The Daido Moriyama experiment

I came across Daido Moriyama on Youtube some time ago and couldn't believe how this guy came up with some great street photography shots. Mr Moriyama has a philosophy that the camera is nothing but a tool to capture an image, a moment in time.

He uses a simple 35mm point and shoot film camera with auto-focus. His technique is also particular where he hardly uses the viewfinder, he literately points and shoots!

I decided to give this technique a go but film being so precious I didn't want to waste any on an experiment that might turn out a bunch of crappy shots. Let's face it, I wasn't expecting to master in a day what a man has worked decades to perfect. So I went ahead and loaded up the old Nikon S8100 Coolpix with some fresh memory, juiced up the battery, set it to black and white, set up ISO and focus to auto. I even blanked the view screen since I couldn't turn it off and decided to not review my shots until I got home.

Out of 110 shots, I kept 70 and 30 are to my satisfaction. Most of the images were taken in the Montreal Metro since it was a very cold day outside. Hope you like how my experiment turned out. I will definitely be doing this again.

Gerry :)

At the Mall.

I take my cameras everywhere not just in case I find a great shot, but I also go on the hunt for good shots in odd places and sometimes places of no real interest whatsoever. I guess I like to prove myself wrong.

Case in point the shots presented here. All were taken in shopping mall parking lots while waiting for the Misses. Apart from weird looking cars and people dressing funny to go to Walmart, you wouldn't think that any subject of interest could be found there. Seems I was wrong. All shots were taken with my Nikon S8100.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Montreal Street Art

It can't be more Montreal than this piece

Call it vandalism or art, one thing for sure it sure is colorful and it makes great photography subjects. Montreal is filled with good looking stuff.

Everytime I spot a good looking one, I make it my mission to take a decent shot of any piece of street art. After all street art is accessible to all, as it should be.

Hope you like them and thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Photographing Montreal Chinatown at night

Chinatown here in Montreal is small but very lively. I really feel like I'm in another country when I go there. I guess it's like traveling on the cheap and fast.

Restaurant Sai Gwan is a classic Mom and Pop operation.

I love the colors, the variety in the images and the fact that I can't make out what is written everywhere! The letters now become part of the decor when they have no meaning for you.

Up those stairs is the restaurant where my parents used to go when they were dating back in the early 60's

This is a perfect example for the rule of 3 in composition. For those wondering, an image should be divided in 3 horizontal sections and 3 vertical sections to please the eye. There are exceptions of course. :)

Hope you enjoy the images, thanks for watching.

Gerry :)