Sunday, September 25, 2011

The Viewing List 4

So much to see – so little time. Thankfully we can at least get a glimpse of the world’s amazing wonders through this incredible window called the Internet.

Wesley Townsend Kitten, the principle behind WTK Photography has created a series of great videos, many of which showcase his hometown – the city of San Francisco.

The following video, The City, produced by Wesley, is a time lapse composition that was a year in the making. Begun in June, 2010 and finished in August, 2011, it uses (according to Wesley), about 28,000 frames and 85 different shots – although all the frames weren't used in the final video. It’s a remarkable look at a remarkable city.

More info
WTK Photography… http://wtkphotography.com/
WTK Photography Blog… http://wtkphotography.com/blog/
WTK Photography on Vimeo… http://vimeo.com/24178338

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Bonnie and Clyde – The Hollywood Myth
Bonnie Elizabeth Parker (October 1, 1910 – May 23, 1934) and Clyde Chestnut Barrow (March 24, 1909 – May 23, 1934) were well-known outlaws, robbers, and criminals who traveled the Central United States with their gang during the Great Depression. Their exploits captured the attention of the American public during the "public enemy era" between 1931 and 1934.

Though known today for his dozen-or-so bank robberies, Barrow in fact preferred to rob small stores or rural gas stations. The gang is believed to have killed at least nine police officers and committed several civilian murders. The couple themselves were eventually ambushed and killed in Louisiana by law officers. Their reputation was cemented in American pop folklore by Arthur Penn's 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde. ~ Source: Wikipedia...
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Bonnie and Clyde – The Brutal Reality
Who knows where these clips are sourced from, or how people get hold of them, but here is a two minute film shot soon after the final ambush and shootout that finally killed Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker.

The remarkable thing about the footage is that Bonnie Parker’s body can been seen, still slumped against the body of Clyde Barrow as police go about their work of securing the scene, documenting the shootout, and emptying the car of weapons (two sawed-off shotguns, two “machine rifles”, ten automatic pistols and fifteen-hundred rounds of ammunition!

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Saturday, September 24, 2011

NYC Hidden Harbor Tour, September 2011

I’ve written before about my voyage on the wonderful Hidden Harbor Tours that operate on the New York harbor, so I won’t repeat myself here.

I just want to let you know that the last sunset Hidden Harbor tour is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 27, and if you are looking for one of those unique experiences that most visitors to New York City miss out on, then you should seriously consider joining this tour. Here are the details:

Sunset Hidden Harbor Brooklyn Waterfront Tour

Tuesday, 27 September
Departs from Pier 16 at 5:30 pm

Image: Brooklyn Bridge with work boat © Bernie Ente | Inset: Dan Wiley

Special Guest Speaker: Dan Wiley
Dan Wiley is a Community Coordinator for Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez in southwest Brooklyn, NY, and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University in the urban design studio.

Working in the Congressional office since 2000, he has coordinated planning projects and initiatives spanning waterfront communities from the Brooklyn Navy Yard and downtown Brooklyn southwest to Red Hook, Gowanus and Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

He also served (1993-1999) as an Education Coordinator at Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment. He holds an MA degree in Urban Geography from Hunter College, CUNY (2007), a BFA degree from Cooper Union (1987) and was a fellow at the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program (1988). He serves on the board of Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP). His work can be found in If You Lived Here: The City in Art, Theory, and Social Activism, Seattle: Bay Press, 1991.

For Information on all Hidden Harbor Tours, and to purchase tickets, Click Here...

Hidden Harbor Tours are organised and run by the Working Harbor Committee… 

The Reading List 4

Welcome to another roundup of the some of the more interesting discoveries I’ve made as I wander the digital highways and byways of the Internet. This week I am focussing (non pun intended) on photography.

The first two items are two of the most useful eBooks that have come to my attention in a long time. What is more, both eBooks are available as free downloads.

Going Candid

A book about street photography in the digital age. Forget what you know about street photography and read how Thomas Leuthard (85mm) explores the street with his camera. You will find a wealth of useful tips and tricks on how to approach people, getting closer to them and get the best out of you street experience.

As Thomas himself writes: [his] "...workflow starts without a camera and ends in the galleries of this World. It's not about the Decisive Moment or how you set up your camera. It's more about the approach of getting a successful street photographer who will build a successful community around the World.

It's all about sharing and socializing. You will be taken to a journey through the big cities of this World looking into the eyes of strangers. Candid is the key word and you will not be disappointed. Stay tuned for an exclusive book which will change your life as a street photographer."

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As if giving away one eBook is not enough, Thomas Leuthard has topped this with a second eBook that at 99 pages is even bigger than Going Candid, and filled with just as much interesting and useful information.

Collecting Souls

Thomas writes: "While the first book was about the basics, this book is more advanced and contains a lot of personal thoughts and ideas.

I tried to explain what Street Photography means to me and how I see it. It contains more than 30 short chapters about the different areas and topics of street photography. It should help beginners to understand the process of making story telling photos and to improve your personal style as a street photographer.

Together with the first book it will be a good reference for anyone who wants to become a street photographer."

Now there's an understatement if ever I saw one! 

Thomas Leuthard online
85mm.ch website…
Twitter: @85mm_ch

Thanks to the Seven by Five website for bringing these books to my attention. Seven by Five have provided a list of great photography eBooks (including the two above) that are well worth checking out. Some are free, and others can be bought for a small fee.

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10 Things Henri Cartier-Bresson Can Teach You About Street Photography
Eric Kim has put together a great photo essay outlining titled: 10 Things Henri Cartier-Bresson Can Teach You About Street Photography. You will find it online here...

Among Eric's suggestions: Focus on geometry, Be patient, Travel, Stick to one lens, Take photos of children (see image), Be unobtrusive, See the world like a painter, Don’t crop,  Don’t worry about processing, and Always strive for more.

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There is much to discover in the downloads available here and on the websites, so if you are interested at all in improving your photographic skill, I highly recommend all three sites.
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