Street Shots Photography Podcast

Photograph it in Style

What is style? How do we develop a style to our pictures? Is it important to have a style? In the last episode, photojournalist Ron Haviv brought up the idea that each photographer needs to find their “visual voice.” In this episode the Antonio and Tom discuss finding your own visual voice over time, using apps like Lightroom and Aperture to look back through your photographs to find the common themes that run through your archive. They also touch upon whether or not your equipment helps to define your photographic look. Using some of their own images as starting points, the Switch to Manual guys tackle this question: What are you trying to say through your images? Because what you’re saying with your photography is important and maybe you want to say it with some style!

Which Pix? (Re-record of Ep.18)

Hi everyone,This is a re-record of Ep.18, "Which Pix." We accidentally published the wrong recording when we put the original episode up. Rather than delete the original, we're adding this one to the stream because it talks about the images we actually posted on our blog and adds to the overall discussion about editing your pix. This isn't an official new episode but a supplement to episode 18. Hope this makes sense.

The Visual Voice

World-renowned photojournalist Ron Haviv (one of the co-founders of the photo agency, VII) shares insights from his two plus decades, giving voice to the voiceless in over one hundred countries around the world. Ron just returned from his exhibit in Sarajevo which marked  the twentieth anniversary of the end of that conflict. What was it like seeing his work in Bosnia twenty years later?  How has the advent of digital photography changed photojournalism?  How did he get started? How does one produce images that rise above the noise and how can we all become more conversant in the language of images?  Find out by listening in on Ron's interview with the Switch to Manual Guys. 

Which Pix?

So you come back from a shoot and you not only have hundreds of images, you have ten versions of each image!  What to do?! Join the Switch to Manual guys for a discussion of how to go about gleaning and curating your strongest shots. The STM guys chat a bit about their editing process; Antonio draws on his experience as a photo editor and Tom shares a story from a human rights delegation to Honduras on the anniversary of the 2009 coup.  

The Poetry of Coincidence, Pt.2

Join the Switch to Manual guys for the second half of their interview with Hamburg-based street shooter, Marco Larousse. This week, Tom and Antonio single out some of their favorite images from Marco's work, eliciting some background anecdotes and insights from the photographer himself. If you like to shoot on the street (or want to and are trying to muster the courage), these two episodes are for you!Marco started taking pictures as a young teen and has never looked back. Digital and film are part of his repertoire and despite some of the differences shooting in Germany versus the U.S. (particularly with privacy laws), Marco and the Switch to Manual guys find they share the same passion for capturing images from the street. His striking photography along with his Fuji X Files blog (where he shares techniques, tips and reviews of Fujifilm's great X-series cameras) helped him gain a rare slot as an official Fujifilm X Photographer.Marco’s work can be found on his website where you can also check out his Fuji X Files blog. It’s a  wonderful resource if you own a Fuji X camera and if you don't own one, you'll probably going to want to get one after reading it. Marco can also be found on Twitter and on Flickr.

The Poetry of Coincidence, Pt.1

This is the first in a special two-part interview of Hamburg-based street photographer, Marco Larousse. Marco started taking pictures as a young teen and has never looked back. Digital and film are part of his repertoire and despite some of the differences shooting in Germany versus the U.S. (particularly with privacy laws), Marco and the Switch to Manual guys find they share the same passion for capturing images from the street. His striking photography along with his Fuji X Files blog (where he shares techniques, tips and reviews of Fujifilm's great X-series cameras) helped him gain a rare slot as an official Fujifilm X Photographer.Marco’s work can be found on his website where you can also check out his Fuji X Files blog. It’s a  wonderful resource if you own a Fuji X camera and if you don't own one, you'll probably going to want to get one after reading it. Marco can also be found on Twitter and on Flickr.Be sure to catch part two next week where Marco and the Switch to Manual guys explore some of Marco's iconic images and digress just a bit into gear.  

Magic

Photography is a magical process, both in its ability to freeze moments in time and in letting us share our unique vision of the world with other people. This episode, Antonio and Tom discuss just what magic arises when they think about being photographers and the pictures they’ve taken. From that first experience of watching a print emerge from the developer in a darkroom to the technological marvel that is digital photography, the STM guys remind us that we all see the world differently and the adventure of photography is a magical one. As the author Arthur C. Clarke once said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Photography certainly falls into that category.

Expose Yourself!

Back in the day photographers would check hand held light meters in order to get the proper exposure and avoid wasting film. In the digital age, exposure continues to be an important creative tool. The notion that there's one "perfect" exposure can be misleading. In this episode the Switch to Manual Guys remind us that by experimenting with a range of possible exposures, you can change the mood and feel of an image. So don't just shoot in auto mode and accept what the camera gives you; take creative control and play around with your exposure. You'll be surprised by what you get!

The Flow of Work

"I can't believe I took 300 pictures at the wedding. How the heck am I going to organize them?!"  With the ease of digital photography has come a new challenge: how to manage the constant flow of images. Professional photographers refer to this as managing one's workflow. In "The Flow of Work," the Switch to Manual guys share their tips and insights on managing and backing up images. The goal is safe storage and easy retrieval, which is easier said than done! 

The One That Got Away

Every photographer knows the feeling of missing a shot. This can happen for all kinds of reasons, as the Switch to Manual Guys know all too well. Listen in as Antonio and Tom recount some lessons learned the hard way. You'll learn how to stack the deck in your favor to improve the chances of getting the shot before it gets away!

Eventful

Weddings, bar mitzvahs, birthday parties. We find ourselves going to events throughout our lives, and being photographers we will always bring our cameras to capture these meaningful moments in time. Antonio and Tom discuss how they deal with event photography and offer some ideas so that you can come away with images that are both memorable and beautiful. Great photographic opportunities can be found at events and it’s great to capture images you’ll be proud to share with family, friends and, perhaps place into your portfolio.

Street Etiquette

The Switch to manual guys celebrate their tenth episode by fielding a listener question. A Twitter follower asked if they ever encounter hostile reactions while shooting in the street. This launches an entire segment about how to tactfully shoot with and without permission in all kinds of situations, while also offering some hints for folks just starting out. There's something for everyone here in this wide-ranging exploration of what happens when you start taking street shots.

It's About Time

The Switch to Manual guys talk about the mystery of time as it pertains to photography. Beyond the usual notion of photography capturing a moment in time and the importance of being aware of one's immediate surroundings, Antonio revisits the scene of a JFK photograph his father took fifty years ago, while Tom talks about a modern day protestor holding up an iconic black and white image taken during the Civil Rights Movement. These and other examples are explored as part of the mysterious dance between photographers and time. 

Black and White vs Color

Do you shoot color or black and white--or both? Listen in on what Tom & Antonio (the Switch to Manual Guys) have to say on the subject. Rather than advocating an either/or approach, they like Yogi Berra’s quip that “when you get to a fork in the road, take it!” Some images lend themselves to black and white, while others depend on color to communicate their full aesthetic impact. Thanks to technological advances it’s possible to shoot both, though, as you progress on your creative journey, your body of work can lean in one direction or the other. (Also, we know we have some audio issues this episode. We'll get that worked out in the coming months)

What's in Your Bag? The Essential Gear

A Switch to Manual Holiday Special Podcast:"What's in Your Bag?" The Essential Gear (you don't want to be caught without)In this special holiday podcast Antonio and Tom talk about what they don't ever want to get caught without.  This "essential gear" in your camera bag will help you avoid ever filling up your one memory card or having your one battery die on you in the middle of the party!  Whether you're listening to make sure you're not overlooking a vital piece of gear or thinking you might get a gift idea for the shutterbug in the family, the Switch to Manual guys have you covered! Shout outs to:Bart Busschots and the Let's Talk Photography Podcast.Jean Miele, Photographer

What's In Your Bag? Lenses

On this 6th episode of "Street Shots." Tom and Antonio start a new regular segment called "What's in your bag." The stuff in your camera bag is there ultimately to help you create the images you want to capture.  This episode, the STM boys discuss what kind of lenses are in their bags and what they do with them. Photographers love gear and lenses are often the biggest investment photographers will make when purchasing new equipment.  If you're thinking of buying a lens before the end of the year, hopefully you can get some insight as to what you might get. Wide, telephoto, zoom, "Pancake" lenses; Antonio and Tom go over the merits and shortcomings of these different lens types.  And a special shoutout to Bart Busschots of the "Let's Talk Photography" podcast and Allison Sheridan of the NosillaCast podcasts. Bart has had us as guests on his podcast for quite some time and being on his show inspired us to do this podcast. Allison has been very helpful with her feedback about our podcasts and has given us some great tips. If you haven't listened to the LTP podcast or the NosillaCast, we'd suggest you subscribe to them right away. Thanks, Bart and Allison!

Birth of an Image

On this 5th episode of "Street Shots," Tom and Antonio discuss the conception of the image. What goes into the process of creating a picture? Composition. Gear. Location. Lighting. Timing. Processing. All of these  elements help give rise to the final creative result. Ultimately. we are the “parents" of all of our photographs.And a special shoutout to Bart Busschots of the "Let's Talk Photography" podcast. Bart has had us as guests on his podcast for quite some time and being on his show inspired us to do this podcast. If you haven't listened to the LTP podcast, we'd suggest you subscribe right away. Thanks, Bart!

Get Close, Get in Closer

Join the Switch to Manual guys on the subject of "Getting Close, Get In Closer." Tom and Antonio share the general insight that it's almost always a good idea to get closer to your subject. The banter unfolds from there with some attention to different lenses and the constraints of different real-world shooting situations.And a special shoutout to Bart Busschots of the "Let's Talk Photography" podcast. Bart has had us as guests on his podcast for quite some time and being on his show inspired us to do this podcast. If you haven't listened to the LTP podcast, we'd suggest you subscribe right away. Thanks, Bart!

What You See & What You Get

Most images result from something catching your eye—a landscape, an interesting person, something unusual or noteworthy. Sometimes the image you come away with is very close to what you saw. Sometimes an image surpasses the experience by transforming what you saw into something artistic. And yes, sometimes the image pales in comparison with what you saw in the moment. It happens to the best of us! Do we want to capture exactly what we see or are we constantly interpreting what we see through what we choose to shoot? The creative space between "what you see and what you get" is explored in relation to Tom and Antonio's street photography as they explore the power of vision to take us deeper into the world around us...

The First Thirty Seconds

We can all relate to the shot that got away because you weren’t quite ready. Join Antonio and Tom as they share their secrets on general preparedness, with an emphasis on getting ready before you see something you want to shoot by assessing the basic lighting conditions and subject matter you’re dealing with. They discuss the pressure to catch time sensitive events vs. the temptation to just let the camera do everything. But the more you do manually the more creative control you have. Rather than evading the issue, the “Switch to Manual” guys admit that often the solution resides in striking a balance that works for you.You can check out our website here. Also, please follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook. And, if you're up for it, join us at our Flickr group too.

Street Shots Episode 1

In this first episode, Tom talks to Antonio about the techniques of street photography. Also, they discuss what it’s like to photograph the incredible diverse people of New York City and Brooklyn. You can check out our website here. Also, please follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.