TWiP Street Focus Interview
If you listen to any photography podcasts you may have heard of TWiP (This Week In Photo). If you're a subscriber then be sure to check out Episode 74 of Street Focus with Valerie Jardin, where I was the guest!
You can listen to the interview right here by using the player below, or head on over to the TWiP website, right here
I regularly post my Sleeping Commuters to a handful of places online including my Instagram account, the Sleeping Commuters gallery here on the site and a selection of Facebook Groups. When Valerie saw the project she very kindly invited me on the show to talk about it.
Valerie and I have both spoken a few times before via the internet, initially for my own Podcast; Ready Steady Pro and also back when I was a member of the beta testers for The Arcanum. I was on of the very fortunate people invited to test the platform and was a student in Valerie's 'Cohort'. So, knowing that whenever we've spoken in the past we've shared a few laughs during our discussion I knew that chatting about Sleeping Commuters with Valerie was going to be a lot of fun.
Postcard Photographs of London
I went out and about in London last week with my good friend Paul Griffiths, host of the Photography Live and Uncut Podcast & YouTube channel. I find it much harder to produce my best Street Photographs when I'm with someone else, mostly because I'm distracted by the chat, but on occasion it's good to get out there with someone else and discuss photography as well. On this day I captured photographs a little different to my usual street style
All of the photographs you see here in this post were made using an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Micro Four Thirds Mirrorless Camera and the Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8
On this particular day I was quite pleased with some of the street photographs I had made, but I was more pleased with the postcard style photographs of London I had managed to capture towards the end of the walk. We were very fortunate to have a beautiful sunset combined with typically dramatic British clouds, giving for a sky that was asking to be photographed. So, whilst I've photographed Big Ben so much to the point I often don't even look at it when I'm walking by it, this day I simply had to get a shot!
Big Ben (The Elizabeth Tower) at Sunset
The post processing here is a simple shadow lift in Lightroom and a little bit of sharpening. I used the brush and applied some added clarity to the clouds as well.
We made our photographs of Big Ben with the dramatic cloud back drops and moved on to the south side of the river. The sky was still glowing at this point and so more photographs were in order. The vibrant gold had somewhat faded by by this point, but the clouds had shifted. I opted for an in-camera HDR here because I was shooting in the direction of the sun but wanted to maintain some detail in the Jubilee Bridge. I set my Olympus OM-D E-M1 to bracket for 3 stops and exposed half a stop over, meaning I captured all the details in the shadows. I didn't have my tripod or even my Joby Gorillapod with me, so I simply rested the camera on the wall.
Post Processing here included taking the image in to SilverEfex Pro2 and applying the Full Dynamic Range Smooth filter to really enhance those clouds. Then, back in Lightroom I bought the shadows up and the highlights down.
After a few minutes we ambled towards South Bank, which from where we were walking would take us under the London Eye. Another tourist attraction that I often don't look twice at because I find it awkward to photograph. Again, having it seen it so many times now (especially as I get in to London at Waterloo Station) I tend to walk on by without shooting it. But, another positive of walking around London with someone else is that you'll often find yourself stopping to wait for them and sometimes shooting things you perhaps wouldn't usually photograph. This is an example of just that:
The next day I was back in London for work and spent the day at the office, not really getting out. In England at this time of year (December) it's dark by 3:30pm and so by the time I had left the office it was pitch black. But I like this! If you're a subscriber to my blog or read the monthly Olympus Magazine you may recall I was featured back in June - even though the work shown in the magazine was photographed during the darker winter months.
From my office in the rather palatial St James' area of London I prefer to walk the route back to London Waterloo, rather than jumping on the tube. The difference in time is negligible, but the photographic opportunities are much better. My route often takes me back through Covent Garden.
One of the great things about London though is that it's never really that dark. The quality of the light isn't fantastic, but if you look for the illuminations and sources of light you can usually get a shot worth sharing. And with the incredible dynamic range that the E-M1 offers us, we can be sure that we're going to get some details in the shadows:
I took a little detour through the market in Covent Garden, which is always illuminated, no matter the time of year, but at Christmas it's really quite special:
This last one is for the Star Wars fans among us :) Like many people out there, I'm counting down to the 17th December as much as I am Christmas. I've booked my tickets to see The Force Awakens at the London Science Museum where I'll be watching the movie in 70mm format! Exciting times!
You can download all of the Hi-Res files in a Zip file right here (13.4Mb), or you can view each photograph in full size by clicking each photograph below. (Just click the download link beneath each picture to download them individually). Alternatively, you can click to enlarge, right click on the image and then choose 'Save As' if you're using a Windows computer
All of these photographs are 2560 pixels on the longest edge (suitable for most Macs and widescreen laptops and monitors).
For more posts like this and information relating to Olympus Cameras, photographic techniques and general musings - be sure to subscribe to the blog!
Thanks for stopping by.
London Street Photography with Ready Steady Pro and The Guild of Photographers
This weekend; Saturday 24th October, was the 3rd annual installment of the London Photo Walk, which I arrange and host for The Guild of Photographers and Ready Steady Pro Communities (If you're not a member of either of these groups, you ought to join at least one of them! More information is included at the bottom of this post).
If you know me you will know my feelings for The City of London: I find the English Capital a feast for the eyes and as a photographer, that makes it a playground! Eccentric characters, alternative culture and a blend of cultures from all around the world condensed in to one city give it a completely unique feel. Of course, underpinning all of that is also that typically British Architecture and character from the locals too. Despite what people may say, London is a friendly and charming place!
The Photo Walk
Each year the route and format changes slightly so that we can keep things fresh and also to provide something of a tourist opportunity for those in the group who have traveled from slightly further afield. This year our walk started in Camden, taking in Camden Market and Locke. From there we used the Tube to get back to the very center of London; Leicester Square. From this point onward we ambled to China Town, Soho, Piccadilly Circus and then to Covent Garden. We finished the evening with 13 of us enjoying the fantastic food on offer at Thai Square, located just a minute from Nelson's Column. (Thanks Tony Jones for the recommendation - the food was superb!)
London was busy, as usual, but somewhat busier than usual. Looking around it seemed there were a few events going on that day as well, which added to the congestion but also gave us more to photograph.
Here are my photographs from the day. I've even kept some in colour!
Share your shots!
Did you come with us on the walk? Share a link to your photographs in the comments section below.
Want to join us on a walk?
All our walks are free and are updated regularly. If you want to come and join us on a walk simply subscribe to the mailing list today to be among the first to know when a new walk has been put together. The next walk will be in April and then another next October. We schedule walks throughout the year as well. So stay tuned!
Ready Steady Pro and The Guild of Photographers
Ready Steady Pro is a completely free community of photographers, specifically aimed at those with a business-in-the-making. Whether you're just starting your business or whether you're already there, The RSP community, blog and podcast exists to pull together information and resources to help you on the way. The community on Facebook takes on a buddying approach. There isn't the usualy back-biting you'll find in many other communities either. Come and join today and stay up to date with future events
The Guild of Photographers is a paid-for member Association. It's the fastest growing photography association in the UK and for good reason too! Guild Members receive numerous discounts on training AND products from all the leading brands in the UK (and Globally too) inlcuding Photography Insurance, The ICE Light and more. More than that The Guild offer
My Gear for Street Photography
I've been asked numerous times what it is I shoot with when I'm on the street. Both by email and also when I'm on photo walks with fellow photographs.
So, if you're reading this it could be because I've linked you here in response to the question or it could be because you're a subscriber to the blog and this landed in your inbox. (Thanks for subscribing by the way!)
Well my street kit is simple:
FREE Photo Walk: London - October 24th!
Before I dive into the details of my camera bag, I just wanted to remind you that my next FREE photo walk is in London on October 24th. All the details are over on the events page: http://www.michaelrammell.com/calendar/london-october24-2015
The Camera
I shoot with the Olympus OM-D E-M1. When shooting on the street I remove the HL-D7 vertical grip. As much as I like it for the extra balance it brings to the camera and the additional grip it offers your hand, I much prefer the smallest, lightest camera possible when waking the streets. I also don't want to look like a serious photographer of any kind. Looking more like a tourist certainly helps when you're up close with someone and photographing. They feel less threatened or suspicious.
One thing I don't like about the E-M1 for street however is that the shutter isn't silent. Although, this will be remedied with the release of firmware version 4.00 for the OM-D E-M1, due late November 2015. This update will, among other new features, include completely silent shooting!
The Lens
My lens of choice for street work is the Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8. Again it's small, compact and light weight. Instead of the Official Olympus Lens Hood however I've opted for a 3rd party alternative from JJC - who's cheap and cheerful camera accessories can be found on Amazon. The reason I've stuck with this lens hood over Olympus' own though is simply because it's better! It's all-metal, more durable and, let's be honest, looks excellent with the screw on top that keeps the hood clamped to the lens. The 17mm is also splash and dust proof, so if there is a little rain (I live in England!) then I don't have to stop shooting.
On occasion I may be found using the Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO, however I invariably end up shooting at the wider focal ranges between 12-25mm anyway (24-50mm effective) and so the zoom doesn't offer me that much extra value. So it stays at home more often than not.
I also own the superb Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with this lens (really, there isn't - you should see the sharpness!) I simply prefer the wider field of view offered by the 17mm f/1.8.
Batteries & Cards
I pack 3 batteries including the one in the camera, but rarely use all 3 during a day. I have one spare that I would expect to use and another as a 'just incase' battery because at some stage during the day, particularly if I'm on a photowalk and am showing others what I've captured or how it is I shoot, I'll use the LCD and this will drain the battery. I would hate to drop my fresh battery as I'm changing it and break the battery and then have to put the camera away.
I shoot with a 32Gb Lexar Professional Class 10 SD Card's, writing at 600x (90Mb/s). I don't usually take extra's with me, but when I do they sit snug inside my card pouch, which is the Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket. It holds a business card, as well as 10 SD or CF cards. It alos has a lanyard to attach to a bag to keep it safe as well. Which is an added bonus
Camera Strap
For the longest time I didn't used a camera strap. I didn't like them. But on one London photo walk another photographer was using a very simple, minimal and non-intrusive wrist strap that I really liked! It was the Joby DSLR Wrist Strap, but it's perfect for smaller cameras I picked up one for each of my cameras immediately and they've not been taken off the cameras since. For me they're perfect.
Camera Bag
My bag is a Lowepro Retrospective 30. I have mine in Pine Green. It's one of the best made bags I've ever owned and very well thought out too. I find the shoulder strap very wide, which after a long day is ideal as it doesn't cut in to your shoulder. Furthermore the should strap has rubber underneath it to prevent it slipping from your shoulder. It has 3 main compartments inside for lenses and camera bodies, with two additional pouches on the front. The bag comes with a rain-proof cover as well. It's very much what I call my TARDIS bag: it can be small and light when you put just a few things in it, but if you really want to load it up you can. It just seems to hold all the gear you can throw at it!
I always carry my little Joby Gorillapod with me, which is great for impromptu HDR's, time lapses or long exposures.
Other goodies & Accessories
London Tube Map, Chewing Gum, A few coins to give to buskers, small notepad & pen, business cards, very lightweight gloves (in my bag I have the North Face E-Tip gloves), Sunglasses, iPhone battery charger (I have the Anker Powercore, it's amazing!)
Are you coming along to London on October 24th? Be sure to head on over to the events page and register your place!
Also, don't forget to share the contents of your camera bag below!