Darkhorse
pointed and shot
I started off the weekend thinking I was going to have a photoshoot with a local ModelMayhem model on Sunday afternoon. However in good ModelMayhem fashion, the model flaked without nary a word leaving me with a bunch of time wasted this afternoon.
However, the weekend wasn't a total wash. On Saturday morning I read that the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace was visiting locally, and it was open to the public at the Bat Nha Buddhist temple in Santa Ana.
I went, and without exaggeration I can say that I was only one of about 5 people of European descent there. With all the people, the music, the sound, and traditional outfits and food, it was like being in Vietnam... not that I would know what Vietnam is like. But it was truly like being in a different culture. This was a gem for people watching, and street (festival?) shooting. However, thinking I was going to have a photoshoot the next day, I was conservative with my film and only shot one roll.
Buddhists are pretty good about being photographed. Many would smile and pose for me... I wasn't expecting this and after I shot the woman in the third photo she have me a magnificent wrinkly grin that I didn't have time to capture. Oh well. The afternoon started overcast so it was good for black and white, but by the time I left things brightened up, and it would've been perfect for color. Maybe I'll have time to go again this week.
I mostly used my Olympus OM1 with the 100mm 2.8 Zuiko. I'm beginning to really, really love this lens. It handles out of focus areas very well, and allows me to get a little bit closer to a subject. I used FP4+ in 1:50 Rodinal for 15 Minutes. I shouldn't have used FP4 to be honest, It was very cloudy for most of the time, and most of my exposures were are ƒ4 at 1/125 or ƒ5.6 for 1/60, so things would've been easier with Tri-X... then again I was able to crop a few of these shots because I used FP4.
However, the weekend wasn't a total wash. On Saturday morning I read that the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace was visiting locally, and it was open to the public at the Bat Nha Buddhist temple in Santa Ana.
I went, and without exaggeration I can say that I was only one of about 5 people of European descent there. With all the people, the music, the sound, and traditional outfits and food, it was like being in Vietnam... not that I would know what Vietnam is like. But it was truly like being in a different culture. This was a gem for people watching, and street (festival?) shooting. However, thinking I was going to have a photoshoot the next day, I was conservative with my film and only shot one roll.
Buddhists are pretty good about being photographed. Many would smile and pose for me... I wasn't expecting this and after I shot the woman in the third photo she have me a magnificent wrinkly grin that I didn't have time to capture. Oh well. The afternoon started overcast so it was good for black and white, but by the time I left things brightened up, and it would've been perfect for color. Maybe I'll have time to go again this week.
I mostly used my Olympus OM1 with the 100mm 2.8 Zuiko. I'm beginning to really, really love this lens. It handles out of focus areas very well, and allows me to get a little bit closer to a subject. I used FP4+ in 1:50 Rodinal for 15 Minutes. I shouldn't have used FP4 to be honest, It was very cloudy for most of the time, and most of my exposures were are ƒ4 at 1/125 or ƒ5.6 for 1/60, so things would've been easier with Tri-X... then again I was able to crop a few of these shots because I used FP4.
robklurfield
eclipse
Philip, great series.
ederek
Well-known
I think the expression on the woman's face in the 3rd pic is just perfect as is (though I'm sure she had a beautiful smile). The man in the left of the frame really adds to the photo, catching my eye as it leaves the woman and moves left, and sending me back into the frame. Very nice! The first image is wonderful as well.
Darkhorse
pointed and shot
Thanks. And I think I agree with what you said about #3. When you look a bit closer into her eyes you can see a lot there.
Here's a larger version:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/formerairline/5111201994/#/photos/formerairline/5111201994/lightbox/
kzim56
Karl Zimmerman
Beautiful series. Nice work. I'm a middle aged white guy living in central Taiwan. I find the people here very open and friendly when it comes to being photographed. I've even had people thank me for taking their kids' picture at a public event. It seems that people are not so suspicious here. I guess it's a cultural thing.
Pablito
coco frío
Gotta love generalities.
Darkhorse
pointed and shot
I was sure I added "some of them anyway" when I was writing this. I must have struck it out in the final version for whatever reason. I didn't intend to make any sweeping generalizations.
Darkhorse
pointed and shot
I suppose so. It can be difficult to be a people shooter in California; For instance I was in a coffee shop in Silverlake and there was a bit of a queue at the cashier, and the light was just beautiful. I raised my camera, then my wife stopped me. I suppose she was worried I would cause some trouble ,or at least an uncomfortable situation. That's understandable, but unfortunate as my intentions aren't malevolent at all. She was relieved when I told her that many of the people I photographed at the temple were very open to it.