Best Photography tip I ever read.

When I started to get serious about my photography not too long ago, I went on a quest on the web to find some no nonsense tips. Ken Rockwell has a ton of great tips and advice on his site. One that stuck with me was the following: If you see something you like and you want to take a picture of it, fill the frame with it. Or something like that.

So fast forward to last Thursday when I was covering the student protest march here in Montreal looking for some interesting human activity to document when I came across this awesome looking gal.

She was on a step ladder all dressed up and waving at the crowd with one of those beautiful smiles that you don't see often. The outrageous outfit, the smile and the crazy scene confirmed on the spot that I had to take a shot. The first shot was taken right when I noticed her and I must admit that I was pretty pleased with what I saw in the viewfinder and here is what came out:

I was about to move on my merry way when I remembered those words about filling the frame. So I moved in closer, composed the frame while she posed for me and took another shot. You'll agree with me that the result is a lot better than the first one.

I mean the first shot wasn't bad mind you but the second one is getting printed and framed. That photography tip is always on my mind and has paid off a few times. I choose to shoot with a 50mm lens because I want to get close to the action and results like these are the reason why. Whoever you are nice Lady, thank you.

Both pictures where taken with a Minolta X570 on Ilford Delta Pro 100 film at f5.6 on Aperture priority mode.  Lens: Rokkor MD f1.7, 50mm.

Gerry :)

Shooting photographers!

When out for a little street photography session, I'm always on the look out for photographers. We are out there "shooting" people and it came to my mind that nobody seems to return the favor in kind.

So I decided to indulge myself whenever I spot one and shoot. After all, since most of them are busy paying attention to whatever they are shooting that makes them easy targets for candid shots. Here are some shots taken in the past weeks most of them from last Thursday's student protest and St-Patrick's day parade here in Montreal.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Lomography film sucks!

I'm a sucker. Why? Because I bought Lomography film at Urban Outfitters for $20 a box. In the box there was 3 rolls of made in China 120 black and white 100 ISO film.

If Lomography is truly the art of taking bad pictures, well this film is the best crappy one you can get. I'm not mad, I bought the film out of curiosity because I wanted to see if it was that bad. I had no high hopes since this film is in reality Shanghai GP3 cheap film but I wasn't expecting this bad.

How's this for bad, the numbers and dots printed on the back of the paper has bleeded through on the film! For 100 ISO this film is so grainy it could be sandpaper. No chance of taking a good picture with this even by dumb luck, so I guess that makes it great lomo film. So if you were wondering, Lomography film sucks. Depending on where you are with your photography this could be a bad thing or a good thing.

 

 All pictures taken with a Kodak Tourist II folding camera.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Montreal sunsets

Spent some time in the Mile End today and near the house yesterday. Sunsets are awesome where ever you are!

Parc Henri-Julien

Under the Van Horne overpass

Water tower over Van Horne

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

St-Patricks Day Parade in Montreal

I went out last Sunday to attend the annual Montreal St-Patrick's Day parade bit my interest was not with the parade itself but more the people attending it.

I felt it was a perfect occasion to practice some great street photography and since the crowd would be mostly cooperative while in a party mood, I decided to challenge myself. I left the digital camera at home and only brought 2 film cameras with me. The 1939 Voigtlander Brillant TLR and a 1974 Olympus Trip 35. I used a roll of 36 shots in the trip and one roll of 12 shots in the Brillant.

Here are some of the shots that I took that day. First the Brillant.

And the Olympus

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Friday evening in Montreal.

Friday evenings are always special in Montreal. This is even more true when we start getting out of the deep freeze season.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Trooper #2 The End

"Crap!"

Well this project will have died on its own without any help from a Laval food court. Sorry folks, I'm just not getting inspired and I would rather pull the plug than publish half-ass images.

With bike season starting my bike blog will take up time and I prefer to publish nice images here that you will actually enjoy. So no more posting every single day but better stuff more often. Trooper might appear again so don't worry about him.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Flashback rocking Metro Berri-UQAM

While returning from an evening of street shots in downtown Montreal, we were entertained by this awesome group. It was wild to hear Flashback do a cover of "Let it roll" from the Doors in with is a very gray place. A great cherry on top of a sunday of an evening.

Yes, I did dump some money in the case. They played so good that it made up for all the bad stuff I've ever heard played in the Montreal Metro before.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Trooper #2 Day 67

Trooper in the Sauvé metro station.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Montreal street shots

Last week end I went out in the cold and got some nice street shots in downtown Montreal.

I learned that dogs don't like to stay put.

She had a great smile but was clearly affected by me taking her picture even though she was OK with it.

Yes it was that cold.

She was flagging someone but I have no idea who.

Having a fun discussion.

Far from a perfect shot but I still like the fact that they were fiddling around with their camera.

Parking attendants are people too.

One thing I learned that day was to wait for the camera to thaw before rewinding 36 frames. I ripped the film in the camera and I had to unload it in the darkroom. Lost 6 frames in the process! Sad part is they were nice shots too. Oh well, live and learn.

All  shots were taken with a Minolta X570 on Ilford Delta 400 film.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Gerry :)

Trooper #2 Day 66

"Stay still, you have something in your eye."

Trooper lending a hand in the studio.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Trooper #2 Day 65

"Time to party!"

Just went to my favorite place to buy film in Montreal, Photo St-Denis. Came back with a lot of nice stuff.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Trooper #2 Day 64

"What a mess!"

Helping me recycle an old flannel shirt.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Trooper #2 Days 61, 62, 63

"What is this?"

"Hmmmmmmmm"

"IT'S A TRAP!"

I should be up to date now.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Trooper #2 Days 57, 58, 59 and 60

"It seems his attention is taken by all these cameras."

"Time to get noticed with my little friend."

"HELLO!"

Yeah I know I'm behind but I'm working on it.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)