steve_west Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 since buying a rangefinder at the beginning of this year, i haven't had much time to take any pictures. i've had a lot more time since october and reading the leica forum now and then has inspired me to start taking street pix. i got a lot of respect for street photographers. compared to my usual work where i have loads of time to set up for something, it's much more challenging. especially, (i'm finding) with a rangefinder cos i'm not used to them. i'd like to hear your comments - good, bad, constructive, abusive or otherwise. all but about 3 of the pix on the site were taken last month over about 2 weeks on the m7 with a 35mm. all full frame except where cropped square. it's a bit of a mixed bag cos i'm just snapping at the moment. cheers. <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/mecan/index.htm" >tokyo - november 2004</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_evans4 Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 I like the one of the kid checking his bike in the station. There's a potentially excellent shot that you must have taken in front of Takashimaya towards Micro$oft Japan: can't you do a bit of photoshoplifting or similar to get a little detail in the faces? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
working camera Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Hi steve, Very nice set of images, and diverse. thanks for sharing. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfa Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 nice shots, I like many of them and the quality is very high, like the contrasts and the compositions what rangefinder cam and lenses are you using? b&w film? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_west Posted December 11, 2004 Author Share Posted December 11, 2004 thanks peter. yeah, that's in front of takashimaya... prints are better and when i got some time, i'm going to do some selects and work on them. curious as to why you think it could be a keeper tho'.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_west Posted December 11, 2004 Author Share Posted December 11, 2004 Alessandro, it's a M7. i'm expriementing with all types, speed and makes of film. night time with neopan 1600 which i am not too keen on although shooting some more tonight to see what happens... mostly tri-x tho'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy_baker Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Nice shots steve. What type of 35mm lens you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saotome_genma Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Most enjoyable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lkv Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Nice shots !<br>They just awaken my nostalgia of Tokyo ;-)<br>Lenny<br><a href="http://www.afimage.com">AFimage - Photographe</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael s. Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 That very last one most certainly -- hmm ... how shall I put it? -- rounds out the diversity that Craig correctly commended. My goodness! Good stack of photos, Steve. I enjoyed them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_Es Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Steve, I find what you are doing interesting. A number of the shots are striking because they are so weird. "Scrotum" and "Ass" must have interesting stories behind them. Here's what is most interesting to me. The overall darkness. It is a lugubrious darkness. An overwhelming darkness. A chilling darkness. I live down in Kansai and get up to Tokyo only a few times a year. The Tokyo I've known (in passing) for 25 years seems the opposite--bright, light, flashy. So I'm enjoying seeing Tokyo through your eyes. Much of what you are seeing on the streets is familiar to me. The weird people, the inexplicable dirt in a place so consciously trying to look clear and proper, and those frequent violations of laws and regulations (the bikes locked to the wrought iron fence). Also the homeless shots point to an increasingly familiar sight in Japan. The public drunkeness--that is a perpetual sight in the late hours. ("Salaryman" is a telling shot--you need the title to really understand the photograph). I like the weeping (?) woman on the cell phone very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_Es Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Speaking of darkness, here is a shot from Kobe...<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opc Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Very nice! They give a good sense and feel of the moment. I really enjoyed your shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abufletcher Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Steve, I'm impressed. Really really impressed. Your photos do just what street photos are supposed to do -- capture the reality of moments. If you don't mind I'd like to hear a bit about how do go about doing your street photography. What are your routines? I'm also envious. Really really envious. It would take years down here in Kagawa to collect that many odd moments! On a typically Sunday morning here in Zentsuji, I can ride up and down through the entire town and see maybe 20 people total. And half of them will be riding their bikes to the train station to get out of town. Please let us in on your approach to "street walking." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abufletcher Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Also which 35? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abufletcher Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 And what film for the color shots? Personally, I'd like to see a lot more of your color street shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abufletcher Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Also just for my own sanity, roughly how many rolls of film does this portfolio represent? If you say 5 I'm going to scream!!! As you can tell I'm curious. Really really curious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis1 Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Steve, the first shot in the group is one of the best Ive seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_m__toronto_ Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 i enjoyed this presentation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattalofs Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Man, I'm jealous Steve; that's a really impressive body of work to put together in two weeks. This isn't a criticism, more of a question really; why do current pics of tokyo so often look like pics of NYC during the 80's. Dark, dirty, contrasty, or am I just projecting? Re Neopan, if you need the speed you might want to trix in diafine? Rate it at 1200 or 1600. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jury Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 very very nice! impressive work steve. definitely one for the bookmark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_west Posted December 11, 2004 Author Share Posted December 11, 2004 thanks guys. a lot of questions there that i'll address tomorrow. it's 3 in the morning here and i just got in from a night shoot. tonights' theme was people being sick. i'm ready for bed after spending 2 hours in the police station after being chased and captured by one of my drunk and very angry subjects. hurting all over and exhausted. this time, i kept the film tho'. i'd like to coin a new phrase for street photography - 'short lens, short life'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_west Posted December 11, 2004 Author Share Posted December 11, 2004 wow! last night was crazy... you just never know how people are going to react.... anyway. donald - thanks for your comments and praise - tho' i feel the pix are still immature and i need to do a lot of refining. you like the numbers eh? well, just counted - 15 rolls. the lens is a summicron new type and colour film was probably kodak VS or GX, not that you'd know it once i've messed with it. routines....? well, i just go out when i have time and always shoot in pairs at night in places like shibuya. if i see something i think will be gone in seconds i (sometimes) look thru the viewfinder and press the button. focus, wind-on, re-compose and press the button again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_lo_..._t_o Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Whew! "Rockers" "Girls" "Cross" "Curtain" "Catwalk"(funny) "Pug" "Alone" "Smoker" and ""Smoker 2" were all stunners, but "Ceiling" took my breath away. Were you lying on the floor when you took that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abufletcher Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Only 15 rolls for almost 60 keepers. I'm impressed! It gives be hope. Even on my limited film and processing budge I can probable manage 15 rolls! You mention that last nights "theme" was people getting sick. Do you try to shoot in themes or just go out collecting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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