Crdus, the street portraits


I enjoy, and still very much, street photography. Not sure if it's just me alone but shooting in our Singapore streets just doesn't seem to excite me...

However to continue my learning curve, I need to just shoot more and concentrate on the very essence of film photography. And that's just go out there and shoot! :bsmilie:

And so I have decided to venture into street portraits. Something very new to me since I never did really request for permission to shoot when I do streets...

I would appreciate any form of inputs from the community to help me in my new genre. Thanks!

PS: Please do not reuse any of the photos without my consent.

[video=youtube;4N3N1MlvVc4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4[/video]​
 

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#1

This X'mas eve, as you take blessings for being with your family and your loved ones...take sometime to realize that there are many many others whom aren't...He told me he has been collecting cardboards for the past 28yrs and the government has informed him that he is no longer allowed to...I kept quiet. Quiet cause when I look into his eyes...I just don't know how to console him...
Many of us pursue happiness by acquiring material things. I doubt he does that...We all have got to understand that is like jogging to the grocery store on a treadmill...it won’t get us anywhere...Easier said than done cause I'm guilty of so just as well...


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#2

I don't understand others whom stigmatize tattooed people. I've been declined into the pool in Japan, looked at in the library as though I cant read...Well, what's wrong with a tattooed guy going to the library to borrow books?
To me, it is an art...a way of expressing myself. At least my tattoos symbolised something personal to me. You don't have to interpret them cause they are never meant for you.
Just in case you are curious, my popeye symbolised strength...betty boop represents the gentle side of me and Pikachu for the youth.


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#3

I didn't start off with landscape as most people do. But yes, it did start off with the usual story of your dad passing down his camera to you.
After awhile, I got bored of landscape cause there is no meaning to me. My remark has nothing against most landscape photographers friends cause that's just my personal opinion. No longer are the days I wake up at unearthly hour, lug my tripod, lug my brick digital camera, lug another brick wide lens, slap on the big stoppers, push the trigger and just wait for the clouds to move. There is nothing meaningful to what I was doing and frankly speaking, the land here doesn't help much.
And then, I switched back to film and that's where it struck me. My gear has shrunk tremendously to a film point and shoot. After Nepal trip, I discover that to really enjoy shooting, I really need to think if gear is the most important aspect. I'm not doing photography for a living so is there really a need to spend so much on the gears? And does a big water bottle lens with a gorilla body equates to a good photo?
Not for me. Small and portable would be the best. And certainly some cold beer.​
 

blackmafia, nice photos, and a genre called
documentary portraits would very suit the
type of street photography above.

i think it is great that you are challenging yourself.

i was very inspired by a bbc video of william klein,
his approach towards street photography was different
from hcb, he was not the quiet observer that hcb was, he
instead did not hide the fact that he was holding a Leica-R or
a M-Body in front of them, and he snapped away.

( the video can be found here-> The Many Lives of William Klein (2012) on Vimeo )

Anyway, i decided to try it this past Sat,and that I would be polite
and ask for permission if necessary, but would try to capture
the subject as they carried on what they were doing.

here are 3 pictures from 2 rolls in Tanjong Pagar/Chinatown etc,
all capture on a Non-RF SLR, film is PPF rated at 100

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mx40-b.jpg


mx40-c.jpg


raytoei
 

Thank you Raytoei for your valuable input. For myself, I have no qualms shooting street but asking permission for a proper headshot is indeed something new for me.

My first row was totally unusable as almost all 37 exposures were out of focus...It was on ISO 100 and I totally forgot about the speed.

Any sort of directions that I should take note of while shooting such genre? Perhaps like the distance I should put myself in, or the way I present myself while asking for permission?
 

Pardon me but the narrations for each photo's been copied from my FB so it usually include some personal c**k and bull...:bigeyes:

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#4

Shooting street portraits is totally new to me...like planet of the apes. I have never shot vertically, its a taboo for me and never figured out why.
This genre is not your regular walk in the park. Personally I like to shoot upclose to my subjects, to have the eyes contact, to engage them. But all this while, I've never asked for permission to shoot. I'll just snap because its ever that split moment that I want to document.
Portraits don't allow so. You really need to walk up for permission and respect your subject. It does help if you look young (maybe like 23 and below) and good looking (who will ever reject Aaron Kwok coming forth to you asking for a photo). NO! Its a joke. Even when I'm equipped with all these, I got rejected numerous time. Some don't even listen to me.


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#5

Not exactly the prettiest but certainly spells a character about her.
To me, you need not have to be like Liv Tyler but you certainly need to have a good character and dress-sense.


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#6

This Jap lady was very shy and thought I had wanted her to help take a picture of myself. :bsmilie:​
 

Let me be the first to say, excellent stuff.
Write-ups work very well with the images! More, please!
 

Guess this will be ur on going project?
Nice n different from the usual style..cant imagine you approaching ppl for a portrait..haha
 

Guess this will be ur on going project?
Nice n different from the usual style..cant imagine you approaching ppl for a portrait..haha

:D Should be and hopefully I can continue on till I get the hang of it.

I had one African asking me to explain to him why I need to take a head-shot of him. And so I did and after 30mins of explanation, I finally managed a shot of him.

Very pleased with my skills, only to find out that I bokeh his entire face. Power!
 

Blackmafia said:
:D Should be and hopefully I can continue on till I get the hang of it.

I had one African asking me to explain to him why I need to take a head-shot of him. And so I did and after 30mins of explanation, I finally managed a shot of him.

Very pleased with my skills, only to find out that I bokeh his entire face. Power!

Haha. Tatz a good one. U din ask for another shot just to b safe?
 

Fantastic series, and I look forward to more!
 

Blackmafia said:
Nope...I rarely take another precaution shot...

I see. Shoot more. Waiting to c more of yr photos. Cheers.
 

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#7

I always feel I have some sort of connection with this old auntie. She sells odd ball mixture of bananas, eggs, chilli, tapioca which I figured some were given to her by kind sellers. I could never buy a bunch of bananas from her cause I never want others to think I am one as well, stringing along in my office attire.
Finally I have the opportunity to talk to her for a winy bit this morning. I'm ok with French, German, Jap and Russian but the only language she speaks is Cantonese so conversation was made short...Ok, finally I got my bananas from her today and I am happy with myself for helping her in anyway I could possibly have done so.


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#8

Those whom watched WWF would be familiar with Andre the Giant. Ok, this Australian has that kind of size. So now, the inbuilt qualities in me of being young and Aaron Kwok bullshit DUN work on him.
I'm a very stubborn person most of the time. The more difficult it is, the more I would want to challenge myself. Mind you they are humans, not aliens.
You cant missed him from 1 traffic light away. He was smoking when I walk up to him and I wasn't a bit scared. After all, I am a black belt second dan myself and my shuttle-run is like Beep Beep, the roadrunner.
Crap...I was actually quite scared to be honest.


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#9

I like her smile. And that's exactly the reason I walk up to her mum for permission. They are in transit to Spain and I hope you guys enjoy your short stay in Singapore!​
 

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#10

When a person you hardly know gives you such a smile, you jolly well know the world still has hope.


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#11

Pardon me on the color. This was meant to be a test run on the new compact hence I used a cheap expired Kodak Ultramax 400. Personally, this film is a let-down and it is even worse when you push it to 800.
Anyways, never estimate that all Caucasians don't know Asian artistes. She asked for my name and I told her "Aaron Kwok". This explains her smile.


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#12

This photo has every "flaws" that you may say but still I like the mood it renders.
Coming back to why I don't take a test shot first? My answer is simple. This is film, I treasure every shot that a roll can give me and if it runs weak, it is my own fault and never my subject. And so I will try never to shoot twice.
I believe only so, it will push me further to make sure I realize what kind of mistake I have faulted and not do the same.​
 

Blackmafia said:
#10

When a person you hardly know gives you such a smile, you jolly well know the world still has hope.

#11

Pardon me on the color. This was meant to be a test run on the new compact hence I used a cheap expired Kodak Ultramax 400. Personally, this film is a let-down and it is even worse when you push it to 800.
Anyways, never estimate that all Caucasians don't know Asian artistes. She asked for my name and I told her "Aaron Kwok". This explains her smile.

#12

This photo has every "flaws" that you may say but still I like the mood it renders.
Coming back to why I don't take a test shot first? My answer is simple. This is film, I treasure every shot that a roll can give me and if it runs weak, it is my own fault and never my subject. And so I will try never to shoot twice.
I believe only so, it will push me further to make sure I realize what kind of mistake I have faulted and not do the same.

Aaron Kwok! Wow. Now u r a photography n quit singing n acting? Just kidding. Haha.

Alwayz like yr series. D confidence u haf on d street to get strangers to pose for u n capturing tat moment. Great shots. Cheers.
 

Aaron Kwok! Wow. Now u r a photography n quit singing n acting? Just kidding. Haha.

Alwayz like yr series. D confidence u haf on d street to get strangers to pose for u n capturing tat moment. Great shots. Cheers.

The only thing I am confident of is that I'll be getting rejections. Just a matter of how many.
 

The only thing I am confident of is that I'll be getting rejections. Just a matter of how many.

Makes U a stronger street shooter... :bsmilie:
 

Hi

very strong work there! nice! :)
 

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