more shots from an afternoon stroll through Luxembourg Gardens.

They call it Pétanque, and the next trip to Paris will include a picnic on a bench at courtside to take in the atmosphere of this game. In the shot below, I like the lighting, the shadows and symmetry of the two men as it relates to their hands, the position of their feet and how each of them have their weight on their right foot. It looks like the woman is setting things straight as she points to the position of the steel boules and the small hardwood ball called a bouchan (cork), or a cochonnet (piglet) or simply le petit.

Here’s another shot taken from the gallery.

Finally, an assortment of other shots captured on the streets of Paris.

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The Great Get Together

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I forgot how target-rich the Minnesota State Fair is for capturing candid shots.  In a way it reminds me of the steady stream of photographic opportunities I experience when I'm in New York City.  There's no time for your camera to slip into pause mode, and you have to keep your finger on the trigger at all times or you'll miss your next shot.  And with the endless stimulation surrounding you, it's easy to slide into that zone or meditative state where your focus is perched squarely on the next opportunity, just steps away, and headed straight at you.  

It was mid-afternoon when I met up with a friend for what would be a 9-mile photo walk that snaked through the crowded streets and criss-crossed the fair grounds.  It was my third year shooting at the fair, and this time I noticed several themes worthy of capture.   

There's something about the food at this fair that gets everyone excited.  Apparently, I'm one of the few who doesn't appreciate this seasonal cuisine.  Nevertheless, fair food makes for great subject matter, and I spent some time capturing the corn-on-the-cob crowd as well as other fair-foodie delights.  With the help of backlighting, the first picture captures a fine mist of butter and corn kernel juice bursting from all that nibbling.   

This is the first year I spent some time in the barns with the animals and their caretakers.  I was surprised to see the close connection between the caretakers and their animals. We saw older kids sitting in the hay with their cows, and then there was this woman seeking contact comfort with her cow in a way that doubled as a footstool..

Since I shoot with a 28mm lens, it's challenging to find amusement park rides where the subjects aren't raised high overhead and out of range for my lens. I did find two rides that worked at ground level. The first two pictures below are of the same couple in different stages of excitement.  The first image was taken as the ride started to speed up.  The second picture shows the effect of spinning and whipping around in circles several times.  Notice how the guy's cool demeanor has given way to unbridled joy. 

My last post included a shot of a woman yawning, and I'm now collecting this expression of  fatigue or restlessness whenever I'm out and about with my camera. Here are a few yawns from  last night.

It's interesting to notice the body language of people as they look to the sky.

And finally, a sample of other moments captured throughout the day.

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Lesson in Rome

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Learning new concepts and immediately applying them to the real world is my favorite way to learn.  Each iteration of trial and error builds learning momentum that involves achievement and an abundance of failure, yet even the smallest measure of success is exhilarating and encourages further discovery.  That's how I spent my time on a brief, but spectacular side trip to Rome while vacationing in France this month. 

Eolo Perfido was my teacher.  I discovered his work a little over a year ago and his photographic style is very distinct in that he controls the frame by consciously eliminating the chaos.  Conceptually, that sounds easy to accomplish, but when you can't control the subjects or the lighting in your environment, and you're trying to create a compelling photograph, chaos is often just one click away.  

Our day started off with coffee and a conversation that included topics ranging from camera settings to optimizing success rate, to a discussion that included some of Eolo's work with concrete examples of his techniques and how they lead to interesting photographs. 

This was one of those conversations where I was striving to capture and remember every one of his spoken words.  My notes were cryptic and my sloppy penmanship made it all the more challenging to read at the end of our day.  I would end up re-writing my notes on the flight back to Paris that evening while everything was still fresh in mind.  

After an amazing conversation, we moved to the street.  I walked these same streets 16-years ago and forgot how beautiful Rome is. I was vaguely aware of the different neighborhoods we walked through, and the tourist sites that popped up along the way since most of my attention was centered on the concepts we discussed, and how to implement them into my workflow. 

Today, all of my shots would involve zone focusing.  I don't usually shoot this way and it's probably the equivalent of asking a golfer to change his grip, or a novice cook to leave the measuring spoons in the drawer and measure only with the eye. It's an adjustment that pushes you out of your comfort zone.

Simply put, zone focusing allows you to take pictures in focus with the correct exposure and shutter speed when all of your settings are optimized.  This allows you to fully concentrate on composing and waiting for the right moment to take the shot. You still need to pay attention to the light as you move from shade to full sun and back into shade, and you also have to pay attention to the distance between your camera and the subject.

I can still hear Eolo's voice as he would gently remind me, "one meter" which meant I was too close to my subject, and any picture taken would be out of focus.  Then another reminder to "change ISO" as our lighting conditions changed, or "eleven meters" which meant the subject across the street was too far away and would not be in focus. 

At first I was constantly failing, but I was also aware of why I was failing, and that gave me hope that improvement was still within reach.  I was also missing fabulous subject matter that I would have captured using my normal settings, and that made it all the more challenging to stick with this new way of shooting.  

I had my first taste of success in the photo below, and I knew it before I showed Eolo my creation.  It includes separation and symmetry which creates order in the scene.  It's far from perfect, but several incremental steps in the right direction.

After more trial and error, I had another success in the picture below.  We worked this scene for several minutes while trying to stay anonymous.  The guy leaning up against the wall of this building with the bag between his legs anchored the shot.  It was a matter of waiting for the right people to enter and leave the scene to capture an interesting image.

Italy is without a doubt the best place to capture gesture.  In the picture below, the harsh midday sun created deep shadows, but the dark background was exactly what I needed to establish a strong figure to ground relationship.

I like the symmetry in the picture below and the simple pattern of foot traffic.

Camera angle makes a big difference when framing a shot.  I held my camera over my head to get this next image.  That's why the guy on the right is looking at my camera with skeptical eyes while the woman facing us is expressing some form of "excuse me" as she cuts it close to the couple whose back is to the camera.  If I had shot this at eye level, I would have had a washed out sky and the picture would have looked very different.

I like to capture shots of people eating.  It's one of those rare moments in public when people let down their guard.  

I should have raised my camera over my head to capture this next image and eliminate the sky. It could have also elicited an interesting response from the subject, although I do like his sense of determination with the cigarette carefully placed between his fingers and the newspaper tucked securely under his other arm.

This woman walked out of a store and tried to engage the guy in front of me.  When I saw her move her left hand into a non-threatening position, I took the shot.  She also happened to be in mid-step.

I like the symmetry, the hand gestures and the facial expressions in the photo below.  I also like the texture of the cobblestone street.  

Anytime someone stands in a pose like the one below, I will take the picture.  In addition to the pose, I love all the noise in the background.  

I wish I could re-take the picture below.  There were few options for a less distracting background.  That's Eolo looking at the picture I wish I had.  

She was deep in thought and I took but one silent shot.

I really like the light in the photo below.  Notice the folds in the sleeves of his jacket, and the wrinkles around his eyes and forehead.  I also like the expression of wonder captured by his open mouth and crossed arms.

The fashion was incredible in Rome.  

If you've read previous posts of mine, you know I'm collecting images of hair going in all directions from the wind.  I'm thrilled the bird showed up at the last second to show off his feathers.

Like interesting poses, I will always shoot pictures of people on the run.  If only someone was chasing him.

A symmetrical sun salute below.

The shot below is is one of my favorite images of the day.  

In the next photo, I like the hat, the gesture and her expression which suggests there is something far more interesting up above than the babble rolling off his tongue.

I like the contrast of awe and sheer boredom and the artwork that seems to be balancing on the second woman's head.  

It was early afternoon when we started to head back to our original meeting point.  We were within two blocks of our final destination when my camera said, Memory Card Full. We walked eight miles though the streets of Rome, and this day will go down as one of my all-time favorite cultural and educational experiences.  

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Bonjour Paris

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I have no problem admitting I'm a Francophile.  It started after my first visit to Paris almost a decade ago, and ever since, France is like an open page that runs in the background of my life. It's been more than a year since the last time I was there - that is until this month. 

I spent the first two weeks of May in France.  My wife and I hiked from Dijon to Meursault, and of course we sampled many of the fabulous wines produced in this region known as Burgundy. After a week of hiking through vineyards and patches of forest, I was ready for the sites and sounds of my favorite city in the world, Paris.

This trip turned into a photographic lesson, and I'll address that in greater detail in another post.  In short, I made two technical changes to the way I normally shoot pictures.  I forced myself to zone focus the entire time which created new limits and new opportunities. I also set my aperture to F/11, and increased the ISO on my camera to boost my shutter speed that was set on automatic.  You will see some grain in the images below, and that's ok since this blog is about street photography, and not fine art.

Each time I return to Paris, I'm captivated by certain themes that translate into interesting images. Let's start with the cafe society.  I'm always looking at posture, and facial expressions for clues about the environmental vibe at each table.  If invited, which table would I want to join?

Love is another theme that's always in the air in Paris, and the challenge is being in the right place at the right time to capture it with a 28mm lens.  Here are a few shots taken from near and far.

Fashion is a highlight for photographers who shoot on the street.  An otherwise uninspiring setting suddenly becomes interesting when fashion enters the frame. Of course the ubiquitous scarfs are wrapped, tied and worn in so many creative ways.  On this trip, I also noticed how the older generation is just as eager to embrace the fashion world.  Not only do I like the colors and matching glasses the woman is wearing below, but she's also looking over the bridge of her glasses which is icing on the cake.

Here are a few more images to drive home the point that fashion is for everyone who wants to be a part of it.

My wife had a shopping list and one afternoon we headed to the Galeries Lafayette.  While she shopped, I walked the streets with my camera.  I noticed this sales clerk walking outside with a customer into the good light I had already discovered.  He brought a mirror and some cosmetics that he applied to the customer's face.  The following sequence picks up the story.

The Chinese tourists love this shopping center and they are both stylish and high powered shoppers.  It's more interesting to observe them outside the store where they seem to be more animated and boisterous.  They sure like to do a lot of pointing.

I took the next three pictures in Dijon.  In the first picture, I noticed some workers hauling bags of debris from a demolition project they were working on.  As the workers exited the building and approached the back of the vehicle, they would twist and turn 180 degrees, setting their load on the edge of the truck.  Someone inside the vehicle would re-postion the bags to optimize the payload.

I like the care-free look of this dog trotting down the pedestrian mall.  His owner is to the left with leash in hand.  

Finally, I like the variety of activity, modes of transportation, and the people who appear in the image below.  There's even the guy with long blonde hair positioning his body into a human comma to avoid the bicyclist on the right side of the photo.  I also like the leading lines and perspective created by the buildings.  The guy on the mono-wheel to the left of the frame entered the picture just as I released the shutter.  

These remaining images are a mash-up of random images from Paris that I find interesting.

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48 Hours in NYC

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It was 12:05 Friday afternoon when I stepped onto the streets of New York City with my camera.  This was my second solo visit this year, and what I hope will become an annual tradition just to make photographs. There are unlimited opportunities to make great images here, and the cast of characters span a spectrum of imagination in a setting where fashion knows no limits.  Add to this the multiple layers of cultural diversity and architectural wonder, and it's easy to feel the buzz of energy here.  Mindful of my short visit, it was time to drink it all in with gusto.   

The Lower East Side was my base camp, and I was on a mission to pick up where I left off on my previous trip.  I took the subway to Bryant Park and was stunned to see the beautiful green lawn pulled up.  All that remained was dirt, sand piles and some heavy equipment.  After 10 seconds of disappointment, I saw my first image of the day.  Her animated arms drew lots of attention, and that's when I let my camera dangle from my neck strap with my finger on the shutter release.  I could see she was taking a phone call, and since she was looking down at her phone, I needed to point my camera up for this opportunity.

After a lap around this city park with no grass, I stopped inside the New York Public Library. Since it was such a beautiful fall day, I was antsy to get back outside.  I did a quick tour knowing I would return on a future trip, and made my way to the Chrysler building to check out the art deco lobby.  After a brief interval, I was off to Grand Central Station.  Once again I felt restless inside, and as I was making my way out, I discovered some great light and hung around for a few minutes and captured this hugging sequence.  The body language is interesting here, and I only wish I had been closer.

It was mid afternoon as I made my way up 5th Avenue to Central Park.  I saw so many great opportunities that I couldn't take advantage of because of the swarm of tourists.  I had to remind myself I was part of that swarm. Once I made it inside Central Park, the crowd thinned. I tacked on a few extra miles traversing the lower half of the Park and made it as far as the Met.  Here are a few images I captured along the way.

I almost passed this Asian couple in deep sleep before I stopped and took the picture.  In the next photograph, I love the juxtaposition of hands as the kid seems to be completely charmed by the ballerina.  The woman reading a book was taken in the Sheep Meadow area of the park. I saw the guy on the bike at the last minute and what caught my attention was his cane in the front basket of his bike. Then I noticed his concentration, his winter jacket and the rolled-up legs of his pants.  I found good light at Bethesda Terrace and was waiting for a subject to walk through my frame.  The woman with blonde hair has a pensive look about her while bathed in fabulous light.  I call the last image "New York Minute" and I like the expressive way the woman has turned her head to see the man's watch. 

The Met was part of my plan before I left Minneapolis.  There was a Rodin exhibit I wanted to see and so many paintings from the masters to absorb before the museum closed at 9pm. When I first stepped inside the museum, I started to think about my feet.  They were killing me. I realized I had reached a point where I no longer wanted to stand for the rest of the evening. Given the circumstances, it was an easy decision, but a heavy burden to endure.  

It was starting to get late, and I had never been on the rooftop to look over Central Park and across the impressive skyline, and now I was there to see it all just before sunset.  It was about this time that I realized I was famished and it was time to eat.  

With food on the brain, I found a great Mediterranean quick-serve restaurant that fit the bill. As good as the food was at nine at night, I think I felt more joy in being off my feet.  Before I left the restaurant, I scoped out the nearest subway station on my phone to avoid any wasted steps getting there.  As I climbed into bed, I knew I had walked a lot.  My watch said 12.5 miles.  No wonder I fell asleep with the light on.

The next day I was out the door at seven and headed to Chinatown.  I was on my way first to Columbus Park to capture any early morning group activities including ping pong.  The sun was bright and still low in the sky which made for dramatic shadows as you can see in the next two pictures.  In the second image, the father and older son were working on junior to settle his temper. 

As I entered Columbus Park, this guy was sunning his legs and working on his core.  How 'bout that smile? Life is all about attitude.

The guy, who's playing ping pong in the images below, is now a familiar figure. I photographed him on my previous trip, and he was just as interesting then.  I like his hand and facial gestures, and he makes all kinds of interesting sounds each time he prepares to return the volley. I'm going to bring him a print or two with the hope of getting even closer to the action on my next trip.  

I left the park and further down the road I noticed lots of clear plastic bags filled with aluminum cans spread out on the sidewalk.  What caught my eye was the non-stop stream of bags tossed up to street level and ushered further along the sidewalk before each was hurled onto a waiting truck.  I was surprised to discovered an older woman was the muscle behind these flying bags coming from the basement chock full of aluminum cans.  When I took the two pictures below, this crew called a brief timeout to count the inventory, and as soon as the woman knew I was taking pictures, it was game over.

Here are a few more images I captured on my morning walk through Chinatown. The cop was trying to confiscate the woman's bike.  He was also asking her for proof of citizenship and she was either pleading the 5th, couldn't speak English, or a little of both.  The guy carrying the tray of coffee seemed to be offering words of encouragement while the cop and I were left out of the conversation.  Moving on, it's the scary eyes of the delivery guy that caught my attention in the next image.  I have no idea why one woman is crying in the last picture, but the friend seems to have a rather helpless look about her.  

As usual, when I took this last picture, I was very discreet.  I was wearing sunglasses and my head was turned toward the store front to the left of the scene, and I was only able to see these two out of the corner of my right eye.  I'm sure they had no idea I was taking their picture.   

In this next series, I love the genuine expression on the kid's face as he appeals to his mother. In the second frame, that man and woman earn the weekend award for the coolest pose by a couple, and finally, a teaching moment on the street.

In this last series, I passed this couple seated closest to the sidewalk, and I like the light and the two different facial expressions and hand gestures.  In the next image, I like the unconventional riding position of the motorcyclist with a cigarette wedged between his lips as he balances and waits for pedestrians to go get out of his way.  "Pizza Face" is the title of the third shot.

The sun was dropping quickly in the sky.  I was in the vicinity of my hotel and thought about resting, but I wanted to make my way to Brooklyn to capture a shot of the Manhattan skyline. I decided to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and it was mobbed.  At one point I even thought about turning back, but stayed the course.  Once again, I was now aware of my feet just like the evening before, and I knew I would not be walking back.  I took a few shots from different vantage points including the one below, and then decided to get a ticket for the ferry ride back.  

When I saw the line for the ferry, I immediately knew I would not be on the next ferry.  I didn't like the idea of waiting at least another 30 minutes for a second ferry let alone standing in line, on my feet, just to save all those steps back across the bridge.  I sat on a nearby bench for 5 minutes and decided I would keep on walking and cross the bridge again.  Once I got back to the other side, I hopped on the subway and was back to my hotel within 10 minutes. This was a 16.5 mile day, and I was now on break for the next 8 hours.

Sunday morning arrived quickly and I was back on the street for a final 4-hour push.  Rain had moved in overnight and this was my first time shooting in any kind of weather.  Fortunately, the temperatures were still quite mild and all I needed was a cheap umbrella to last until noon.  The clerk at the hotel front desk told me where to find what I needed, and 10 steps out the door and three dollars later, I was set for the next few hours barring a torrential downpour.

Shortly after I started my morning walk, I stopped for coffee and a small bite to eat.  My timing was really good.  It turned out to be the only moment the entire morning when it poured. Once the big rain passed, I made my way over to Prince and Broadway in SoHo and started walking the streets and admiring everything about this area.  

Google had some promotional event going on, and the first image shows lucky contestants walking away from a storefront with a box of donuts.  As I made my way down the sidewalk, there was an eruption of noise and cheering.  Instead of looking back like everyone else, I looked forward and captured the expressions on faces.  I like how the baby's eyes are tracking me. The third picture is of a guy who walked out of a store the same time I was coming down the sidewalk.  He blurted out something that sounded like gibberish, and then looked back at me and said it again when I took his picture.  I said "good morning" and we each went our own way.  I like the lighting and his body posture in this image.  The graffiti also adds a dash of grittiness to the scene.

These final images involve umbrellas.  The black & white image grew on me and I decided to include it because it captures three distinct groups, each doing their own thing while braving the elements in their own way.  I like the look coming from the guy without an umbrella.  I also like how the rounded curb adds interest to the overall frame, and of course the wet pavement offers a welcomed contrast.  

I kept the last image in color because the woman's red lipstick and red jacket just go together. She was biting her nails as I approached and that's why we see her exposed teeth and extended finger.  I tried to get really close to her to when I took this picture and there was oncoming pedestrian traffic that naturally forced this close encounter.  As I passed her, our umbrellas softly collided just after I took the shot.  If you look carefully, you can see rain drops falling including that grey smear in front of her hair which is a rain drop out of focus. 

It was almost 11:30 and I had walked 6.5 miles.  I stopped at Dean & DeLuca's for a breakfast burrito to take back to the hotel which had a small breakfast nook.  I struck up a conversation with another woman from Pennsylvania who travels to NYC each year just to shop.  I told her I travel to NYC just to shoot pictures.  That sparked a bunch of questions from her, and between bites, a bunch of answers from me.  I had just enough time to run to my room, stuff clothes in my bag, and check out by 12 noon.  Moments later, I was in a cab to begin my journey home. Now for the first time,  I could begin to process the amazing events of the last 48 hours that unfolded in front of my camera.