Many photographers try to work on an idea of an image through multiple takes. This is most often seen in landscape photographs, where an identical scene and framing can bring completely different effects depending on the light, time of year and atmospheric conditions.

Sometimes, the use of a different focal length can be beneficial. Here is a photograph I have retaken at a distance of a couple of weeks. Both photos are shot on 35mm camera. The first one with a 50mm lens:

The second one, with a 85mm lens:

It is much easier to catch people unaware, when they are so intensely focused on what they are doing, that they simply don’t see the photographer snapping away at them.

A quiet shutter helps.

On my weekly strolls in Nice, I usually stop by for lunch in this little and cozy place called “Les Causeries de Blandine” ( Blandine’s chatters). You will find there a familiar atmosphere, art on the walls, some illustrated albums to flip through, and a great selection of salads, quiches and home made cakes.

Social psychologists study the language of human bodies. They want to understand our non verbal ways of communicating, and how we can take advantage of understanding the impact of our psyche on our bodies, and vice versa.

I remain fascinated by what is going on in the minds of other people, by how they translate their unique beings into expressions of living form. This is a never ending source of photographic inspiration.

Continue reading →

The nearing of the Christmas season on Cote d’Azur, is mainly perceptible, through the sudden appearance of decorations and little lamps in the streets. It usually adds a slightly surreal touch to the environment, because December tends to be a month without much rain, and the temperatures are still very enjoyable.People happily continue to eat out in the sidewalk restaurants, seated in their t shirts, and some more courageous even continue to bath regularly in the sea.

I often catch myself taking photographs, which I should not really take. There must be some contorted circuit in my brain, which tells me: See? Isn’t it interesting? – or – This should not be there! Photograph it !

In most cases the result is not that great.

I believe, the reason is, that it is the rational part of the brain that “orders” me to photograph, not the intuitive, poetic side, which is sensitive to forms and emotions and capable of that “mindless” perception typical of the creative process.

A street photographer set free, is an individual, that has loaded himself above all with the following task: start noticing things.  There are no two pairs of eyes in the universe equal to each other. This is why street photography will always have a future.

Recently, I have dusted off one of the old tricks of street shooters: taking the photographs without looking through the viewfinder. Some call it shooting from the hip, but in practice, I have worked out two or three alternative modes of doing it, and sometimes the results are surprisingly good.

Continue reading →