Trivia (XCIX) - Pro Advice

"Looking for the magic light is what can really boost your photography. It may be hard to see at first what 'magic light' is, but once you start seeing it, your photography will take a lift to new levels.

(...)

The signs of magic light is that the faces of people glow, the details in texture and edges of things glow. Overhang like this (or a tree) together with large surfaces that reflect light is a good start. If there is also a few sparkles of direct light or reflections of it peeking through holes ... it might be really good.

(...)

Magic light is everywhere, so usually you don't have to walk far to find it. It can be as close as in the building you are sitting in. And once you start seeing it, you will recognize the conditions for good light from a distance. You look down the street to the next corner, and there it is. And you know that at this time of the day, many corners will look like that.

(...)

It's important to use the light when it is there. Often it falls in place the same time; a great background and settting, lit with magic light. When you see that it is important to use it. Don't just take one snapshot, but work the scene for some minutes or longer. Give it your best and tell your self you're done and can move on when you have explored the possibilities."

Thorsten Overgaard

Overgaard, T. 2013. The Story Behind That Picture: "Looking for the Light". overgaard.dk/, [blog] 31st December, Available at: http://overgaard.dk/the-story-behind-that-picture-0111_gb.html [Accessed: 31 Dec 2013].

Rua Santa Catarina, 391 (The obligatory year-end interview)

Praça D. João I (The trading card connoisseur)

Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, 183 (The rainy Christmas eve)

Praça da Liberdade (The late morning espresso)

Rua de Santa Catarina, 219 (The elegant but a bit shy news reporter)

Trivia (XCVIII) - Pro Advice

"Why I don't use presets for black and white

When used properly, Lightroom offers what is necessary to obtain "your look" of black & white images. It might take a while to get there, but so does the look you want of color images, and actually every camera.

I have played around a bit with NIK presets in the past where you can get the look of Kodak or Ilford film. However, one thing is that your Leica M9 is not a film camera but a camera of the new digital age. But mainly I find that those are "effect filters" and not really your personal expression. I have met very few - actually nobody - who consistently used plugins or presets. It tend to be like an app for the iPhone that is fun for a while, but then you want a new one.

And what I am looking for in my photographs is a consistent look that is mine, not a new one. I think what I like and what I am looking for, is something that has a pleasant tonality - something that might resemble silver prints from the darkroom - or something that I consider "real black & white."

Now, aesthetics does change. What we once considered being a cool color of a computer (beige in 1985) is no longer cool. The same goes for colors of cars, shapes of things and all. And so it would be logical that the digital age changes our view on what a nice tonality or what nice colors are."

Thorsten Overgaard


Overgaard, T. 2011. Leica M9 Digital Rangefinder Camera. overgaard.dk, [blog] 23rd December, Available at: http://www.overgaard.dk/leica-M9-digital-rangefinder-camera-page-16.html [Accessed: 26 Dec 2013].

Praça da Batalha (The senior guy who's turning 85 next February)

Rua de Santa Catarina, 60 (The girl who asked me how to get to Mercado Bolhao)

Rua de Santa Catarina, 350 (The senior guy who told me four things)

A. He has a 50+ pipe Collection;

B. Collecting pipes is a wonderful pastime for the young and old;

C. He has no interest whatsoever in photography; and

D. I shouldn't be wasting film on him.

Trivia (XCVII) - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Dear reader,

Season’s greetings to you and your family and friends from all of us here at porto street shooting.

Thank you for another special year.

We wish you a pleasant, relaxing holiday and a good start into 2014.

Warm regards,

grouchomarx

Beco Passos Manuel (The girl from Ukraine)

Travessa de Liceiras (The Parka)

Rua Sá da Bandeira, 400 (The guy who was just going to bed)

Trivia (XCVI) - The Shameless Self Promotion Post

I'm happy and proud to be featured by Ana Matos on her blog interview. Thanks Ana! Oh and I apologize for my terrible interview skills... Sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying...

You can read it here: http://botheyesinfocus.blogspot.pt/2013/12/friends-of-photography.html

«Friends of Photography [10] is a monthly appearance of someone from my world of photography. People that have a photostream that I like, or that I frequently interact with or have somehow a distinct style. The title of this post was inspired on a project of a friend from photography. This 'idea' came into my mind because lately I find myself wanting to share more than just my photos. Who knows if you could be the next one represented here! I bring to you 2 photos from the photographer, my words about the author and a special text made by each month guest. I hope you enjoy this project as much as I.»

Rua Fernandes Tomás, 641 (The cute dry lips)

Praça da Batalha, 130 (The girl who asked me how much I would charge for a portrait)

Rua Sá da Bandeira, 424 (The Blacked Out Look)

Rua Sá da Bandeira, 396 (The Tiger Beanie)

Rua Formosa, 345 (The cigarette holder)

Rua da Firmeza, 520 (The girl from Lisbon)

Rua Sá da Bandeira, 390 (The Long Ponytail)

Rua de Fernandes Tomás, 817 (The Breastpin)

Rua Sá da Bandeira, 270 (The Tracksuit)

Rua de Fernandes Tomás, 749 (The Van Dyck beard style)

Rua de Fernandes Tomás, 783 (The Extreme Comb-over)

Trivia (XCV) - The blogger business card unboxing

Many thanks to Joao and Raquel at ARMINHO paper ephemera

http://www.etsy.com/pt/shop/ARMINHO

 

Rua do Bonjardim, 586 (The house painter)

Trivia (XCIV) - Pro Advice

"I’ve had the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 for over three years now and I absolutely LOVE this lens. This is my go to lens when traveling light. I took this lens and my Panasonic GF-1 around Europe for 20+ days as my only camera/lens (I left my 5D and L glass at home) a few years ago and I was never left wanting for another camera/lens. After shooting with the Olympus 17mm f1.8, the Panasonic 20mm does show its age a bit, specifically in terms of autofocus, but I personally do not find the need to “upgrade” to the Olympus 17mm. Some may want more of a 35mm equivalent filed of view, but I find a 40mm field of view to be quite versatile."


Pouliot, M. 2013. Quick Comparison: Olympus 17mm f1.8 vs. Panasonic 20mm f1.7. The Phoblographer, [blog] 26th April, Available at: http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/04/26/quick-comparison-olympus-17mm-f1-8-vs-panasonic-20mm-f1-7/ [Accessed: 05 Dec 2013].

Rua Sá da Bandeira, 309 (The clothes-layering)

Praça da Liberdade (The Candidate Master of Sports)

Praça D. João I (The Senior Patrol Leader)

Trivia (XCIII) - The curious Facebook friend

"Boa noite, se me permite a pergunta... De que forma aborda as pessoas na rua para conseguir a permissão das mesmas para as fotografar?"

Praça D. João I (The Coin Collector)

Rua de Santa Catarina, 174 (The badass smoke trick)

Praça da Liberdade, 25 (The Christmas Bazaar)