Nice

Nice, 2014.

Not all that interesting, but this complete stranger looks like he's posing for the photo. He was just standing there, holding his dog, and I thought, "Why not?". Perhaps if I had done Eric Kim's workshop before this, I might have had the confidence to ask him if I could make a portrait, and it could have been a more interesting shot of him with his dog as the focus. But right now, it looks like an ordinary happy-snap.

Note to self: I think I'll start up a category of posts called "Missed Connections" based on Unphotographable, about all the potentially great shots I've missed as an extra "lessons learned" exercise.

Okay, so I'm noticing a pattern here: This shot was taken with the iPhone 5s, and I like it. This isn't about liking the iPhone as a camera, it's about how these are the shots I've generally taken on impulse. The ones I figured weren't worth pulling out the a7 for. The shots I've pre-determined are 'throw-away' shots taken on a whim, without over analysing the composition and hesitating on the shutter.

Part of the problem is that I keep the a7 in my bag, and the iPhone is usually in a pocket, or an easily accessible outer pocket of my bag. So when I see something I want to snap, the obvious choice is the iPhone. There are some obvious lessons here about making sure my camera is out at all times, or spending the extra time to take it out, and treating it the same as I would the iPhone when composing and hitting the shutter.

Anyway, separation of subjects, very little if any overlap. Each little group is doing something different, and they're magically creating their own leading line into the centre of the frame. Crooked, but whatever.

My favourite doors and windows again. And look at those colours. Love the European penchant for colour. Could absolutely be a postcard. Shame about the fuzziness again. I should probably do some proper tests with the lens to see whether it's just the copy I have, or if it's one of its known quirks.

Black and white because of the shadows. Love the art deco style, love the typography and the way the light makes this beautiful drop-shadow. Shame the tree is blocking the bottom half of the metal doors, but I wanted this to be about the door, and to avoid a selfie in the glass, so it worked out. Would have liked more of the detail on the upper balcony railing, but backing up would have put me in the street, and parked cars would have gotten in the way of the shot.