Undisciplined Framing Style or Shooting from the Hip Images

[frame-it]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

12 hours ago, stuny said:

Sometime I'll shoot from the hip in places where they ban photography.  However, for this shot I didn't want to cause the subject to change her movement in any way. Crossing Madison Avenue at 42nd Street 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

nice shot and you got the top of the buildings on the right too

[Mike S]

On 6/20/2023 at 7:23 AM, londond said:

 I tried to reflect on the process so see if I could come up with any intelligent insights for this thread. Sadly failed on that beyond the obvious conclusion that I enjoy going out and playing with my Leicas,  

That's the point really, if we're not having fun, what on earth are we doing? I mean , my natural way of seeing is very graphic, very classical from a compositional standpoint. The fun for me is to challenge my instinct. To have fun by disregarding the conventions, composition, exposure; be free. I'm not very successful at it and I'm certainly nor prescribing it as an approach for anyone else, but I've come to my own conclusion that just as there is no such thing as a correct exposure, there is also no such thing as a correct composition. Great topic btw. Example attached, shot from the hip but still struggling to break away from formality.

 

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Ken Abrahams]

3 hours ago, Mike S said:

That's the point really, if we're not having fun, what on earth are we doing? I mean , my natural way of seeing is very graphic, very classical from a compositional standpoint. The fun for me is to challenge my instinct. To have fun by disregarding the conventions, composition, exposure; be free. I'm not very successful at it and I'm certainly nor prescribing it as an approach for anyone else, but I've come to my own conclusion that just as there is no such thing as a correct exposure, there is also no such thing as a correct composition. Great topic btw. Example attached, shot from the hip but still struggling to break away from formality.

 

Very good Mike, yes my thoughts exactly. Maybe I should have led with or added that viewpoint regarding "breaking away from formality". I am always reinventing my creative stance and understand my resistance to change. Shooting from the hip and manifesting undisciplined framing was a way to dislodge a very staid routine way of photographing a few years ago. I didnt know what it would bring and the few successes I initially gained were enough to keep me practising on the street. Truth be known I was having way too much fun.

I found the ideal lens and camera was the M10M with 35 Summicron Asph. Not my best lens however it was small and had the best angle when my camera set to just sit on my shoulder bag at waist height. I tried the Summilux 35 later but the lens barrel was bigger and shifted the shooting angle lower than the Summicron. I also found the 21 Super Elmar a very good lens for the job. There are many other variables involved which all need to be right to achieve a sharp well exposed image without camera movement.

Most of all I enjoy the element of surprise and discovery with this method. Looking at the imaged on the camera travelling home on the train and then closer scrutiny at 200 % on the screen for an image to make the cut.  It's sometimes luck or just very good timing and anticipating to a good image. The M10M allows for some cropping factor and adjusting of tilted frames to a certain extent. Later the SL 601 and SL2 took to the street for experimentation. The top plate screen of the SL's was useful to check that the shutter was up around 1/1000 sec.

Anyway I have toned my street shooting down somewhat recently as familiarity on the street hinders my work and also my scope for other kinds of photography which balances my visual creativity.

Best Ken    

 

     

[Ken Abrahams]

Friday Durry - I had just turned a corner and saw the woman standing in the doorway of the Law Buildings. The lens focus is set between 1,5-2.0 metres (always) and I have learned to shoot when it seems I am too far along. That way the subject is better placed in the frame instead of at the edge of frame. You dont ask any questions, just shoot ASAP and maybe look at the image for a quick exposure check once further away. I am not sure but the sharp voluntary camera movements at fast shutter speeds sometimes adds to the image. A slight distortion perhaps.    

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Ken Abrahams]

Walking towards potential subjects and guessing my distance and firing continuously as I am walking past. Sometimes people think they hear the M10M shutter but it is not a convincing sound. Eventually I challenged myself with shooting at f2 or 1.4 with the 35 Summilux, instead of f8. The rate of good shots suddenly decreased however in time I could get it right on. Usually there would be one frame that was a hit. Sometimes three or more trips to the city each week to continually improve the system. There were other variables too. Every turn of corner manifested a new lighting condition. Sometimes shade under mall shopfronts sometimes backlit sunny light and other times bright contrast light. One must continually change exposures ISO and adjust compensation wheel and up and down with aperture on the move. It's a great way to get to know your camera in the fast lane, the outcome must produce some good images.  

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Ken Abrahams]

The M10M has been neglected over the last months and it's not a matter of lack of photographing going on . The only drawback from having too many cameras is that some don't leave the bag for a while. Anyway the winter sun played havoc with my exposures against dark backgrounds and many frames were overexposed. I stayed at one spot to get it right and eventually took it off Aperture priority dropped the iso and redeemed myself a little. This style of shooting requires "keeping in practice" otherwise there will be little learning curves to reestablish ones rhythm  

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[stuny]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

In the Mutter Museum inside the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Philadelphia.  D2 hanging from my left shoulder,  from the hip facing 90 degrees left of where I was looking

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Ken Abrahams]

On 6/25/2023 at 10:48 AM, stuny said:

In the Mutter Museum inside the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Philadelphia.  D2 hanging from my left shoulder  from the hip facing 90 degrees left of where I was looking

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Oh wow, what a bone yard of delights. I love skulls and museums. Great heads to practice ones technique Stuart. Are they shrunken skulls going on there ?

[Ken Abrahams]

Winter Light M10M with 35 Summilux Asph

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Ken Abrahams]

From the Hip - Street Corner 

The girl turned her head toward some commotion at the busy crosswalk where a pedestrian was hurling abuse at a car trying to turn left into pedestrians before safe to do so. There were a few reactions and people turning their heads back into the light so I shot quite a few frames. I walked past and then back pretending to be waiting at the next pedestrian crossing where I captured some more images such as the one above this one. Post # 29 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[stuny]

Ken -

This was quite some time ago, but best as I recall, much (if not most or all) of the specimens are anomalies or the results of earlier surgical techniques.

[stuny]

Q hanging from my left shoulder, brought around to the front of my waste, click.  I was lucky and only had to correct a tilt of about 1 or two degrees, and then crop.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Ken Abrahams]

Winter Warmers Series - shot from the Hip with SL2S with 21 Super Elmar. This series has an impression added to make the subjects seem "larger than life" 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Ken Abrahams]

Sharing is Caring - Winter Warmers 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Ken Abrahams]

Winter Warmers - Man sniffing substance 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Ken Abrahams]

Winter Warmers - not so warm fashion SL2s 21 Super Elmar 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[pippy]

On 6/21/2023 at 9:56 PM, Mike S said:

...there is no such thing as a correct exposure, there is also no such thing as a correct composition...

...and then Marion Boron says; "Some people might like this!....Me???....."...

Nice snap though! Speak soon!

P.

[Ken Abrahams]

Co Creative Shadow - I don't often get involved with my own images however the shadow on the subject in this frame is me walking past while shooting from the hip. M10M 35 Summilux Asph, ISO 400, 1/2000 sec at around F4-5.6

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited June 29 by Ken Abrahams
camera info

[Ken Abrahams]

Street Impression SL2 with 21 Super Elmar M 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[stuny]

Not from the hip but tilted to include the reflection.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!