Friday 13th March, I attended a ‘Street Photography’ workshop. The event was hosted by Marc Newton of The School of Photography, in association with Olympus UK.
A dozen or so of us arrived at the Project Space Gallery in Bermondsey Street, London SE1, where Marc was exhibiting a recent project “The British Boot Fair”. Marc took us through a class in what Street Photography is, or I should say Documentary Photography, as he reminded us that Street Photography referred to those who took you photo in the street for a fee, back in the early 1900’s, before being used to describe to the current form of what is still document photography.
Marc walked us through methods, examples, technical and practical tips, before viewing his British Boot Fair project with lunch.
Next up, the Olympus kit. We got to choose our shooter of choice. I went for an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, with the 12-40mm f/2.8 M.ZUIKO PRO lens. Out on the streets, it took me a while to unlearn how I dive my Canon to drive the Oly, but got going.
We wandered towards and around Borough Market and started shooting. Street photography isn’t as easy as you’d think. The hardest part is getting going, especially at shooting others in public. It can be quite intimidating, and it was for me that day. Need to try harder next time. At least there was plenty of other interesting scenes to point the camera at.
I quite liked the Oly, it was certainly a little more discrete, and with that pro lens, took some lovely sharp images.
Of my shots, these are my favourites. The one of my boots, at the top of the show, because of the “what are the chances” type of shot – I love those lucky situations that leap out at me.
Next up is this chap leaning against the wall of a bridge arch. It took me while. I thought I’d try Marc’s suggestion of finding the stage and waiting for the action to take place and shoot. This was more about waiting for people to disappear than take part 🙂
Next up is this chap leaning against the wall of a bridge arch. It took me while. I thought I’d try Marc’s suggestion of finding the stage and waiting for the action to take place and shoot. This was more about waiting for people to disappear than take part 🙂
Not the first time I’ve captured this type of shot, but what I didn’t realise till afterwards, it looks like mum and daughter.
I really enjoyed the day out and can highly recommend keeping an eye out for similar camera manufacturer events.
Here’s the rest of the best of the rest.
Having a chat 
I like the clarity of the brick wall 
Obligatory Red Phonebox 
Keeping in touch 
Fish – didn’t object to me photographing him 
Beady Eyes 
Hygiene is good for you? 
Eye Eye Captain 
Smile please 
Mushroom City 
Mobiles Everywhere 
Face Timing? 
Sun and Ice Scream 
No people 
Chocolate Strawberries 
Green E-Bike 
Matrix? 
Shard 
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