A Day Around Sydney

NicholasN · 01-10-2009, 04:33 PM

Would love to hear everyones thoughts on these....

I love Sydney, there is no better place to spend a day out just watching people go about their lives and be able to bring home an endless amount of great shots. These are some of my favourites from today.

Taff · 01-10-2009, 08:15 PM

I like the contrast between the images nicholas, we have the people with nothing, and then.....
Actually for some reason this series reminds me of the song Hoochie Coochie Fiorucci Mama by by australian crawl

And away from the sad side of this story, the last image is fantastic in capturing her happiness

One thing i tend to look at with the first image is the sign with the God bless, Aboriginal Culture is far away from today's christianity and with the SORRY issue still prevalent in this society, it makes me feel that he knows what he is doing to gain the most from people.

Well Done

Taff

NicholasN · 01-10-2009, 09:47 PM

Taff,

Thank you so much for your great response. I understand what you mean about the Aboriginal man in the first image. Funnily (or not???) enough I think I saw 5-6 homeless men while I was shooting, and almost every sign read the same way, ALL had the words "God Bless" and almost read word for word.

I also liked the contrast between the images, I think it sort of gave the series a balance. I have been attacked before about photographing the homeless however I feel the only way they actually get recognized is in a photo. Society just seems to walk on by otherwise. Especially in a city where the council spent
$5m on fireworks yet nothing on the homeless.

dws1117 · 01-10-2009, 10:14 PM

What a terrific series. What's funny is that these could just as easily been taken in any large city in America, except for the last one. The opera house is a dead give away as to location. I'll also agree that I really like the way that you've show the diversity of life. The last one is my favorite.

cupic · 01-11-2009, 04:29 AM

From despair to happiness its a package,nice series

cheers

NicholasN · 01-11-2009, 03:16 PM

I always find it hard to believe that these people, those in despair and those experiencing joy and hapiness are all within about 500 metres of each other, and more than likely have walked past each other at some point during the day.

When I walk through the city I always feel that the universe is at work, delivering equal amounts of all types to keep things in balance. After all what is hapiness without despair? and vice versa. You have to know what despair is to understand what happiness is.

Vylen · 01-11-2009, 03:36 PM

Out of curiosity, did you give these guys some of your spare change? heh

Admittedly, I've never really given any of my spare change to the homeless people on the streets. The only homeless person I feel compelled to give money to is the shoe-shiner on Pitt Street mall (i've yet to need my shoes shined!). I'm hoping to one day take a shot of him doing his work cause he's an honest guy actually trying to do stuff in return for the charity he receives.

Oh and on the note of homeless people and "doing nothing" the Australian federal government has plans to halve the amount of homeless people by 2020.

But yea, good photos - nice composition in most of them. I'm not sure though i like the bokeh in the last photo... for some reason it looks wierd - or is that because its been scaled down? I really like the first one with him glancing at you. I wonder if the guy in the 2nd last photo knew you were taking a shot?

NicholasN · 01-11-2009, 05:51 PM

I never got close enough to give them my change, all shots were done with a 70-300mm lens from a car!

I personally think halving homelessness by 2020 is a long way short of what is needed.

Nobody except #1 knew I was even there.

Taff · 01-11-2009, 11:32 PM

Since I took my image of the homeless less than a week ago (link)
He has been on my mind ever since, and walking through Perth yesterday I had 3 poeple ask me for spare change, I would like to go back soon with a pocket full of change and a full pack of fags, and my camera and hope to get to talk to some of these people, take their pictures, what goo will it do, i am yet to figure that one out

NicholasN · 01-12-2009, 02:46 AM

They have been on my mind too. It seems surreal to me as I always have a home to come to.

*nostatic* · 01-12-2009, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by NicholasN

I never got close enough to give them my change, all shots were done with a 70-300mm lens from a car!

Why so removed? How can you understand what you're shooting not only from such a distance, but then being inside a car on top of that?

That said, there are certainly different approaches to street shooting. But I am in the camp that uses shorter lenses and feels that I can't really "get" what is going on unless I'm closer. I don't want to disturb it, but I also don't want to be a distant voyeur. ymmv.

NicholasN · 01-12-2009, 06:10 PM

This may seem a crude analogy, but it's like going on Safari, you don't walk right up to a Lion with a short lens and snap away in its face do you? You sit back in your tour car and use a zoom lens to observe at a distance so you catch them acting naturally.

Last thing I want is someone knowing I am taking their photo, people generally tend to act differently when they know they are being observed.

*nostatic* · 01-12-2009, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by NicholasN

This may seem a crude analogy, but it's like going on Safari, you don't walk right up to a Lion with a short lens and snap away in its face do you? You sit back in your tour car and use a zoom lens to observe at a distance so you catch them acting naturally.

Last thing I want is someone knowing I am taking their photo, people generally tend to act differently when they know they are being observed.

Last time I checked, homeless aren't wild animals. Kind of a disturbing analogy actually. Perhaps that influences your pov when you shoot?

I agree that people will act differently, but I'm in the camp that likes to shoot in such a way that they really don't notice you. That's why a good p&s can be useful (Ricoh GRD2 is popular with a lot of serious street shooters, and I have a DLux4), or a smallish dSLR with a prime lens. That is why I like pentax - small ltd primes.

There is a moral issue with being a total voyeur as well. Some people are comfortable shooting strangers with a long zoom, others find is a little disconcerting. I'd rather be a little more up-front with what I'm doing. And as I said, with street, I can't really understand what I'm seeing unless I'm somewhat in the midst of it. I think that long lenses can lead to misinterpretation of the scene. But as I said, everyone has their own approach.

NicholasN · 01-12-2009, 06:20 PM

I'll probably do more walk around stuff soon. I am new to street, this is my first real attempt and I am just trying to get a feel for what works for me.

And like I said, it was a crude anaolgy.

Taff · 01-13-2009, 01:19 AM

I use a K20D with 40ltd, not to intimidating on the subject and makes me work hard to go for those in your face shots, of which I like