Spray and Praying

Walkies in Santa Eularia (IBIZA)

So listening to the interesting John Free last evening regarding taking that 'one' shot. I agree totally with him when he says that he would rather come home with 36 shots that work, than have to wade through 800 shots looking for the few that work.

Now of course John still shoots film, as do I. And I am sure this has something to do with this philosophy. At least this is what works for me. I try to get the shot at the first go (sometimes 3 or 4 shots are needed to get the correct emotion) But I also shoot differently to most people with a digital camera. Even when I do use my little Fuji digital, I still find 30 to 50 shots on my card at the end of the day. Maybe I'm just lazy. I know I don't have time to search for hours, and end up deleting 95% of the images.

Another thing that I do is keep my camera ready AT ALL TIMES!!! This means (if there is one) removing the lens cap. I never walk around with the it on. I always have the film advanced to the next frame (just be aware how you carry the camera and where the shutter release button is) I almost never walk with the camera hanging around me neck (if it is, it is usually at a gunslinger angle ready at a moments notice) I am usually pre-focused. This is usually at 4/6 feet. And I usually try to shoot at f8 to f11. This means that focus is usually spot on.

But these are all basics for street shooting with a film camera. It might seem a but fiddly especially in this day and age of the auto or P-mode. But this particular image was shot with a little point and shoot. It is auto focus and I usually have it on the P-mode. This is what I find works for me. Again it is usually set on Snap-mode (this is akin to a pre-focus mode) The Ricoh GR1 and others in the brilliant Ricoh GR film range use this to ensure that the auto focus is not hunting, and is set to the fabled 4/6 foot range.

So using this I am ready. I will be ready to take a shot a half a second after seeing it. I love this kind of shot. It has all the energy of life. And forces you to get nice and close to life. This is way this will always be one of my favourite shots. Be ready. Keep your eyes open. And take the shot. And have fun!!!

Hope you all have a great weekend, and as always, thanks.

I can also be found at

https://www.flickr.com/photos/choose_life_hcb/

http://www.streethunters.net/streethuntersindex/listing/anton-fortein

https://www.facebook.com/anton.fortein?ref=tn_tnmn

https://plus.google.com/u/0/104126857963051978234/posts



Edinburgh and the EPIC mju ii

Visitors in a old land

Some more from our recent trip to Edinburgh. I had fun with the mju ii and some colour negative film. Processed by Snappy Snaps and scanned by myself

As always, thanks for having a look. Antz

Arundel Castle and the peaceful toil

Intent

So a fortnight ago a quick visit to the South Downs and Arundel castle saw me come close to how I want to shoot. Slow down and look for the shoot I want. I have always felt that I am too rushed when out shooting. I can 'see' what I want. However, I always feel too rushed into firing the shutter.

It seemed that your man tending these gardens was a metaphor for how I had to approach my photography. As a keen balcony gardener, I enjoyed the anticipation of waiting for the seeds to germinate. I have the patience to wait for the seedling to spring up and shoot skyward. 

Seeing this fella slowly weed and looking so content gave me a moment to pause and think about my shooting. I walked around his position as he calmly went about his morning. I felt as calm as he appeared. I waited and looked and observed. I made a few exposures. And kept on looking for the 'one' I wanted.

Then, when I shot this one, I knew I had the shot I was looking for. 

et le travail du Seigneur

This was shot on my much loved FP4 plus in my little Leica iii(a), with my 35mm Color-Skopar and the Universal viewfinder from Leica. These were developed in some Adox APH-09 and scanned on a CanoScan 9000F.

Here are some of the 'sighting' shoots.

Thanks for having a look, and happy snapping. A

Arundel Castle and the Chapel of St Nicholas

The Gear, or the Intent

So I've used already posted using this subtitle (The Gear, or the Intent) Do I shoot what I am drawn to, or does my equipment dictate what I shoot?
Last time (see blog dated 2015_04_01) I spoke about the actually camera body, and how that affects the style of shooting. I week or so ago, we visited Arundel Castle and with the amazing Chapel of St Nicholas on it's grounds. As I had an unfinished roll of Ilford FP4 plus in my little Leica iii(a), I popped on the Voilgtlander 35 Color-Skopar and the Universal viewfinder from Leica and packed that in my bag, along with a few extra rolls of the FP4 plus. These were developed in some Adox APH-09 and scanned on a CanoScan 9000F.

Going into the chapel of St Nicholas you get a sense of time passing slowly. On the scale of a human life, this is deep-time. This complex was built in around 1000 years ago. Yes 1000 years ago. That it is still standing is very impressive and was very humbling to be able to walk around inside and breath in the history. 

Now, I know I could get technically better shots in this low-light space (and maybe someday I will swop-out for a high ISO digital system) But, for now THIS is how I felt when walking through the chapel. It felt mysterious and dark. It felt close-in and intimate. Was I able to convey those adjectives? Did my equipment enable me to shoot what I felt? Do these images convey my intent? I can't say. That is not my purpose. I have to shoot what I shoot and how I shoot it. They job of critic is out of my hands. All I can do is produce what I feel. I am one of the lucky ones I feel in that I have the tools to visualise what I feel. 

The Long Sleep

Watchful keep

Mother and Child

Last rest

Side-by-side forever

Holy Centurion

As always, thanks for having a look, and happy shooting. Antz

Forms of Edinburgh

When in Scotland...

All images shot on some Kodak and processed by Snappy Snaps, and scanned by myself. I was using an Olympus Stylus

Noon Gun

Quiet Stroll

Meeting Place

Service Delayed (Right Adam)

St Mary Chapel

As always, thanks for having a look. Happy shooting all. Antz

Edinburgh and Forms of Japan

So, I've stopped buying 'street photography' books...

This has nothing to do with the Land of the Rising Sun, and everything to do with how Michael Kenna's book Forms of Japan has affected me. How it's made me think about what and how I shoot. 

But, first we had to fly to Edinburgh for a weekend out of the Big Smoke. A couple of images shot in the airport. I have about 4 rolls of FP4 Plus that I want to process in some Adox APH-09.... but that will have to wait a while. This images are shot on some Kodak and processed by Snappy Snaps, and scanned by myself.

Delayed Flight

Car Park

Lovely England

Priorities

Landing

And as always, thanks for reading and happy shooting. A

Chinese Cakes and The Surrealist Manifesto

Shoot at sight

"Psychic automatism in its pure state, by which one proposes to express — verbally, by means of the written word, or in any other manner — the actual functioning of thought. Dictated by the thought, in the absence of any control exercised by reason, exempt from any aesthetic or moral concern." - André Breton

In the absence of thought... on instinct. The area which I feel I need most improvement is to shoot on sight. I find I spend too much energy thinking (or over-thinking) when on the street. Shooting film may have something to do with this. However I do feel I might be improving as I start trusting my instinct. It is probably the most difficult thing for me to overcome!!

For more on the Surrelist Manifesto, have a look at the brilliant Adam Marelli  http://www.adammarelliphoto.com/2012/01/surrealist-manifesto/

Thanks for taking the time to have a look. Have a good week ahead all. A

I want a Leica M6

I mean, I REALLY want a Leica M6

To be more precise, I need a Black Leica M6 with a CRON-M 35mm f/2 ASPH. I simply lust after this set-up. Visits to the Leica shop down on Old Street usually end up with the poor staff there having to give the display cases a good clean.  Yes, unadulterated lust...

However, I do so love my beat-up old Nikon FM. Yes, this piece of mechanical excellence built in the late 70's, yes, 1970's is still going strong. A couple dents, and some seriously sexy brassing proves this old girl's been around the block a few times. This, nearly 40 year old beauty makes the Leica M6 look like very expensive toy, which in essence of course, it is.

I love it more because, what it does, can be done by almost anything. My Nikon FM is just a box with a hole to allow light to fall on some plastic coated with silver halide crystals. The result is that when this exposed strip of plastic is processed with some chemicals, that light is, almost magically, fixed on that plastic strip. From the earliest days of the camera obscura to the modern pixel crunching beasts of today, all they did then and do now, is allow light to fall onto a light capturing medium.

So, will I make better images with a M6? Maybe. Will I enjoy shooting more with a M6? Maybe. Do I really need a M6? Not really. So, for now, I enjoy taking my FM out. I enjoy using it, and  I am very happy with the images I create using the FM, this beat-up old classic. Yes, I might lust after a Leica M6, but I am in love with my Nikon FM.

Thanks for reading

Happy shooting