monochrome

wyoming beef

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Wyoming Beef… Nikon D750   f/4.5  1/4,000   85m   100 ISO

An English sub excerpt from the South Korean drama,

“Partners for Justice,” episode 11.

Stellar Hwag: “The meat here just got out of rigor mortis, so it’s super delicious.”

Cha Soo-Ho: “What? Rigor mortis?”

Stellar Hwag:  “It’s too tough right after slaughter.  But if it’s too ripe, it starts to decompose.  Beef ribs are perfect when the temperature and time are right.”

…

Stellar Hwag: “Ripening and decomposition straddle a very thin line. Got it?”

… in recent years, …studies are confirming the health benefits of meat-free eating. Nowadays, plant-based eating is recognized as not only nutritionally sufficient but also as a way to reduce the risk for many chronic illnesses. According to the American Dietetic Association, “appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.  cited: Harvard Health

a photo study: high-angle photography

This week’s photo study was motivated by Ted Forbes’ (The Art of Photography) photo assignment that explored high-angle photography.

High-angle photography is created when the photographer is situated above her subject(s)–upper floors of a buildings, at the top of stairs, up on a ladder, holding the camera above the head–and the camera is focused downwards. It is often used for the group shot as it is the best way to include everyone in an image and brings about a dynamic element not found in an eye-level image.

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Ricoh GX100  f/2.5   1/143s   5.1m   80 ISO

It can also be use for a standard portrait where the subject’s eye are looking up at the camera; yet, it has the potential to have a person appear small, vulnerable, weak, subservient, confused, or childlike.

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Nikon D750   f/4.1   1/500s   46mm   100 ISO

A sense of solitude and isolation can be evoked when photographing from the vantage point of looking down from the upper floors of a building. It also has the potential to bring about a sense of freedom, transcendence, and omniscience as you, the viewer, are invited to be see the whole picture. Also from this perspective, people’s faces and expressions are less likely to be part of the image and, because they are less likely to be aware of your camera, poses and actions will be more natural.

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Ricoh GX100   f/3.9   1/125s   10.5m   80 ISO

When compositing from buildings, interesting images are created through the use of lines, objects, and patience to wait until someone walks into your canvas.

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Ricoh GX100   f/4.1   1/200   5.1m    80 ISO

I found that street photography from “high above it all” is less likely to stir up the same degree of anxiety that I experience with eye-level photography.  Would love to see your images taken from this perspective and to read about your experiences.  Let’s tag wit #aphotostudy.

I hope you enjoy these amazing examples of high-angle photographs.

a photo study: street photography

What is street photography?

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Nikon D750   f/22    1/25s    35mm    800 ISO

Nick Turpin writes that “…When a child picks up a camera and pushes the button that simple spontaneous image is a Street Photograph, it is, first of all, a raw reaction to the scene in front of it, a person, a car, a color. That primitive urge to react, to make a picture is at the heart of Street Photography beyond any other area of picture making, it comes before any other agenda.

“So we are all Street Photographers before we narrow our sights and impose conditions and rules on ourselves to become Portrait photographers, Fashion Photographers, Landscape Photographers, Art Photographers (whatever that really means) etc.”

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Nikon D750    f/20    1/25s    35mm    800 ISO

Eric Kim defines street photography as the “…candid photography of life and human nature. It is a way for us to show our surroundings, and how we as photographers relate to them. We are filtering what we see, to find the moments that intrigue us, and to then share them with others. It’s like daydreaming with a camera.”

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Nikon D750    f/1.8    1/10s    35mm    800 ISO

Within “The Ultimate Guide to Street Photography” James Maher writes “…the best image of your life can pop right in front of you on the way to get your morning coffee. This spontaneity is what’s celebrated. That is why grainy images, slightly off-kilter framing a-la Garry Winogrand, or import focus will not alway ruin a street photography. Sometimes they will, and we must aim for technical mastery, but other times they can add to the realness of the moment. Sometimes these deficiencies may actually improve the image.”

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Nikon D750    f/2.5    1/2,500   35mm    800 ISO

Sometimes the best way to understand something is to put aside the book, silence the mind, and visually explore the creative works of others. With this in mind, I would like to introduce three of my favorite street photographers.

To journey through Salle de Shoot — Photographie’s blog is to inspired by his creative and unique examples of street photography.

The Streets of Nuremberg.com identifies street photography as “…a free creative design in which the artist’s impression…experiences are brought to life…the aim of street photography to depict reality unadulterated, whereby the specific artistic aspect is expressed in the conscious selection of the detail of reality and the design with photographic means.” To take the time to visit this blog is to view amazing street images as well as educational posts.

And finally,  Reinhold Staden Photography’s gifts us with inspiring photography as well as a super visual journey through Berlin.

How do you understand street photography? Do you have one or three street photographers that inspire you? I would love to see your street images and read your ideas about street photography.  Let’s tag with #aphotostudy.

weekly photo challenge: all time favorites

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After participating in the WordPress’ weekly photo challenge for around 8 years, there is a bit of sadness in learning that this week’s challenge is the last edition. Don’t know why this decision was made and so with a bit of confusion and resistance I wave farewell and  say, “thank you, it has been great fun.  If you wish to return, there is a welcome back, awaiting.”
All-Time Favorites