Street Photography

Confidence

Black And White Photography, Photography, Steven

CONFIDENCE © STEVEN WILLARD

I don’t get much opportunity for street photography, but every time I do I’m reminded how difficult it is for me, and how exciting when things work out.

I saw this woman approaching me on the other side of the street and realized there was a photo opportunity in the making, if I could time it right. It was one of those situations where there was barely time to get the camera to my eye and press the shutter.

There are several things I like about this image; the contrast between the linearity of the building and the shape of he woman in her long dress, the contrast of textures and the contrast between the static building and the implied movement of her stride. But what I like most is her. She looks like she knows where she is going, and she is confident she will get there.

Please visit my blog at https://stevenwillardimages.wordpress.com

Street Photographer

Black And White Photography, Joseph, Photography

Fuji X-T2 and XF 18-55mm LM OIS Lens – 1/125 @ f/5.6 – ISO 200

This is a casual portrait I took of the legendary street photographer Louis Mendes at the 2018 Coney Island Mermaid Parade. If you live in the NYC area you probably have met him. Thank you Louis for being a gentleman.

To see a color version of this image please click here

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF

Black And White Photography, Martha, Photography

I have started a new project where I ask the subject one question, “If you could meet your younger self, what one piece of advice would you give to him/her?”  These men were in front of the Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission. All three answered the same way, “Don’t drink or take drugs”.  Then I took their picture.

Al Fresco

Black And White Photography, Photography, Steven

Al fresco © Steven Willard

I find it difficult to ignore patterns, textures and light-play when looking for potential photographs. Add a small dose of mystery and I’m hooked.

I’m not quite sure why the owners of this restaurant chose to fence it off from the sidewalk. Was it to keep patrons from leaving without paying? Or, perhaps it’s a case of not wanting to have their tables and chairs stolen; in that case it’s like closing the gate when the horse is already gone.

Pentax K5IIs with 15mm lens. The challenge here was getting everything lined up to my satisfaction, made more difficult by the wide lens.

Please visit my blog https://stevewillardimages.wordpress.com

Guest Post – Cheryl Atkins

Black And White Photography, Cheryl, Photography

It’s my pleasure to introduce our newest guest contributor Cheryl Atkins. I have been following her work for a while now I think she will be a perfect fit for the Monochromia team. I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do.

The Contact

I took this shot in the Old City of St Augustine in January, 2016. Armed with my Fuji X-T2 with the 23mm f/2 attached I set out to get as close as I could to my subjects. I chose different locations and stood on corners or sat on benches while waiting for the shots I wanted. St. George Street was very busy with tourists and locals a lunchtime. I spotted this window and pointed my lens at the young woman there. I hoped she would look up and give me the eye contact I wanted. After about five minutes she did.

Fuji x-t2 and  23mm f/2 – 1/800 @ f/5.6 – ISO 1600
My name is Cheryl Atkins and I am a street photographer who lives in Baltimore, Maryland in the US. I attended art school for awhile after graduating from high school. There I had my first encounter with a camera and shot and developed film as part of the curriculum in my lead up to becoming a painting major. My parents “encouraged” me to leave art school and go to a college that would provide me with a degree with which I could get a job. So, I left art school and traveled for a year in an old Volvo with two cats and a ne’er do well boyfriend. After several years of working I went back to school and got my degree in Mass Communications. I didn’t use it. I missed the creative outlet of painting and photography. Fast forward another decade or so and I began to enjoy the process of designing the renovations my husband and I did in our real estate business. Then I bought a Kodak EasyShare for a trip we were taking to Canada. That did the trick and I have been shooting ever since. I quickly graduated to the Canon system with a Rebel xsi and moved through to full frame not too long after that. I still have my Canon gear but switched to Fuji for its smaller size and unobtrusiveness. I got into shooting street about twelve years ago. For the first five years I shot exclusively from a moving car driven by my husband because of the crime in my city. Once in awhile if I  find myself getting repetitive I will take a break from shooting street for a week but I always go back. I am constantly amazed at how different the same area of a town can be on different days or even at different hours on the same day; the change of weather, the available light and the people there. I love it and never tire of it.I would like to thank Joe for offering this wonderful opportunity to me. I hope all of you will enjoy my work.You can follow me on Instagram – here
Or on Flickr – here