Category: Street photography

Categories
Street photography

Each one in his own bubble in Willows Beach Park

Each one in his own bubble in the Willows Beach Park, Oak Bay, Victoria
Each one in his own bubble in the Willows Beach Park, Oak Bay, Victoria

In the foreground sits a man in the Willows Beach Park of Oak Bay in Victoria, British Columbia. He is totally in his bubble, absorbed by his book. I have been looking at him for few minutes wondering how I should position myself in order to get an interesting picture.

Suddenly, a bubble, very real this time, appears in the viewfinder of the camera. The bubble is moving, thanks to the efforts of a child that is walking inside of it. An adult is monitoring to situation to prevent accidents.

Street photography sometimes requires luck. For every successful photo, many opportunities are missed. The fraction of a second offered to a photographer to capture an unusual scene always imposes to have the camera settings already set for the ambient light and the expected use.

The picture was taken with a Canon 5DSR full-frame camera.

For other street photography pictures:

Street photography

Categories
Street photography

Street photography: Chinese women playing cards in Hong Kong’s Jade Market

Le Jade Market à Hong Kong, en 1990

This picture of a group of Chinese women playing cards was taken during summer 1990 in Jade Market, Hong Kong, before the island was retroceded back to China.

Street photography requires that a photographer does not prearrange a scene, in order to protect the natural atmosphere. This is where the real information stands. Those women, totally absorbed by their game, offered a superb opportunity to capture a normal day life scene.

It was important to proceed quickly to avoid that one of the ladies looked at the camera and changed her attitude. That way, the natural effect was maintained.

The picture was taken with a Pentax SF1 camera equipped with a film made to be developed for slides.

For other street photography pictures posted on my site, click on the following link:

Street photography

Categories
Street photography

A Cathay Pacific Boeing 747 cargo and the London Eye

A Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747 and the London Eye in London (2015)
A Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747 and the London Eye in London (2015)

The photo above requires a very quick moment of reflection before being correctly interpreted. Most of the people who have seen the picture for the first time immediately had the feeling that the aircraft was heading toward one of the London Eye’s capsules.

The viewers referred to images that they had already seen during the 9/11 attacks, images that were printed in their memory.

The Cathay Pacific Boeing 747 cargo was inbound for the London Heathrow international airport while my family and I were waiting in line to live the London Eye experience, the Ferris wheel installed in the center of London, United Kingdom.

Instead of capturing a large scene, which would have given a far better idea of the scale of objects and eliminated any confusion, I opted for a close-up plan, leaving the viewer with the work of interpreting the photo correctly.

One of the pleasures of street photography is to find a second interpretation to what would normally be an ordinary scene.

For other street photography pictures posted on my site, click on the following link:

Street photography

Categories
Street photography

In British Columbia, ships are in security

A lifeguard makes sure that the ships keep on floating...
A lifeguard makes sure that the ships keep on floating…

As I was completing a walk around Stanley Park, in British Columbia, I saw this lifeguard comfortably sitting in his chair and protected from the sun by a large yellow beach umbrella.

In the near distance, numerous vessels were anchored while waiting for the appropriate tide in order to reach Vancouver Harbour. Everything in the scenery was quiet.

However, reality was quite different since, when I got closer, I saw a huge beach loaded with swimmers in front of the lifeguard. The latter had to keep his eyes wide open.

A funnier approach was nonetheless to present the most tranquil scenery possible by avoiding to show the beach and the swimmers. This gave the impression that the lifeguard had the responsibility of watching the ships in the distance.

Slightly moving the skyline higher in the shot in order to only see the vessels and the lifeguard did the trick. This is the fun part of street photography.

For other street photography pictures posted on my site, click on the following link:

Street photography

Categories
Street photography

Street photography: the florist

Street photography: the florist
Street photography: the florist

In 2018, marijuana will probably become a legal substance in Canada. But for now, it is still considered an illegal drug by Canadian authorities.

In the picture above, a “plant” dealer, acting as a “florist”, does not hesitate to publicize his business in British Columbia. He chose to modify the reality until it finally meets his goal.

The “florist” above proceeds in the same way as Sean Spicer, the White House Speaker, who gives new meaning to words during his press conferences in order to make sense of some of Donald Trump’s electoral promises.

Street photography is often unplaned, as it is the case here. But I had with me the necessary equipment to capture the van before it got away.

For other street photography pictures posted on my site, click on the following link:

Street photography

Categories
Street photography

Street photography in Paris

Street photography in Paris, France.
Street photography in Paris, France.

This street photography shot, taken in Paris with a Canon 5D MKII full-frame camera, works better in the French language since the word « occupé » placed on the banner plays a crucial role. In French, “occupé” can mean that there is a labour unrest and that the activity of a company is being disturbed by its employees. “Occupé” can also mean “busy”. This street photography shot uses both meanings.

In the background, some people are removing the stickers that have been placed on the wall of a store representing an international company. One can see the word “occupé” written on a banner, which here means “labour unrest”. In the mid-plane, everyone is in movement. Each person is looking somewhere except toward the foreground where a beggar without legs waits for donations.

Three levels of wealth are represented in the picture. There is the fortune associated with the owner of a very well-known international company (the name is mostly hidden for legal reasons), there is the standard financial situation associated with the citizens in the mid-plane and there is the beggar’s financial situation.

I wanted to include the word “occupé” (busy) in the photo in order to express something else: people who are walking and who seem to benefit from an acceptable financial situation do not have any time for the man who cannot walk and who certainly does not benefit from an acceptable comfort. The banner announces that everyone is “occupé” (busy).

A green apple, put down on the sidewalk in front of the beggar, and a green bag behind him seem to summarize the belongings of the disabled beggar.

For other street photography pictures posted on my site, click on the following link:

Street photography

Categories
Street photography

Street photography an extra-terrestrial musician

Street photography: an extra-terrestrial musician
Street photography: an extra-terrestrial musician

Short of talented musicians, this military band finally decided to use an extra-terrestrial in its orchestra, hoping he would get by undetected. He is nonetheless betrayed by his eyes and teeth.

For other street photography pictures posted on my site, click on the following link:

Street photography

Categories
Street photography

Street photography helps in touching the top of the Toronto CN Tower

Street photography and the CN Tower, Toronto 2016
Street photography and the CN Tower, Toronto 2016

While I was walking around Toronto during a photography session, I found myself near the Rogers Center, facing a huge artwork installed on top of the building. One of the man in that artwork was pointing straight ahead with his index. The CN Tower being in the area, I could not resist an easy but efficient composition. Street photography offered the fastest way to touch the top of that tower.

For other street photography pictures posted on my site, click on the following link:

Street photography

Categories
Street photography

Street photography : an apartment not to be missed

Street photography: a rental opportunity not to be missed
Street photography: a rental opportunity not to be missed

Apartment to rent (à louer) : the renter has access to an antique multicoloured spiraling iron staircase. Wishing to protect the environment, the owner used wood as the material to insure the structure’s stability. The second floor’s floor is built with different types of wood, following the modern architectural trend. The building’s facade is boarded up to insure your privacy as well as your security. All those advantages for a ridiculous price. Call now!

For other street photography pictures posted on my site, click on the following link:

Street photography

Categories
Street photography

Street photography: policemen and the Dunkin Donuts

Quebec police at the Francophone Summit, 2008.
Quebec police at the Francophone Summit, 2008.

There is a persisting rumor about the fact that policemen like to stop at Dunkin Donuts and Tim Hortons restaurants to indulge on donuts and coffees durant their daily breaks. This photo taken in Quebec seems to confirm the rumor. There is not enough parking in front of the restaurant to accommodate all the motorcycles side by side.

In fact, this photo is the result of a pure coincidence. During the Francophonie Summit that was held in Quebec, several motorcycle policemen had to park close to the Quebec Jean-Lesage international airport while waiting for the limousines carrying dignitaries from around the world. They had chosen the local Dunkin Donuts parking for its proximity. Appearances are sometimes misleading…but they prove handy for street photography.

For other street photography pictures posted on my site, click on the following link:

Street photography