Belle
Established
I was battling life when I discovered street photography in 2006. After my first round of chemotherapy, I was completely unable to walk because I was bedridden for a month. In an effort to regain my strength, I decided to pick up my camera and walk around downtown Los Angeles. I quickly discovered that my Canon camera was too big, too loud, and too obtrusive. I also discovered that the exposures meter on the camera was not as reliable going through sunny and shady areas of downtown L.A. Focus was also a bit of an issue. I thought to myself that I needed a quitter camera and better mastery of my skill and equipment. That’s when my research landed on Leica.
During my second round chemotherapy, I ordered a MP, along with a 35 mm Summicron lens. I studied about hyperfocal distance, Sunny-16 rule, shooting from the hips, and how to approach people on the street. I also bought books to learn about the great documentary photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Garry Winogrand, Dian Arbus, James Netchway, and more.
During my break, I immediately took to the street to master my camera. One of the fruits of my learning was a photo that I took of an usher at the Grove Theater. I remember that day very well because the next day I was going into my third round chemotherapy. I went up to the usher and asked if I could take a picture of her. She kindly looked at me and said “sure.” It was said in such a warm and compassionate manner as if she knew what I was going through and she wanted me to be okay. Without the aid of a meter, I quickly set the shutter speed to 1/30 sec at f2.
My encounter with the usher was memorable, but the resulting photo was also one of the most memorable photographs that I took. Perhaps the LFI editor saw what I saw because it was selected as Editor’s Choice on LFI’s web site this week. Here's the link: http://galleries.lfi-online.com/index.php?editors_choice&page=1
That photo of the usher showed me the photographic possibilities and potentials that I can strive for. It also reminds me of the encouragement I felt from one person about life. Today, I’m cancer free and continue to enjoy street photography.
During my second round chemotherapy, I ordered a MP, along with a 35 mm Summicron lens. I studied about hyperfocal distance, Sunny-16 rule, shooting from the hips, and how to approach people on the street. I also bought books to learn about the great documentary photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Garry Winogrand, Dian Arbus, James Netchway, and more.
During my break, I immediately took to the street to master my camera. One of the fruits of my learning was a photo that I took of an usher at the Grove Theater. I remember that day very well because the next day I was going into my third round chemotherapy. I went up to the usher and asked if I could take a picture of her. She kindly looked at me and said “sure.” It was said in such a warm and compassionate manner as if she knew what I was going through and she wanted me to be okay. Without the aid of a meter, I quickly set the shutter speed to 1/30 sec at f2.
My encounter with the usher was memorable, but the resulting photo was also one of the most memorable photographs that I took. Perhaps the LFI editor saw what I saw because it was selected as Editor’s Choice on LFI’s web site this week. Here's the link: http://galleries.lfi-online.com/index.php?editors_choice&page=1
That photo of the usher showed me the photographic possibilities and potentials that I can strive for. It also reminds me of the encouragement I felt from one person about life. Today, I’m cancer free and continue to enjoy street photography.
