"One of the downsides of the disposable camera is that it’s fun, which is in strict contrast to real professional photography which must always be stressful, or else you go to photography jail." - Casually Explained (YT)
Thhe end of the land, II
San Francisco, July 2024.
Morning crow
San Francisco, July 2024.
From the video The best photographers wear the most comfortable shoes.
The best photographers wear the most comfortable shoes
Photography is the best excuse to go explore the world. Even better, to discover a whole new dimension that has always been there, hiding in plain sight. The camera is a superpower. But it all starts with a pair of comfortable shoes.
Church of Light, I
Galicia, May 2023.
From the video Black & White Photography at the Death Coast, Galicia: Episode 1.
San Francisco
California, August 2024.
Through the Highlands
Scotland, September 2023.
Memories from my road trip across Scotland (and other parts of the UK) last year. I got a few videos of those adventures, just in case you missed them.
The drive, II
San Francisco, July 2024.
I've never been interested in photographing cars, but how can I not photograph this?
Tree view
San Francisco, July 2024.
The other bridge
San Francisco, July 2024.
Mountain drive
Oregon, July 2016.
Monument view
Galicia, August 2018.
When the city sleeps
San Francisco, July 2024.
This compact camera changed the way I do photography
I've used all kind of cameras over the years, from medium format film monsters to smartphones. All of them taught some valuable lessons about this art, but the camera that changed my photography forever was a tiny compact one. I lost it years ago on a beach in Oregon, but now, we are reunited again!
Fjord view
Norway, November 2022.
How great photography is done
This photo by photojournalist Evan Vucci is already an iconic image of our times. The amazing Imitative Photography YouTube channel has a great video showing how that photograph was made - a rare example of how great photography is done.
And yet, some still miss the point. “Right aperture / exposure / iso”, “there’s nothing special about being on this spot, they literally were right there” are some of the comments. Go figure.
Now, I have no idea what the exact settings were. Evan had much more important things to focus on, so it is likely that they were already dialed in for the conditions, or that he was shooting in some semi-automatic mode. In any case, he could've missed on some of those settings and the image would've still been as iconic as it finally turned out to be.
Indeed, the image is iconic not because it's perfectly exposed, it has no noise, or because the color balance is accurate. No, it's all about the story it tells. And making it might look easy, but it was anything but that.
What those commenters are missing is that the image was made because of Evan’s vision, who was able to anticipate what was going to happen next by moving to the right spots; the big balls it takes to point a camera at a presidential candidate when armed forces are looking for a shooter (who you don’t even know if is still active!); the experience it takes to frame your subject perfectly in a chaotic environment without thinking much about it; and the practice it requires to know how to use your camera as fast as Evan did, literally an extension of his body.
When something looks easy but yet only a few manage to do it, you know they are some of the best at what they do. Of course, there’s nothing especial to that shot, provided you are at the right spot, at the right time, ready and with the skills and experience required to make it happen. Other than that, nothing to see here.
The van way
San Francisco, July 2024.
The morning of the coyote, I
San Francisco, July 2024.
The morning of the coyote
I see coyotes very often during my morning walks. Some are shy, some let you get relatively close. This one was too busy looking for breakfast to mind my presence, so I was able to get quite near.
After taking dozens of shots, I witnessed something I’d never seen before: the coyote found a decently sized gopher and proceeded to eat it right in front of me.
This is why I love photography and getting out with a camera in hand. You just never know what you are going to find.
Mirror Fjord
Senja, Norway, August 2022.
From the video Senja, Norway - Black and White Photography.