Redball Shoes Street Photo

Redball Shoes Street Photo
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

This has a Faux LOMO style to me. THe LOMO is a cheap plastic lens camera from 30 years ago that a lot of young art majors use. The Vignetting was caused by a lens hood I was using to protect my lens on the street and in the car.. THe soft focus on this is still much better than real LOMO shots.

Street Shot 19 Helena Blues Festival 2006

Street Shot 19 Helena Blues Festival 2006
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

This was shot from the hip as I passed by. I doubt they know I took it. The lesson here is if you take several hundred shots at an event like this, you will get some winners. I like this shot. It looks like an ad, a Movie Still or an Album Cover to me... It looks better in Color.

"Hoss"

"Hoss"
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

I went back 3-4 times to shoot this guy. He was very photogenic.... because he was so happy all the time. This looks posed, perhaps but he was very busy. I just said "Hey Hoss!" He looked up and I shot. I will post some other shots.

CharlieWoods Band

CharlieWoods Band
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

I took a lot of shots of this artist from every angle. He was very animated, smiling, groving to the music.This was from 2 steps up to the stage. I didn't dare go further or stay long enough to get run off. The front of the stage is often a poor POV because of large floor speakers aimed back at the band.... the speakers are always in the shot.

THERE is often a debate over wide angle(20mm) lens or telephoto lenses for street photography. A long lens would capture this from a distance and perhaps a higher POV. I prefer the wide angle when possible. A 20mm prime can be shot in manual... The camera can be used point and shoot over your head to get a higher camera angle.

There was a professional photographer from Blues Review Magazine here. He was shooting a Canon 70-200mm lens. I can only assume most of his shots were close ups. I like this shot of the full band, head to toe.

Sax Player

Sax Player
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

I sought out this shot and I'm very pleased. I have seen a similar shot of John Coltrane, the famous Jazz Sax Player. Here's where it pays off to study other photographers. This was mid afternoon and in the shade. At least there's no sky in the shot. Some peiople don't count stage shots as Street Photography.. Whatever... but the Sax player is more interesting to me than the guitar player or singer.... This will be an enduring image and be very frameable. When I set out for the Blues Festival, My plan was to shoot People in the Street.. I took very few of the stage.

Bass Fiddle Street Muscian

Bass Fiddle Street Muscian
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

Several important lessons on composition here. I selected this POV to get the King Biscuit neon in the shot. I left it in color for the same reason. the other lesson is OCCUPATION... I was 3 feet from this guy but he was so busy concentrating on the song he was playing he ignored the camera... YOU.. can use this trick in shooting friends and family. Bresson did it. Find something that will occupy the attention of the subject. Have them read a newspaper. Engage them in conversation with another person.... Have them walk past you through the scene. Try anything other than "Stand right there and say cheese." Select a good BG and it is a good idea to shoot from the hip.... If you aren't aiming through the view finder... Your subject might look less like a Deer in the Headlights.

Couple on a Street Corner

Couple on a Street Corner
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

This is a couple sitting on the curb at the Auxillary stage. I like the image but doubt it has any enduring quality except to round out the Helena Blues Pool..

Street Musician

Street Musician
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

I shot from this POV to get the building only in the BG. The sky would wash out the photo. This was hand held low and aim and shoot.. manual focus set at 2-3 feet. No looking through the view finder. Some how this looks better in color.. I tried it in BW. Shot minutes after Sunset at iso 400, f/4.5 and 1/45th.. 20mm Nikon lens.

Dobro Player

Dobro Player
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

Shot at 6:30pm ,1/160th , aperture priority, f/4.5, iso 400. This was minutes after Sunset (Blue Hour).. I set the camera on Manual at about 3 feet.. 20mm Nikon lens. Hand held below the guy to get a shot of his face and Guitar and the Building. Essentially shot blind w/o the view finder. There is a BG in focus and I think this is a good street shot.. The Guitar is a classic antique Dobro. THis is the only POV I liked. Shooting from our left would put a tacky Pop Up Tent in the BG. THe fellow, of course, knew I was shooting but was occupied playing so remained candid.

Babe with Cigar

Babe with Cigar
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

This was shot at 7:16 PM, f/4, iso 1250, 1/90th of a second. It was very dark but the street had a lot of ambient light from the street lights, concessions etc. This woman was trying out her husbands cigar and obviously was not accustom to smoking. It's a little to much like a Street Portrait but, to me, the Cigar makes the image.. Shot from the hip, no flash.

Dog Bullocks Soul Food Cafe

Dog Bullocks Soul Food Cafe
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

This dog was on the street in front of Bullock's Cafe being taunted by a bunch of drunks. I circled the dog trying to get Bullock's in the BG. It was at 9:44 AM. I shot this at f/2.8 because I had been inside a Cafe shooting in low light. This would be better with the Bullock's sign in clear focus.

Child on Cherry Street Helena Arkansas

Child on Cherry Street Helena Arkansas
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

I had to hold the camera low, point and shoot to get this. The camera was preset in Manual Focus at 3 feet. I don't know what the tiny feet in the lower left are? Some kind of Doll?

Kid & Street Muscians

Kid & Street Muscians
Originally uploaded by 0zzie.

This shot was deleted from the Decisive moments pool. I disagree but what the hey? It is candid, shot on the street and IMHO interesting. BTW.. the little girl is just sitting there, she is not an invalid.. She is selling CD's of this street band. This shot from behind the Child is more interesting than one of the band.

Morning Newspaper

Morning Newspaper
Originally uploaded by zackjennings.

I added this shot today. I like it and think it reminds me of HCB. He took available light portraits near windows. His shots were probably not this overexposed. This was candid. The fellow never knew I took it.

Kid Blues Festival

Kid Blues Festival
Originally uploaded by zackjennings.

King Biscuit blues Festival 2001. Child on a street corner a block off Cherry Street.

Loafers at HARDEES

Loafers at HARDEES
Originally uploaded by zackjennings.

Added 10/1/06... photo taken in Hardees while Wyatts was out of business.. Peno Leonard, Jim Parks and another regular..

Kid with a Balloon

KidBalloonBlues
Originally uploaded by zackjennings.

This is a personal favorite that several friends have complimented but it has never recieved much in the way of views or comments on the web. Taken at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in 2001.

Image on the streets of Hardy, Arkansas.
Photo by Judy Moody by my direction.