For what feels like no more than a couple of days a year, the entire mood of London changes as the sun comes out and puts (most of) the population in a good mood – it’s as though the vitamin D has a tangible effect on the constitution. In fact, I’m pretty sure it does; there’s no question I feel better after a bit of sun, and not just because I’ve got interesting light to shoot with. There are still a decent number of overcast days, but at least they’re offset by intense sunshine and great shadows.
Photoessay: London architecture in mono
Summer is a good time for architectural photoigraphy. From a photographic standpoint, colors of course become more intense, but the contrast is also helpful for monochrome photography, and with the right filters (film or digital), extra punch and contrast can be given to skies. Given London’s relatively high latitude, even during the height of summer the sun doesn’t go perpendicularly overhead as it does in the tropics – which means not being quite so restricted about shooting during noon.
Photoessay: London architecture in color
The face of London has changed so much in the last few years since my previous visit – 2010 – that frankly there are parts of the Square Mile I no longer recognise. (Never mind the fact that it’s also spread northwards towards the Barbican.) I have to admit that driving through it was an extremely strange feeling – as though an American, or perhaps Japanese (due to irregular street layouts) city had been plonked there with towering edifices of steel and glass. As you all know, I like photographing these things, so a return trip had to be scheduled.
Photoessay: London street mono, part II
Today’s post is the conclusion of part one. The abstraction of man in monochrome continues; my own peculiar brand of anthropological observation/ documentary/ street photography. Call it what you will. Perhaps as a consequence of the medium (format), I feel these images are somewhat more structured, ordered and ‘rigid’ than the previous set; that said, I’ve never felt London to be a particularly liberal place – especially the City or any of its other institutions – so perhaps this is actually somewhat appropriate.
Photoessay: London street mono, part I
The first part of my street photography from London shows life at my favourite 28mm documentary perspective – one I find natural, long enough to be intimate without being too intrusive, but wide enough to take the context of one’s peripheral vision without overly drawing attention to the geometric distortion that happens with even wider lenses. Despite having flirtations with the longer perspective I also carry – in the past 85mm, and now down to 55 or even 40/43mm for medium format – I’ve seldom gone wider than 28mm, just because it’s so instinctive. Or perhaps it’s a product of having spent a year shooting little else, back in 2009.
Photoessay: London mono solos
Many years ago, I lived in London. I’m always told that it’s most people’s aspiration to go there, but to be honest, it’s a place to visit, not one to live – much the same way I see Tokyo. What’s always struck me about it is despite having somewhere around 12 million inhabitants and what often feels like the most densely packed streets and transport systems on earth, you almost always feel alone. In the five years I spent there, I can count the number of random conversations with strangers I’ve had on less than the fingers of one hand – which is to say, far less than any other city I’ve lived in. People just seem to be not so approachable and lost in their own worlds; much like Tokyo, it seems that the less space you have, the more fiercely protective of that space each individual becomes.
One place open for Making Outstanding Images London, 16-18 July
Due to scheduling conflicts of one of the participants, I’ve just had a place open up for the Making Outstanding Images Workshop in London, from 16-18 July. If you’re interested, please send me an email. More details are below the jump, and selected testimonials from previous workshops are at the bottom of this post. Thanks! MT
One place left each for Melbourne workshop and Havana masterclass
From Making Outstanding Images Amsterdam 2013
Just a gentle reminder – I have one place left each for the Melbourne (27-29 March) Making Outstanding Images workshop, and the Havana, Cuba Masterclass (28 April-3 May). London Making Outstanding Images (16-18 July) is full, but I am taking standbys as there are almost always reshufflings due to people’s work schedules…thanks! Please click on the links to the individual announcements for more info, or please send me an email to book. MT
Testimonials from previous workshops can be found here.
Places still available for Melbourne and London workshops
From the Prague 2013 Making Outstanding Images workshop.
A few places are left for the Melbourne and London Making Outstanding Images workshops. Please click here for more details and testimonials from previous workshops, or if you’d like to register, please send me an email.
Reports from previous workshops can be seen here – Amsterdam/ Prague, NYC/ San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong/ Macau, Kuala Lumpur one, two and three.
2014 workshops now open – KL, Melbourne, London
From the Prague 2013 Making Outstanding Images workshop.
I’m pleased to announce dates and details for the first half of 2014’s workshops, starting with the first Masterclass in Kuala Lumpur during the Thaipusam festival, followed by Melbourne and London! Click on for more details, or if you’d like to register, please send me an email.
Reports from previous workshops can be seen here – Amsterdam/ Prague, NYC/ San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong/ Macau, Kuala Lumpur one, two and three.