dvdell.com

John Felix Arnold lll

I recently had the honor of stepping in and documenting a Babylon Falling, gallery opening. Babylon Falling is one of the coolest book stores in San Francisco. They have a lot of great books to choose from. They also have gallery style openings, featuring outstanding work from very talented artists. It was a lot fun and a great experience to photograph the opening for John Felix Arnold’s work.

Photos from the event can be seen here or you can check them here at dvdell.com. You should also check out the studio visit with John Felix Arnold lll, photographed by Shaun Roberts. Also check out the time-lapse from the event on studio visit page.

The Other Side

Recently I have been thinking about the ethics of street photography. Questioning what is right and what is wrong, when taking pictures of people in the streets?

Opinions vary, but the opinion that I follow is the one of following your own personal street photography ethics. For me that means not exploiting the subject directly, not making direct profit off that individual, and lastly, if possible, try to get permission to take their picture. A model release would be best, freeing you to do what you want, but this doesn’t always work when you are shooting homeless people or scary people you might want to avoid, and it may disrupt your artistic approach or the heart of the moment.

In the end it is all just a matter of opinion, and personal and professional choice. It is certainly something to think about when moving through the urban scape.

I look to continue to shoot people in the streets and the closer I get, the more I understand that what I am doing is what I am supposed to be doing. I do it because it calls me. Shooting people in the streets has a great attraction for me. And my ethics will continue to be refined and I am sure questioned by others as my output becomes more public. I want to be prepared to answer those questions, and be confident that I am doing it the right way.

Below are a few links I found that highlight this topic.

pixiport.com

photo.net

bigredandshiny.com

The beauty of street photography for me is the freedom and unpredictability of each mission. I find the urban stage to be the stage for me. I love all forms of image capture, but when looking at what I am doing with the street photography, I feel it’s where I belong. I am beginning to get what I want out of the images I’m capturing, getting closer and closer to the source of good imagery.

thank you for the new day.

thank you for my son.

thank you for my wife and our life together.

thank you for my camera and my ability to see.

thank you for the time that i have had and the time to come.

thank you for the day that turns to night.

thank you for sleep.

Chinatown, San Francisco

Over the last year or so I have been heading over to Chinatown in San Francisco to do some of my street documentation. This area has become one of my favorite to walk through and take snap shots. I feel a balance in Chinatown, and I see things clearly. Even with the chaotic nature of the people shopping and moving about. This is where I discovered my patience, the key to seeing when shooting reality. In Chinatown I always find a mixture of people young and old, amazing architecture, and diverse topography. Going to Chinatown always reaps visual rewards for me and that is why I continue to return. I have been putting together some of the photos from my Chinatown missions. You can see them at Flickr.

I have to apologize for the lack for posts here of late. Sometimes I just don’t have a lot to say. Though I should, life is too grand and special not to report on it.

What I can tell you is that life continues to change for me. Having Samuel in my life has brought about a greater appreciation for life, family, and my creative output. With each day he teaches me something new, while learning something new for himself. His eyes and his smile are inviting and comforting to look at. His joy of the basic things reminds that we complicate ourselves too much. We should enjoy the moment and look for the lessons that day can offer.

untitled in NYC

It always gets my blood flowing for some reason. Is it the shrieking metal on metal sound of a subway car braking? Is it the smell of piss on the steps leading outside? Is it the towering buildings that inspire? I am not sure, but it is a combination of those things and many more that make New York, New York.

I make it a point to return to New York at least once a year. And this recent trip was what I needed. Visually the city contains endless possibilities in it’s landscapes and movements. Everywhere you turn there is a scene unfolding. It is almost overwhelming to get it all in such a short time.

When I hit the pavement - my plan was to cover as much ground as I could in the time given. The heat was my first obstacle and the second was my conditioning - not so good. I packed light but it still weighed heavy on my shoulders.

I did make it around to many of the spots I wanted to hit, and got to share important time with friends. Seeing them reminded me of my time living there - what a trip that was. Everyone is still just getting by. But they are so close to the center of the world, in art, in music, and culture. It’s a hard life living in New York, but it can be very rewarding in so many other ways. I love it and will always carry a piece of it with me.

My regards to the city, it’s people, and their continuing creativity.

Now back to the bay.

People Walk made it to the Top Ten Finalists of iStocks, Video of the Year Award. We were honored to make to the top ten finalists, and be among such great works. Though we didn’t win the Video of Year, we celebrate this achievement of making it to the top ten. Congrats to the winner of Video of the Year, Akurra, great clip.

Check links below for more info:

Top Ten Finalists

Contest Winners

PINE MOUNTAIN SOUL