Wednesday
Ask Ty...October 31
Q: I've done some extensive perusing of your Blogs/Websites and enjoyed all that I saw (esp. the interview with the D.C. protest cop ["...the juxtoposition of the officer next to the World Bank sign...is this building prohibited?"] snippet).
Love your photos.
Here's my question: While I took Journalism classes and PhotoJournalism I'm just getting back into taking photos of some meaning. I love to take photos of people on the street and although I randomly see interesting people and great shot op's I'm still trying to find the balls to take their photos. How do you approach these people without ruining the shot? I.E-do you take the photo first and then explain that your a pro photographer (I understand you carry a business card which sounds sensible). I know that's a dumb question but I always feel like I SEE great photos but pass up the shot. Any suggestions would be great...?
- #88, NorCal
Ty: Good question and an even better observation.
I'm glad you like my photographs, thanks.
Funny, I still have problems getting the balls to shoot sometimes. Firstly, I've found that in public nobody notices (so just shoot, only explain if questioned - lie if you have to, but shoot first ask permission later, if necessary to thwart a possible "situation". If you have to ask (like in a coffee shop or at a pool) then say "I'm taking photo classes..." - works every time (as does, "it's for my blog" with the ladies). But, rarely say, "I'm a professional photographer." That identifies you as a dork. I've noticed that if I have to ask, 99% give permission (the other 1% asks, "why?" and you can talk 'em into it).
I take like 1,000-1,500 shots a month and STILL feel I pass on shots. I try to carry a camera with me everywhere I go. But I either sometimes just chicken out (less frequently anymore) or I just miss the shot I see (drives me nutty). Sometimes though, I magically make the time and take the effort to get the shot before I even think about it.
So, if you SEE a shot, then just fuckin' TAKE the shot. My advice is to go all Nike and just do it. Once the shot is taken, it's taken. If you're in public, everyone's fair game. Also, if you can, use what I call the "power of two." You have a friend stand and pose, then you just shoot over his/her shoulder toward your subject.
Oh, and cops don't like photographers.
Just a guess.
- Ty
Love your photos.
Here's my question: While I took Journalism classes and PhotoJournalism I'm just getting back into taking photos of some meaning. I love to take photos of people on the street and although I randomly see interesting people and great shot op's I'm still trying to find the balls to take their photos. How do you approach these people without ruining the shot? I.E-do you take the photo first and then explain that your a pro photographer (I understand you carry a business card which sounds sensible). I know that's a dumb question but I always feel like I SEE great photos but pass up the shot. Any suggestions would be great...?
- #88, NorCal
Ty: Good question and an even better observation.
I'm glad you like my photographs, thanks.
Funny, I still have problems getting the balls to shoot sometimes. Firstly, I've found that in public nobody notices (so just shoot, only explain if questioned - lie if you have to, but shoot first ask permission later, if necessary to thwart a possible "situation". If you have to ask (like in a coffee shop or at a pool) then say "I'm taking photo classes..." - works every time (as does, "it's for my blog" with the ladies). But, rarely say, "I'm a professional photographer." That identifies you as a dork. I've noticed that if I have to ask, 99% give permission (the other 1% asks, "why?" and you can talk 'em into it).
I take like 1,000-1,500 shots a month and STILL feel I pass on shots. I try to carry a camera with me everywhere I go. But I either sometimes just chicken out (less frequently anymore) or I just miss the shot I see (drives me nutty). Sometimes though, I magically make the time and take the effort to get the shot before I even think about it.
So, if you SEE a shot, then just fuckin' TAKE the shot. My advice is to go all Nike and just do it. Once the shot is taken, it's taken. If you're in public, everyone's fair game. Also, if you can, use what I call the "power of two." You have a friend stand and pose, then you just shoot over his/her shoulder toward your subject.
Oh, and cops don't like photographers.
Just a guess.
- Ty
Tuesday
Monday
BSE*
Best Song Ever!
Ozzy Osbourne's No More Tears
Why? Classic big-rock production and classic big-rock guitars.
Seriously*
*There may be more BSE's though.
Ozzy Osbourne's No More Tears
Why? Classic big-rock production and classic big-rock guitars.
Seriously*
*There may be more BSE's though.
Some See Love
[I see two gross, desperate, uncouth losers that make me want to throw my camera (with me attached to it) into the bottom of hell's tow canal. I want to get Superman to spin around the planet so we can go back in time so I can throw my computer into that plane that crashed into the World Trade Center so I don't have to ever look at this image again. Fucking grow up! You're not sixteen, you haven't been sixteen in 20 years.]
Sunday
Video?
Did I mention that I'm working on a video project with Avelynn? Oh, sorry.
Send your 30 second clips to me.
Use: ty[dot]hardaway[at]gmail[dot]com <-- careful them spiders.
Send your 30 second clips to me.
Use: ty[dot]hardaway[at]gmail[dot]com <-- careful them spiders.
Saturday
Friday
Holding Grudges
"Fuck you, Verizon! Fuck you! And thanks for giving my information to the government too! Assholes! "
- Anonymous Friend > 10.24.07
[Verizon Wireless customer service didn't provide my friend with the answer they were expecting.]
Ask Ty...October 26
Q: I feel race was a factor. Why?
- Resident of the State of Florida
Ty: Good question and an even better observation.
Answer #1: You felt race was a factor because race is always a factor. Even when you don't feel race was a factor, it is, was, and will always be a factor; just like sex is always a factor.
Answer #2: Sex, race, and physical attraction are essential automated sorting mechanisms. You can turn on the willful brain and tamp these filters down, but there is no "off" switch.
Answer #3: Keep in mind, though, that context can vary dynamics. For example, there are settings where being a 50 year-old white male makes you the HNIC. But there are others where these three attributes put you at the very bottom of the totem. You can figure the situations yourself. So, having particular attributes (and being able to "play" the subtle attributes finely) can hurt or hinder; reward or punish.
As long as everybody accepts the premise that race will always be a factor, we can begin to make sense of things.
Just a guess!
-Ty
- Resident of the State of Florida
Ty: Good question and an even better observation.
Answer #1: You felt race was a factor because race is always a factor. Even when you don't feel race was a factor, it is, was, and will always be a factor; just like sex is always a factor.
Answer #2: Sex, race, and physical attraction are essential automated sorting mechanisms. You can turn on the willful brain and tamp these filters down, but there is no "off" switch.
Answer #3: Keep in mind, though, that context can vary dynamics. For example, there are settings where being a 50 year-old white male makes you the HNIC. But there are others where these three attributes put you at the very bottom of the totem. You can figure the situations yourself. So, having particular attributes (and being able to "play" the subtle attributes finely) can hurt or hinder; reward or punish.
As long as everybody accepts the premise that race will always be a factor, we can begin to make sense of things.
Just a guess!
-Ty
Just a Little Weird?
What kind of friends are you?
Isn't it a little weird that I'm "into" Achewood so much. C'mon? It's almost fawning fanboyish.
Thanks a lot! If it were you, I'd've told ya.
That's it. With friends like you....
Isn't it a little weird that I'm "into" Achewood so much. C'mon? It's almost fawning fanboyish.
Thanks a lot! If it were you, I'd've told ya.
That's it. With friends like you....
Thursday
Wednesday
Holding Grudges
"I just started using Exxon again following the Valdez thing. I hold grudges, dude!"
- Mark > 10.24.07
[The oil tanker Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef, Prince William Sound in Alaska on March 24, in 1989]
Obligatory Birthday Poem
Obligatory Birthday Poem #42
An entire lifetime of being everything
yet being nothing at all - ever
Birthdays and Halloweens
(have become) quaint if not just plain corny
Lead and crime (death and grime)
the rights of the antonymous people(s)
Surrounded mostly though by mopes
content with taking pictures of each other
Bad Starbucking parents creating
crises to catastrophe to come
But, this is just a brief point in
the story, the time, and the history
One of several
possible outcomes
Again, I contend it's
the manifestations of our discontent, realized
Now. We know. That.
We can do anything
Tuesday
Records Order So Far
So far:
Icky Thump by the White Stripes
Widow City by the Fiery Furnaces
Graduation by Kanye West
La Cucaracha by Ween
Kala by M.I.A.
The Mix-up by the Beastie Boys
In Rainbows by Radiohead
Friend Opportunity by Deerhoof
Tones of Town by Field Music
Icky Thump by the White Stripes
Widow City by the Fiery Furnaces
Graduation by Kanye West
La Cucaracha by Ween
Kala by M.I.A.
The Mix-up by the Beastie Boys
In Rainbows by Radiohead
Friend Opportunity by Deerhoof
Tones of Town by Field Music
Found
I was writing in my newest notebook/journal and found a great surprise (by a Surprise Tagger) on the last page.
Monday
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
