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My Rajasthan exhibition The Sleeping Cow (at the Hawkes Bay Photographers Gallery in Napier) is due to finish on the 10th Feb. See their web site at http://www.pghb.co.nz/
Also see the Exhibitions Link for details.
Post a Comment | Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 5:30PM 
The comments posted below has got me thinking about geometry and balance in street photography. Yesterday when I made the photograph above I had pre-focused on about 5 feet and then waited until interesting people approached that distance. Pre-focusing allows me to concentrate on the subject and I find I can then organise the background almost instantly. The gap between the heads was paramount and I was able to do the positioning by moving left or right. I often look past my subject for this reason, but also to make them think I'm not interested in them. The geometry seems to happen by accident, but subtle cropping with the camera is very important, and the photograph below is a good example of geometry in photography (especially the white line and leaning girl). It all happens in a split second.
Post a Comment | Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 5:32PM 
I once heard someone describe street photography as - making sense of the mess. Absolutely true!
4 Comments | Friday, January 20, 2012 at 9:55PM 
RIP Blanket Man. Above today and below 5 weeks ago.
1 Comment | Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 11:18PM 
Travelling on the Cook Strait Ferry is always a high time for me. I can't sit still and everywhere I turn there are images begging to be taken. I like the way the man's hat has become part of the hills.
The Railways (who run the Ferries) once asked for images to advertise their service so I sent them a few proofs from previous trips. Below is one of them - they didn't even reply to me! Strange, because they could promote the Ferries as a photographer's dream - which they are. Otherwise it's as boring as hell.
Post a Comment | Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 7:56PM 
From starboard to port yesterday - returning home
1 Comment | Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 10:20PM 
Four new negs from the village of Bundi, Southern Rajasthan 2010.
Post a Comment | Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 8:48AM 
New work from my India negs. Three school boys in the village of Sirohi, Southern Rajasthan 2010. The light in the desert was very hard and their faces are almost lost in blackness. And, it was about 50 degrees
Originally I liked the photograph below of the same boys because of the mystery in the lighting, which I put in my Sleeping Cow exhibition (on show now in Hawkes Bay - see Exhibitions Link).
Today I re-discovered the new one above and now I like it as much.
Post a Comment | Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 5:51PM 
New work from my India negs 2010. I'm going back to India next year because I love the essence of people relaxed in their environments. I used to be able to record NZlanders like this - but not now. Our society is screwed up with fear.
The very people who happily thumb through photo books in shops, looking at others with facination - fear the photographer in their midst as a sneaky creep.
The other day I was stopped by the police (the first time in my life) while I was taking photographs in a public place. "Someone had complained I was looking sneaky with my little camera. Other photographers were Ok with their big professional cameras" - said the policeman.
Even after 40 years If I ever doubt what I'm doing I'll go home and look at my library of street photographers. Cartier-Bresson for example immediately re-charges my batteries, and I'm a believer again.
Mr Plod was OK ("just doing my job") when he saw my book, which I often carry around with me. But what has changed in our society?
3 Comments | Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 11:09PM 
