Equipment
camera: Canon EOS 40D
lenses: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II and Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5


Its a Cruel, (Cruel)...Cruel Summer

A few months ago, I found myself in a creative rut.  I wasn't motivated nor had the urge to photograph anything for the majority of the summer months.  Experiencing a creative block can be a stressful period for obvious reasons.  For me however, it was a game of patience.  I decided to not force myself to find inspiration; it would find me eventually and it did.  But during this period, I just didn't have the need to photograph.  I tried sketching and creating music but my mood was off and I had nothing to say artistically.  It happens...

The Rising Sun

​Fast forward to this Fall; it is a rare occation when I don't have a camera in my hand.  I now spend a lot of time reading and researching the art of photography.  I am shooting almost everyday.  I have about 25 rolls of undeveloped film (both 35mm and medium format) that are ready to be processed (one day, this is another time consuming project entirely).  I also have been using Google +, Tumblr and other social media outlets as references for personal project ideas.  Last week I planned to do some sub-framing and shadow chasing over the weekend but Mother Nature had other plans - several days of chilly, wet weather!   So I adjusted to what the urban canvas provided and used the last couple of days to do street photography in the rain in Chicago and Detroit.
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​Equipment
camera: Canon EOS 40D
lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II


Inspiration: Film Noir
I love to watch black and white movies on TCM (Turner Classic Movies)!  I  appreciate how lighting played a key role in creating a sense of mystery and drama.  I've worked in a photography studio quite a few times in the past and I must admit that it is not my strong point.  I am not comfortable in a 'controlled setting'.  My creative process is to freelance and to not have an actual plan. This is why I gravitate more towards street photography.  I personally have more freedom to explore and color outside of the lines a bit.  


Camera Settings
I like to shoot with a low ISO setting (usually 200 or 250) for a dark tonality.  I aim for bright whites and extreme blacks.  I'm finding that my photographs seem to 'come to life' a bit more when I minimize my exposure levels in camera and give a slight punch to the contrast.  Besides that, I simply freelance and allow interesting subjects to freely appear in the frame.  


Creative Process
I use my camera to paint with light.  Silhouettes, shade and shadows are most fascinating to me.  The emphasis on darkness help create a classic film noir style.  I love when I am able to create a photograph that is timeless.     Street photography is (or should be) an artistic journey.  Every time I go out and shoot is totally different from the last.  Part of my photographic experience is to accept what comes naturally, then capture it.  I will shoot in the cold, rain, snow and at night.  Storytelling is honest so I embrace impactions and flaws; the 'happy accidents' are part of the narrative. 

Equipment
camera: Canon EOS 40D
lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II


 One of the many things that I enjoy about photography is the feeling of freedom.  Life creates a pallet full of endless ideas and opportunities to explore.  Regardless of the environment, social/political climate or personal hardships, I can find a level of comfort simply by having a creative outlet.  Street photography specifically is my way of connecting with others.  I like to observe and study human nature.  Our body language, hand gestures and facial expressions are beautiful, yet often taken for granted.  Capturing people's natural reaction to their own existence helps me appreciate and respect all life forms.  We are all connect; I try not to overly complicate this simple fact.  

#humanity #life #art #Zen #innerpeace  

I love the aesthetics of monochrome photography.  My thought is absence of color stimulates the imagination of the viewer.  Since we (most humans, at least) see in color, capturing something in the same manor is boring to me, in most instances.  Before I press the shutter button, the saturation in my eyes diminish.  I envision the subject with a variety of black, grey and white tones.  

The images posted here were all shot with an ISO of 200.  I wanted to reduce image noise and create rich tones.  I adjusted the contrast setting in the camera to about 80% with a slight bump on the sharpness.  Shooting in manual mode and doing in-camera custom settings helps to decreases the amount of time I have to edit in Lightroom.

#silhouette #streetphotography #highcontrast #lowISO #niftyfifty #monochrome #subframing

“A photograph is the pause button on life.”
-Ty Holland


I admit it - I can be very fickle with my photography.  Sometimes I am so excited for the next opportunity to shoot; while in a split second I loose the motivation .  However, I am learning to accept all of those mixed emotions.  One of the burdens of being an artist is never reaching a point of total contempt.  There is always something more to reach for and achieve.  My point is I am working on enjoying my own work more.  I want to spend time reviewing my portfolio and rediscover myself.  I am freezing time with my camera. I capture fractions of a second on film (or digitally) so I should take the time to appreciate my work.  I don't want to take my photography or any  other artist's work for granted.  Otherwise, what is the point?

#streetphotography #graffiti #alleyway #highcontrast #monochrome #streethunters #streetportrait

One of the burdens of being an artist is never reaching a point of total contempt.  There is always something more to reach for and achieve.