Minneapolis

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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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Nicollet Mall

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When there’s nothing happening on the streets of Minneapolis, I often resort to Nicollet Mall. I can usually find an interesting subject or some interesting light. Today, I pushed my shutter just ten times because the activity level was so low, and I was under-dressed for the weather. I think I spent more time sipping a Guinness inside a local Irish pub than I did walking on the streets.

I like the image above only for the pop of color that punches through the drab scene. The gloves, the scarf and the hat confirm that winter has arrived.

The image above misses the mark, but perhaps you can make sense of what I was thinking about when I took the shot. As I saw these women heading towards me, I was hopeful they would synchronize their stride to mirror the metal bars off to the left - maybe next time.

This guy is ready for winter, and there’s something Viking-esque about his build, his plaid shirt, the hat, and all of that hair.

And finally, I like how the elements of this image started to fall into place as an authority figure shouted to this group of students who were almost a city block in front of their party. There is a clearly defined foreground, middle ground and background of students positioned about the sidewalk. My only regret is that they they weren’t all in focus.

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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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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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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.

Uptown Art Fair

I've had an unusual stretch of time where I haven't been able to shoot because I've either been out of town or the weather has not cooperated.  This weekend I finally got out and it felt good to have my camera back in hand. Whenever a gap of time passes, I'm keenly aware how my skills seem to eroded, and it often takes time to get back in the groove.

Here are a few images to share with you from the Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis.  I saw the yawn starting to form on this woman's face as I approached her.  I waited until the last possible moment to take the picture so I could capture the maximum stretch of her mouth.  Each time I look at this image, it makes me yawn.

I like the posture of the woman in the image below.  Her palm appears parallel to the ground, her shoulders are slightly hunched, and her head tilts forward and down while her eyes are turned up. Are you following me?

In the next picture, it looks like the woman is doing a major adjustment to her eyeball.  If you wear contact lenses, you probably make that face in the mirror twice a day.

Finally, I like the angle at which this picture was taken and the fact that despite their proximity to each other, and the man's attempt to point in one direction, neither one is lookin at the same thing.

Something to Smile About

Last weekend we had a blizzard and 16 inches of snow.  The airport closed and those who knew better stayed home.  A week later, it's now sunny and sixty degrees - it actually feels like the first day of spring.  I saw lots of smiling faces on the street today which partly reflects the optimism some people have as winter begins to fade.

For the first time in almost a year, our trio of street photographers met up to capture the day. I met Matt and Bill in Minneapolis for Record Store Day, an event to promote independent record stores.  One of the venues had live music which attracted a crowd to a side street cordoned off from traffic.  Here are some of the happy faces I saw at this event.

While I was positioning for a better photo opportunity, I couldn't pass up this scene.  I noticed three conversations in this layered view, so I took the picture.  

I like to capture pointing gestures, and it looks like everyone here is on the same page.

There was limited shelter from the sun and the shadows were dramatic at times.  Check out the shadow cast upon the woman's face from her glasses in the photo below.  I also like her quizzical expression amplified by the tilt of her head, and her slightly open mouth. 

Not everyone was smiling as you can see in the image above and the next series of shots below.  Either the hair, the hat or the facial expression caught my attention. 

The guy in the last shot was entertaining to watch.  Of course I liked his hat.  At one point I noticed him turning to check-in with his friend.  Their eye's met and neither one said anything for a few seconds.  Then he grabbed her ankle.  He seemed to have no idea what he was trying to accomplish, and she was just as befuddled.  It dissolved into nothing.

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Bad Hair Day

When I got up this morning and looked out the window to an overcast sky, it was difficult to muster any excitement about making photographs . The trees were shaking in the wind and a thin coating of snow had fallen overnight turning patches of brown grass white again. It would be easy to stay home on a day like this, but I needed the practice, and I forced myself out the door and into the wind and snow. I also felt a kick as I thought about how many times photography had invaded my thoughts while at work this week, and now I had a chance to feed this creative fire despite the less than ideal conditions.

As I headed towards downtown Minneapolis, the sun popped out, and I decided to embrace the overnight gifts from Mother Nature. Today would be a chance to capture hairdos re-imagined by the wind, and so the search was on.

As I arrived, It appeared everyone had the same idea to stay indoors since the streets were nearly deserted.  I did manage to capture one image in line with today's theme, and since it's often windy in this part of the country, I decided this subject would make a great side project with plenty of opportunities to practice in this wind tunnel we call Minneapolis. 

All Thumbs

I knew I was in for a sloppy shoot today.  I haven't really used my camera since the middle of December, and many of my good habits have noticeably slipped after all this inactivity.  While the holidays are partly to blame for this hiatus, it's the frigid cold temperatures that have dominated our weather and driven everyone inside for the last four or five weeks. Today it was 40 degrees, and it almost felt like sweater weather after all of the subzero days, yet I was surprised to see some people still bundled up like this woman wrapped in her hood.

I spoke to this construction worker who pulled down his face mask to answer my question when I asked him if he and his crew were from out-of-town.  I assumed he was from the sunbelt and still not used to our weather.  To my surprise, he said he lived here.

As for those good habits that have started to slip, first and foremost, I felt a disconnect with the focal length of my lens.  I was consistently too far away from my subjects and I need to close the gap.  That will correct itself once I'm back to my regular shooting schedule.  

I also noticed a decline in my reaction time.  I felt flat footed and missed my chance to make several images.  That too is something I can recover from with regular practice.

Downtown Minneapolis was teaming with construction workers in preparation for the Super Bowl.  There are all kinds of temporary structures on Nicollet Mall in various states of completion as the activities for the big event get underway this Friday.

Here are a few more images from today's outing.

Between Shadows

I got a late start on this cold Saturday where the wind was more of a challenge than the air temperature.  I was also on my own which makes for a different experience on the street.  At this time of year the sun hangs low in the sky and the shadows are long.  To my surprise, there weren't a lot of people walking around, so I decided to made it a point to search for good light, position myself in the right spot, and wait for an interesting subject.  

It didn't take long for the guy with blonde hair to walk in front of me.  I like the play in contrast between his light hair and the dark background and that same contrast in reverse with his shadow.  

As the wind whipped, I decided to keep walking.  I passed a guy on the sidewalk roasting chestnuts on a grill which smelled fabulous, and then I ran into three older guys from out of town who were standing on the curb at an intersection, and hoping to get directions to a nearby sports bar.  

When I approached these guys, I was holding my camera against my chest in what I would describe as a ready position, and with shoulders relaxed, I continued to hold this position while we talked.  As I faced them standing slightly off to one side, I was also standing close enough to view the Google map on one of their phones.  Of course I clicked off a few frames (my camera has a silent shutter) and was now hopeful that I had my best shot of the day.  As we separated, there was just one image I was excited about, and I couldn't wait to check it out. For a full city block, I resisted all temptations to look before I caved.

During one brief moment with these guys, the one who was standing closest to me had extended his right arm to point in the direction of the bar, and the other two guys leaned in with partially squinted eyes to sight down the length of his arm. At eye level, I saw an amazing image, but that extended arm also happened to be at the same level as my camera lens, and all I got was a full frame of coat sleeve.  

Many steps later, I noticed two guys walking in my direction.  Each had a different crop of facial hair, and I thought the white beard would translate well in black and white.  Besides the penetrating stare, I like how each guy is looking in a direction that crosses the other's line of sight.  I also like the subtle reflection in the storefront windows of the buildings from across the street.

I limited myself to just 2-hours of shooting this day, and time was running out.  As I walked down the newly developed Nicollet Mall, I heard the familiar sound of a skateboarder moving quickly in my direction.  I turned around and saw this interesting scene.  I like the rim lighting on the subject and of course his long shadow. It was a nice way to wrap up this urban adventure.

Cinco de Mayo

On May 7th, Minneapolis decided to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.  It was the first time out with my camera since my trip to New York.  I was late when I met up with with some friends for this street festival in south Minneapolis, and I immediately picked-up on their enthusiasm as we connected.  Their excitement foreshadowed what would prove to be a target-rich event. Unfortunately, it took me a while to notice the opportunities after a weekend in NYC where everywhere you look there's something to shoot.  After a few adjustments, I was starting to click away.  

The image below is my prize catch of the day.  In a hushed voice, that was drowned out by the live music, this guy unleashed a barrage of colorful language directed at this woman who had just packed her mouth with treats from the bag she was holding.  She became perfectly still, and my fast shutter speed only had to freeze the guy's lips.  I like her serious eyes, the furrows in her brow, and the busy patterns in her blouse and skirt.  She is also backlit by the sun and her blonde hairdo really shines bright.  

I also liked the image below where this couple is watching the action on stage.  She slipped her sunglasses down her nose for a moment and called something out to her friend who leaned into her sightline to see for himself.  Her braided hair adds texture to the image as do the lines from both of their shirts. 

Looking Back at 2015

What a year this has been!  The highlights include Cuba, the Paris workshop and a chance to get to know and hang out with some other photographers who share a passion for street photography.  During the summer, I managed to get out almost every weekend and sometimes even twice on the same weekend.  I also kept a busy pace this fall, and now that there's snow on the ground and the temperatures have dropped, I've had more time to reflect on the year.  This could go down as one of the most exciting and most active years of my life as a street photographer.

There are two people who inspired me throughout the summer and into the fall and they were also instrumental in helping me maintain the pace of weekly shoots.  One of those guys is Matt who I met in my first street photography workshop last year.  A gap of time slipped by after the workshop and then we ran into each other at a grocery store.  We finally connected and started meeting downtown on a regular basis to shoot together.  Later on, Matt introduced me to Bill, and the three of us started pounding the pavement together. The image below was captured at Mear's Park in St. Paul. I like how the guy to the far left almost looks like he's getting away from the police.  I also like how one officer his leaning on his knee as he looks for trouble.  The stone wall acts as a leading line and draws the viewer into the picture.  

The next shot below is also in St. Paul, and next to the Farmer's Market. I like how the bicyclist, the police officer and the woman waiting on the corner are all clustered together, and are complemented by the portrait on the wall of the building.  The white line leads us into the scene the and man on the far left side of the frame seems to be walking in that direction

I really like this next image, and maybe it's because of my affinity for dogs. I don't need to see the dog's eyes to feel the anticipation of this moment since the head and tail already give that away.  Just looking at the woman's eyes are enough to experience the canine connection. 

It's interesting to notice body posture when people are giving directions.  It's a moment of mutual cooperation as each party works together to understand a universal truth.    

I went to an Asian farmers market, and the entire time I was there, I felt eyes on my back.  In any event, it was an interesting experience that resulted in the shot below.  Unlike the piece of food that is hiding between this woman's teeth and hidden from view, I'm exposed and have no chance of catching her with her guard down.

I took this man's picture at the train depot in St. Paul.  It was the light more than the man that I wanted to capture and I needed a subject.  So when this guy walked up to the window, I took the shot.  I like how the light defines the folds on the sleeve of his jacket as well as the other details including the hairs of his mustache against the bricks in the background.  

Inspiration for Next Time

Right after work, and at the start of a holiday weekend, I headed to Minneapolis to meet up with friends.  First we'd shoot pictures.  Then we'd make time to celebrate later in the evening. As you can see, the group below was already in a celebratory mood.  

My favorite image of the evening involved the two women below who are walking in step as they both cross the line on the road. According to their wrist bands, they're VIPs.

We stumbled upon the group pictured below as we passed through an alley.  Except for the bicycles in the foreground, I really like this photograph.  It looks like happy hour is in full swing while expressions of curiosity form on their faces. 

Speaking of alleys, we were approaching the end of another nearby alley when we heard women's voices and laughter.  We stopped and waited for them to walk into our frames. 

Among street photographers, there's an implicit assumption when you stake out a position, and people walk into your space, like it or not, they should expect to be photographed. Psychologically, these are easy shots to make.  The woman in the black dress said something about our cameras as she raised her phone to cover her face.  I like the contrast between women both in their attire and expression.

I've been trying to get comfortable with the idea of getting closer to my subjects.  When I took this shot below, I felt like I was within range of this guy's punch.  It will take time to get used to this closeup strategy.

Turning to the next image below, I like the leading line that connects these two people in conversation.  I knew the pattern of her dress would pop in a black and white image.  I also like their choices of headwear.

Darkness finally arrived and it was time for a beer. As I headed towards our meet up location, I came upon this next scene.  I mostly noticed the ambient light, and specifically the reflection of the neon light on the white stone wall and the sheen from the stamped pattern on the sidewalk. I wanted to share this picture only because it turned into such a powerful teaching moment and became the inspiration for the last image.

I took the photograph below in the same place two weeks later.  It helped that the spotlights from the overhang were turned on.

Before the Dance

Some friends and I met for a photo walk today, and life on the street seemed to be at a standstill.  After some time, I could feel my state of optimism beginning to slide as we approached each street corner with the hope that something of interest, either to the left or right of us, would unfold.  As we pushed ahead, our patience paid off when we saw several young ladies in colorful dresses stepping out of a mini van.  Finally, we had something to work with on this overcast day.

One of my friends is a natural when it comes to composing group shots.  That skill, coupled with his charisma in this moment, elevated his standing among these ladies to ad hoc director of photography. Like sheep in a pasture, he herded this group of six from the nearby park and marched them down the Stone Arch Bridge towards downtown Minneapolis.  The shot below was the first of several poses he composed this afternoon.  

As the group was getting settled in their next pose, our ad hoc director was verbally working the scene.  Here's a sequence of expressions from that moment. 

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Of course, these ladies had dates who initially were nowhere to be seen.  As they started to appear on the bridge, their black and white attire was no match for the saturated colors of these dresses and our attention was naturally directed elsewhere. Eventually, I started to focus on these guys, and I couldn't resist these three amigos standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the bridge while they patiently waited for this improvised photo shoot to implode.

Rejection

I met up with two friends this afternoon for a photo walk on a day where the weather seemed to change by the minute.  What was most notable about the day wasn't the weather, but a lesson in rejection. It felt like the photo gods wanted me to fall, but fall on grass instead of pavement.  

We were walking in Loring Park, and I broke away from the pack to capture some images of a guy practicing tai chi.  I wanted to get close to the subject, and I slowly moved in as I snapped off a few frames. Just as I started to get more selective about the background, and repositioned myself while slowly inching forward, the subject opened his mouth and I braced myself for a verbal assault.  He said, "I wish you wouldn't do that."

I was in the perfect spot to take a great picture as he held his dramatic pose.  How I wanted to capture that image, but instead I said, "ok."  It actually felt good to be rejected.  This whole street photography thing had gone on far too long without the inevitable moment.  All I could do was smile and connect with my support group to say it finally happened, and confess how good it felt to have that behind me.

We started our walk in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and for the first thirty minutes or so, I wasn't seeing anything.  Then, this scene unfolded in front of my nose which made me wonder what else I had missed.  

I had to leave early, and as I made my way back to the car, I saw this group doing a line dance with Bollywood music blasting from speakers on the other side of the bridge.  It was fun to watch the graceful hand and finger movements, and see the colorful dresses fluttering in the wind.