Shooting The Urban Void

As this blog expands into a review and explore sheet over the coming years, I'd like to work through what I find as the attraction of shooting people/humanity in all its forms.

The genre (for want of a better word) is known as Street or Narrative Photography. Whilst it doesn't have anything to do with photographing a street so to speak, a lot of shooters find the open public venues as an ideal subject space within which to capture life's comedy and drama. Hence the tag.

To me, the true definition of the genre lies in the word narrative.

The old adage of a picture is worth a thousand words gives a narrative photographer quite a bit of room to maneuver to get an idea or story brought through by his/her one shot of a time and place.

Never again can this moment be repeated.

The photo of a place stamped with the emotions and actions bought forth by the inhabitants of that space are timeless. Its the general chaos over which the photographer has no control that when it comes together, offers a perspective of transcendent reality to the viewer, "my place" but another world. The mundane becomes the circus.

So on this note, what makes a successful shoot? First in my mind is awareness. One has to sink into the surrounds, so as to blend with the inhabitants of the space within which you are trying to showcase the unreality of this madness called life. This is not always easy as you may be a cultural oddity yourself depending on where you are shooting.

The second factor I feel is important is patience. With awareness, you can sense a scene is about to unfold. Get comfortable, be patient, then nail it as it happens.

Third is rhythm. Your rhythm. My first 10 to 20 shots are always crap, until I find my rhythm then things begin to flow. Rhythm involves many factors, camera controls being instinctive, a feel for the surrounding pace, intuition of people patterns within the general street bustle plus a host of indefinable stuff. Rhythm. No rhythm on the day, best to switch off and head for an espresso somewhere nice. Got rhythm, get shooting.

Fourth is location. Your Mum might think that photos of you in your lounge room are good, but if you really want to do well in this genre, hit the streets baby. Go to where its all happening.

Fifth is creative awareness of your chosen genre. What defines your vision of a good shot? More on how to appreciate style trends in a future blog, but be part of a community which shares the values of your genre. It's a great help. Seeing what others are doing can stimulate your own concepts into action. I try to spend time each week looking at other photogs work and being wowed with their creativity. Never be threatened by others you perceive as "better" than you. Frankly, in the art world, there really isn't any such thing as better. Art is just not competitive, its art and simply stands alone as what it is.

Sixth is equipment. Yeah its the last thing. Whilst I use Leica for most of my street work, I have seen great stuff done with a camera phone. More on the pixel race and gear in later blogs, but the message here is do not be fixated on equipment other than just know how to use it. What ever you shoot should feel like an extension of you. You don't have time to play with adjustments, the moment is either decisive or just another shot bound for deletion.

So awareness, patience, rhythm, location, genre style definition and equipment will help you tell a story. But YOU are the one who is the narrator.

Time to hit the road, and practice the art of the storyteller in the real world. A bard or a minstrel, with a camera instead of a lute.

Posted from Singapore

If You are in Singapore and Need Equipment

Singapore is a hub for shooters heading to other remoter regional destinations. Its your last outpost. Equipment failure in south east asia can be totally catastrophic for your assignment (even if you have a spare body). No need to bla bla about Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh or Jakarta, sorry folks been there got the T Shirt but buying stuff in any of these cities is very time consuming and if you want Leica bits or film (real film not the consumer grade) then your just plain outta luck.

So having just spent 6 months here working on my two books, Springs Winter and Excuse Me, Are You Singaporean (I know I know, shameless plug), I can now feel comfortable in recommending locations here in the city state that actually give a shit about you and your gear.

For Film, Paper, Chemicals and Bitz

Ruby Photo @ Peninsula Hotel Shopping Complex 3 Coleman Street Tel +65 63380236

The Aunite and Uncles in this enterprise have literally been there and done that as far as film and print. Seems there is no question they can't answer. The prices are very fair, and they discount for pro's and students.

This is the only shop I have seen outside of Tokyo which has real stock in large quantities.

Leica/Nikon/Zeiss/Canon Bodies and Glass and Accessories

There are lots of "photo shops" with so called "bargains" in town, however the very best prices and service (wow what service) is obtained from Gope's Foto & Film in Tanglin Shopping Centre on 19 Tanglin Road (don't get confused with Tanglin Mall like I did, Mr Blur...)

Ask for Sundar or Gope. These guys very much know their shit and frankly you wont beat their prices no matter how hard you bargain on Orchard. And if they don't have it, they will get it for you promptly. They are reliable and remember you, can't beat old fashioned customer service. Phone number is +65 67372633

Used/Pre-Loved Gear or New Voightlander
You cant beat Prime Cameras in the Peninsula Plaza, across the road (Coleman Street) from Ruby Photo. Web Site is here http://www.primecamera.com.sg/

Ask for Leslie (and tell him Mike sent you hehe). Bargain, but Les normally has the right price on his gear so you might move him 10% or so, but you get good used stuff that is problem free. Be warned there are many second hand dealers of camera gear, but I have found that these guys have zero quality control and quite often sell non functioning equipment. The opposite is true with Les and Prime, everything is high qual.

Places to avoid
Cathay Photo, a little rude and overpriced
Ben Photo, an uncontrolled market, buyer beware.
Orchard Road, if you do buy from these guys dotted in the plazas there, make sure you check what's in the box BEFORE you hand over the cash. These guys charge extra for kit camera standards such as batteries etc. High pressure sales guys have no place in this world

Other standard kit can be purchased quite reasonably in Funan, including Mac stuff (however Mac service is still best covered at the Atrium on Orchard Rd)

Peoples Park

Ya know, you can spend days walking through malls or you can look in the other direction and immerse yourself in humanity rather than "things? This can lead to all kinds of strange and interesting experiences. A simple "I wonder whats over there" can really make for a very productive day.



A misdirection from a taxi driver and I found myself at a giant shopping mall, teaming with people. On a walk through looking for food, the true nature of the mall emerged as a front for a much vaster complex of housing development apartment blocks known as peoples park.



Characters everywhere. Live upsatirs, giant community gathering areas downstairs. Food stalls, places to just sit. Full of interaction. Life.



To be successful photographing on the streets you need to blend in and become as unobstrusive as possible. We all have our techniques and what works for me may not work for you, but this particular shoot took me an hour at least to become unnoticed. The Chinese community seems to be borglike with a shared awareness, especially of people with cameras.



Patience is a virtue, mind you so is persistance, and eventually images start to flow.



The mundane rhythm of life is intoxicating with a camera in your hands



Persist, persist, persist oh and location helps

Peoples Park Complex Singapore, the entire set can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikefrancisphoto/

VII