As John Mayer once said, when people are taking their bags from the carousel, If everybody just stepped back, then there would'’t be panic for you to miss your bag when it comes by.
The same goes for getting on the train. If you just wait for people to take their seats and don’t squeeze by all at the same time, well then every one will be happy.
Taking the train to Belfast this weekend (midweek) for New Year’s eve. I have brought 2million cameras. No :) just the 5. The FED5b, my favourite camera at the moment. This is a Ukraine based camera which was made in the 70’s. From what I read, this camera was built like a tank! Able to survive through the war. The photos I have made with this camera have been almost dream like, So I am excited to see what photos I produce this weekend.
The photo below was taken with the FED whilst I was on the way to Vienna with my family. For me, its like a dream sequence. A flash of a moment you might get in a dream or in a movie.
For Xmas, I have been given the Action Sampler Clear. This is a 35mm film cam with some special skills. When you take a photo, it has a cross like section on the opening to the frame which burns four sequential images onto the film. I will be up north with some friends so I am looking forward to taking some moving portraits with this little thing.
Telling a story with images.
The easiest way for me to shoot most of the time is with my Canon 550d. I have had this camera for many years now, my first being a Nikon but I cannot remember the model.
Below are some images of the Airbnb we are staying in up in Belfast, Ireland. These are shot with a Sigma 1.8, 18-35mm lens. This thing is beautiful. One of the best purchases I have made. The photos that come out of this are so good. The depth of field is stunning and its 1.8 all the way through, so for me, shooting street and wanting to get that little bit closer to the subject without being up in their face, I can just zoom in and still stay at 1.8/2f
It also means that with such a gorgeous depth, I don’t really feel the need to edit to much with photos any more. They look so good coming straight out of the camera. The images below have been touched up slightly in Lightroom. Boosting contrast and fixing the colour balance just a little bit better. Meaning, the blacks are black and the whites are white. (as good as I can get)
Sometimes I may convert to black and white as this would be my favourite style. Black and white is timeless. You can shoot an image and not really be able to put a date or year on the photo.
You can check out my Black and White Gallery here…
I am continuing this piece of writing the morning after our first night here in Belfast. (and now re writing it the morning of the 31st)
The possibility to edit such a large amount of photos on the go and being able to create little story lines from them is a new experience for me. Normally I just edit my photos and then post them on social medias such as instagram and Facebook. This new approach feels like it is bringing so much more meaning and life to my photos. I am not just looking at my past , I am reading about it too. Reading about a moment I was able to catch in time.
Right now I am excited to look back on this and read it once again with older eyes and a completely different perspective.
Great start to the trip.
