Big innovations in my street photography during last year. I discovered the beauty and joy photographing with old analogue cameras (compact point and shoot). It’s funny and I love the whole process. Results obtained are awesome in my opinion. Unfortunatly it’s a bit expensive so I won’t abandon completly digital, my ricoh GRIII is always with me. Film is a great new in my photography, and it’s not only about the process and final result; using film I changed also my approach and technique in the streets. Essentially with digital I shoot everything and everywhere, i am inistinctive and impulsive, I take what i want in a sort of stream of cosciousness. My first inspiration in this attitude, as I wrote many years ago in this blog, is Daido Moriyama.
But whit film and compact analogue point and shoot I photograph in a complety different way. First of all these old analogue compact cameras are slow and noisy; the photos are phisically limited (max 38 per roll). I can change the roll of course but shooting 100-150 pictures in a single street sessione of 2 hours could be a bit expensive. In addition these cameras have 35mm lens, while my ricoh has a wider lens, a 27mm which is definitly better when I am really close to people. The focus distance also is another big problem with old compact cameras which is, approxximately, from 0,5 meters to infinite.
So basically I have to change my mind, my vision and my mood in the streets. I have to avoid as much as I can those sudden and close moments in which I have 1-2 seconds to shoot moreover without watching the viewfinder sometimes. Furthermore I can’t simply take photos of what I like or I’m curious about as in digital with infinite shots. And I can’t take pictures in dark places, unless I use (very rarely) the flash.
I have to find a good spot, better if big and full of people, in a sunny day (light is beautiful and important for our images); then I have to stop, maybe think, look at the scene, try to frame as much better as I can, and why not try also with the famous “fishing technique” that personally I hate (it’s really good but I have to move continually).
It’s better for me to anticipate the moment, reading the scene, preparing my gear (moslty I have problem with focus). So using film cameras I’ve slowly changed a bit my basic technique, and right now I’m photographing in different streets of Rome, searching more open spaces, more people and more light. I found more inspiration also using digital now that I’m looking for other situations. First of all the searching of light, but I’ll write a blog post for this.
Changes are always important in my life and in my street photography. So i bless the past 2024 for bringing me so many new stuffs. Currently I’m using both film and digital, but as I said my “photographic habits” is evolving (I hope so). I don’t know if this would be good, but right now it definetly works for me. After years of more or less rigid mental pattern my mind is now completly flexible and open to new opportunities in street photography. This sort of small revolution started, unexpectly, with the use of a new gear (for me): film camera.
By the way I don’t think it’s a good thing that my style is adapting as consequence to this new medium, but at the moment I don’t mind it. I have to say also that I don’t like anymore my street photography. I’m supercritic with myself and I’m trying to change something finding the way to reach an higher level with better results (for me). This is another way to try to reach my goals.
That’s all folks
Stay well, have always light in your life
Best, F.S.
Here is the link to my personal best pictures: street photography gallery
Read more about street photography, art, cinema
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