Street Photography with colour film

Street photography in colour is so different from shooting in b&w.  You really have to change the way you see.  What looks good in b&w rarely looks good in colour and vice-versa.

I chose to shoot with colour negative film as it has more latitude than transparencies and the developing costs are much lower.  I find colour tough enough and using film is going to be even more challenging.  But I am really excited by the idea of starting to see in colour as my mind was stagnating shooting b&w and I needed to recharge my emotions and vision on the streets.  I feel like a beginner again

I found it difficult to concentrate on composition, content and colour (3 C’s!) when shooting.  I would often find myself concentrating on composition and content (like b&w) and would have to remind myself to look for colour at which point i would focus on colours and forget about the other two C’s.  Will take time for all three to come together in my mind seamlessly.

I used Fuji Superia 800 and Kodak Porta NC 400 and scanned the negatives.  Scanning colour film is very tricky as colour negative film has an orange caste which translates into a bluish/greenish cast when scanned into positives.  So even the whole colour correction thing is a learning process.

These are my first attempt and I have edited loosely as I am hoping for some helpful feedback/suggestions/tips.  My colour street photography journey has just begun and I think it is going to be a long and challenging and often frustrating one.  But I am having so much fun again!

And I will continue to shoot b&w as well to keep that side of me alive:)

Beautified

The icing was the pair of pants hanging in the top right corner???

A new-look Cross Maidan

If the hat fits…

For these kids the school bus will only provide some shade

Can always use an extra hand

Crossing the street is a test of patience in parts of the city

Too young to ride

Spooky

Grooming

Not sure if the standing guy adds to the image or ruins it by partly blocking one of the 2 guys in the background

I am trying to understand how light works with colour

King of the castle

The license plate on the hand cart drew my attention

Wish I had caught just a bit more of her face

Self grooming

Back therapy?

I guess someone has to clean them

We’d be so lost without our phones

All the elements came together in this image

Loved his hair

The upper floor on these huts are very pricey and some offer spectacular sea views!

Chai time

Don’t hang the messenger

It was cold enough to warrant a blanket the last few days in Mumbai

Film Lives! Great news from Kodak.

Kodak phases out digital businesses, keeps film alive

Kodak has announced that, as part of its “ongoing strategic review,” it will stop producing digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames, but will continue to invest in its film division

Author: Olivier Laurent

09 Feb 2012Tags:Kodak

Less than a month after announcing that it would seek bankruptcy protection in the US, Kodak has announced that it will stop the production of digital cameras and picture frames, as well as pocket-size video cameras.

“For some time, Kodak’s strategy has been to improve margins in the capture device business by narrowing our participation in terms of product portfolio, geographies and retail outlets. Today’s announcement is the logical extension of that process, given our analysis of the industry trends,” says Pradeep Jotwani, Kodak’s chief marketing officer.

However, the firm has moved to reassure film photographers. “Kodak’s continuing consumer products and services will include the traditional film capture and photographic paper business, which continues to provide high-quality and innovative products and solutions to consumers, photographers, retailers, photofinishers and professional labs,” it says in a statement.

The news comes as Kodak is undergoing a wide-ranging strategic review of its businesses with the “commitment to drive sustainable profitability through its most valuable business lines.” But Kodak is quick to point out that the move won’t mean the end for Kodak-branded digital cameras. Instead, the firm plans to license its brand to third-party manufacturer – a move that mirrors Polaroid’s action in the years leading to and following its own bankruptcy.

Kodak says that it has contacted its retail partners, and is working closely with them to ensure an orderly transition. “Kodak will continue to honor all related product warranties, and provide technical support and service for its cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames.”

Kodak also plans to focus its resources on retail-based photo kiosks and digital dry lab systems, consumer inkjet printers and the Kodak Gallery.

Two weeks ago, BJP’s technical writer Jonathan Eastland argued that Kodak needed to refocus its business around its film division. “What make them think that digital printing will push their share price up? For Kodak to make digital printers their core business is laughable,” he said. “Each time Kodak has discontinued a film, they used the excuse that it represented less than a certain percentage of their turnover, but it’s still a percentage of a very large niche market. There are still millions of photographers around the world that are using film, and not hundreds as Kodak seems to suggest. Kodak’s got to go back and crunch their numbers about the film market. All people want are these little yellow boxes of film, and that should be their core business, even it means reducing the company’s size further.”

Read more: http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2145203/kodak-phases-digital-businesses-film-alive#ixzz1lxGfDnmU
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First post of 2012

This is my first post of 2012.  Been busy with getting That’s Life on the map and I have to say we have been receiving quite a positive response with regards to the collective (www.thatslife.in).

Anyway, as my back started to feel better (nursing a herniated disc), I got back on the streets with my x100.  Here are a few images I made before my camera developed the apparently common sticky aperture blades problem It will now have to be sent to USA for repairs…bummer.

Only in Mumbai!

An attempt at surrealism

What was life before cellphones?

Trend setter

A voyeuristic photographer friend in the background

Balancing act

Early morning at the Mahalxmi race course

I recently met a really good street photographer from Scotland.  His name is Dougie Wallace and he has a really interesting style of imagery and uses the flash in very unique ways.  Check out his work at www.dougiewallace.com.  He apparently heard of me from the writer of the well known book ‘Street Photography Now’ who told him to look me up in Mumbai.  Not sure how the writer heard of me but was quite pleased when Dougie told me this:)

Anyway Dougie and I spent some time shooting the streets together.  With the x100 out of action I picked up the Leica and some film and headed out.  It was a fun day and it was interesting how both of us, with totally contrasting styles of shooting, went about creating our images.

I just love how film renders highlights

Tight squeeze

Dougie Wallace maneuvering peak traffic on the streets of Mumbai

With my x100 gone for a while, I am now tempted to try shooting some colour on the streets.  Not sure how that might turn out but will be heading out with my DSLR one of these days.  Will have to adapt my style and my eye to creating interesting colour images.  Looking forward to the challenge

My last street images of 2011

My last post for 2011.  One of my resolutions is to post less frequently in 2012 to ensure that the quality of my posts improves – maybe post once a month.

Anyway all the best for the New Year.  Keep shooting!

Selective light

Incognito

Paternal love

Well balanced

I really worked for this image.  Worth it in the end…

Xeroxed

He should be playing with them not selling them

Shelter

Anything for the shot!

Camouflage

Delhi daze

I’d gone to Delhi for the launch of a friend’s night club.  Got there in the evening, partied all night, and was exhausted the next day.  Managed to get out late in the day for some photography before retiring for the night and flying back the next day.  Night club launches and street photography do not complement each other

Whatever it takes to survive in the Capital winters

Early responsibilities

The impressive Select City Mall was filled with a festive spirit

Unique twist on a nose ring?

Successful sale?

My wife at the Red Fort.  By now we were exhausted and she had to force a smile

She looked more uncomfortable than the people in the crowded bus.  The traffic had come to a standstill.

Even disney couldn’t wake her

Still sleeping on the elevator to our room.  It was a tiring trip with a few hungover images!

Chowpatty beach and Mumbai street shot with film

I just love everything about film – the tones, the inconvenience, the developing process, the surprise and the value of each frame.  Digital is a great invention for the photographic world but film is what keeps me coming back:)

Point

Beach bombs

Competition

A quick peek

Limbs

Scan the horizon

Co-exist

Clone

Belongings

That’s Life

That’s Life, a street photography collective, has launched!  We currently have 5 members and hope to grow to at least twice that in the next few months.  The collective will showcase images created in India.

You can see the website at www.thatslife.in

We are accepting submissions for review.  So if you or anyone you know has a worthy body of street photography work in India, we would love to see it.

It’s taken a bit longer than I thought to launch this collective, but hey – That’s Life