'Nightlife', 2022⁠ - Street Photography Image Breakdown

"Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. it's the one and only thing you have to offer." - Barbara Kingsolver⁠

🧐 It's interesting. I often think of social media as a dual edged sword. Of course, we artists use these spaces as somewhere to showcase our work, a virtual gallery. However there is some level of recognition we all are looking for. Whether in an actual/physical gallery or online. My question for my group of colleagues is; in the decisive moment, while out shooting, how does one combat creating images that others will “like” ❤️ versus creating images that are true to oneself? ⁠

Often, the black and white Instagram community has distinct similarity. Of course, each artist is posting what they create. As one sees the recognition that others get for a particular style of image, it is human nature to gravitate toward that in one’s personal work. Is there a way to avoid this?

I think there is. First, you have to stop caring. here’s what I mean.

I really don’t care what people think about my work. Please don’t misunderstand me. Of course I care about critique. Critique is a method to force some reflection on one’s work as an artist, to step away from the personal nature of one’s work, and really hone in on problems that could be avoided in the future. However, I really try not to let it go beyond that.

What I don’t care about is if you immediately like what I have posted. If someone thinks my work is boring, cliche, overly processed, not processed enough, not ‘real’ street photography, derivative, or lackluster; I don’t care. What I care about is my process. What I care about is my final image, what is says about me, what is says about my journey as an artist, what is says about what I have learned thus far. If someone does not like my work, then it’s NOT FOR THEM. And thats ok. I don’t listen to country music. No matter how elegant, beautifully written, relevant, etc, the style of music is not for me. AND THATS OK!

I often make the analogy that street photography is hiphop. This particular topic ( being true to one’s work) is one where I find parallels. An emerging or established hiphop artist has two options when they present their work. Either they make original work that has a unique sound or they make work that they know others will like. Some find a happy medium. Its simple really, listen to any top 40 station and all of the hiphop music sounds very similar. The art of hiphop over the course of 20 years has become the same sonically, by the choice of those artists. In underground hiphop circles, they have ‘sold out’ to move units, to sell as much as possible.

I fear the same thing can occur in street photography. It’s easy to get trapped on social media and see what is popular. One may even want to emulate what you see. I ask; to what end? What more important? The perpetual popularity or the beauty of the work itself? The sense of self worth one or validation one may find from doing what is popular or the self satisfaction one gets from finding one’s own voice in their work.

Personally, my daily push is to present my images. What I think is beautiful. What has drawn my eye. Sometimes I will have thousands of people comment and talk about the work, sometimes less than a hundred. To me, this doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I am being true to my eye, my voice, and my self. If someone doesn’t see what I see, or understand my work, thats ok. This is MY JOURNEY, not theirs.

What is your journey?

• Maurice

Street Photography School - Shooting in bad weather.

Hello fellow photographers. Let’s dive into gaining an appreciation for shooting in bad weather in regards to black and white street photography. 

Here’s the BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): If it’s bad weather outside, you should be outside. 

Bronx, 2019 - Rainy day adding a unique element to this black and white image

Bad weather has a way of creating an atmosphere that is desired in black and white images. A moody, constrasty image. Black and white work ALWAYS works better with contrast. There is no way of getting around it. Pushed Kodak Tri-X 400 35mm film had been popular for half a century for no other reason. When shooting you should be looking for contrast. Remember; for a striking image, contrast is key. I can’t express this enough….CONTRAST IS KEY!!!

Consider this image

Yosemite, 2019 - Consider how the bad weather effected everything in this image

The mist and the weather are what makes this image, to me. Without the weather, a black and white image may have been washed out. The subjects got more interesting with the umbrella (I am a big umbrella fan). Umbrellas help change the dynamic of the image by changing your silhouette work. In the search for contrast, having a white background due to mist or imposing clouds changes the mood of the photo. However, as with any artistic work, what looks GOOD is up to you. You are the artist, you make the choices.

Bronx, 2019 - look at the ground here…added contrast on the street itself, enhancing the silhouette.

Here, notice the ground, dry versus wet. See how the wet ground adds to the mood the image. Notice the changes in reflection and lighting. Again, weather is important in this type of work. I cannot stress how upset I would have been missing all of this great opportunities for work had I stayed in during this short but effective rainstorm.

Fayetteville, 2020 - This was created after a light rain early in the morning. Notice the mist in the far background.

Even after the rain has stopped, there will be a certain misting that can be used to the black and white photographers advantage.  I hope you consider what your options are before the next rain comes.

Gear?

I always make sure I buy a weather sealed camera. My current camera is a Leica Q2 Monochrom, which is fully weather sealed. I wanted this feature most in a new piece of gear. I want to know that my camera can withstand punishment (lots of punishment) while I am out in the elements capturing moments . So, first choice should be a weather sealed Lightbox. 

However, if this is not a possibility, what can we do? Improvise, improvise, improvise!

For anywhere between $20-$50 you can get a cover that fits your specific camera. Heres an example from one of my favorite manufacturers of camera gear, Peak design

Peak design Camera cover

On a serious budget? This is not a problem. Remember, the best camera is always THE ONE YOU HAVE ON YOU! (including your phone)

Let’s keep it simple, wrap your camera in a plastic shopping bag or two. Use no residue masking tape to secure the bag to the lens hood (if you have one) and go to town. Here’s how I would wrap one of my cameras if I was concerned about weather sealing on a bad weather day with limited budget. 

My main camera wrapped in a plastic bag with masking tape around the lens hood.

At the end of the day, just make sure you are out there shooting in bad weather. You will be amazed at your results. If you have any questions or comments, please add them below.

Remember, keep shooting, find your definitive moment, and share your work. Put yourself out there. 

Maurice D Masdeu.

Street Photography School- JPG Versus Raw

Hello fellow photographers. Let’s dive into gaining an appreciation for the difference between RAW and JPG files in black and white street photography. 

Is there really a difference between setting your digital camera to JPEG or Raw for file storage in street photography? Does it matter? Some people swear by RAW files, and some people don’t really care. Lets get into it and understand why…

Fayetteville, NC, 2021 - This was shot in JPG format. I had to commit to these exposure settings because limited editing latitude.

What is a RAW file?

A RAW file is nothing more than an uncompressed digital image, which is not yet ready to be printed, as it is not processed yet. (Thus it is raw, as in unused, unprocessed). Each camera manufacturer has their own version of a Raw file. For example, Leica uses the ‘*.DNG’ format, meaning Digital Negative. An another example, Canon uses either ‘*.CR2’ or ‘*.CR3’ meaning Canon Raw version 2 or version 3. This uncompressed digital image   retains the most information from the digital camera’s sensor. 

In editing, RAW files offer a full experience. For example, if an area needs to be much brighter, and you would like to, you have latitude in har FAR you can go. Consider this image. 

NYC, 2019 - RAW Image which had lots for editing.

I was able to bring this image from something very dark to something more artistic. This is an extreme example, but drives the point home. If this was originally shot as a JPG, I wouldn’t have been able to push the whites in this image this far with some considerable distortion. This should always be a consideration. 

What is a JPG file?

A JPG file is is a compressed digital image created by the Joint Photographic Expert Group in 1992. The compression gives the photographer a decrease in file storage size as compared to Raw images. This, in turn, represents less image quality. Beyond less image quality, there is another disadvantage/drawback to JPG formatted files. Once the photographer considers the sittings in his camera (clarity, contrast, monochrome vs black and white), these settings are written into the image, permanently. You will not be able to change what you’ve shot when you are done. 

My father and step-father were both film photographers in the 1970’s through the 1990’s. A concept they both expressed and emphasized to me was that you make each image count. No matter what. You won’t have much latitude in the darkroom afterwards. Of course, some areas can be lightly dodged or burned in the darkroom while making a print. I argue that JPG images work very similarly. You have to nail that shot in camera, and can only expect to be able to make very small changes afterwards, in your editing program of choice. 

DC, 2019 - Another JPG Image….no editing needed.

Bottom Line!

At the end of the day it’s up to the street photographer to decide which to use. Which is right for you? I argue that you should determine which route (JPG or RAW) you are going to use for the day and STICK WITH IT! Find out which works for you. 

If you have any questions, please add them to the comments below. 

Remember, keep shooting, find your definitive moment, and share your work. Put yourself out there. 

*Maurice D Masdeu*.