I mainly shoot images in the dark. It's what I do and what I prefer. I have control over all elements of lighting, composition and subject. I think maybe that makes me a control freak.
At this time of year in the UK, it doesn't get dark enough to shoot until very late meaning I have to plan on being "jet lagged" on the day following the shoot. In summer if I shoot in the dark, I get home at 3am and will still awake at the same damn time of 7am. I then end up looking and feeling like a zombie all day.
So the thing to do in the summer months is either find a dark location to shoot in or try another genre of photography. And with dark caves or tunnels being as rare as hen's teeth, the other genres win out. So this is a post of my photography nemesis, street photography.
@neilru75 and I jumped on a train for a 40 minute ride at 125mph to York city centre. Being on a train is a novelty for me as I drive pretty much everywhere. York isn't easy to get in to with a car and finding somewhere to park even less easy.
Motion
During my night photography shenanigans, I like to use long exposures to capture motion. Why not use it in daylight? I set a half second exposure and captured these two:
The abstract feel and the look from one person to the other just about makes a story telling aspect to this one:
The Perky Peacock Cafe Bar
On a bridge over the River Ouse in the centre of York, I spotted this composition and had very little time to snap this. I liked the composition of the stairs leading up to the couple and the three dimensional frame with the lady on the phone.
Probably a lucky shot....
Tunnel shot
Being a lightpainter I often get drawn to shoot in tunnels. Walking through this underpass I couldn't help myself.
Spy over the Cafe
Below the bridge is this impromptu use by the cafe of the stairs alongside the bridge. I spotted this trio enjoying a coffee and snack. I'm not sure how these three would have reacted had they spotted me hovering over their heads!
Spotted
I liked this composition of lines and the framing but here I was spotted! The lady didn't seem to mind....
Intrusion?
I spotted this Chinese lady taking a moment with her young child. I liked the story telling aspect of the kid huddling or cuddling close to his mother while she checks her socials.
Commuters
I always wanted to shoot an overhead shot with uniform rows of the subject but here I settled for these two commuters in York railway station.
Throng
It was busy on a Saturday in York station so I shot about 10 images all on a longer exposure and blended them together in Photoshop. I waited for a few minutes and captured the motion of the train leaving too.
About me:
I usually specialise in shooting lightpainting images but occasionally dabble in urbex and artistic model photography. I'm always on the lookout for someone to collaborate with; please don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like to create art.
Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/fastchrisuk
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fastchris/
I like the story telling aspect / potential of the shots! :)
Thanks @ackhoo the story telling is an elusive thing to chase after!