Dark Daze photography blog

Generic photography shots.com

What’s with the whack photography sites that are kicking around out there at the minute.

Every snapper and his dog are slowing down the internet by posting up new sites and why do they all look the same, I am not holding mine up as the definitive site at all, its too big and rambling and blah blah but at least it’s a bit different.

It’s just at the minute every city or ‘urban’ photographer has.

1. Some writers creeping about in a trainyard. Sodium lighting required.
2. A writer climbing over a fence preferably shot from long wide angle, or close up thru the razor wire.
3. A writer at the top of some ladder, ubiquitous urban landscape behind, preferably shot in the early morning, with the photographer on rooftop.
4. Writer hiding behind some kind of big metal box with a train in the background, choice of early dawn lighting or sodium, but long exposure to get some motion blur.
5. Writer on a covered walkway over a motorway or tracks.
6. Writer in funny mask, ideally sticking V’s up at camera. Its important to note that this is the only time the Writer can acknowledge the presence of the photographer; all other images must suggest a ‘quiet lonely enterprise’.
7. Writer in bandanna shot holding can or paint covered hands close to lens.

Interior shots.

1. Most of these shots are to be in gritty black and white, mainly shot on digital but ideally processed to look like film.
2. (point two has been edited after it caused some offense)
3. Shot of ‘yoot’ skinning up on a droopy sofa, or bunning a zoot. Extra marks if there are some cans on the floor, or a cup of tea in the hand. Even more if you get motion blur on one of the figures.
4. Again no acknowledgement of photographer unless swearing.
5. Shot of tower block lifts, even if you have to leave your car at the station, get two trains and a bus, just to find a tower block. Optional person stood next to lift door, either young and in hoody or old and with shopping bag.
6. Living room in tower block with close up shot of ashtray, TV or hand with jewellery

Street and exterior shots (these shots must be colour- with some fill-in flash)

1 Shot of kids stood next to street sign with name of their road on it. Kids should be in grey trackies and one holding BMX or Football. Try and make this look as informal as possible even though it’s set up. Shoot on an overcast day. Try and finds kids that look a bit deprived but have a small sense of optimism for the future.
2 Kid with shaved head, big puffy jacket, preferably in summer, with a dog on a lead. Not any old dog but some kind of pit-bull, staffie or variant on the theme. Gold chain mandatory for dog owner. Shoot on a wide angle, low to the ground to increase feel of intimidation. Bang up the colours a bit too.
3 Some random crew shot, posed next to a brick wall, kinda menacing look, especially if these are your mates.
4 Night shots should really get a section of its own, but take as many urban street corners as you can, ideally where two different light sources meet. An empty stairwell going up out of shot is perfect as well. An abandoned trolley shot works well. Ideal time very early dawn, light smattering of rain would help. If you can then throw in a homeless person a nice wide shot is ace, but if you’re really daring get in close and get them to scream into the camera. It shows that you can really relate to people even if you paid them with beer.

Of course this only really applies to urban photography module one, for module two go to East London and shoot lots of club shots, use a basic Polaroid or side mounted flash, make sure the images are pointedly lacking content. I know everyone can’t be Larry Clark, Gavin Watson or even Glen E Friedman but why are we all running down the same road right now. Get some new ideas, try and shoot something new, if you have seen the shot before don’t take it.

“Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges around some facts, you change those facts.” Garry Winogrand

oh and feel free to add abuse and link this to my versions of all the above if you want, its all fine with me.

oh and on a flip side check this dudes shots l’il pete, fao2 L’il Pete he manages to do some new shit, plus his climbing up buildings and shooting in the dead of night in bristol is just crazy fresh, and a new take on parkour style tricking proper dedicated stuff.

Posted on Thursday, February 28th, 2008 at 11:37 am in General opinionated rants that I will later regret..