Street photography

Inside A Flowers Glow

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I took this photo while in Alphabet City, Manhattan, New York, inside of the Secret Garden.  There were many flowers exposing themselves in many different angles.  I was shooting with a Canon 5D mark II and my Canon FD 50mm 3.5f Macro lens.

I placed myself into the mindset of a bee.  I started to wonder what it would look like if I were not only looking into a flower, but looking into a flower from below the flower and into it's natural hanging (drooping) state.  I realized the interior of the flower still captures sunlight, although it's not facing directly into the sun.  As you can see the petals help illuminate the interior of the flower.  

Depth By Bananas

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While walking through Alphabet City, Manhattan, New York, I came across a fruit vendor.  His cart caught my eye because it had an abundance of these bananas hanging off it's right side.  Mixed with the bananas were Plantains also known as Plantanos.

My idea was to capture the wonderful delicious color of the fruit so good it's name is synonymous with going insane - BANANAS. 

My goal was to not only capture the bananas, but show how different they are from one another.  I was shooting with a Canon FD 50mm 3.5f lens on a Canon 5D mark II.  Although it was very bright outside, I wanted to reduce the depth of field as much as possible, to allow the color and texture speak for the entire photo.

Boy Cardinal Reflection

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A boy wonders off into space thinking perhaps of his performance in the upcoming or completed baseball game.  He sits on his worn stoop, without caring to notice the dozens of people walking across this path.

I took this photo while walking in Alphabet City in Manhattan.  I initially noticed the boy from about a half block away.  I set my camera to monochrome mode, intentionally wanting to shoot in black and white that day.  I was shooting an old Canon FD 50mm 3.5f Macro lens.  I squatted a bit and peaking under the railing, I found what I was looking for.  That face.  If there ever a 1000 words to describe it.  Some photographers may say the bar is distracting. It's there to frame the photo.  The tip of his head, not covered by the bar helps complete the photo.  It's a technical trick used in fashion shoots.  If a part of a person is covered a bit... lets say a forearm, then allow the upper part and hand show in the shot.  This will prevent the part of the body from appearing cut off.

Obviously I did not choose to keep this photo in it's intended black and white state.  I felt the colors lend a great deal to the overall story of the image.

© 2012 Daniel Russo   •   www.danrusso.com
Canon AE-1 - Canon FD 50mm Macro F3.5

Shape Contrast

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I've wrote before  (in the previous version of danrusso.com) about happy accidents.  I say embrace accidents.  While wondering near some construction, I spied a pigeon walking out of the darkness into the light.  I took a couple of photographs of the pigeon, then realized exactly what the pigeon was walking into.  A mosaic of shapes caused by light, shadow and tile.  I re-focused my lens and framed up the shot.  In the end, I captured the below photo.  As far as the pigeon... idk another day I suppose.

Tiffanys Ignored

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The Hoboken Terminal in New Jersey, keeps a well known secret.  It was designed by Tiffany.  Yes the light blue box that every woman appreciates, Tiffany's.  The terminal is absolutely beautiful.  And every day people disregard the splendor and luxury which surrounds them.  Why?  I would guess it's mostly because the terminal hasn't/wasn't taken as good of car as it should have been taken care of.  Finally age has an impact.

If you get the opportunity to go there, look around.  You'll clearly see Tiffany's influence.  This is the first of 4 photographs which will make their way onto the site.  It is a photo of how people ignore a beautiful not-so-famous Tiffany lamp.

Light Focuses

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Years ago, when I was young and easily impressionable... I opened my father's draw and found an Olympus camera.  I remember holding it in my hands... winding the camera... pretending I was taking photos.  And who knows... perhaps I was.  I had no clue what made it "click".  I was young enough not to know what film was, or how it worked.

There was a weight to that camera.  And that feel of leather and metal.  And ohhh those mysterious buttons.  I played with them all, I assure you.  And from time to time, I would sneak into that drawer and take out that camera; and just hold it in my hands... The mysterious object that took photos...

It's been a long time since I was that young... but I never forgot that camera.  So when I hold a camera in my hands now I can still revert, back to that child...  I can still wonder sometimes, how that magic little object works.  The difference is I know what the buttons are. 

For years I've heard photographers say, "... I catch the light..." And for many years, I thought, "I catch the moment."  Which is true.  For most it's light.  But I believe for some its the moment.  In this particular example... I'll leave what I did as a mystery.  I hope you enjoy it.

@2012 - Daniel Russo

Rough Spots & Revision

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Updating my site to the latest server software was something I was hesitant about doing.  I kept bouncing it back and forth.  I weighed the good and the bad points.  In the end, I believe change won the argument all by itself.  I can hold on to the past or embrace the future.  

With the PND Photo Expo in 2 weeks, I decided to place some more stock in my hardware.  One of the pieces I acquired was a Canon 100mm macro EF 2.8L lens.  I purchased the lens from a very talented photographer, named Robert.  I'm leaving out his last name as I have not told him about his making my new entry on the first day my site went live....

Live?  Well it's been live for a few months now.  I just finally took of the dust cover.  As you can see I already have content (below) from some time back.  This site took a lot of testing.  In the end I hope you will love it.

Back to Robert selling me his 100mm macro.  After finding out that Robert shot some very precious photos with the very lens he was selling me, I was very eager to go out and shoot with it.  Unfortunately I had a shoulder operation earlier in the year which prevents me from holding my heavy Canon 5D mark II, battery grip and attached 100mm macro 2.8L lens in my right hand.

I am taking it easy... if you will.  But as I become stronger, I was able to start carrying the heavier stuff... In the end... I offer you this photo for your inspection.  I hope you are honest with yourself and with me.  

Shooting black and white

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When you first come to my site you may find a super large photo of a woman with facepaint on.  The face paint makes her face look pretty evil.  She was anything but.  Now you may be asking yourself, "What does this have to do with shooting in black and white?"  Good question.  The answer... Nothing.  Shooting black and white is just a part of my taking photos.  I first discovered the wonders back in college.  I shot a LOT of black and white film back then.  But I didn't really see how much it effected my shooting digitally until about a year or two ago.  Over the past couple of years I have grown to really favor black and white photography.  Even when desiring color as my final outcome.  

I'd frame up my shot.  Switch the camera setting to monochrome.  Check out the tones of the image.  Then I'd switch back to one of my color settings.  I honestly don't think I'd ever have to worry about color afterwards.  For me it worked out.  I'd say give it a try and slowly see how that works out for you.  In my experience, I loved it.

Now when you look at my site, you may think that I shoot a lot in black and white.  Well I do.  But not as much as you would think.  Quite often I'd come across a photo which I intended to be in color.  I shot it in color and and processed it in color.  However for some reason or another I made the final decision to create a black and white version of the photo.  OR!!!  You may be looking at a photo I took while shooting film.  I generally prefer black and white film, as there is a certain quality in the final outcome of the photo which digital photography can't match.  I do not post nearly as much black and white film photography as I do digital.  Why?  I share a lot on the blog and in the site.  Some things I like to keep just for myself.  Those photos are printed, mounted and hung.

Photo by Daniel Russo @2012
Canon 5D Mark 2 - Carl Zeiss 50mm F1.4 Planar T* ZE