Dave McGaughey wrote:
Wow, that third picture is great. I'm excited to see the rest.
As for figuring out the flash, there are two methods: 1. Start with flash on full power, chimp, then manually adjust from there until it looks right. The Godox flashes are nice because you can remotely adjust the flash power. 2. Use a flash meter.
I like this tip about getting the flash power right. I will add however that I do it just the opposite: Start with the lowest power I think I might need and adjust from there. There are two reasons. First, recycle time on some flashes is slower than I'd prefer especially if the batteries are less than new. Second I think it's less intrusive to the subject. Blasting them with a full power strobe can be a bit off-putting. That's just me...I work my way up to the sledgehammer and adjust from there.
sorry, I forgot to add that I really like what you have created here. Great use of light on some very interesting subjects. I also know how difficult it can be getting cooperative subjects in an environment like this. Well done.
airfrogusmc wrote:
Well executed but not my up of tea. I prefer the grittier more spontaneous street strobe work of say Bruce Gilden.
I have no idea who Bruce Gilden is until now, thinking I could learn something but what I found is an arrogant man who prey on the shock value of his victim's reaction and call it art.
Scaring people for reaction and shooting with a wide angle lens with front on flash is not what I would call "art" or being gritty, it's exploitation of the vulnerable without consent.
Michael H wrote:
sorry, I forgot to add that I really like what you have created here. Great use of light on some very interesting subjects. I also know how difficult it can be getting cooperative subjects in an environment like this. Well done.
Last one is my favorite. Really liking that.
Thanks. For every subject that I shoot, I always asked for consent and chat to them through an interpreter. Of all the people I approached only 2 people declined to have their photos taken, funny enough one of the lady that declined in the end asked for her photo to be taken after seeing me shooting other people
simplelogik wrote:
I have no idea who Bruce Gilden is until now, thinking I could learn something but what I found is an arrogant man who prey on the shock value of his victim's reaction and call it art.
Scaring people for reaction and shooting with a wide angle lens with front on flash is not what I would call "art" or being gritty, it's exploitation of the vulnerable without consent.
In my opinion a lot of your work looks like it was done in a studio. Sterile, clean and pretty without any real context to environment and nothing in the moment. Those are the reasons it's not my cup of tea. Clearly others see it much differently. Nice to have not just one way to view the world.
A few others though most don't use strobes like Gilden
Bruce Daividson, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Helen Levitt, Danny Lyon, Roy DeCarava, Winogrand, Friedlander....
And I also really like Meyerowitz to. He is also entitled to his opinion. I mentioned Gilden because he also uses a strobe but he also has some amazing images bully or not.
planalpha wrote:
Just wonderful work! Very, very, impressive.
That last one reminds me of Joey L.'s work...sans the 100k worth the gear.
Was it very difficult to get your subjects to let you photograph them?
Outstanding. Thanks for sharing.
Actually, Joey L was the reason I brought along the studio lights I went to India last year when I came back I saw the India - Beyond documentary I felt like kicking myself for not bringing the strobes along. So decided to go to Nepal this year with a portable strobe system.
Not at all, as in Joey's documentary, we decided to hire a local guide to act as a translator every where we went. The local people are inquisitive so when we asked for their photos almost everyone agreed to have their photos taken.
Hmm, interesting to see Bruce Gilden's work. I had not heard about him until reading of him in this thread. Seems like a real street photographer's photographer (or not), up in your face style. Funny because I can see now where the work of a guy called Dirtyharry on flickr appears to draw some inspiration.
OK, this one's my favorite. Nicely done. I'm uncomfortable using flash for street photography in foreign settings, but you've convinced me to give it a try.
Dave McGaughey wrote:
It's not too hard to do #1. Meter the background in camera. Drop exposure 1-3 stops, depending on how "dramatic" you want it too look. #2. Use flash. Off camera. Roughly 45 degrees above and to the side of subject. Adjust flash power until it looks right. Or use a flash meter. Or use ETTL/whatever magic auto mode you have.
Looks like he used flash off the camera to the right of the subject. You can see the right side of subject is brighter.
