The fight called photography | CameraNu talks and walks | Planning 2027
There's a storm coming. I can feel it. I'm not sure yet whether it has to do with the weather, but in my head, strange forces are fighting an even stranger fight.
Earlier this week I spoke to someone who really just wanted to know one thing from me: which photographic box do I fit into? And I understand the need, I recognise it. But I also know it's an external drive that stirs up that need in me. That external drive has everything to do with the search for the right target audience for all my types of photography.
"I like everything and do a bit of everything," is a statement I don't quite believe. Then name what you don't like, if that's easier. My passions lie in street photography and portrait photography, I'm not telling you anything new there, but I don't want to be limited by that.
In my workshops and masterclasses I notice that I increasingly turn to things like texture or structure, focus on details, or just light. The small things you come across as you walk through a city. They tell just as much of a story, and recognising interesting small things helps you see the bigger picture faster. I think.
The fight in my head is the fight between street photography and portrait photography. If I tell you too much about street photography, nobody books a portrait session, and if I only show my portraits, nobody books a workshop. And I genuinely love doing both!
So in this newsletter you'll find a bit of both. Enjoy reading.
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Planning talks and photowalks CameraNU this autumn
This autumn I'm hosting two very different activities for CameraNu:
- A talk: Van Straat naar Portret, about how street photography and portrait photography actually follow on from each other quite logically.
- A photowalk: Architectuur in Straatfotografie, where we'll do a bit more exploring and focus on a city's architecture. Lines, composition.
You'll find me in the coming months here:
| Utrecht Saturday 10 October |
10:00 Talk 14:30 Photowalk |
| Rotterdam Saturday 31 October |
10:00 Photowalk 14:00 Photowalk |
| Antwerp Saturday 7 November |
10:00 Photowalk 14:00 Photowalk |
You'll find all the dates for these activities in the agenda on my website.
If an activity is fully booked, you'll find me every day from 12:00 to 14:00 in the shop for a cup of coffee and a good chat about photography!
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Alarm early? Or stay in bed a little longer?
I saw this video earlier this week and it got me thinking:
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Gosse Bouma visiting in a video by Sean Tucker. Both photographers who think before taking a photo, and Gosse getting up early in mist and dew to capture beautiful shots. The days are getting shorter and the dark is lasting longer. Shouldn't I get out there too, that early? The street is already awake by then. How early are you willing to go out for that one photo?
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London is calling
Covent Garden puts up its Christmas lights on 14 November, and there are big plans to turn part of Oxford Street into a pedestrian zone. London is calling, and especially after Paris, I'm really looking forward to the two-day masterclass I'm giving on 20 and 21 November in the English capital. My train is booked. I'll be staying in Chelsea, and Esther is coming along this time too, to roam London for a few days. Should be good fun!
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I still have two spots open, alongside the three already booked. In this small group I can guarantee I'll be able to give you all the attention you want. And I'll make sure you can comfortably create beautiful images on the street, whatever your personal challenge is for this masterclass. It's going to be fantastic.
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See you in London!
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The street photo I removed something from
Photoshopping anything in a street photo seems, at times, to be a cardinal sin. I don't always agree with that. Of course, the photo should do justice to the photographed situation as much as possible. But what are you going to do with that photo? Exhibit it, sell it, or just post it on Instagram? Maybe your goal calls for a small edit.
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Bottom left you can see the shadow of a bollard. I left that one in. But in the middle, right next to the woman, there was another one, and it bothered me enormously. I fixed that. You can't tell at all.
What do you think: is it okay to change something in a street photo, or does it stop being a street photo then? And so we're back at all those boxes again...
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Do you ever get stuck too?
You know the feeling: no inspiration at all. Especially for those moments I came up with Streetsessions. Every two weeks a new email, with a short assignment or insight. That way you keep photographing, at the very least, and keep growing as a photographer. Join in:
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Grey is a colour too
We've had such good weather still ☀️. Early October, low light, long shadows. But soon enough autumn will hit harder. Don't leave your camera in the cupboard then, because it's precisely on grey days that all sorts of things happen on the street.
1. Soft sky, beautiful faces. A grey sky is one giant softbox. Ideal for portraits on the street. Quite different from that harsh light.
2. Wait for rain. Wet streets turn into mirrors. Get down low near a puddle, especially once the lamps come on around four o'clock. Umbrellas make beautiful silhouettes.
3. Look for that one colour. A red umbrella or yellow coat stands out in a grey street. Pick your spot and wait, or go actively looking. Don't drown in grey, black and dark blue.
4. Expose a touch lighter. Set your exposure compensation to +1/3 or +2/3. That way grey doesn't turn muddy. Keep experimenting with this! Fujifilm camera? Try highlights -1 and shadows +1. It gives just a bit more contrast in your JPG.
5. Stay dry. A doorway, a station, the steamed-up window of a café. Let the street come to you. Cast your line and wait for a bite.
But above all: enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. And keep photographing!
Hope to see you again soon,
Michiel