Tagged: black and white photography

Jul 07

Kodak Brownie Bulls-Eye

Echo Park. Kodak Bulls-Eye

Echo Park 2010
Camera: Kodak Bulls-Eye
Film: Arista 400 B&W 120mm

One of the things that always surprise me about the Kodak Brownie BullsEye is that this box camera produces crisp negatives, more so than most of other sophisticated cameras I know.
It is one of the simplest cameras I have with only plain focus settings, and a choice between normal and bulb exposure.
The Bullseye is a Bakelite camera made by Kodak in the 50’s which takes 8 6x9cm exposures on a 620 film but can easily accept 120mm that had been trimmed down to fit inside the camera.
And maybe this camera’s best feature: you can get it for under $10 on eBay.

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Posted in black and white photography, classic cameras

Nov 23

Dealing with people in street photography

I find there aren’t many books out there which handle the realistic side of street photography in great details and offer any form of useful information. Maybe that’s why I get plenty of emails asking me for such practical advice regarding street photography and quite often asking me about, you guessed it, photographing strangers.
One of my weaknesses in life is books, and especially old books, so sometimes when I come across an old photography book in a thrift store or a garage sale, I just have to have it, even though I’m quickly running out of shelf space.
Such a thrift store find is a photography book I got recently for a $1.50. It is a book published by Kodak in 1984 titled “Photographing the drama of daily life”.
It has some really fun street images and several useful ideas to go with these images.

Here are a few good suggestions from the chapter – Dealing with people:
“The most completely candid photographs are taken without the subject’s knowledge. …More often you will need some degree of cooperation from people to obtain a satisfying result. In most circumstances, a friendly manner and a smile will do the trick. If you look solemn, people may start to wonder just why you are photographing them whereas a smile can disarm their anxieties and help to put them at ease.
…Legally, you do not need to seek permission from people you want to photograph in public places if the pictures are for personal, editorial, or exhibition use rather than for a commercial purpose such as advertising (when written permission is required.)
However, judge the situation carefully, do not invade people’s privacy and be ready to diffuse things with charm and tact.”

Venice Beach. Nov 2009

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Posted in black and white photography, people, street photos

Sep 05

girls

Girls in Venice Beach, CA

I came across this picture while looking at my old photoblog. I think I took it around 2002, when I was young and beautiful.
It is one of these pictures that will always keep me wondering; What was this interesting group of women doing together in this room? Ah, I’ll probably never know.
And that’s, ladies and gentlemen, the beauty of street photography!

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Posted in Best Photos, black and white photography, street photos