Looking at What I Have

As I prepare for Pull Out Day, I realized I really have to analyze where I am and what I have. While I definitely have enough material for me to survive on Pull Out Day, I realize that during Spring Break, I am going to be doing a lot of work. I have not met personal goals that I set in the beginning of the process, which is worrisome, yet can easily be fixed by putting in a lot of days during the Break. I still managed to look back and see what I had and what I was working with, which was surprisingly a great foundation. I have a few pictures I could use in my book which really show a couple of things: contrasts and emotion.

This is by far my favorite picture. This was taken right off of 125^th, depicting these new beautiful apartments. In the corner, however, is an older black male who isn't quite letting go. He kept screaming things as people walked by, and while I couldn't understand him, he seems to be a usual to the area. People who walked by smiled, as if he was a familiar face in this area. In order to stay discrete and keep the validity of the image (in other words, make sure the image is raw, and not staged), the photo doesn't give a great view of the man's expression or facial details. This makes me think about what lenses I am using. The three I have at my disposal are a 28mm lens, 50mm lens, and a 135mm lens. The 135mm would give me a close up view of the man, but at the same time, I lose the entire background (buildings and architecture). If I use the 28mm, I get everything in one image, but lose details up close. I have to make decisions like this on the fly and ensure that everything I desire to be in the image is in there while still getting all the detail I could possibly fit in one picture.

While this isn't an image that I would want in the final product, I like how this picture shows what Harlem is becoming. The background shows new buildings, while the graffiti covered ones are fenced off, preparing for demolition, and another brand new building will rise. A struggle in this picture was composing it well enough to see the barren ground that now is there while still getting the buildings in the background. Also, I didn't want the fence to be a distraction, but I wanted the viewer to see that it was there. While this photo was difficult to compose, I was still happy with the end result, but don't think that it has the quality or the meaning to really go into the final book.

This picture is the final one from 125^th that I really liked. It really showed the true essence of my project, which is change. While on others I felt as if underexposure (meaning the picture is darker) served the image well, I don't think underexposure in this picture made it any better. I might bump the contrast up in photoshop and mess around there to get the look I want. The images message, however, is the exact one I was hoping to depict to the focus panel.

*NOTE: images are cut off (width). Click on the images for the full pictures*

Start Developin' Those Photos!

I can finally deem this week a successful week. I had my fair share of research this week, which was focused around photography. I then took to the streets twice (Friday and Sunday) for some real extensive photography sessions. I got a few really good shots, however I used another two rolls of film. I haven't really addressed the issue of efficiency of every frame I shoot, however I feel as if I'm going to do this project right, I will have to take over 200 pictures and pick the best twenty. While that seems like a waste, it is the best way to approach this because out of my hundreds of pictures will come a good amount that will having a lasting image on the viewer and answer guiding questions.

I read a couple of articles about street photography this week, which allowed me get in the mindset of a street photographer. While this is the main style I shoot with, I needed to remind myself of the very basics. Everything from camera to what you wear makes a huge difference. I own two cameras that I will use extensively during this project. One is my Olympus OM-4, which should be effective for more obvious "streetscapes". My other camera is a Yashica Autofocus, which is very quiet and doesn't require all of the attention my Olympus SLR does. The Yashica is just essentially point and shoot, which will give a very raw photo. I will use that for more on the street portraits, and will use that when I am being discrete, meaning I will not be looking through a viewfinder. This style is called "shooting from the hip". It gives a different perspective and feel that is much more raw than a staged photo.

While I have only scratched the surface of what is my focus project, I am happy to say that where I am is a great place. I'm starting to grow a level of comfort in Harlem that will allow me to venture deeper into it. So far I have only been to the main parts of it (125th, Frederick Douglas Drive, Malcolm X Boulevard). I feel as if my deeper and more interesting discoveries will be made in spots that I won't expect to look in. While I haven't had any "breathtaking" discoveries yet, I have met a few personal goals of mine, which make me feel really good about my progress.

What is frustrating is my inability to develop my film until Wednesday. I really wanted to show my progress photography wise with my class. What I really need to do is think of an efficient way of storing my negatives for the long term. I used to store my negatives in envelopes, but after a while they got dusty and scratched. I need to start buying plastic sleeves that will safely store my negatives until I get them professionally printed.