A Snowy Cinematic Night of Street...
- 25c
Making the most of a very cold night.
Peace,
Back on my blogging and it feels great!
This January must have been one of the coldest on record. Like cold enough to make me question if I should even get out and shoot. There were a few stretches where it dipped below -25 to -35! That’s just nuts even as a Canadian. I had to be strategic about when I headed out and have the right expectations about my desired outcome. In between the frigid days, we had two snowy days that warmed things up a bit and allowed me to pick up my Ricoh GR II and shoot without my fingers falling off! Here are a few moments that I landed on.
Loner’s Park - by @tahaphoto (Jan. 2022)
As of late, when I’m out shooting street I find myself connecting more to the feeling of solitude. I love the idea of stumbling upon a scene untouched and empty of humans. It’s like I’ve landed on a movie set before anyone else has arrived. So fun!
Lot Lights - by @tahaphoto (Jan. 2022)
See, the winters here in Ontario can get pretty brutal but I’ve found a way to stay warm and still get “the shot” by simply shooting from my car (made a whole video on it here). Now, I’m not the first to think of shooting from a car but it’s been really helpful on days when the weather is just too extreme. Take in “Lot Lights” (showcased above). I was driving around this parking lot for a few minutes looking for something that spoke to me when I saw this tan-ish car with its lights on. By shifting my focus to the melted snowflakes on the window I was able to create a bit of mystery and drama around a pretty simple scene.
Long Way Home - by @tahaphoto (Jan. 2022)
As I moved down the road looking for more stories to tell, I stumbled upon another moment of a gentleman on the side of the road walking against the wind and snow. Again, while driving slowly I was able to capture a few frames and a B&W edit seemed inevitable. It was pretty cool getting some of the snowflakes in the headlights. I felt it added another layer to the story showcasing the speed and intensity of the storm coupled with the harsh realities of winter.
Best of Friends - by @tahaphoto
Not every image will be perfect or your greatest but that’s OK because it’s the process that’s always exciting. I love experimenting with the tools I have in front of me whether it be a window, changing focal lengths or blurring my subjects to pique viewers’ curiosity. I love trying to tell a story without seeing the full story in front of me. It gives me a chance to be present and curious. It’s a lot of fun just to simply wander sometimes and it’s what gets me out the door on these cold days.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this short blog and a glimpse into one of my first nights out shooting in the new year. I feel it’s important to keep finding ways to get out and shoot, find new inspo and build on your consistency.
Until next time… Stay creative and believe in yourself.
Peace ✌️
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