January 2011

Indeed, color photography is the best, here is why : - because God did not create Man with black and white vision. - because life is not all black, nor all white. It is mainly in between. - because you can transform colors in B&W, but can't do the reverse. - because of Quentin Tarantino and Kar Wai Wong. - because light browns work so well with orange. A grey is a grey. - because Benetton would have gone bankrupt without colors. - because the fifties are long gone, get over it ... - so are the forties ... -...

Truck loaded, the four decades old engine starts to roar. Sunglasses will take care of the sunset. Time to hit the road.  (click on picture to enlarge) Leica M9 with 50mm Summicron at F2.0, 1/350, ISO160

A fruit merchant talking with passion about his decades old brass scale. Not all business here might have the most up to date technology, but for sure some of their vintage equipment could sell for little fortunes in Europe's antique markets. Leica M9 with 50mm Summicron at F2.0, 1/125, ISO800

For those unaware of the Street Photography Now Project, it is a one year venture where street photographers are given an instruction weekly and must shoot accordingly.  This week's instruction, proposed by photog Arif Asci, states the following : "Look for a window. Through a window, out of a window, or at reflections on a window." Therefore, after reading the instruction this morning (they are delivered to you by email every Friday), I headed to town and decided to visit a couple of bars. (I am starting to know a lot of people in there, not a good thing …)....

It is 9am, the town slowly wakes up. In front of me a coffee and two small croissants freshly baked. It rained last night, but the colors of Argentina make it harder for grey tones to prevail. I look out the window, I see depth, the curtain and the brick wall could border a shot. I raise the camera to my eye, pre-focus and wait for something to happen. A few passer-bys' make it in the frame, not much of interest. Then suddenly, she appears riding her bike with energy, her shirt says she is the superstar. And she is,...

Today is the first post of a new column : Critique-a-shot. On a weekly basis, I'll write a critique of one or several pictures, be them mine or more interestingly, the ones submitted by readers. (see "how to submit" in the section after the critique). Indeed, every once in a while, we shoot a picture where one is not so sure whether it will be interpreted as initially intended. The goal of this column will be therefore to analyze the selected pictures methodically and come up elements that will help to build an answer. To do so, I will look...

As you stroll along the streets of a city and shoot strangers, every once in a while people will get angry at you for taking their picture. It is understandable, street photography is quite an obtrusive act towards your fellow citizens. You scrutinize them, interpret their behavior and decide whether their doings are worthy to be recorded or not. The resulting array of reactions is therefore very diverse, from total indifference to anger, even though smile is still the most common answer you will get. Yet, whatever the reaction, consider it as a legitimate part of street photography which must...

Located on the shores of the Parana river in Rosario, the Monumento Nacional a la bandera (Flag's monument) is a structure that glorifies the foundation of Argentina in 1812. It boasts a 70 meters high tower where one can enjoy a breathtaking view over the River and Rosario's cityscape. (click here to see a wonderful 360 panomara taken from the tower.) I guess this little boy wanted to give a special honour to the monument by wearing the colors of Argentina. (click on picture to enlarge) Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F8, 1/125, ISO200, ND filter

Newell's Old Boys is one of the two main football clubs in Rosario. Theses Boys really did look old tonight as they showcased a very lousy performance versus U. Catholica from Chile. Hopefully, there were a few girls in the stands to cheer up the attendance. (click on picture to enlarge) Sigma DP2 at 40mm, F2.8, 1/50, ISO800

Having a bad outing ? Here are some obvious symptoms : - your first exposure is all white. ISO's are still set at last night's 1600. - your first exposure is all black. You left the lens cap on. - the first person you shoot starts running after you. - the first person you shoot runs faster then you. - you went out with a wide-angle lens but wish you had your standard lens on. - you went out with a standard lens but  wish you had your wide-angle lens on. - nothing interesting is happening, everybody is just damn...