Month: September 2011

Working in Color

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Every since switching to LR3 I’ve been experimenting with color. I guess sometimes people think we folks that adore B&W do not like color for reason. I beg to differ, I think I’ve finally arrived with the tonalities that I’ve always yearned. So from now on, don’t be surprised when I share some color frames. I think color and black & white can coexist together in harmony, so here’s a frame to begin such a process, well actually to continue, since I already published this the other day. As usual, I like to set you guys up with the scene. I was at South Beach and it was already getting late, this juxtaposition caught my eye immediately, boom, I pressed the trigger and this is the result.

Cash Man

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Considering I was in Downtown and it was already late in the afternoon, I actually found it quite weird this gentleman as counting money on the streets. Downtown is not that dangerous but towards the end of the afternoon all business close and tons of “funny characters” start to appear. Personally, when the lights go down, I immediately leave as I know better than to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Another classic Ricoh GRD III shot, let me guide you through this capture. I had spotted him and he’s shirt had caught my attention initially. Then to my suprise, he starts counting the money, having the GRD at my side more or less at arms lenght on my right. Click, as I walked right my him, literally 2 ft at the most, I pressed the shutter, this time it was not full snap but I had my finger half pressed in multi-focus and voila.

Captain Cane

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Candid portraits have truly grown on me and I think its a style that really has the ability to truly connect with a human, especially someone on the streets, its a new vibe, and one that I think street togs should incorporate into their visual stream, or at least try some. Anyway, another “classic grd” moment I think. Let me lay out the scene. I saw Captain Cane across the street and as soon as I saw him, I just knew I had to have a frame. I walked up right up to him with my camera at chest level which I literally pulled up a fraction of a second before capturing this frame. Once again, I can not explain how versatile the Ricoh GRD III has become into my tool arsenal. Without hesitation, a digicam all street togs should add to their gear bags. I hope you all had a great Labor Day and let’s keep the streams going.

Stray Dog of Tokyo thoughts

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Recently, I’ve been getting inspired dramatically by Daido Moriyama. I’m actively watching his great documentary “Stray Dog of Toyko” and his insights into this craft are really pure gold. He’s whole detached attitude towards recording life as it is, is truly magnificent. I recently published a quote from Moriyama on my blog which made me really reflect. When I edited this image, I then understood what he’s quote meant. He’s quote said: “Photos are not only the images you consciously take . . . once you recognize them as photos, these are photos.” – Daido Moriyama “Stray Dog of Tokyo” So, food for thought togs, enjoy this holiday weekend.

South Beach Beauty

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Hello fellow togs, so big development for me, I started using Lightroom 3 just a few days ago. A while back I had purchased both Aperture 3 and LR3 and got caught up quickly on the ease of Aperture, never really giving LR3 a true chance. Well what can I say, I was wrong, LR3 rocks. I had been wanting to develop a workflow with color. I love BW but color has always been intriguing to me and I had never really jump straight into it, blame it, on my previous years with film, where I only worked in BW. Anyway, to make a long story short, I went on a Photo Walk on South Beach this past Sunday and I took with me my Nikon D80 and the Ricoh GRD. This is a candid from the Nikon and the niffty fifty. Anyway hope to be back soon, I have lots of stuff to share re: workflow, tone curves, and over B&W PP. Cheers and feeling the love from you all, thanks. Jorge