Interesting Advice from Tony Ray-Jones

[kbg32]

A selection from his notebooks, edited by Richard Erlich.

"BE MORE AGGRESSIVE
GET MORE INVOLVED (TALK TO PEOPLE)
STAY WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER (BE PATIENT)
TAKE SIMPLER PICTURES
SEE IF EVERYTHING IN BACKGROUND RELATES TO SUBJECT MATTER
VARY COMPOSITIONS AND ANGLES MORE
BE MORE AWARE OF COMPOSITION
DON'T TAKE BORING PICTURES
GET IN CLOSER (USE 50MM LENS)
WATCH CAMERA SHAKE
(shoot 250sec or above)
DON'T SHOOT TOO MUCH
NOT ALL EYE LEVEL
——————
NO MIDDLE DISTANCE"

 

[RF-Addict]

Very good advice indeed.

 

[willie_901]

Thanks for posting this.

 

[RayPA]

Thanks for posting, Keith. Funny seems like stuff we KNOW we need to do, especially if shooting on the street. The odd one is 'don't shoot too much.' I'd like to hear TR-J expand a little more on this one. Good stuff.

 

[kbg32]

I enjoy reading what other photographers say about their technique. I wish Ray-Jones was still around. I remember the day I discovered his book, "A Day Off", in a used bookshop one day after school. I was so taken with his work and begged the shop owner to lower the price further. Luckily he agreed and I am proud to say it was the first edition by Thames and Hudson, long out of print. In doing some research at that time, I was saddened to learn that he died 5 years earlier.

 

[mw_uio]

I needed this a little 'tutorial' - get more involved, talk, get up close!! 🙂

Great advice for the 'ssttrreeeet'


Cheers
Mark
Quito, EC

 

[Iron Flatline]

Sounds interesting, I'm just not sure about "Shoot at at 1/250th or faster..."

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I just discovered his photography. Feels close to Cornelius David Krieghoff paintings.

I get them all, except:
BE MORE AGGRESSIVE
Aggressive in what?
NOT ALL EYE LEVEL
To get on knees level or ladder?

 

[tuanvinh2000]

i went to Tony Ray Jones and Martin Parr exhibition a few years back and can understand the connection of the great photographers. I think Tony brings the American street photography style with him back to England. and yes i stick to those quotes he says in his little notebook. wonderful advices.

 

[charjohncarter]

For me these are the three I find the most difficult:


"BE MORE AGGRESSIVE
GET MORE INVOLVED (TALK TO PEOPLE)
STAY WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER (BE PATIENT)

I saw this thread when it came out and liked his ideas, those three are still hard for me.

 

[sevres_babylone]

"Not all eye level" is one I need to pay attention to more.

 

[michaelwj]

The most difficult aspect for me is to take simple pictures but not boring pictures. I find it a very fine line to walk.

I choose not to be aggressive.