Chasing FOG...
So last month I went out and shot the fog at night and it was beautiful. This year, specifically this past Fall, it seemed like the fog came all at once. I mean like, for almost 4-5 days we were hit with solid fog and no wind. And then, just like that it was all gone.
Now, the problem with fog and being a photographer is that fog can give you instant FOMO. Don’t laugh, it’s a real thing! Fog usually creeps up on you when you least expect it. And then you just don’t know how long you have before it’s all gone! It really is a race against time. To stay sane, I repeat this motto, you get what you get and move on. So, over two nights I gave myself a total of 2 hrs (roughly an hour each night) to get what I could get.
Now, because I have kids, I can’t just up and leave to make photos, especially at night. So, I have to plan. My breakdown was easy:
Spend one hour per night right after the kids are asleep.
Keep it close to home. Searching for locations will waste time. (get what you can get!)
Pack light. (read below)
This was my tool kit for each night was as follows:
Camera - Canon 6D
Lenses - 85mm f/1.4 + 50mm f/1.4
Tripod - Fotopro C40i
BONUS TIP: On day two I used my car so I could cover more ground, pull over and shoot from the car. My dashboard became my tripod!
Here are some images from night one that I rather liked.
Night two brought with it a unique perspective since I was relying on my car as my point of view. I will say, it was a brilliant way to get around and find moments. Here are a couple of my favourites from night two.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: What focal length do you prefer for this type of night, street photography, 85mm, 50mm, or 24mm? Let me know.
Ultimately, this was a practice in patience and perseverance. I was just happy to get out and get it done. Could I have done more, stayed out longer? Of course, but there is something to be said about that saying I mentioned earlier. “Get what you can get!”.
peace.
t.
SUNDAY SOUL : The Optimism Fall Brings
Editor’s note: My procrastination has left this post in “drafts” for 3 months! My apologies. I will do better by y’all.
I have to say, the Fall at times feels more like a “New Year” to me than January. There’s something to be said about life regenerating itself in the physical form right there in front of you as opposed to your “hopes and dreams” approach.
You see, Autumn comes along to remind us of the importance of a refresh. A chance to make things better. A chance to start things over, heal, finish, or simply, begin.
Now, the Canadian Fall season tends to be short-lived, before you know it you're in your winter coat. However, this Fall in particular has been exceptional. I mean we were in the first week of November and still experiencing a bit of that early fall warmth. The winds have consistently been calm so leaves have stayed on the trees that much longer. This has all translated into one of my most documented, photogenic, and memorable Autumn seasons on record for me. Because of that, I felt present and honest with the photos I made.
With all that said, I have had a lot of mixed feelings about making images as of late. One is, the more I shoot nature landscapes the more I know I don’t want that to be my new direction or focus. However, I see nature as my retreat, my escape. So if I do shoot it, it will be more of a relaxation process, a reflective process. Those are the feelings I want to connect my memories to when looking back at these specific photos. We’ll see, only time will tell.
Thanks for sticking around.
t.
The Mindset of a Street Photographer
Starting off your day with the proper mindset can be all the difference you need when making images you're truly happy with. Let me explain.
A typical day out shooting street may look something like this. You wake up, eat breakfast, head downtown to a high-traffic area and start shooting. BUT here’s the problem, you have no plan, focus, or expectations. Once in a while that’s actually healthy to do. However, what I’m talking about are the mental fundamentals that will prepare you for maximum clarity of the task at hand while managing your expectations.
So here are the 3 STEPS that I put into play each time I head out to shoot. (Results may vary but I promise you will get better).
1. PREP
Preparing both mentally and physically the night before you head out to shoot. Since I’m a big fan of less is more, my setup would look something like this.
One compact camera (Ricoh GR II)
Three batteries minimum (charged).
One small camera bag.
Along with equipment I always check the weather, wear the proper clothing based on the weather, and bring bottled water.
2. ONE SHOT
This is the goal or the magic number I keep in the back of my mind whenever I head out to shoot. If I leave from a day of shooting with one shot that I’m really happy with I feel I’m making solid progress toward something bigger. Some will say that that’s not ambitious enough or I’m setting the bar really low for myself, but I don’t believe that to be true. By keeping the pressure or expectation low, I give myself a chance to experiment, take my time, and mainly shoot what sparks my interest. To me it’s a choice between quality vs quantity.
3. SHARE
This step is by far the easiest in theory, right? Share the work you just created. Share what you’ve put so much time and effort into. Share your vision with the world! Yet we as artists tend to find ourselves never showing our works. Why? FEAR OF WHAT OTHERS WILL THINK. This thought comes up time and time again (trust me, I still struggle with it). Ultimately we are asking ourselves, will people like me? It sounds so silly when you read it back but it’s a real feeling, a real mentally exhausting thought to constantly process.
Now, before we lose track of the point I’m trying to make here, let’s review it again. SHARE THE WORK YOU’VE CREATED! That’s it. Share it on social, share it on your website, share it in a group chat! It really doesn’t matter, just let others know your vision. Once you’ve shared it, you’ve completed the artistic journey and can now move on to a new one.
Let me know in the comment if you have a different approach to achieving your daily photo goal. I’m all ears!
Peace.
t.
5 Images That Changed My Street Photography
I’ve taken many images over the years, some more memorable than others. So after skimming through a few hundred of my favourites, I landed on these five photographs as my most impactful. When I think of my artistic growth, confidence in sharing my craft, finding meaning behind each frame, and understanding the technical side of making images, these five stand out. An important note to make when looking at these images is that I’ve taken thousands of “bad” shots (imo). Matter of fact I still take bad shots just not as many as I used to. I still do make mistakes out in the field, however, that’s when I’ve seen the most growth. That new way to look at things holds true for all things we are passionate about: practice makes progress because perfection doesn’t exist! OK, let’s get into it.
“MONDAZE” - 2011
“Mondaze” - Fall 2011, Toronto, Canada
I had only been shooting street for a few months when I stumbled upon this moment in 2011. My camera toolbox at that time was very limited, consisting of just my iPhone 4. The X-factor was an app called Hipstamatic. The app had innovative features, one being the ability to shoot directly in Black & White (a new experience for me). I remember seeing this person walking with an umbrella a few feet away. I quickly opened the app and simply waited for him to enter my frame. The problem was he walked faster than I had anticipated so I turned my phone to try and get the whole umbrella in the frame. I also didn’t know much about shutter speed hence the blurry, tilted image. BUT, I learned a ton about patience, silhouettes, creating mood, and single-frame storytelling. That day, I felt like I was onto something.
“HOME” - 2014
“HOME” - Fall 2014, Toronto, Canada
Four years after I made this image, a client said to me “ I love the juxtaposition of your composition. I mean, how long did you wait for your subject to cross your frame with the word “VISITOR” right there!?” I had to take a second look at my own image. It took me four years to understand and see what he meant (so obvious, I know). I learned in that moment that I need to be more present when I’m shooting street. It’s not about the cool composition but about the details which tell a bigger story upon reflection.
“UNDECIDED“- 2016
“Undecided” - Winter 2016, Toronto, Canada.
In most frames that I create, I first see myself as the subject. Hear me out. Mentally, I connect with the subject because I‘ve either been where they are or want to be where they’re going. Sounds silly, I know, but it really is what I relate to first. I remember a time when all I wanted to do was leave Toronto. Leave my home, my neighbourhood. I just needed a refresh and a new start. I eventually packed my bags and moved to Harlem, New York City. It was a time where I experienced many emotions including loneliness and solitude (that’s a story for another day!). Naturally, this image and the concept of home really resonated with me. I didn’t feel it then but in retrospect, I was definitely going through it. Nonetheless, a beautiful moment that always takes me back.
“Higher Learning”- 2019
“Higher Learning” - Winter 2019, San Francisco, USA.
Any street photographer will at some point share with you a story of pure luck of how they “got the shot”. It usually has nothing to do with them other than pressing the shutter. Do any of these clichés sound familiar to you? ”I was just at the right place at the right time,” “the stars were aligned,” “I just turned around at there it was,” “the photo gods were watching over me”… etc., etc.
These all sum up this beautiful moment in street photography for me. I mean please just analyze all the small details of this composition. The back story is I was walking down a street in San Francisco near city hall, I saw this gentleman and loved the colour of his early 80s trenchcoat. In passing, I snapped off one frame. It was only until I looked at the image later did I see all the fascinating details. The NAT GEO book (do they still print these?), the vintage green, post box. But of course, it’s the brilliant, hair braided-antennae coming out from his head. I was speechless but thankful. I learned empathy in this moment. It is my duty to honestly document my subjects but it’s my choice of what light to shine and it will always be compassion over clicks, eccentric over safe. This moment also reminded me of why I love to shoot street!
“Eyes of the forgotten” - 2017
“Eyes of the Forgotten” - Fall 2017, Toronto, Canada
It was not until I had this perspective of my city from the rooftops of Kensington Market that I realized the Toronto I grew up in was leaving us for good. This was now the era of skyscrapers, condos, and construction. The soul of the city was leaving and Future Toronto was here to stay.
What I learned technically from this image was the importance of going back to a tested location and to PAY ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER! A change in weather literally changes everything. Sunrise, sunset, rain, snow, fog, night, and day, all have an effect on your final image. Though I love this photo, I wonder what story a setting sun would tell.
So there you have it, five images that changed my photography and I think pushed me to where I am at this point in my career. To be quite honest, I feel like I’m just getting started! Looking back at these images reminds me of just how much more I have to experiment with in the world of street photography.
Can you remember a photo or two that changed the way you approached the way you shoot? Please share in the comments below!
Until the next blog, stay creative and believe in yourself.
Peace,
t.
STREETSOUL COMMUNITY PHOTOWALK 2022
Streetsoul Community Photowalk, Toronto, 2022
I finally hosted my first photo walk of the season! Sharing space with a group of like-minded individuals was a breath of fresh air. Something I’ve wanted to do since day one has been to build community. The goal for the day was simple: meet new people in the street photography community, elevate understanding of why we shoot street, and of course, have fun.
I had 3 locations scouted out a week prior (Spadina Rd. eastside Alleyways, Chinatown and Kensington Market) to make sure we experienced different street settings as we explored possible compositions. Luckily, we had great light on that Saturday morning. The sun was out in full effect which made for warm tones and deep shadows. Those were all the technical elements we needed. Our focus would be more philosophical on this day: Why are we out here creattng? What is it about the street that draws us in? Who are these people in the places that we document? I had some lovely conversations with my newly found friends throughout are morning excursion. I left the walk that day very inspired by the level of empathy, curiosity and dedication to the craft that everyone showed.
We ended a lovely morning of shooting with snacks, coffee, and tea at Wanda’s Pie in the Sky located in Kensington Market. (*chef’s kiss)! I can’t wait to host another walk in the near future and my hope is to continue creating community around the one thing we all seem to love, photography.
Stay tuned and keep snapping!
t.
In Search of Light & Shadow...
How I see things these days
When I first started shooting street many years ago, I would often go out aimlessly without a focus or intention. This was great at the time because it allowed my mind to be free. I often captured special moments that were not planned or inhibited by my thoughts, expectations, and most of all— time. My MO was to simply feel the vibes of the street, people, and the scenery and just go with the flow.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve completely shifted away from that approach (mainly because I now have 2 young children). Spare time is a luxury. Right now, it’s ALL about going out with a clear, focused intention and goal in mind.
This month, my goal was to capture the dimensions of light and shadow on the street. I chose light and shadow as a challenge because I wanted to explore how dark shadows and harsh light evoke emotion in the image, for the viewer and even for me behind the lens. Some of my thoughts and images from this challenge are below.
“Lost in Thought” - by @tahaphoto - Shot at sunset, this meant longer shadows would exaggerate the feeling of even the smallest of gestures, in this case, his head looking down. I was also fortunate to be shooting into the light, creating a silhouette on the subject.
If you’re looking to create dramatic images, sunrise and/or sunset work best. The sun is at the lowest point in the sky at these times granting you longer shadows and warmer / softer light. I tend to pick locations with a lot of lines, shapes, windows, reflections, nooks and crannies. This way, the light finds a way to dance in and out of these pockets and cast playful shadows like this one of the car and buildings below.
“Streaks” - by @tahaphoto I waited patiently at this corner for a few minutes hoping that a unique moment would arise. I loved how the light was reflecting on the street and on the building at the top of the frame. The cyclist was already in motion but it was my hope that I would catch the cab as well. I also got lucky with two people coming out of the shadows in the distance.
“Failed Letters” - by @tahaphoto Light & Shadow in its most simplistic form. There’s something melancholy about the lettering and how the soft, warm sunlight hits it. The frame also made me feel for small businesses that have struggled to make it over the last few years.
Light and shadow examples are everywhere, but for this challenge I was particularly inspired by a few of history’s great street photographers. I was moved by the whimsical works of Alex Webb, the brilliant and ever-so-patient, Saul Leiter, and my personal favourite photographer, Vivian Maier. They are the masters of light and shadow. They were also quite methodical and disciplined about achieving the imagery they wanted to share with us. I have to warn you, once you view their works you may feel the need to seriously contemplate retiring from the artform! All jokes aside, studying their respective catalogues reminds me of how much I still have to learn about this beautiful photographic journey of mine.
Naturally, with more knowledge and new inspiration, it’s easy to see why I would want more from my visual storytelling. Recently and during this challenge, I actually felt a shift inside of me to create more interesting stories that move ME first. This means taking a step away from traditional street and gravitating towards more “street scenes” as my composition base. The freedom to be more abstract, less obvious with composition is very exciting to me at the moment. Here are a few examples of light and shadow below that I’ve created through this new lens and some from my previous work that I was happy to see capture this same sentiment.
This challenge and looking back on my work was fun and so needed, especially during these winter months. Sometimes a simple challenge like exploring light and shadow can give you perspective and get your creativity moving in the right direction.
What have you been focusing on as of late with your photography?
Peace.
t.
BTS Photos for Recording Artist - JRDN
BTS for Music Artist JRDN
On set of JRDN’s latest video “Mrs. Right Now”
From time to time I get called by musicians / artists to help tell their story through photography. I’m always flattered when I get these calls and I take them seriously because I respect their artistry and I’m grateful that they thought of me. This past week, Singer/Songwriter JRDN had reached out asking for “Behind The Scenes” coverage on the set of his latest video, “Mrs. Right Now.” The song is from his latest LP “Ralph” which I feel is his most personal album to date. I connected with a heap of songs but my favourite is “The Way That You Love Me”.
Now it’s important to note that not every project asks for you to be the lead, get the “hero” shot or shoot the ever-coveted album artwork. So, before committing to any project, I always ask myself a couple of questions. How will this opportunity add value to my portfolio? What can I learn from this experience and do I respect this artist’s work? The answer was an easy yes to all three questions.
I employ a few strategies when documenting BTS to keep me focused, consistent and true to my style as a street photographer.
I focus on finding moments that are candid and honest and then polish them off with warm, cinematic, moody edits in post. Just like on the street, I try to be like a fly on the wall, staying clear of interrupting the artist and the video’s director.
I always pack light. Some people tend to overlook this simple tip. I don’t like to fumble with big lenses because you can miss special moments.
I try my best to overdeliver for the artist. This may come in the form of adding extra portraits of the artist, candid moments in and around the set of the crew members and the space. For this particular project my edits were all very cinematic since the song seemed to call for that as well as the space (The Drake Hotel in Toronto).
Choose the ratio to shoot in based on the project. To keep with the cinematic theme and because this was a video, I shot everything in 16 x 9 (landscape). I find it so refreshing and fulfilling to share the full-screen version of my images which is not something I always get to do.
Me experimenting with a few images to tell the story through double exposure.
I hope you enjoyed a look into my process and workflow outside of street photography. What personal or professional work kept you busy this week and what was your process like? Let me know in the comments.
t.
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 ✌️
t
BW photo challenge cut short! :(
As I prepped to shoot day 11 of 14 for my photo challenge I got a call from my friend Shanik. He unexpectedly needed the RICOH back. So just like that the challenge came to a skreeeeching halt. But no worries! Let me break down what I've learned over the last 10 days.
1. Consistency breeds output. The 10 blog posts I created over the 10 days is more than I created in the last year, yes the last year!
2. The "right time" doesn't exist. Shooting now, posting now, sharing now, taking action now is way more of a productive process than over-thinking and putting out less work. Improve as you share your work!
3. Black and White photography helps your eye focus. Since I forced myself to shoot exclusively in BW I had no choice but to look for interesting scenes, find the beauty in the mundane and set myself up in a position to capture a great shot.
4. Bring your camera everywhere! Because I brought my RICOH with me every day I was able to give myself a chance to capture everything and anything I came across. Don't assume you'll "get the shot" later so be prepared and always carry it.
5. Have fun? hahaa! I struggled with this on the first few days. I was mad, grumpy, complaining about the carema settings, the weather, you name it! But by day 6 I thought, what's the point of doing this exercise if it's not fun to you? Chill, have fun and be thankful for the process.
What's next? Well, I'm gonna do my first film camera challenge. Stay tuned!
t.
Day 1 - 10 (left-right)
BW Photo a Day challenge 010/014
Full day of everything else but photography. I'm starting to wonder if December was the best month to try a challenge. lol
010/014 - Dec. 6th 2017 - Victoria Park & Gerrard St.
Photo 010 story:
Light. Look at what a little light does, it was everywhere. Through the fence, through the paper, reflectiing on the staples, but what I love most about this image... "Greg" wrote out the entire add by hand. Does that mean he doesn't have access to a computer or was this done on purpose? I love it either way. He wrote down his skillset, got this photo-copied somewhere and posted it up. Old school! Only one left. :D
Peace,
t.