Embracing technological advances. This guarantees the photo I want is there and in focus. I have to adjust though as it’s easy to take 20 photos of the same thing.
Wide Angle Wide Open Snapshots
Been experimenting shooting only wide open with a 28mm lens on the street. Interesting results so far, especially close photos of people.
Everyone Needs A Lighter
Confrontations
I rarely get confronted anymore. The last handful of times I’ve been confronted weren’t even about me taking photos, but by bored and paranoid drug addicts roaming the streets looking for drama.
On Using Flash
I think it held me back. All my photos were taken from roughly the same distance to the subject. I had zero regard for light as I was creating my own. This led to the exact opposite of what I thought I was going for. Looking for dynamic images. Instead, they resemble each other. Now that I’m only using natural light, the limitations of it have forced me to photograph under different situations which gives my photos more variety.
Variety Is Key
If all my photos are taken from roughly the same distance to the subject under the same lighting it becomes too repetitive. No one trick ponies. Nice to have a mix. Subjects around one, three, six, 20 feet away. High contrast. Lot’s of blacks. And whites. Different angles. Wompy compositions. I’m not going for “bangers,” rather a body of work that looks good together.
Self Crit Your Photos
I have all my best 2023 photos in a folder laid out in thumbnail view and it’s easy to see where I need improvement in.
Manual Versus Autofocus
I used to swear by manual focus until I used a camera with blazing fast autofocus. Now I’m hooked on autofocus. Makes life so easy.
Getting Better Everyday
I’m making much better work today with relatively cheap camera gear than with expensive Leica gear from the previous year.
Chris Athanasiadis 