Street photography - Chinatown

[lightbrush]

After watching Joel Meyerowitz's video, http://youtube.com/watch?v=5dipTqJfiE4, I was inspired to dust the cobweb off my D200 and head down to Chinatown. As fate would have it, it had started to rain and the sky was overcast. But hail and thunder was not going to stop me. So I pushed up the iso to 800-1600 and pressed on. Here's some shots of my evening's outing.

#1 There's some kind of festivity going on just outside the chinatown foodcourt and they have this window-like props around the place. Just the thing I need to frame the old gentlemen chess masters.


#2 I stepped back a bit to get more coverage. Here's a view through 2 windows.


#3 I made my way up to the foodcourt to quench my thirst. At the steps near the entrance, i saw these 3 buddies having a smoke. With the circular thing as a nice frame, I could'nt help stopping and taking this shot.


#4 I decided to step up closer and buddies no 1 and 2 turned away, leaving buddy no 3 with profile view. Shot it!


#5 Whilst up at the foodcourt, I looked down and saw the 3 buddies, this time joined by a third enjoying their smoke. For a split second, the normally busy stairs were empty. I thought the 3 buddies, the circular thing and wet floor would make a good story so I took a quick shot.

[lightbrush]

#6 While having my kopi-c siewtai, I saw this young man looking out the window. Short while later, an older man came to the next window and looked out too. Hmmm, windows and men looking out. Sounds like a good story to me. Here's the shot.


#7 Done with my drink, I walked down the stairs to continue my quest. Saw the bodyless dummy first, then the two people talking. What if they were talking and the dummy wanted to join in but got no body to talk to?. Good story. Here's the shot!


#8 Came down the stairs and situation has changed. 3+1 buddies had gone and an elderly gentleman had sat near their place at the steps. He looked kinda lonely. With the circular thing as frame, this time from the other side, I made the shot.


#9 As Joel said, you must weave and bob your way thru the crowd and looked invisible. Well, I tried and nearly got bashed by this not too friendly guy. I guess I was not invisible enough.


#10 Well, invisibility didn't work too well for me. Joel also said to be always alert for things to happen. I was standing there waiting. One moment, all was quiet as the crowd just move along peacefully. Suddenly, a man carrying a baby opened up the crowd. I was a tad too slow but I recovered and shot at the man's back. Fortunately, the baby was in profile and the guy in the background provided the right foil I needed.

[Yapster]

Originally Posted by lightbrush

Hey, i like this~ Very nice "buddies" feel~

[lightbrush]

#11 Seems like men carrying babies make good stories. So when this big fellow came along, I was all ready for him. He was really "bashing" his way through the crowd with baby there doing the PR work and service recovery for him.


#12 Joel was right. Things happen very quickly on the streets and you have to be twice as quick to capture them. These guys carrying this big prop suddenly appear out of nowhere and the guy in front was real pissed off by something. I managed a quick shot and got the hell out of there.


#13 There are also quiet moments on the street and these are also opportunities for more studied shots. This guy looked like someone on a mission.


#14 People selling things make good subject. Look out especially for the reaction of their targets. Here's this guy trying to sell some bak-kua vouchers to a lady.


#15 People having drinks are also a good place to shoot. I used the signs as props.

[lightbrush]

#16 Here's another "drinks" shot. Could the guy be a real Cuban?

[lightbrush]

Originally Posted by Yapster Hey, i like this~ Very nice "buddies" feel~

Thanks! Nothing like old buddies to share a smoke on a dull day

[plasma]

yea, and wear black coats and black gloves to hide your camera.

[dannysantos]

Nice capture on #10... You also have a good point on #14, people selling things really IS a good scene, especially when your able to capture the reaction of the customer. I should also look out for scenes like these


My Flickr

[lightbrush]

Originally Posted by plasma yea, and wear black coats and black gloves to hide your camera.

aiyoh...like that stick out like sore thumb..must wear broken singlet to blend in with chinatown crowd

[lightbrush]

Originally Posted by dannysantos Nice capture on #10... You also have a good point on #14, people selling things really IS a good scene, especially when your able to capture the reaction of the customer. I should also look out for scenes like these My Flickr

Thanks Danny. Let me know if you have any good tips too. Enjoyed your Flickr pics

[dark72]

Applaud for your courage

[lightbrush]

Originally Posted by dark72 Applaud for your courage

Thanks dark72...don't really need much courage...just shoot and act blur

[lightbrush]

#17 Here's another shot - I was trying to mirror the painted face on the tent with the face of the old gentleman. Think the old gentleman's face turned out too dark as the contrast ratio was too great. I guess I could have used flash , but I didn't want to get bashed. Self-preservation won the day

[lennyl]

Originally Posted by plasma yea, and wear black coats and black gloves to hide your camera.

And die of heat stroke in Singapore