Downtown Lens: Just Be There
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Downtown Los Angeles is always ready for its close-up. If you count the movies filmed (on a per-frame basis) Downtown is probably the most frequently photographed location in the world.
One of my favorite pastimes is walking randomly through Downtown with my camera at the ready. Having a camera hanging over my shoulder inspires me to notice visually interesting things that I otherwise might ignore.
Normally, when I'm walking around my neighborhood I wouldn't stop to look at an abandoned building. In the case of the photo above, I stuck my arm through a hole in the fence to get a shot of this building atop a hill near Dodger Stadium. I find beauty in things that many people think are ugly. Peeling paint and rotting wood gives this dilapidated structure charm and character.
As far as technique goes, this first post illustrates one of the most important rules in life:
Eighty percent of success is showing up.
— Woody Allen
In photojournalism the rule is "f/8 and be there," which is commonly attributed to the great photojournalist Weegee. If you aren't there and you don't have your camera, you're not going to catch that once in a lifetime shot.
These days most of us have cameras on our cellphones. I have an iPhone which I rarely use to take photos with. Instead, I also carry a small point and shoot camera just in case I stumble upon something amazing. I find, though, that I don't really look for things to shoot unless I have my camera out and ready to go.
That's my first bit of advice to you. Have your camera out and ready to go. Walk around and look for the unique, the unusual. Look for the beautiful and the ugly. When something piques your interest, snap the photo.
This post is the first part in a weekly series entitled Downtown Lens in which I will discuss a photograph and the technique that relates to it.
EL CHAVO! on July 27, 2008, at 04:49PM – #1
Be they good or bad, I got mostly all my pictures just by carrying my point and shoot (a compact canon PowerShot) in my pocket when I'm just running normal errands; walking to the market, the Post Office, the library, grabbing a bite to eat. I try not to leave home without it, even if I don't end up using it, as I've missed some incredibly good scenes when I didn't have the camera.
But I prefer not having the camera out, since in my neighborhood that tends to spook people. Taking pictures is akin to ratting people out, or the beginning of that process. I don't even usually take pictures of people, but I've already been questioned as to my motives a few times. Something to be aware of.
Bert Green on July 27, 2008, at 08:43PM – #2
I carry my camera with me about half the time, and always am glad I did, but I also don't take many pictures of people. It just seems rude.
meekorouse on July 28, 2008, at 07:06AM – #3
I feel weird if I don't have my camera with me. I find even if I don't take photos, if I forget my camera there's something I'll be wish I had my camera with me. So best to have it just in case.
I'm not so good taking pictures of people and prefer buildings and places without cars. There's a timelessness about environments and landscapes that aren't clutterd with people and cars.
Dave Bullock (@eecue) on July 29, 2008, at 07:19AM – #4
Yeah I'm not too into street photography, but if someone is really interesting, like the rabbit walking guy, I will some times ask if I can take their photo.