street shooters

back alley

back alley

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for those rf users that consider themselves primarily street shooters, this question is for you.

what do you do in the winter?

i live in western canada on the prairies. that means cold and snow. it can be -40c for a week at a time and snow up to my hips.

right now, it's relatively nice. about +5c and dry streets. but as i get older the cold and damp seems to affect me more and while i have this strong urge to head out and shoot-my bones are telling me to stay put.

i've never been much into still life shots and if it weren't for the coffee and cameras thread i would not have shot a still life for almost 20 years.
but i'm already experiencing a form of cabin fever when it comes to photography.

so what do you do?

joe
 
In between chances to shoot, I organize my prints, scan stuff, file and store negatives, play with the toys...

And I also get bored to death! :mad:

However, there are those friendly Xmas craft markets and sometimes I hit them with my cameras to catch some of the seasonal spirit. :)
 
Good question, Joe.
I'm facing a similar situation. Although I don't live in a climate as harsh as yours (brrrrrr....), I still feel that with the coming of late Autumn I'll be facing at least 4 months with no sun to speak of :(
Well, it's not really that bad, but the temperatures do go down below freezing point, and it's simply not fun.
So, in November/December, I usually think "I wish the Spring would come soon" :(
I must find some kind of other photo-ops (indoors, preferrably)....
I even bought some 400 ASA B&W film for the low light situations (meaning the whole winter!), but I know that for the most part, the light will be crappy.... Dull gray, heavily overcast, wet, with either drizzly rain or (greyish) snow. Not good. Neither for me nor for my camera(s). Maybe I'll use the Kievs - they should be suited for harsh winters :)
Anyway, it's mainly the light that drives me crazy. Can't get a good outdoors shot in light like that...

Denis
 
denis,

we have great winter light here. however, quite often when the winter sun is shining at it's brightest it means it is also some of the coldest days.
i may just have to tough it out and take pics of people freezing outdoors.
 
What about all those arguments regarding manual cameras, cold weather, and no batteries. Just to sit on the shelf indoors!! NOT!

Most people put away their cameras when the weather gets rough, so its probably the best time to grab those unusual shots. You know the ones, snow falling, not many people on the street, except the one you have your lens trained on carrying the bright umbrella and leaving a set of lone prints in the snow:) I've seen many gorgeous shots taken in heavy rain and snow.

So don't give up. Just dress warm and get out there!!!!
 
I have a hat and gloves, since I don't face weather as extreem as you do, those can normally get me through it. Also, shoot someplace where you can make frequent stops indoors. I have strolled around the Univ. of CT campus in the winter, sub 0 degree F days and as always, windy, but there are pleanty of buildings to duck into to warm up.
 
Joe, try walking around during blizards and grab a picture of your ex-girlfriend walking away with her new boyfriend.

Seriously, try the coffee-houses and blues bars. The trick is to be indoors with interesting looking people, preferably artistic/alternative lifestyle types (poetry readings, pottery classes) focussed on doing whatever they're doing and not noticing you.
 
Starbucks and other indoor places such as malls, usually have a policy forbidding taking pictures. Take that as a challenge!

"Illigitimati non carborumdum"

Looking forward to seeing your portfolio of discrete indoors shots :D

Gene
 
I don't get much snow here in Melbourne, Joe, so try to brave the elements, and show me some!

I have to say, I'm really looking forward to visiting the US or Europe sometime, to try and get some shots like these:

http://www.pbase.com/gwilburn/city_winter

Cheers,
Steve
 
I should add tattoo parlors and drama clubs.

I quite like winter landscapes because the blanket of snow simplifies the view.
 
:)

Thought you might.

I actually first saw some of those on pbase when I was researching the Olympus XA. I really loved those snowy street scenes, and imagine my surprise when I found this site and was able to talk to the guy that took them!

They're a real inspiration, perhaps you could PM me with prices for prints?

Cheers,
Steve
 
Cold winters in Chicago get to me so I drive to desolate, bleak, wintry urban (or lakefront) places, park illegally with blinkers on, and get out of the car long enough to record places-people-things I never see in summer. I try to shoot a few digital in addition to film, and then I bring my cameras to a coffe shop to warm up, show them what I've shot and take more shots inside. (Oh yeah, I also wear layers...)

Around here, there are always people outside who are nuttier than me.
 
This year I moved from Southern California to Phoenix, Arizona. Could someone please explain the question to me?
 
Flinor said:
This year I moved from Southern California to Phoenix, Arizona. Could someone please explain the question to me?
Click to expand...
Gerry that's downright cruel to those of us in cold climates. For penance you get to play a two-hour outdoor tennis match in Tempe at noon, July 15th...

Gene
 
Gene said:
LOL Steve :)

I *thought* those shots looked kinda familiar :rolleyes:

Gene
Click to expand...

Great shots Gene. Those are the shots I'd like to get this winter... just have to get downtown on the right days. I'd like to see what the Distillery District looks like after some snow.

I've also got "Old Unionville" just north of Scarberia here that I'd like to get some winter shots of.
 
Flinor said:
This year I moved from Southern California to Phoenix, Arizona. Could someone please explain the question to me?
Click to expand...

Sure Gerry... leave your Leica out in the midday Phoenix sun for a couple of hours, and then pick it up and _hold_it_ with your bare hands. That's pretty well the same effect as frostbite :)
 
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