“Alright, Mr Draco. I’m ready for my close-up”
Sydney January – August 2015 (7 photos)
When I’m out on the streets, my camera is always on, the lens cap is always off, and the manual focus of my prime lens is set at about 3 metres; I usually shoot in the range of 2 – 5 metres with a 50mm lens. You never know what scene you will encounter, and the scene can change substantially between spotting it and getting ready to get the shot in. And who wants to miss that shot for not being ready or not being close enough?
“Enjoying the view from the deck of the Sydney Harbour Bridge”
“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” – Elliott Erwitt
“Let your fingers do the walking”
I like to just wander around and photograph simple candid moments. There can be so much to appreciate in that one simple moment that might otherwise have passed unnoticed.
“Where am I? Let me check Google Maps”
Candid photography is all the more easier these days for the introduction of mobile technology. Most people these days have a mobile phone. It constantly takes their attention and time. In turn, this lets me get in close and undetected.
“Candid photography is like a box of chocolates”
The mobile phone keeps them connected, but at the same time disconnected from their immediate environment.
“Lessons in how to be alone in a crowd”
“Modern conversations”
Daughter on phone: Hi Mum. It was good seeing you. We should catch-up more often.
Mother on phone: Yes it was. Same time next week? Gotta go now. My battery’s dying.
Etcetera Etcetera Etcetera 
Well, life has sadly gone that way. We’re losing the moment! 😚
True. Technology is rapidly changing the way we interact and live.
Even before I read the caption, those were my exact thoughts as soon I saw that photograph in my reader 🙂
“Alright, Mr Draco. I’m ready for my close-up”
Connected and yet Disconnected – nice one!
Thank you. That quote sprang to mind immediately. Must be his body language. 🙂 Have a good Friday and weekend ahead.
Thank you LD 🙂 I have got a good week long vacation coming.
Have a great weekend. Will catch up once I am back.
Have a great break/holiday. See you later.
Everyone is always on their phone now. Nice captures Lignum 🙂
I’m guilty too, but I try to limit the time on my phone. Thanks, Norma. 🙂
Like your style! But your “comments” on each photo are a hoot!
Thank you. Actually the number of “great photo – please follow me” type comments has dried up since I started that. And my spam count is dropping too after I placed messages on my 3 most spammed photos. I wish I could turn off comments on photos but this free theme doesn’t allow that option.
I guess I should’ve said your titles for each of your photos, that’s what I meant not the spammy thingies. Love them
My mistake. Got it. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Great shots. This essay and the photos really illustrates the modern experience. It is difficult to find people now who don’t have their face in their device.
Thanks. It was a novelty at first but the technology is now intertwined in our lives. Everyone feels like they need to be connected or they’re losing out.
Wonderful photographs and excellent points on how “technology” has totally pulled us toward another direction, that many times we do not appreciate our current surroundings or people interaction anymore. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you. It’s gone a bit too far. People texting in their cars and crashing, people texting whilst walking and having accidents, people going to the doctor and other important appointments and not turning their phone off.
Well stated. We’ve become enprisoned to technology.
That’s a true statement. We can’t live without it anymore.
Very very good!!! And I agree with your statement about the mobile phones…I wonder how did we manage not so far ago…I am still a fan of face to face conversation… 🙂
Smart technology is dumbing us down. I used to know family and other important people’s phone numbers. Now it’s all saved on the phone and I can’t even quote my work’s phone number.
I only know mine and my parent´s home…One day my phone was destroyed (I jumped into the river to save one of my dogs) and my parent were out in another city…And I did not know how to call my brothers or my husband…Incredible!!! I had to use the computer to send a mail to explain what had happened and that I was ok but isolated…
In the same situation I’d have the same problem, except I don’t remember their email addresses either. 🙂
Ha ha ha!!! Seems to be it we are out of the net we are lost in the ocean!!!
🙂
With a million ways to connect, we remain moored and tied to that which disconnects….crazy…..
The path of least resistance? We’re all building fortresses around ourselves.
I say, “Down with fortress building!!”
🙂
Great moments by the way….
Thank you kindly. 🙂
Epic! You are the master…and thank goodness for cell phones 🙂
Thank you. People on their phone or tablet make for great candid shots. 🙂
“…everything to do with the way you see them.” So very true. That last photo is a classic portrait of our era. A scene so familiar. You, young man, know how to use technology to your advantage.
Everything’s open to interpretation which is what I like about street photography.
I saw those two just sitting and talking, not even looking at one another. A great way to “connect”.
Besides these photos being superlative, this post is a perfect interpretation of (lack) of connection. Bravo!
Thanks. It’s such a common sight. People everywhere in a crowd, but all on their phone interacting elsewhere.
You’re welcome. Indeed it is. I make countless photos of couples or friends connecting to their phones instead of each other. Bizarre reality that won’t change in the near future. But you’re right that has tremendously helped us make candid shots of people!
I like seeing people wearing earphones, too. Less chance of them hearing the shutter. 🙂
That’s so true. I’ll pay attention to this as well. When I make photos from inside public transportation, I use the iPhone exactly because of the shutter noise.
I know a few people who do that. It makes sense.
It does indeed!
🙂
Ah the smartphone they change our life and our relationship , in better or not, that’s the question.. Bises mon cher Draco:-)
We need to exercise control over our use of the smartphone. People texting and talking on their phone whilst driving just make me shake my head.
Thanks for the visit, Sophie. Have a great Friday and weekend ahead.
I like the last one, the two women sitting at the same table each talking on the phone. This behavior is such a normality right now.
Thanks but sad, isn’t it? There’s no harm in not answering non-urgent phone calls immediately.
It is such a pity that today smart phone are more important than real human interraction
I agree.
Wonderful series! The light on the beautiful lady in nr3 is magnificent. Great shot.
Thanks, Harrie. We have no control over lighting on the street but when it falls perfectly on the subject it’s magical. 🙂
“The mobile phone keeps them connected, but at the same time disconnected from their immediate environment.”
Very true !
Thank you. We see it everyday, everywhere.
I love these shots, especially the first and the last one especially. 🙂 Can’t live without it, it’s a different world.
Thank you, Amy. The first guy looked so relaxed and the last pair looked so disconnected. they were great shots to make. 🙂
🙂
Interesting observation about technology making your candid shots a bit easier…
Thanks. Anything that distracts their attention lets me get closer. 🙂
Do you shoot in black and white or colour and then convert? The contrast is so good in your images. This post brings to mind the lyrics
“It’s so funny
How we don’t talk anymore
It’s so funny
Why we don’t talk anymore
But I ain’t losing sleep
And I ain’t counting sheep
It’s so funny
How we don’t talk anymore”
but then I’d have to admit to knowing a Cliff Richard song….
I shoot in raw colour. I then process the photo to the best of my ability in full colour, as if that were the final step. After that, I convert to B&W and make additional adjustments as needed. So B&W processing actually takes me longer because of the extra steps.
Yes, we all know a Cliff Richard song or three. I even did a post based on one of his songs previously. 🙂
Thanks for the info LD. I am learning all the time. Once I am used to the new camera I will have another go at using RAW and see how I go. I just need to cut down on the number of images I post, but that’s not a bad thing. 🙂
My pleasure. Raw needs a bit of work as opposed to jpeg. It may help to choose the jpeg and raw option so you get 2 files for one. New cameras with larger file sizes often mean new hard drive storage at some point. 🙂
Yes that is another consideration! I must do some culling 😉
🙂
Struggling to remember life on the streets before we all took to the mobile. A fine set of active, passive shots Lignum!
Thanks, Patti. It seems like a world away, doesn’t it? Life is changing rapidly and people have became entrapped by the new technology.
Beautiful shots again, Dragon. We say so much with our bodies. The last shot is a brilliant shot. I don’t think they were talking to each other.
Thank you. I don’t know why everyone feels the need to answer their phones immediately when they’re with company, unless it’s urgent. There’s no harm in calling back later.
I do like the second photo. The outward man taking photos and aware of every thing around him and the inward man totally transfixed on his phone. I think I can guess who will enjoy and remember their day most…
True enough. And a common enough scene worldwide.
And to think those phones take great photos too 😉 great images, love mono
Thanks, and yes they do. Mobile phone photographers – that might be another post. 🙂
I absolutely hate it when you are out with friends and their phone rings. They naturally take their call and end up talk for ages and forget all about our get together. Is f8 your mate?
Yes, that can be very frustrating. There must be some form of etiquette.
I rarely use f8 in candid photography, as I like separating the subject from the background with bokeh.
fabulous shots, woody dragon, the last photo truly drives home the point.
in years to come, we will look back at the mobile phone as the most useful and abused invention of the 21st century.
have a good weekend.
best regards, ken
Thanks, Ken. I think you’re very right.
Who knows what the mobile phone will evolve into next?
Have a good weekend too.
Great set of pictures. The one with the mother & daughter on their phones is very good – well caught. And I love the Elliott Erwitt quote.
Thank you. 🙂
I’d never thought about the mobile phone as a photographer’s friend in that sense but it’s certainly stood you in good stead here! Love that shot of the stylish lady. I look like that in my dreams 🙂
Same for earphones. People preoccupied just seem less aware of the area around them. 🙂
Style has never been a word associated with me. 🙂
Great photos. It’s true we’re all connected — just not to each other… sigh. 🙄
Thanks. The world does seem disconnected much of the time. 😦
Yep, we have evolved…
You got it! 🙂
Good captures, depressing reality. I visited a high school last spring and thought a group of girls were having a prayer circle at a table in front of the building. When I got closer, I realized every single one had her head bowed over her phone.
Don’t you sometimes feel as though you could abandon all the stealthiness and just walk right up and take your shots?
It’s so common. Maybe we should presume that if someone has their head down, they’re on their phone?
Abandon stealth? Not yet. People will still look if they notice sudden movements in front of them. 🙂
I love the quote by Elliott Erwitt “I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” That’s so true, in photography, art and writing too. And the sunlight on that girl with the phone is really beautiful! 🙂
I’ve been messing around with my camera on my new phone (Samsung S4 mini) and discovered it reproduces contrasting light and darks quite perfectly. Always good for really a striking picture. It’s amazing what those little phones can do.
Been meaning to ask you recently what camera you mainly use? Both my brother and I want to buy new cameras some time next year and for me at least it seems I don’t know where to start. I really like your crisp clarity in your images, although I guess a lot of that is also down to the lens you use as well as the camera? I like the idea of a DSLR as many years ago I had an SLR. I’m probably not thinking of spending a huge amount of money as I’m not likely to use it all of the time, possibly about £500 maybe a little more. Any suggestions? Especially on the make of camera and also the ones to avoid.
I agree, that quote is very true in many aspects of life.
I use a Leica and a Sony A7, neither of which would fall into the price range you want, unfortunately. For DSLR, Canon and Nikon are the brands to stick to and they have a wide range of camera bodies. Maybe a smaller camera might suit you? Let me give this a bit more thought and I’ll get back to you.
Interesting you should suggest Canon and Nikon, as they were the two I had in the back of my mind. I’ve been using a little Canon (PowerShot A610) that my brother passed on to me about three years ago, and you’ve seen the pictures it takes on my post about the seaside town. It’s not too bad for a point and shoot camera, and has a lot more features on it than I’ve ever bothered to get into (getting lazy!). My brother bought himself a Fuji camera to replace that Canon, and as much as I used adore Fuji film when I was young (never used anything else) I don’t really like quality of his pictures. Some look brilliant, but others look artificially sharp – almost crispy if that makes sense? And it hasn’t lasted well, there are a few things on it that no longer function, where as the Canon is twice the age and still taking quite good pictures, without me even trying hard. So yes, I may well go for another Canon. I’d love to have a camera that’s flattering to faces as well as scenes using the same lens, but not sure if that’s possible. In the 80’s I had a Praktica, bought it brand new, and I knew a lot of photographers frowned at the mere thought of Praktica, but it was all I could afford at the time. It served me well and I took some impressive portraits of some beautiful friends of mine with the standard lens, and the wide angle lens took very good views. But that’s all history now, I shall probably donate it to museum one day – if anyone will take it!! 😀
So thanks for that bit of advice, gives me a better idea of what make I should narrow down my search for.
Hi Suzy, sorry for the delay. For dSLR stick with the market leaders, Canon and Nikon, as you will also want a quality prime or zoom lens and they have a wide range for all budgets. I’d suggest taking an SD card and doing a few test shots in store to get an idea of what the camera/lens can do. And also to get an appreciation of the weight of the gear.
Smaller gear such as the micro 4/3 format has matured to such a level as to rival dslr quality for many people. Brands here to consider are Olympus and Panasonic. Again, their range is wide and they allow interchangeable lenses. There are even some zoom lenses too. Their big benefit is reduction in weight due to their smaller sensor size.
Another option is the compact zoom. A single non-changeable lens but with an optical zoom capacity. Most manufacturers have one. Panasonic Lumix is one commonly suggested model.
I guess it all depends on the budget and what you want to use the camera for. These days modern sensors produce very sharp images at megapixel resolution. A common side effect of new camera gear is needing more computer storage space, so be aware of that.
that last photo of the two women talking on the phone while sitting at the same table is a true statement of our times… sadly! brilliant photos as always, Lignum!!
Thanks, Alex. If they’re both on the phone at the same time, does it make it any less rude? Oh well, some people just can’t live without their phones.
Love your photos – so true to life with everyone holding a cell phone not paying attention. When I see Mom’s with little children on a playground talking or texting it makes me sad. Especially when the little one is pulling at their leg begging for them to play. Wonder what those little children will be like when they become parents or when they become teenagers. To sit at dinner with someone chatting on the phone can be irritating – especially when you are in mid conversation and they begin to speak on their phone. Love that you are capturing this and hope people will take the time to check in with themselves on how often they are oblivious to the world around them.
All valid concerns, plus I just don’t want to listen to other people’s phone conversations when I’m in a queue, in an elevator, eating my lunch, etc.