By Samer Farha
‘Metro – Red – 3.1.11’
courtesy of ‘rpmaxwell’
I’m very fond of Ryan Maxwell‘s “street” portraits on the Metro. Black and white, almost always taken without the person’s knowledge, and almost always an interesting subject to look at.
This one is particularly good. It gives a glimpse into another subject, unsmiling, riding the Red line (an everyman, really). But it also gives a glimpse into the artist at work. Go look at it larger and you’ll see Mr. Maxwell clicking away.
By Max
DC Streets: Beneath the Surface by pnzr242
While it may not have the historical significance and impeccable timing of Cartier-Bresson’s “Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare“, this image captures a beautiful moment in time. I love it when a photo causes your eye to dance around the frame, first from the obvious action of the puddle, next to the exiting body, then to the broken reflection of the tree, with an unfortunate ending at the ugly bike tire. The use of black and white here adds to the gloomy, rainy day mood and forces the viewer’s eyes to concentrate on composition and subject matter, two ingredients that can sometimes be clouded by color. This photo also serves as a reminder that not everything is happening directly in front of you. Look up, look behind you, look down — you never know what you might be missing while you’re on a date with your camera.
By Samer Farha
‘Prepare for Liftoff’
courtesy of ‘rpmaxwell’
There are many ways to make a great picture. Sometimes, it requires you to look at a familiar subject from an unusual angle. It’s not always possible, but sometimes you get lucky.
Looks like Ryan Maxwell got a little luck and managed to take the time to put his camera on the edge of a Metro escalator. He was lucky not to have others walking up behind him to use it, for one, and luckier that it didn’t self destruct while he was there.
A long exposure from a low angle, and the escalator is transformed into something a bit more … sci-fi? Something bigger? More sinister?
By Max
Dupont Underground Continues by MikaAltskan
While most photographers tend to focus on the prettier aspects of DC such as the monuments, the cherry blossoms, or the wildlife, others like to explore the underbelly of our city with their cameras. Urban exploration, sometimes known as “urban spelunking” or “urban caving”, involves going to forgotten places that are relics from past eras. Many times it’s difficult (and illegal) to reach these hidden gems, but the reward is often worth it (unless you get arrested).
We Love DC does not condone trespassing, however we love to see the haunting images of decay that you discover in the darkness, whether they’re of the Dupont Underground, Forrest Haven, the Metro tunnels, or the Washington Coliseum. Just be sure you’ve had a recent tetanus shot before you shimmy down a rusty tunnel and bring backup in case you run into some C.H.U.D.
By Samer Farha
‘Enlightened Reader’
courtesy of ‘pablo.raw’
There’s so much I admire about this shot. First, it’s well spotted and composed. Initially, I thought it might be posed, even, but there’s really no indication that is the case.
Secondly, pablo.raw certainly threw his camera into manual. With oncoming lights and the relative darkness of most Metro stations, it’d be all but impossible for the exposure and focus to have hit the right spot.
Lastly, Metro stations make great backdrops, and it’s still not illegal to take great looking pictures in the system!
By Max
IMG_4119 by Steve Goldenberg
A few weeks ago I encouraged those of you who are interested in photography to hone your skills by shooting a series on a subject that strikes your fancy, thereby building a solid body of work. It’s OK if you like to wander around town on the weekends to photograph things that catch your eye, but by focusing your efforts on one idea you will find that it can take your game to the next level. Think of your favorite photographers. Did Robert Frank take pictures of cupcakes, fire hydrants, and kitty cats? Perhaps, but they would have never made it past the darkroom.
One local photographer who has caught my eye with a particular series is Steve Goldenberg. While he wasn’t able to reply to my e-mails to explain the work in his own words, he did mention in his Flickr comment that he has “shot them (cheerleaders) three times so far” and is “trying to decide what direction to take the project in.” If you click through his set you will see some incredible shots that would make for a great slideshow or even a book. While it may not turn out to be on the same level as The Americans, his series does an excellent job of capturing the passion and emotion of these girls for everyone to see.
By Samer Farha
‘tournament-5’
courtesy of ‘dr_kim_veis [”o ]’
Sports photography can be a very difficult business. Everyone’s moving, making it hard to follow while looking through a lens. Indoor sports are even harder to photograph, with lighting often being sub-par.
But the rewards are often great. Motion and emotion captured for all time. Dr Kim Veis does a great job shooting an amateur boxing tournament. His shots show the power and fluidity of motion, the emotion of winning and coaching.
And, once again, it’s a nice project. And it’s one that anyone can do in a single day (or just a few hours). Photography projects don’t have to take weeks to do — a simple series done well can be just as rewarding.
By Max
Off Duty by DPinDC
If I were to win a warehouse full of money and suddenly lose the pressure of planning for retirement, there are some peculiar jobs in this world that I would love to try my hand at. How about a toll booth operator on the Dulles Toll Road, a gas station attendant, or a high school janitor? Or maybe one of those guys who rides on the back of a trash truck, listens to his headphones and jumps from curb to curb at five in the morning? A movie projectionist has always been a dream job of mine, especially at a theater like E Street where I could watch amazing flicks all day long. Or how about a crane operator, swinging tons of steel around in my own little game of SimCity?
If you look carefully at the jobs that I mentioned, you’ll notice a common theme: to be by myself with just a small dash of human interaction. There are those who thrive on being around others and shrivel when they are alone, and those who are built for a life of solitude. While you’re enjoying your power lunches and chattering nonstop into your bluetooth earpiece, I’ll be eating at my desk and making sure your corporate machine keeps humming like a German car. We can chalk our differences up to genetic evolution, or perhaps correlate them directly to how many hours we spent playing video games as kids. Regardless, it’s no wonder that I love photography, another lonely profession.
It took me a while to realize what I love about today’s photo. While I was first drawn to its cinematic quality and the capture of an every day city scene, it soon dawned on me that this is the work of a lonely photographer, shooting a lonely cab driver who is reading a newspaper full of photographs taken by other lonely photographers. I see that I’m not alone in this world of loneliness.
By Samer Farha
‘drink at front page’
courtesy of ‘maria jpeg’
Last week, Max challenged you to go out and take pictures, tell stories, get out of your comfort zone. Today, I’m highlighting one way someone can challenge themselves: create a theme project.
In this case, Maria Izaurralde seems to have decided on a life-size Barbie theme, and the execution is brilliant. You have to look twice, sometimes more, before it finally occurs to you what it is that makes the picture so strange.
Your first take is “something’s not right with her.” The stiff stance and “fake” smile on the woman’s face leaves you wondering what is going on, until, finally, it clicks. That’s Barbie, brought to life.
Check out Maria’s Tumblr for more.
By Max
Get Every Last Drop by Dan Dan The Binary Man
A new year is upon us, DC, and some of us couldn’t be more relieved that 2010 is dead and buried. Whether you believe in making New Year’s resolutions or not, this is a good time to reflect on the past year, take stock of your life as it exists today, and figure out how the next chapter unfolds. Will you maintain the status quo or will you take your life in a completely different direction? If you love everything about your life then I commend you (and think that you might need psychiatric help), but if you feel like you’re simply going through the motions and need a little spark in your life, now, and any other day, is the perfect time for change.
We here at We Love DC look forward to seeing our city through your lenses, from your point of view, with your eyes. We love seeing what you were up to over the weekend, what you did for the holidays, and your coverage of events here in DC. But I challenge you to step up your game this year and start pushing the boundaries of your photography.
Buy a point and shoot or rangefinder camera and take it with you everywhere you go so you never miss ‘that shot’. Buy a new prime lens and see how it changes your shooting style. Stop someone on the street, ask them if you can take their picture, and tell their story. Take a photography class, or even a painting, drawing, or dance class to get out of your comfort zone and get your creative juices flowing. Instead of shooting anything and everything that you find interesting, focus your efforts on just a handful of subjects to hone your skills and to create a solid body of work.
This world has so much to offer so make sure you get every last drop. You won’t regret it, and neither will we.
By Max
White Elephant Gift 230 by yospyn
Now is the winter of our discontent. While we may have just narrowly escaped a blizzard, it’s still colder than a polar bear’s pajamas on the shady side of an iceberg. So while you could go outside with your camera gear, brave this miserable weather, and take blurry photos of Christmas lights, I recommend staying indoors and experimenting with your immediate surroundings.
One of my favorite old photography tricks is to shoot something that is completely out of its element, like a fish out of water if you will. For example, this shark should be eating baby seals off the coast of South Africa, not tickling the ivories with his coffee stained teeth. He should be terrorizing other fish in the ocean, not playing “Happy Birthday” on a Yamaha. I blame this odd behavior on global warming, or in our case, global cooling.
So wrap yourself up in a Snuggie, grab your camera gear, and show that shark who’s boss. Before you know it the cherry blossoms will be blooming.
By Samer Farha
You’ve heard the phrase over and over again: “A picture is worth a thousand words!” Maybe. Sometimes, though, it only has to be worth one.
As soon as I saw this picture, and before I’d seen the title, I thought, “wonder.” One word. But this photo captures the feeling of wonder so perfectly, so succinctly. I’m sure this shot could replace a thousand words, but its power lies in not having to distill a rambling set of prose. It does the much harder job of showing you one singular emotion.
Jennifer Crawford‘s photo taken at Zoolights was the first that popped up as a candidate for this featured photo, and remained the front runner as I looked through the last week’s worth of pictures. I hope the snow and the season shed some wonder into your lives over the next week or two.
By Max
342/365 – diego’s by dracisk
Thanks to the cruelty of genetics, my head has less and less hair on it as time goes on, and I wonder why I keep paying someone to cut it. I could use the clippers that I have and save twenty bucks by switching to a DIY cut, but my love for nostalgia keeps bringing me back to Diego’s. It reminds me of when my dad and I used to go to the barber shop together when I was a kid, and is a tradition that I’ll pass on to my unborn sons. In today’s world of grimy lawyers and social media consultants, professions that specialize in manipulating words and air, it’s nice to see someone still using their hands, creating a sense of community, and being a bright spot in peoples’ day. One day Diego will be gone, but thanks to this photo his life and the lives that he’s touched are frozen in time forever.
By Erin McCann
‘projection-4’
courtesy of ‘dr_kim_veis [”o ]’
December’s increasingly short days and this week’s biting wind have forced many of us into hibernation mode. With the outside world so inhospitable these days, it’s time to look for inside activities to keep from going stir-crazy, and dr_kim_veis has shared his cure for the winter blues with us for today’s featured photo.
The image on the wall is a camera obscura projection, and it’s made using a technique that pre-dates photography. All you need to do it yourself is a window to mount a lens on and a spot for the image to show up. The end result lets you see the scenes and lights and colors of the outside world without ever leaving the comfort of that blanket you’re hiding under. The Internet is full of people who have experimented with techniques, and there’s a Flickr group devoted to sharing images from users’ work.
The projection itself can be a work of art, or, like our photographer, you can turn the camera lens on the scene and create an image like this one. When Samer featured a similar shot back in August, he talked a little bit about the technique needed to capture these images. But, like the camera obscura itself, half the fun is in the experience and experimentation. So take one of these cold dark evenings to see what you can put together. When you’re done, share your images with us in the We Love DC Flickr pool.
By Max
new morning ritual by ekelly80
Last night I had a dream about a series of iPhone apps that would manage all of my day to day duties, organize my thoughts into coherent text messages and e-mails, add events to my calendar as soon as my eyes saw them online, and create to-do lists on the fly: do laundry, breathe deeply, blink. In the dream my brain stem had an iPhone dock surgically attached to it, allowing me to become one with my beloved device and freeing my mind from doing anything useful whatsoever. My phone knew exactly what I was thinking, suggested alternative thoughts related to my own, and maintained a database of my activity in its flash memory. As time went on, the app learned what I liked and disliked, what my daily schedule consisted of, what kind of food I generally ate, and eventually took over all brain function. Thanks to the newly added multitasking feature of the operating system my phone could do many things at once, like set my DVR to record Dancing With the Stars, Twitter about how much of an idiot Sarah Palin is, and order ice cream from Peapod. It was all encompassing, essentially living my life for me. Of course the competition was working around the clock to introduce the same surgical procedure and an identical app for the Droid, and it was likely that in a few years Microsoft would introduce something very similar with a clever marketing campaign.
As I awoke from my dream I laughed at how silly it was, as if a device could completely rule my world. I reached across the bed and found a warm empty space where my wife normally was. That’s strange, where could she be? I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and sent her a text: “where r u?” She replied, “need buzz – latte?” Just then the calendar on my phone chirped: “9:00 AM – morning w/ wife @ sbux.” I texted back, “o rite. b rite there.” We both grabbed our iPads and headed out the door, checking our e-mail and TweetDeck as we walked down the street. My wife mumbled, “Did you see @ABC_DWTS’s tweet about Bristol Palin?” “I know, she totally should have won, unlike her stupid mom in ’08,” I said. We grabbed our pumpkin lattes and sat down across from each other. “Did you remember to buy ice cream?”
By Samer Farha
‘Steppin’ Out’
courtesy of ‘ameschen’
Patterns broken up by a subject or other feature tend to make a photo stand out. In this case, the patterns are the stairs — the many, many stairs — of the Lincoln Memorial. You can’t really tell it’s at the memorial, and that makes it a more interesting picture than one which might have attempted to have the jogger framed with Abe in the background.
Flickr contributor ameschen used the tilt of the camera to create the appearance of an even more difficult slope for the jogger to climb.
By Max
half-frame by patrickjoust
There are parts of me that will forever be trapped in the past. Even though I’m technically an adult, I’ll always feel like a kid in one way or another and rarely take life too seriously. As long as I can pay my bills and stay out of prison, I might as well have some fun right? We’re only on this big blue marble for a short amount of time, which is why I like to move to different cities, meet new people, learn about different cultures, and photograph what I find interesting.
I often think back to when I was young to try to remember how I viewed the world. When I was in elementary school all I cared about was what they were serving for lunch at school (Salisbury steak and buttered noodles were always a favorite). In junior high I realized that I’d probably better start learning something and was baffled by the concept of negative numbers. In high school and college I studied way too hard to get to where I am today, not even using my degree. I thought people who were forty were so old and couldn’t fathom being that age, and I still can’t imagine what fifty will feel like.
Sadly, I have only a handful of photos to document what the world looked like through my eyes during those years. I didn’t have a camera back then, let alone a Leica like this girl. The color of this diptych really adds a nostalgic feel, as if these photos could have been taken thirty years ago. The candid aspect of these photos truly captures her innocence and curiosity, something many of us lost long ago. Will she look back on these exposures when she’s an adult and remember her time at the National Gallery of Art? Will she carry her passion for photography into adulthood? Will her curiosity continue to make her look at the world in different ways? For the sake of everyone, let’s hope so.
By Max
The Starting Line (and all other photos) by Max Cook
Sunday was a perfect fall day for another perfect Tweed Ride. Five hundred lovers of vintage clothing and bicycles gathered for the second annual ride that was magical to say the least. Organized by Dandies and Quantrelles, the pre-ride festivities began in the morning at The Fridge where people were treated to music by Maureen Andary as they mingled and admired each other’s clothing and rides. At noon the entire group gathered at the starting line in Lincoln Park where the ride commenced in packs of twenty five. It was a true delight to ride along the golden tree-lined streets of Capital Hill, past the Supreme Court, the Capitol, and the White House, ending in Adams Morgan. The post-ride social at Stroga featured bottomless Hendrick’s gin drinks, food by Coppi’s, a tweed fashion show, dance performances, and lots of love between riders. As easy as it would have been to leave my camera at home, it’s basically impossible for me not to document days like these.
By Samer Farha
‘dc_streets_new-4’
courtesy of ‘dr_kim_veis [”o ]’
While looking for photographs to use for this feature (please, consider this an invite to add yours), I noticed a pattern. My eye fell on many film pictures, particularly street photography ones, and I began to wonder why. I think that good street photos require good composition, rather than shooting from the hip. I think that folks with film rather than digital cameras tend to spend a little more time composing a shot (yes, it’s a generalization, deal with it).
I imagine Dr Kim Veis standing there, patiently waiting while all the actors got into place between the lines. The wary business men on their way, wondering why there’s a photographer shooting them, while the man with the phone goes about his business, unaware. All of this at a building that has a reputation of shooing photographers away.
By Max
Enlightened by pablo.raw
With FotoWeek quickly approaching, photography lovers should be bracing themselves for an inundation of gallery shows, slideshows, artist talks, and all-around geekery (not to mention plenty of spam in your inbox). When you look at hundreds of photos in a short period of time it’s easy to overload your brain. Before you know it, all photos will begin to either look “good” or you just won’t know what you’re looking at anymore. When you reach that point, try to keep in mind some of the basic rules that make up a “good” photograph: composition, content, and lighting.
This photo has them all, but the lighting is what makes the shot. The sunlight streaming in from the top corner naturally leads the viewer’s eye to the subject at the center of the frame. The contrast between the lion’s glowing face and his bleak surroundings lead you to believe that he has found a ray of hope from above. Is he simply looking for some warmth from the sun or has he found respite from his existence as a caged zoo animal?
