ƒ/5.6 at 13 seconds ISO 100

Cityscapes -

In efforts to capture the city, I have focused myself on shooting more cityscapes. I am not sure if that is how I am to use that word, however, I mean it as in capturing city structures, traffic, basically less primarily human subject aspects of the city.

One evening I did just this. I stayed in the downtown area for Austin evening/night images. Evening light can be gorgeous, and quick. When I saw this shot unfolding with the light blooming I quickly took advantage of the moment. Auditorium Shores always has great content if your looking for it. Awareness – the quality of good photographer.

This is not a cityscape, but an example of great evening atmosphere lighting. The lens flare is a bit distracting but it adds some atmosphere to it. Almost like how you would expect the light to invade your personal space in an attempt to blind you from its beauty.

ƒ/10 at 1/100 sec ISO 100

I started on the roof tops, parking garages and such. Without going beforehand and getting permission to enter particular buildings I kept to the free and non-confrontational settings. However in the future I need to venture out more with planning and communication.

ƒ/20 at 30sec ISO 100

Time-lapse shots of the traffic are always fun, however, I wish there was a little more going on to give it more punch, and I would like to see the barrel distortion gone perhaps. But it is always great to expand your view of a shot into the fourth dimension, to see what the photo might be over a period of time.

Tried to focus on some larger B+W cityscapes. Images that get most of the skyline in the frame. I went to the Lamar Street Bridge over Town Lake to get the following:

ƒ/3.8 at 1/80 sec ISO 250

The photo is interesting with the way it feels, I like the B+W processing on it. Wish I was a little higher, to get over the train cars but I didn’t have the capability. The images are better when viewed large and I don’t know why I did not use a larger ƒ stop. I could have been more in focus with a larger depth of field. I make mistakes like this all the time when caught up in the moment, I am having to slow myself down and not get so antsy with the excitement. However, I have been trying to keep the excitement as a driving force against weariness. I’m looking for the balance.

The following are from the rest of the evening and some other experiences I had within a week or so on that side of town.

ƒ/5 at 1/6 sec ISO 250

ƒ/4 at 1/3 sec ISO 100

ƒ/7.1 at 1/20 sec ISO 100

ƒ/7.1 at 2 sec ISO 100

Cityscapes can be difficult, they can be easy. It depends on my mood. Being focused is good for my collection or if I am doing a project or story, however, if I am trying to force something it can come out all wrong. Waiting for that moment is essential. I am sure, nonetheless, that creativity can conquer the struggles of cityscapes. I just have not found that part of my creativity yet. I am eagerly waiting to meet it.

Underworkings of the Capital of Texas.

I spent some time in downtown Austin spread over a few days. I stayed with friends on South Congress, slept on a small but comfy couch and walked a lot.

This amounted to a new experience. I’ve never spent more than a day in Austin at a time. I have certainly never wandered downtown Austin aimlessly. I usually have an itinerary, going somewhere, doing something and shooting in between. This time I was staying longer, being immersed without any agenda.  What a difference this made.

I started with panning. This was my first panning attempt.

South Congress Ave panning attempt on a cyclist.

I was pivoting while the shutter was open, which was not well thought out but gave me a unique feel on the image. It tends to have a more blown out, coming at you, perception.

For me, the major downfall of this image was that I did not freeze the cyclist in time. The composition is a bit flat and there are several contrasting lines of light that can be a bit distracting.

However, I enjoy this image. I like the movement. The unfrozen blurred cyclist does give it a deeper sense of being out of control. A closer look at the cycle shows an interesting pattern going on with the spokes which give it some punctuation perhaps, but not enough. If I was closer maybe the spokes would prevail.

Trolley Car

Cyclist at 6th and S. Congress.

Austin has many homeless, street performers and peculiar characters that don’t get enough limelight. When photographing, it’s easy for me to become shut off. Especially if I am running here and there, I don’t give these wonderful personalities enough attention. I made myself available to them, engaged in conversation, learned about who they were and where and how they developed into themselves. The more rugged I looked, the more they were inclined to speak to me.

I met a painter, underneath the Lamar Street Bridge. Talented and welcoming to discussion. We spoke for an hour, and during the conversation he unloaded a great weight of information regarding stories that I could pursue in Austin.

I engaged in conversation with a homeless street evangelist, a lovely woman who gave much of her life away for this street life. When I took her portrait I felt like it didn’t represent the way I was interacting with her. A bit too posed. I do regret not getting a more natural shot of her. However, the next time I might try moving her in a different position to work with her posed look, to make it a bit more natural.

Rick through bars

A homeless fellow that goes by the name of Julio stopped my at the bus stop, asked me what I was trying to capture. I told him about panning and briefly explained the purpose of it. I shared with him my vision of collective faces of people that inspire me. He gladly allowed me to photograph him.

Julio

What is important in the picture for me is that he has such a natural expression on his face that allows us to see his world a bit. I like how his head is outlined with light and that his ear left ear has a glow around it caused by the taxi. The punctuation of this image for me is the ATM tattoo on his neck. My other frame did not have this tattoo exposed and it didn’t have the right feel to it.