I recently took part in a photography challenge posed by photographer Kim Grant on her YouTube channel. The challenge was the first of four challenges based on each of the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water, beginning with Water. The task was to take a photograph that relates to water, with an emphasis on creativity. Those who participated in the challenge were not pitted against each other; images shown on the channel were not necessarily the best but rather were examples of a creative interpretation of the theme. To support her viewers, Kim Grant published four videos showing how she interpreted the challenge and providing inspirational footage of her thought process as she created some stunning images. I took part in the challenge and submitted some of the images shown below. I do not consider them to be among my best images, but I do feel that I learned a lot from taking the challenge as it helped me to think differently about my photography. I realised that to some extent I have become used to shooting in a certain, predictable way and this challenge opened my mind to new ways of interpreting a theme. I was also very pleased that one of my images was chosen for the slide show of images which Kim felt were examples of a creative response to the challenge. ICM Water Image Below are 6 ways I found the photo challenge to be beneficial to my photography. You might think of more. A photo challenge encourages you to: Observe By stepping outside my comfort zone, I was challenged to observe more closely to produce a creative image, as per the brief. I made observations along a water’s edge, watching the movement of the water in and out from the shore and seeing the foam patterns left by the retreating water. I observed a riverbed with the aid of a polariser. I saw reeds that made interesting shapes in the water and created minimalist images. I saw ‘faces’ by the seashore and observed opportunities for abstract images. The challenge forced me to go deeper with my photography, to go beyond the obvious and really begin to see different and unique photographic opportunities all around me. Focus A photo challenge can provide a short-term focus for your photography. When I have a specific purpose for my photography I tend to be more focused, planning my outings to places where I think I will get appropriate images to suit the challenge. I am also less likely to get distracted or become frustrated by not knowing what to shoot. The challenge brief is a great guide and helps me to be clear-headed and focused on the task. During a recent visit to the coast I was focused on looking for images to complete the challenge. Learn something new It is easy to find ourselves stuck in a rut with our photography. Capturing the same type of images or using the same style all the time can lead to lack of motivation. When we take on a photography challenge it can force us to think differently, and to learn and use new techniques and skills. This can only benefit our photography. Experiment By its very nature a challenge is something out of the ordinary, a way of working that takes us away from our usual style, even if just briefly. It involves a different way of thinking and provides an opportunity to experiment with composition, focal length, subject and location. When I look at the images I took as a result of the water challenge I know that many of them are experimental. Many of the experiments didn’t quite work, but that’s ok, they were still valuable learning experiences and gave me useful information for future shots. Get creative The most rewarding aspect of doing a challenge is that it encourages our creativity. Being creative with our photography is what separates taking a photograph from simply taking a snapshot. It involves more than just varying our composition, it also involves seeing differently, looking beyond what is immediately obvious to what might be there at a deeper level. Take a risk While my first response to a water photography challenge might normally be to photograph a seascape or a river or lake view, I felt that participating in this particular challenge necessitated ‘thinking outside the box’ and becoming more creative with my images. The next step was to submit my images, which would mean that they would be seen by a professional photographer, and I initially felt anxious about doing this as I felt that others’ images would be much better. But I took the risk and was delighted that I did, and I was rewarded by having one image included in the slideshow. ***** If all of these benefits of a photography challenge are true, and in my opinion they are, then it is something to be encouraged as a part of our photography journey. Finding a photography challenge is not difficult. Digital Photography School poses a weekly challenge online, while magazines such as Digital Camera ( www.facebook.com/digitalcamera ) have a monthly challenge with a small prize for the winner, as well as a section where readers are invited to send in their shots to star in the photo gallery and regular Shootout invitations. If you would like to take part in one of Kim Grant’s challenges you can subscribe to her channel by following this link . Kim has now posed her next challenge, which is EARTH. The task is to capture an image that has something to do with earth (interpreted in any way you choose), and images should be as creative as possible. Have you taken part in a good photography challenge that others might be interested in? If so, why not tell us about it in the comments below.

In my last post I outlined some ways in which I have found a photography challenge to be beneficial to my photography. Here are 5 of my most recent challenges, all of which have helped to inspire me and encouraged me to get out with my camera to discover new ways of shooting. The first two challenges were posted in Digital Camera magazine, when two photographers were challenged to 'exercise their creative muscles'. I decided to take up the challenges. Challenge 1: Capture an image that contains abstract content. An everyday household object, shot from an unusual angle. Challenge 2: Capture an image where contrast is the content. Light and shadow, rough and smooth, straight and curved. Challenge 3: The third challenge was posed by Kim Grant on her YouTube channel. The Water Challenge asked viewers to capture an image that involved or related to water, but the challenge was to look for different, more creative images than normal. ICM - The River Bed. If you wish to take part in one of Kim Grant's challenges, the next challenge EARTH is open until mid October. Challenge 4: This challenge was inspired by James R Burns who challenged himself to shoot monochrome street images in square format. Challenge 5: The Big One - GuruShots describes itself as 'The World's Greatest Photo Game', where you receive a daily challenge along with millions of photographers worldwide. The challenges are voted on by the GuruShots community and you get the chance to move up the ranks according to the votes you receive. There is a new challenge every day, one of the recent being Mostly White . Some photographers enjoy taking part online while others simply use the suggestions as inspiration for their own personal challenges. The main aim in taking a challenge is to improve our photography by getting creative with our shots. This will involve experimenting and encountering lots of failures as well as successes. Each challenge encourages us to think outside our comfort zone and to look for different ways of capturing an image based on the topic or theme of the challenge. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of challenge ideas published online and even if some of them do not appeal to you, or suit your photography style, there will be many that will present you with interesting and motivating challenges. Why not take on a challenge today?

I’ll always remember the feeling of having my first camera in my hand. I was 11 years old and it was something I had set my heart on getting. The idea of taking pictures of people and places, then waiting in anticipation to have the film developed, held a fascination for me. Two years ago, when I bought my first digital SLR, the feeling was not quite the same, but not far off. I was looking forward to embarking on a new chapter in my life and this camera was going to be my companion on the journey. This was one of my first photos on my first photography 'shoot'. I didn't know anything about composition and worked on instinct, but I enjoyed the experience immensely. Without realising it, my eye was drawn to the symmetry of the scene, a commonly used composition technique It is now 2 years on in my photography journey. My second purchase was a more portable Olympus mirrorless camera, which is also an interchangeable lens camera. I have also taken an interest in mobile phone photography and in recent weeks I have been investigating the potential of the smartphone camera as a tool for real photography and have shared some of the images taken with my phone camera. Many people will argue that a phone camera can take images that will rival those of a dedicated camera and that they are becoming all that we need for real photography. Others will say that a phone camera will never compete with a dedicated camera and I tend to agree with this latter view. I will say that I do see some compelling reasons to ‘ditch’ the big cameras and use the phone camera for all my photography. It is convenient, it is portable due to having no extra lenses to carry around, and the images it produces are as good as I need. Yet, despite this, and while I enjoy doing mobile photography, I do accept that it has its limitations and I am not yet willing to give up my dedicated camera in favour of a smartphone camera. Here are some reasons why. Image quality is better Due to the size of the sensor in dedicated cameras compared to that of a smartphone camera, it is understandable that image quality will be better in the dedicated camera as the larger sensor allows in more light. While I do find that the images produced by my phone camera are sufficient for my needs, I think that those produced by the camera, even my entry level camera, are sharper and look better when printed. While phone cameras are improving all the time, so too is camera technology, and the fact that these cameras will always have larger sensors will mean that images taken with a good dedicated camera will inevitably surpass the images from a smartphone camera. While I am not obsessed with getting razor sharp images, I do like the quality of the images produced by my camera. At a recent family gathering some comments were made about the clarity of images captured on my camera compared to those from phone cameras. While other factors do come into play, such as managing to get people to stand still more easily when you have a ‘big’ camera in your hand, I do believe that the camera gave better overall results in terms of image quality. Low light images are more superior when taken with a dedicated camera. Until recently, phone cameras could not cope with low light conditions and this is still only possible with more advanced phone cameras. You get greater flexibility for different styles of photography Phone cameras tend to be a ‘one size fits all’ type of camera, albeit with some flexibility in terms of lenses, while in the world of real cameras there are specific cameras and lenses for different types of photography. I am somewhat limited by my current entry level camera and lens set-up, but I do still get to choose between my cameras and various lenses depending on what I want to shoot. On a recent trip to the west coast of Ireland I used my Nikon D3400 with Sigma 17-50 mm lens for landscape photography and my Nikon 70-300mm zoom lens to pick out some more distant subjects, as well as my Olympus 40-150 mm. I like the variety of images from the different lenses. For nature photography I often use my 50mm fixed lens which achieves a pleasing bokeh. When doing street photography I have begun to use my Olympus E-M10 11 as it is quite small and unobtrusive, yet the 14-42 mm lens has decent zoom capabilities. Olympus E-M10 11 40-150 mm lens Nikon D3400, Sigma 17-50 mm lens Nikon 70-300 mm zoom lens Nikon 50 mm fixed lens Using Aperture Priority mode you can almost block out the background if you want to do that I recently came across the following article, which illustrates my point, even though I am not exactly in that league of photographer! https://iso.500px.com/top-cameras-lenses-different-styles-photography/ Since DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are interchangeable lens cameras they give you the facility to adjust your lens to suit your requirements. The lenses on the smartphone camera are built in, which, when compared to the interchangeable lens of the real camera, reduces their functionality. Although many of the latest smartphone cameras have at least a dual, if not a triple lens setup, these still have their limitations in terms of how far they can reach. If my subject is far in the distance, for example a small cottage across a lake, it will appear tiny on a phone camera image. Digital zoom is a poor option since the quality of the images reduces as we zoom. With a dedicated camera and optical zoom lens I can choose my focal length or use a range of focal lengths to show a variety of perspectives. With a smartphone camera it is not possible to zoom very far. It was not possible to take this image of the moon with my phone camera. You can experiment with manual controls Cameras have a range of settings and controls with which to work to enable us to achieve all sorts of photography results. I must admit that I have not investigated many of these although I have given lots of time to learning the shooting modes and am becoming more confident in using each of these. I now never shoot in auto mode, although I am still learning about each of the other modes. I regularly watch or read tutorials on aperture priority mode and experiment to see what outcomes I can produce. Shutter speed Experimenting with shutter speed to either freeze or capture motion is a great advantage of using a dedicated camera, particularly in the area of sports photography but also if we want to capture that creamy waterfall, a silky wave in a seascape image, or a light trail in a town or city at night. I spent a long time experimenting with shutter speed to achieve the milky waterfall effect. There is a lot of trial and error and a great deal of satisfaction when you achieve something that is close to what you are looking for Aperture Depth of field has become possible through iPhone’s use of portrait mode, or live mode on android phones, but this feature is limited on a phone camera and does not compare to the depth of field effects that are possible to obtain by experimenting with different apertures on a dedicated camera. It is an area of photography that I enjoy experimenting with, particularly when photographing people or flowers and plants. You have the ability to shoot in RAW If you are interested in working with the raw data of your files and making the most of your images, you will want to shoot in RAW and improve your files in post processing. All decent dedicated cameras allow us to shoot in RAW or a combination of RAW and jPEG. While there is some potential for working on a smartphone jpeg image, most of the data is already processed in camera so we basically have very little raw data to work with. Some phone cameras do allow you to shoot in RAW (using Pro mode) but I’m not sure that this function is very commonly used. Personally I have not found it very user friendly and prefer to stick to auto on my phone. This does limit you in terms of creativity compared to working with manual mode on the dedicated camera. While I have done some post-processing work in Lightroom I feel that I have merely scratched the surface of what this program has to offer, so there is more learning to come. I keep my Nikon camera set to shoot in RAW as well as jPEG which forces me to develop my creativity at times, and I consider this to be a valuable added component to the whole art of photography. You get more battery life, meaning more time for shooting This is a valid practical consideration. I could spend hours shooting with my Nikon camera and not fear draining the battery. When travelling last year, I chose to bring a small mirrorless camera with an extra battery for my everyday photography as I wanted to know that wherever I was I would have a camera at the ready. I could not ensure that my smartphone would retain its battery life for a full day’s photography in addition to all the other activities that drain a phone battery. Best of all, you get the real photography experience From my point of view, something that is more important than the other considerations is that doing photography with a dedicated camera is about getting the experience of photography; it is about relishing the feeling you get when you take your camera out of its bag, choose a lens appropriate to the location, make decisions about the best composition, put the viewfinder to your eye, move around to get the best light, change lenses to get a different perspective and a different photographic experience, arrive home with a memory card full of shots to transfer onto your pc to examine, assess, touch up in post-processing and make choices about what to share, what to discard, what to save for another time. It’s a slower, more deliberate process, an experience to savour and enjoy, and in my view this experience which we get from the ‘real’ camera cannot be rivaled by the convenience of the smartphone. While I am not against smartphone photography, and have written in praise of my smartphone camera on different occasions, it is the feeling that holding the dedicated camera gives me of being connected to life in a tangible way that I would be afraid of losing if I went completely to using a smartphone camera for photography. Even the slower pace of dedicated camera photography, the time taken to choose and change lenses and adjust dials, has its joys, allowing me to be totally present to my surroundings and completely awake to the moment as I try to capture that perfect shot. And there's nothing wrong with having both camera and phone, to get the best of both worlds! Further reading I previously wrote a post asking whether smartphones are destroying photography, which you can read here What's your opinion?

3 Reasons Why I Continue to Blog I began my blogging journey almost four years ago, at a time when I committed to learning photography properly. I had been interested in photography on and off for a long time, but on each occasion that I came back to photography as a hobby I allowed something to get in the way of my progress and so my hobby went on the back burner. Four years ago, I was determined that would change as I set about getting serious about photography once again. To aid my progress I decided to chart my journey in a series of blog posts. I had no idea how many posts I would write, or how often I would post them, or indeed what I would write about, but I reckoned nothing ventured, nothing gained, so in September 2018 my first post was published. I often cringe when I look at my early posts, yet they serve as a reminder of where I started and I can now look over my blog, 184 posts later, and see where my journey has taken me. I have often remarked in my blog that photography has opened many doors for me apart from the obvious ones. It has encouraged me to slow down and led me into becoming more purposeful and mindful about what I do. It has brought me down a path of self-discovery, it has introduced me to the work of some wonderful creatives in many different fields, it has given meaning to my life in a new way through the appreciation of nature and the beauty of the world around me. All these bonuses have been reinforced for me as I reflect on them in my blog. Photography has given me a new appreciation of the world around me. My blog has gone through several different phases. It started simply as an online diary of a new photographer that I hoped might help someone else starting out on a similar journey. It progressed to an appreciation of photography as a life-enhancing journey of discovery which has spun off in many different directions. I have followed the directions in which I have been led without too much analysis or over thinking. I am not trying to monetise my blog or aiming for thousands of viewers (although a few more would be good). I am not interested in SEO or email campaigns or capitalising on this or that trend. So, why do I continue blogging four years on? I think there are three main reasons: 1. It reinforces my learning My original purpose in starting my blog is still relevant. By writing down my thoughts, my learning about photography, my discoveries and experiences, I am reinforcing what I am learning, both about photography and about myself. Many of the photographers working today, whose work I admire, tend to weave their photography into their philosophy of life. Far from being a means to an end, these photographers see their craft as an avenue to becoming more appreciative of life and of the world around them and they share this appreciation in the context of their work. All are willing to give generously of their knowledge and experience and acknowledge the contribution that their viewers make to their successes. I have discovered many different types of photographers, all with something unique to offer. Often, I am led to a new photographer through the channel of another and I enjoy reading the comments in the supportive communities that subscribe to and follow these photographers. There is always something new to learn, a new approach to take, a new direction to follow. By having my own blog I have the opportunity to experiment, to change my display whenever I want to and to be answerable only to myself. 2. It provides an outlet for displaying my images My second reason for continuing my blog site is that it gives me an outlet to display my images. While I do have a social media presence on Instagram, it’s not my favourite way to show my images. It is true that I don’t use Instagram to its full potential, but I find that the simplicity of using my own blog to write about my images, what they mean to me and how they fit into the current stage of my journey, has more personal meaning. When I visit an interesting location and capture some images it is good to have a space to display those I like. 3. It (hopefully) offers something to my readers I’m always delighted when I look at my statistics and discover that I have had some views on my latest posts. For a while I became obsessed with increasing my readership. It felt like failure if I was writing and no one was reading. I took an online course on how to start a blog, I studied how to write catchy headlines, I researched what successful bloggers were doing to gain their thousands of readers. I wondered what I was doing wrong and why no-one was reading my blog. I began to think that people were just not interested in what I was writing. But that was never the case. I always had some readers; not hundreds but there were always some people who wanted to read what I was writing and I began to realise that if I stayed true to myself, if I wrote about what was meaningful to me, at least I was being authentic. I’m no longer obsessed with the number of readers I have. I value and appreciate those who do take the time to read. I want to continue to share my experiences with those who want to read them. I want to pass on advice that I find useful, share information that may benefit others, pass on articles or video clips that have meaning for me in the hope that they will have meaning for others. It is the readers who keep me writing online. ***** Of the three reasons for continuing to blog, one stands out above the others. My first reason for blogging, that it reinforces my learning, is not confined to an online blog. I could achieve the same result writing about my progress in a private diary or journal. My second reason, that it provides an outlet for displaying my images, is relevant to this blog but the same result could be achieved by finding other sharing platforms, some of which might expose my images to a wider audience. But it is the third reason that is the real reason for continuing to blog. To those who enjoy reading about my journey, or who have been helped in any way by what I write, I want to keep on giving. So thank you, my readers. I really do appreciate that you take the time to read my blog and I hope I can continue to provide some value in exchange for the time you spend reading. As always, if you would like to leave a comment, I’d love to read it and if you think someone else would like something I have written, please feel free to share.

I love doing photography with a ‘real’ camera and I’m not one of those people who only uses a phone camera for photography. I love the feeling of a real camera in my hand, the process of choosing the right lens for the occasion and the experimentation with different settings that makes photography exciting and always interesting. But on some occasions I do believe that my phone camera really is the best camera for the job. I recently visited Portugal and Spain. My trip was primarily a holiday with family, but I did intend taking some photographs while I was there. I didn’t intend to go out to improve my photography by practising certain skills; my intention was just to enjoy myself. I considered taking my camera, but on this occasion I decided that my phone camera was all I needed. Here are some of the reasons why I left my camera at home on this trip: #1 I have a good camera on my phone When travelling I like to spend time photographing the area I am visiting. This is when I like to capture interesting places and candid moments, and street photography lends itself well to this. I want to be spontaneous, capture what I see as I stroll around. There’s no time for picking out the right lens. Granted, a fixed focal length can do this but with a camera I always feel I could get a better picture with a different lens whereas with my phone camera I have my range of lenses ready to use as required and I have to work within those limitations. My phone is not a latest, top-of-the-range model, but it does have a regular wide-angle lens, an ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2x telephoto lens. This means I can vary my perspectives, get as close as I need to get without intruding on people’s privacy and be sure of a relatively sharp picture as I quickly move around a scene. An example of where the phone camera is very useful is when taking photographs in a street market, where there is lots of activity and there are plenty of scenes to choose from. I don’t have to worry about whether I have the best aperture or shutter speed to ensure a sharp image. I can be confident that my phone camera is taking care of those details while I concentrate on getting the best composition or capturing a candid moment or interaction. #2 I don’t want to carry camera and lenses to areas where they may be damaged My DSLR camera, and more specifically my lenses, are precious as I have built up my collection over time and don’t want to risk damaging any of them. Often, on holiday, it can be difficult to take care of everything while travelling around an area, getting on and off buses or trains, or indeed while walking. A phone camera can be tucked away discreetly and taken out only when needed. On this occasion I travelled to a sandy area in 33°C heat, and I was glad not to have a large camera bag on my back with camera and lenses to take care of. #3 A camera can be intrusive for travelling companions When I travel abroad it is usually for a family holiday rather than a dedicated photography trip. On this occasion I travelled with my partner and some other family members so I felt that it would be disrespectful to make the trip all about photography. That is not to say that anyone had an issue with me taking photographs, but with a phone camera the process is more casual. I didn’t have to ask people to wait around while I set up a shot or stopped to change lenses. My photos were mainly of street scenes, markets and interesting buildings or features in the environment so I could capture a lot without being absent from my companions. I could have brought a small camera with me, and there are many dedicated travel cameras available (https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/buying-advice/the-best-travel-cameras-available-now-164198), but on an occasion where pin sharp images were not the priority, I just decided to enjoy the freedom of shooting what caught my eye without too much thought about the photography gear. #4 It is easier to blend in with a phone camera The best street photographs are those that capture a moment in time. These moments are happening all the time; we just need to watch out for them and be quick enough to capture them. In my opinion, we do this best if we are not self-conscious about being watched. It is good to be able to move around inconspicuously, discreetly capturing what we see. At one point when I was out photographing, I looked around and realised that there were dozens of others taking photographs with their phones, and nobody was taking any notice of them. It is easy to blend in when using a phone camera. Some countries have specific regulations regarding street photography and many street photographers will approach a subject and ask if they would be happy having their photo taken. As I am not in this league of photographer, I am content to stay in the background and do my best to enjoy shooting a range of images that capture the essence of the place I am visiting. #5 My phone camera is always with me, even when going to the shops Probably one of the most used sayings in photography circles is that the best camera is the one you have with you. I’m not sure if this was in usage before phone cameras became so popular but today it is almost certainly used to refer to the phone camera in our pocket. Regardless of the type of phone we have it will probably have a decent camera, always at the ready to give us a travel memory that we might otherwise have missed. I often find that it is on my way to the supermarket, when I wouldn’t ordinarily be taking a camera with me, that I spot something interesting that I just have to shoot, or an effect that I want to experiment with, as in the images below. To Sum Up I love travelling to new places, seeing people in their own environment, becoming part of the daily life of a community (if only for a short while) and capturing candid moments and interesting scenes. It is this experience that is most important to me, rather than being concerned with settings and focal lengths and pin sharp images. A small travel camera would meet my requirements but, for the reasons mentioned above, my phone camera has many advantages over carrying an extra camera and, on this occasion, it was exactly the camera I needed.

Coastal photography has always been a popular form of landscape photography, particularly among those with easy access to stunning coastlines. This form of photography can offer dramatic scenes of crashing waves, with majestic cliff tops overlooking magnificent sea spray or it can yield quiet, tranquil images of gently rolling seas, colourful seaweed and interesting sand patterns. Some photographers specialise in coastal photography and photographing seascapes while others see it as a part of their overall landscape photography work. Equally, there are some landscape photographers who rarely do coastal photography. Some may not have easy access to a coastline from where they live while others are just not motivated to do this type of photography. While I can’t say that I find coastal photography easy, it has always been one of my favourite types of photography, mainly because I love to go to the coast for any reason and to take my camera with me is a bonus. However, for those who find coastal photography difficult or who lack the motivation to do coastal photography, here are 5 reasons why I think it is worth giving this type of photography a try. 1. It provides lots of opportunities to grow and develop as a photographer No two photography outings will be the same at the coast. Conditions are constantly changing, sometimes by the minute. Different seasons will obviously yield different results and each of these will need a particular approach. For example, storm conditions will require careful attention to camera settings but even on relatively calm days there will be constant movement in the water which makes for more difficult shooting conditions than might be required for a serene inland landscape scene. Conditions like these stretch our photography skills and force us to learn and develop new skills to help us handle challenging conditions. Being able to do a long exposure would have improved this image but mastering that skill is something I haven't achieved yet. 2. It offers a challenge Many photographers might suggest that seascapes can be boring, that they have just sea and sand and not much else, but this is far from the truth. Apart from the ever-changing nature of a seascape there are also the peripheral subjects that exist near the coast. There are varieties of rock shapes and sizes, coastal vegetation and seaweeds, possibly a pier or marina with interesting boats, even a coastal village to explore with our camera. In fact, a coastal landscape often has more variables than other landscapes so some planning in terms of equipment might be necessary as well as numerous decisions to be made. Far from being boring, coastal landscapes present a variety of welcome photography challenges. 3. It encourages the use of different lenses and filters It is often the case that we can go out to our regular landscape locations and confine ourselves to using one or two lenses. With coastal photography, to make the most of the experience, a variety of lenses and filters is often necessary. Neutral Density filters are required for long exposures of moving waves, while polarising filters serve to reduce reflections on water or boost colour saturation in bright sunlight if you are shooting during the day. An all-purpose wide-angle lens might be the go-to lens while a standard telephoto lens is useful for shooting down from a clifftop or other height or picking out a distant object. A phone camera also offers variety in that we can use its available lenses to full advantage to gain different perspectives, use live photos to focus on a foreground image and blur the background or use an app to slow shutter speed and experiment with different effects. 4. It gives us an opportunity to experiment Coastal landscapes are great for providing opportunities to experiment. We can discover the effect of shooting in different light conditions, play around with different shutter speeds, look for unique compositions, including the use of leading lines or adding interesting foregrounds. We can explore shapes, textures and colours, we can look for abstract images or experiment with the effect of intentional camera movement (ICM). We can shoot from the coastline or get into the sea and immerse ourselves more fully in the experience. Coastal landscapes can provide interesting angles and perspectives from which to shoot; they can encourage us to shoot close-up images rather than big vistas, drawing us to capture more intimate images using shape, form, colour and texture. The opportunities for exploration and experimentation are endless and no matter how many times we visit, the coastline always has something new to offer. 5. It gives us the chance to capture some dramatic and dynamic images which may not always be possible in other settings The coast is a constantly changing environment as the basic coastal elements of sea, land, sky and weather come together to produce dynamic conditions for photography. Although we do get opportunities to make dramatic images inland, the combination of these elements make spectacular images almost inevitable at the coast. An incoming storm at sea, a foreboding sky, crashing waves or sea spray lashing against a sea wall can present us with drama and excitement in our images. All we need is the skill to take full advantage of what nature has to offer. Conclusion I like all types of landscape photography but there is something special about being by the sea that makes a coastal landscape one of my favourite photography locations. Coastal landscapes offer space and conditions that help us to grow as photographers; they offer a place to feel challenged, a place to explore and discover, a place to create unique and powerful images. When I am in a coastal location I feel compelled to observe, to explore, to experiment, to connect with my environment and to take many kinds of photographs. When I am in a coastal location I also feel compelled to sit still, to breathe in the fresh sea air, to marvel at the power of nature and to enjoy my surroundings whatever the weather. Coastal photography offers me the excuse to get away to the coast often to soak in the wonders to be found there.

I recently decided to return to street photography after an enforced absence during lockdowns and travel restrictions and I have re-kindled my love for this type of photography. For the last 2-3 years I have mainly concentrated on landscape photography. One of the reasons for this is because landscapes are the most accessible to me. I live close to a few woodlands, I am within 30 minutes’ drive of the coast and I can be in the countryside, with its mountains and lakes, in less than an hour. I have grown to love all types of landscapes for photography and I particularly love photographing trees and coastal scenes. My preference is to capture intimate details of each landscape rather than sweeping vistas and I think this is the reason I also enjoy street photography as it is mainly about capturing candid moments that may disappear in a few seconds, unusual features in an urban landscape or small details that might go unnoticed by most people as they hurry past. Here are some of the reasons I still love to do street photography: #1 Means of Self-Expression I spoke in my last post about expressive photography and why it appeals to me. I find that I can express myself through street photography in a way that has meaning for me. This is particularly true when I am in a new location, when I can observe people in their own surroundings or pick out scenes and features that interest me and draw my eye. By spending time observing what is around me I get a good feel for what I like to shoot. Sometimes it will be capturing people in their natural surroundings, other times it will be certain objects (bicycles seem to be a favourite!), and sometimes I will be drawn to architecture, shapes or interesting colours in street scenes. Street photography images are often not glamorous, but they do depict real life and real people, and that appeals to me. And if there is good light on an interesting building or scene, that is always a bonus and something I like to include in my images. #2 Keeps Photography Simple The simplicity of street photography appeals to me. I carry a camera and one lens and am not concerned about changing lenses mid-shoot. I move closer if I need to get a clearer shot and let people know if I am including them just by being transparent about what I'm doing. This man was having a rest on a hot market day. He spotted me taking his picture and waved. I made no secret of what I was doing. If he had been unhappy about it I would have apologised and deleted the image if he wished. Recently I have chosen just to take my phone camera for street photography as it offers all the advantages of a small street camera and by using features such as burst mode, or easily switching between the three lenses, I give myself the best opportunity to capture a scene from a good perspective and not to miss a precious moment that may be happening when I am there. #3 Exciting and Unpredictable What I like most about street photography is that it is a new canvas every day. While landscapes tend to be static and after a while don’t offer anything new to shoot, streets, towns and villages are ever-changing. Different people are out and about, their interactions are different, different objects are placed around, different scenes are unfolding all the time. Go there in the early morning and you will catch people setting up their business for the day. Go later and you will catch the buzz of a typical day in the location. There might be a market, there might be a street café, there might be a chat among locals on a street corner, there might be splash of colourful umbrellas on a rainy day or a busy park in the sunshine. ‘I only know how to approach a place by walking. For what does a street photographer do but walk and watch and wait and talk, and then watch and wait some more, trying to remain confident that the unexpected, the unknown, or the secret heat of the known awaits just around the corner.‘ Alex Webb All of daily life can be found on the streets of towns and cities and it is being part of this experience that I love. It requires patience at times, and often you'll take a lot of photographs and only find that one or two of them are any good. But you'll still have an enjoyable experience - a sense of being part of life's bigger picture - and to me that is the secret ingredient that makes street photography so wonderful.

Do you find the prospect of shooting candid photos on the street daunting? Or do you love the spontaneous nature of this genre of photography? Street photography is an area of photography that doesn't immediately appeal to me. I set about finding out what is the attraction to street photography. Street photography can be the telling of ordinary stories, the finding of ordinary images in extraordinary places or extraordinary images in ordinary places. It can show life as it is being lived in the here and now. Street photography is about going out, looking around, seeing what others miss and capturing the image. Street photography often requires the photographer to watch and wait. You almost have to read the future, interpret how the elements are going to line up to make an interesting picture and catch that fleeting moment. Street photography involves the juxtaposition of a number of different elements to make a complete scene - often a random mix, a complete accident that those elements should merge in this place at this time - and yet for the picture to work the mix has to have a certain purpose or meaning. Sometimes that meaning is purely visual - the combination of colours and patterns are visually appealing to the photographer and warrant the taking of a shot. Other times the meaning of the image comes from something that speaks to the photographer which he/she hopes will speak to the viewer also. In the image below the various subjects and elements make up the early morning routine of opening a market stall. Are there words between the stallholders? Is everything running according to plan? Are there apprehensions about the day ahead? The story is hidden in the image and yet is there for interpretation. Street photography captures everyday human activity in a way that no other type of photography does. The Three S's of Storytelling Street photography lends itself in a special way to storytelling. When considering what images to shoot I think of the three S's - subject, scene and story. The main question to be asked is, what is the subject of the photograph? Is it a person, animal, object? Is it a building or particular landscape? Is it one element or a combination of different elements? It is important to know who or what is the main subject of the shot and focus on that subject. In some cases only the subject may be in sharp focus, in other cases the whole image makes up the subject. This brings us to scene - where is the subject placed in the photograph? What is happening around the subject? What other elements (if any!) combine to create the scene? Where are they placed in relation to the subject? In this way story is built up. I always ask myself whether I can 'read' the story from the photograph and hope that if I can do that, others will too. However, storytelling on its own won't always yield worthwhile images; decisions have to be made about technique and composition. The subject needs to be in sharp focus, but what about the other elements? Is it more effective if they are also in focus or does a blurred background work best? Technical know-how is required to satisfy these decisions - should I open my aperture to its widest or shoot using a smaller aperture? Do I need to shoot with a long lens or is my subject close enough to capture effectively with a short zoom or fixed lens? What elements need to be included in the photograph, and maybe more importantly, what elements are not required in telling this particular story? I believe that it is important to learn proper camera techniques to help me make effective decisions and achieve the best possible results. Despite the fact that I believe in the supremacy of storytelling in photography, I would do a dis-service to the art by just shooting randomly and hoping for a pleasing image. But learning camera techniques is not so I can take photos like other people, it is so I will take my own best pictures, develop my own style, find my own means of expression. I have to dare to be different, develop my own style, tell my own stories: "The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself." – Rita Mae Brown Street photography may initially appear daunting but it has much to offer in terms of challenge, finding meaning through our photography and sheer enjoyment. It really is worth overcoming our apprehensions and getting out onto the streets with our camera. Do you enjoy shooting candid images on the streets of your local town or city? Do you like to tell a story with your images? Let me know in the comments.

When I tell people that I love to go out in the early morning to spend an hour taking photographs the usual follow up question is, What do you do with all your photos? It’s a relevant question. If I say that I don’t really do anything with them, just keep them on my hard drive, it’s not an entirely accurate answer. Yet if I say that I put them in folders according to the month in which they were taken or by topic and use them for blog posts, if I say that I often look back through my photo collection to relive the memory of when they were taken, where I was and who was with me, or if I say that I could spend hours working on a set of photos in Lightroom to get the effect I want, I would lose my listener’s interest very quickly. But it is still a relevant question, and one which photographer Kim Grant says she is often asked. In a recent video (link below) Kim gives her answer in a thought- provoking and interesting discussion. In her video, Kim tells us that she doesn’t sell her prints, she doesn’t often print her images and she doesn’t enter photography competitions. Her YouTube channel and social media are outlets for sharing her images but no doubt, as a very talented photographer, she has hundreds or even thousands of images which her viewers haven’t seen. Many people would wonder about the point of taking so many images that you do nothing with, but for Kim Grant photography has a different purpose. To her, photography is about having a tool to connect with nature, it is about experiencing each moment that you capture, it is about using photography to enhance wellbeing. For Kim, photography is not about what she will do with the final image; it is about the experience of capturing that image, capturing the beauty of nature and being present in the moment of capture. Kim suggests in her video that her answer to this question might be taking a more philosophical approach to photography, which it does seem to be. It touches on the deeper reasons that many people have for doing photography, and it will appeal to those who view photography as an experience, a journey even, rather than as a means to an end. This video resonates with me as I have hundreds of photos on my hard drive that seem to be just sitting there. Yet, when I open one of my folders and look at the images I am transported back to another time and place. I re-experience how I felt when I took the original photo. This may not be the greatest image in the world but it will always remind me of spending time in Portugal, summer 2022 in 37 degree heat. With no rain for months the earth has become parched and the water pump symbolises for me the thirst for water that the local people are feeling. Often when I look back at photos I see the image in a new way and appreciate aspects of it that I may not have noticed when I first took the photo. I get great personal satisfaction when I find a unique angle from which to shoot. It doesn't really matter if no-one sees the image; it means a lot to me in terms of my photographic development. In this image I like the way I included different shapes, a leading line and a person at the end of the leading line. I converted it to black and white to give the shapes more emphasis. Kim Grant's video is inspirational to amateur photographers like myself as it encourages me to keep getting out and taking photos, to enjoy the process and not to focus too much on judging the results. When I am out with my camera, taking photographs, it is the experience that I enjoy. I feel the joy of being out in nature or in an interesting location doing what I love doing. Even though most of my images will not be shared or seen by others, their value is in the joy they give at the moment of capture. The patterns in the sand drew my eye so I had to take the photograph. The video is thought provoking in that it challenges us to see our photography in a personal way, to question the purpose of why we take photographs and to value the experience of photography and what it adds to our lives. You might like to check out Kim Grant’s video: What Does Kim Do With All The Photographs She Takes? And for another perspective, watch this short video from Henry Turner.

“Victory belongs to the most tenacious" ~ Roland Garros. How do you know if you are successful at photography? Are you successful because other photographers like your images? Are you successful because critics or so called ‘experts’ like your images? Does success mean you win a prize in a photography contest or have your photographs published online or in a magazine? Or are you successful at photography when you overcome a hurdle, make a breakthrough in your learning or manage to capture an image that really pleases you? As a novice photographer it’s hard to define success, and it means different things to different people. When I first took the plunge and put up some of my images online, I was expecting criticism. I thought I might be told that they weren’t good enough to be displayed in public. But that criticism didn’t come, and neither did praise, so how was I to define success in my photography? I began to realise that success is actually a very subjective thing and that what is more important than defining success by others’ standards is having the tenacity to keep going even when you’re not getting praise, to keep doing what you need to do to improve even though you don’t see much improvement happening, and to judge your work by your own standards, by how well you have overcome the latest hurdle in your learning journey. To me, tenacity is when we persevere with something, even in the face of adversity. It is about not giving up, about determination to continue doing what we are doing even if we encounter setbacks or disappointments. I believe that this is a greater asset to our photography than achieving success defined by others. Success might bolster our self-confidence briefly but what about the next occasion when we don’t receive the same accolades? Do we become deflated and disillusioned? This is the danger and the reason why I think tenacity is more important to the long-term development of our photography than instant ‘success’. Rather than depend on the approval of others regarding my images I began to be my own critic. I compared my latest images to earlier ones to see where I had improved. I studied my images to see if I could improve on composition or whether a crop or some editing might improve the look of the image. I took inspiration from photographers working as professionals. I studied the work of well-known and much revered photographers, past and present. Today my barometer of success is whether I am improving, whether I am making less of the beginner mistakes than I used to make and whether I am making images that I like – at least occasionally! There are still occasions when I am disappointed at my lack of success, even in my own terms. I fear that I will never get any better, that I just don’t have what it takes to be a good photographer. These are the very times when I need to re-group, change direction, take some pictures just for fun, and then start with a new outlook. This is when tenacity wins out, when I don’t throw in the towel and give up but rather keep believing that as long as I am enjoying what I do, as long as I still love taking a camera in my hand, as long as I see things that interest me and want to take a photograph, I am achieving a lot from my photography. Ultimately, it is this tenacity that keeps me moving on, keeps me enjoying the journey. And enjoyment is what it’s all about.

Street photography is becoming one of my favourite photography genres. I love to have my camera at the ready to snap those unexpected moments when I’m out and about with a few moments to spare, when I’m waiting for someone or when I’m just strolling around the streets. Somewhere among all those photos I may find a gem some day! Photographer Taha Muharuma (with over 33k followers @TahaPhoto) says that street photography is “just capturing candid scenes, wherever that may be”. He believes that in street photography “You’re always looking for one thing that will make a scene unique”. I am still a novice in this genre of photography, but I do approach it with a passion that motivates me to want to succeed. In an earlier post I gave some Dos and Don’ts for getting started in street photography, based on my own learning. Here are a few more of my tips for succeeding at street photography that I hope will be of use to anyone considering this type of photography. This scene may have no people but it does have the hum of life. We can wonder, who left the bikes? Where are they? Are they together or separate? What are they doing? When will they be back? It is this questioning, this wondering about life which is prompted by an image, that attracts me to street photography #1 Keep on the lookout for photo opportunities Wherever people gather there are street photography opportunities. Shopping centres, markets, main streets, side streets, parks, railway stations, festivals, all provide us with the potential for finding that unique image. Whatever we are doing – commuting, meeting a friend, shopping, on holidays – we can take the opportunity to look and see if a unique image beckons. And a street photograph doesn’t always have to have people. Objects can tell their story too. There are interesting moments all around us, we just need to be alert to them. “All the technique in the world doesn’t compensate for the inability to notice.” -Elliott Erwitt #2 Look for something unique Taha Muharuma’s observation that in street photography you’re always looking for the one thing that will make a scene unique has to be the number one aim for would-be street photographers. It’s easy to get out into the street with our camera and just snap away but unless we find something unique, something unusual, our photos will be nothing special. And finding that something unique is not as easy as it seems. #3 Try to blend in I was initially anxious about doing street photography and I am still reluctant to be too conspicuous while photographing people without their consent. I try to use a small lens on my camera for street photography. That way I can blend in and concentrate on taking photographs without drawing attention to myself. A phone camera works well for street photography as people are used to seeing them on the streets, and using the volume switch on your headphones as a shutter release allows you to take candid photos in an unobtrusive way, as well as having the added advantage of reducing camera shake (often a problem when we need to quickly capture an image) as it eliminates the need to touch the phone. #4 Take lots of photos The pioneers in street photography were not as fortunate as we are today in terms of camera memory and ease of shooting multiple images. Henri Cartier-Bresson talked of ‘the decisive moment’ and capturing that decisive moment involved watching and waiting for all the elements to line up before taking the shot. With our large memory cards, burst mode and online storage options, it is easier than ever to take lots of photos so that we can bring home a large batch from which to choose our best shots. Cartier-Bresson’s advice is still relevant, though; there is still a moment when the great image will be revealed. Hopefully, if we take lots of shots as close as possible to that moment when all the elements align, we will find that moment in our collection. #5 Try to tell a story with your image Street photography naturally lends itself to storytelling. Catching that decisive moment between people, that dramatic action or emotion, or finding a subject placed in an interesting setting will ignite our imagination and help us imagine the story that is unfolding. #6 Capture positive moments I never take pictures of anyone in a compromised position, for example I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking a photograph of a homeless person as I am not a documentary photographer, nor would I like to photograph a row between people (I might put myself in danger if nothing else). I think that when we are starting out in this genre it is best to try and ensure that our candid shots are as positive as possible. Unique, yes, but not at any cost! #7 Learn from your ‘failures’ Evaluating our shots after a photo shoot is a chance to discover what we like or don’t like about a particular capture and gives us a chance to see how we can improve next time we go out. I often discard most of my street photography images as they don’t provide a unique perspective but at least I have learned some valuable lessons for my future outings. Henri Cartier-Bresson famously said, “Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” I can take heart from this and know that I am learning and improving all the time. #8 Learn from others Street photography might seem to be easy, but it is not easy to do well. I have found that looking at the work of well known street photographers, taking a workshop or class, reading advice from experienced street photographers, going out with like-minded learner photographers and comparing shots, all help to give me some skills that encourage me to go out into the streets with increased confidence. #9 Keep shooting Practice will bring improvement in this as in any other photography genre. We will improve, not just in the composition of our shots, but also in knowing what to look for and where to find what we are looking for. As mentioned above, learning from others and taking this knowledge out into the streets will help us capture those unique images that make street photography so special. ***** If you have any other tips for street photographers that you would like to share, please do so in the comments. If you know someone who would find these tips useful, please feel free to share this post.

Street photography is a very popular genre of photography yet I have been reluctant to do street photography for a few reasons, not least of which is the fear of invading people’s privacy. Unlike other forms of photography, street photography, or candid photography, involves taking photographs of people, usually without their knowledge or consent. I have been slow to do that, possibly because of fear of doing something wrong. To try and overcome this fear, I enrolled in a street photography workshop in my local city and this certainly allayed most of my fears and it also gave me a love of this type of photography. There is something special about taking photographs of candid moments and natural interactions that motivates me to want to do more candid photography. I have always admired street photography images. In the past they were often black and white images that seemed to capture a subject in a particular moment in time, depict a particular emotion or give a glimpse of a special relationship or human interaction. I admired the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson before I realised that he was a master in this particular genre of photography, and have recently become familiar with the work of Fan Ho, who has been dubbed “the Cartier-Bresson of the East”. https://erickimphotography.com/blog/fan-ho/ I also love to experience different cultures, different values, different ways of life. It is the diversity of human existence that makes the world go round, and this is the very content of street photography. There is so much to see in the world, so many ways to explore human existence, so much to learn about the world and its people that we should never be short of subject matter and inspiring content for street photography. Some of the best street photographers have left us with iconic images of past times which give us a glimpse of a world we haven’t experienced first-hand. Now that I have had my appetite for street photography well and truly whetted, have got out into the streets a number of times and have taken on board the suggestions made on my workshop, I have come up with some ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for anyone considering doing street photography for the first time. Do: Wear comfortable footwear This might seem obvious, but for me it's top of the list. I was surprised at how far I walked on my first few outings and realised the importance of not having to worry about getting sore or tired feet because of the wrong footwear. Talk to people. While street photography is usually done candidly, that is, without permission and without the knowledge of the subject, I think it does make a difference, if people notice me taking photographs, to smile, say hello and tell them what I am doing. While I try not to take people’s photographs too close up without their permission, it is often hard not to be noticed and I don’t want to appear sneaky, as if I am doing something wrong. In these photographs I asked the people involved if I could take their picture and they were only too happy to oblige. Some people would call these street portraits rather than street photography; however, I think talking to people does help you to feel connected to the environment you are in and makes taking candid pictures that much easier. Look for something out of the ordinary – an unusual angle, an interesting encounter, a candid moment, a gesture - something which will capture the attention of the viewer. Have a purpose for your shot. While street photography has to be fast in order to capture a fleeting moment, there are still some ‘rules’ that should be adhered to. Just pointing a camera at something in the street and taking a picture can’t be termed street photography. There has to be a purpose for taking the picture – a subject, a moment, an emotion, a ‘story’, so that the viewer will stop and wonder. We also need to make some decisions about composition ‘on the fly’, for example, giving consideration to how much of a scene to include, waiting for the right person or people to enter a scene, looking for the right angle from which to compose the shot, or just being drawn to what we see, as I was below. Take lots of pictures. The ‘father’ of street photography, Henri Cartier-Bresson, talked of taking at least 20 photos of a single scene then choosing afterwards the ones he considered to be the best. By doing this he tried to catch what he called ‘the decisive moment’. The decisive moment may be different for different people and each person has to know what the decisive moment is for them. With our digital photography it is easy to take lots of pictures on a shoot. Just be sure to bring a spare battery! 'Street' photography doesn't have to happen on the streets, it describes any type of candid photography. On a recent holiday I took lots of photos of these teenagers jumping into the water, but this was the only one which caught the moment where the girl could be clearly seen in action. To me it spoke of energy, courage, commitment and achievement. Unfortunately, I wasn’t close enough to capture the facial expression and emotion of the moment. Look for emotion. Streets are full of people and people are full of emotion. Emotion can be seen in the street through body language, gestures and expressions. in my opinion, trying to capture emotion is one of the most interesting aspects of street photography. I took a number of photographs of these two people chatting, and picked out the ones that I thought best expressed some emotion I think these two images do capture the candid nature of street photography At times, go for ‘less is more’. In street photography you don’t have to capture a full scene. At times I like to focus on feet, hands, hats, umbrellas, colours and shapes rather than on full body images. In the streets the only limit is your imagination! Don’t: Don’t be afraid of rejection – it happens to everyone! The best lesson I learned on that score was when I was participating in a workshop with an accomplished street photographer. He was sharing some tips with me when he spotted an interestingly dressed young man sitting on a bench. He approached the man, told him he was a street photographer and asked if he would mind if he took his photograph. The man immediately refused and the photographer politely thanked him and walked on. I realised that refusals happen to everyone and that if they happen to me, it’s nothing personal! Don’t be afraid to experiment, be creative and to find ways to make the ordinary look extraordinary! That’s what street photography is all about! "You don’t take pictures, the good ones happen to you." ~Ernst Haas