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Photos. Yesterday.
What is the comfort zone for a photographer shooting in the street?
The idea is to always have the camera ready. But this leads many to think that this means automation, and in digital photography this is associated with semi-automatic exposure settings. Many people today only change one setting in the exposure triangle, while everything else is left to the camera. For example, aperture priority with auto ISO. Almost everything is left to the camera. Which works for many. But if you're picky, this often doesn't work at all. By picky, I mean preventing any risk of unwanted blur. But also - and I'm obsessed with this - the rendering of the sky, which often leads to absolutely improbable skies.
A great lesson for me, and also a way to keep myself sharp, came from my experience with the film rangefinder. An entirely mechanical camera that requires working entirely in manual mode.
In my idea and approach to street photography I expect these things:
context
sufficient sharpness in most of the frame
a slight gap between the elements
a certain aesthetic result
Based on these needs I have to make certain decisions both in choosing the camera settings but also specifically in terms of exposure.
Choosing the right lens is part of this approach. A 35mm equivalent allows me to work in a certain way and achieve certain results. Sometimes I can experiment with a 28mm or a 50mm, but most of the time I stick with the 35mm. Doing some research I discovered that many of my photographic references also had this very focal length as their favorite.
My street photography is increasingly personal and less and less inclined to adhere to the things that are currently popular and are defined as street photography.
I'm taking my responsibilities as a photographer. I shoot full manual with my DSLRs, and also with my Canon M200, that I will have with me until I will achieve to sell it. The fact that I am shooting full manual that is not highly recommended from the professors on the web is a clear confirmation that my approach remains aimed at creating a thoughtful and less instinctive photography.
