10 Hours, 39,000 steps, & 720 photos: A Day of Street Photography in New York City

November 1, 2016 by John Batdorff 4 Comments

This July I took a week to spend some time in New York City to work on my street photography. I rarely get an opportunity to go out shooting just for myself, so with clearance from the boss I headed to the big city to submerge myself in my craft. While I survived almost entirely on cereal, PB&J's, and coffee, I had a fantastic time in one of my favorite cities.

My trusted Monochrom

I spent most of my time in New York wandering around Manhattan, and what I quickly learned is there's nothing typical about a day in New York City. There is so much to see and so many images to capture. The only thing typical about a day in New York is there's never enough time in the day.

I decided to spend a day focusing on my black and white street photography, so I headed out with my Leica Monochrom kit which included a 35mm, 21mm, and 50mm. Generally I shoot with my 35mm, but I love my 21mm for architecture and hip shooting. The 50mm is a challenge for me, but I have come to embrace it's constraints in framing and adore it's efficiencies.

I had recently upgraded my Monochrom to the 246 model and heard the battery life was fantastic, but I thought I would put it to the test and make it my goal to just shoot until the battery died. I planned on about 5-6 hours of shoot time, but this new battery just wouldn't give up the ghost.

Thankfully those roasted peanuts from the street vendors provided the fuel for this journey since the Frosted Mini Wheats were not cutting it after about the 15,000th step. While I was slowly losing steam after 9 hours, the Leica battery seemed like it would never die, so I finally started heading back. The bugger did eventually give in about 5 blocks from home so I can say I did meet my goal. I'm happy for the new longer battery life, but next time I'll pick a more reasonable goal. I ended up shooting for ten hours straight, putting 39,000+ steps on my pedometer, and hitting the shutter over 700 times.

Oculus Rush

Most of the 700 shots were blurry hip shots from playing around, but I got a few keepers too. What follows is a short slideshow of a few of my favorite shots from a day in New York with just me, my Leica, three lenses, and a battery that wouldn't quit.

I hope you enjoy.

p.s. If you received this post via email then you'll need to visit the blog to see the slideshow below. 🙂

6 Tips for Improving Your Street Photography

February 24, 2014 by John Batdorff Leave a Comment

london street photography, improving your street photography

The Wildlife of London

Work with less
If there’s one thing that will really help with improving your street photography it is learning to work with less. I love gear and gadgets but when it comes to walking the streets, the key is to not draw attention to yourself and to be able to move quickly. I use a small kit and leave my tripod behind. Keep your kit simple and get to know your equipment intimately so that camera operation becomes second nature. My preferred kit for the streets is a full frame body with a fixed 35mm lens or a mirrorless with a 35mm equivalent lens.

Commit to a fixed focal length
Becoming proficient in a fixed focal length can help a budding street photographer learn to compose on the fly. Prime lenses generally are smaller and provide superior image quality while performing better in low light situations. If you own a zoom lens and you’re not sure which focal length is best for you then practice restricting your focal length to a full frame equivalent of a 35mm or 50mm.

Compose like film but shoot like digital
Remember, you’re never going to get better at shooting if you don’t try. Our goal in the field is to compose like we’re shooting with film but never forgo an image because it’s not perfect. Improving your street photography takes time and a lot of practice.

If you’re not nervous then hang it up!
Whether you’re a pro or an amateur the day you’re not nervous about taking a photos on the street is the day you probably should hang it up. Nerves are an indication of drive, passion, and excitement. Nerves or butterflies in your stomach are just energy that needs direction. Practice will help provide that direction, but without energy your photos will lack that special something. Everytime I grab my camera I get nervous, seriously!

The golden rule applies: Mind your personal space
There are all sorts of street photographers out there with different goals, but being a paparazzi is not what I aspire to be. The best way to get a person to allow you to take their portrait on the street is by asking permission. Permission can be as simple as a non-verbal cue or motion that indicates your desire to take a photograph and their giving a non-verbal back that shows they accept. You can look at them, hold your camera up to show your intention, and wait for a head nod in return. Remember the saying that 95% of communication is non-verbal, so use your body language to show respect and to communicate with people. Honoring personal space and being rewarded with “the ok to photograph” is what builds moral character and confidence.

Know your rights!
I know some people are frightened and maybe being scared adds to their nervous energy (repeat after me…it’s ok to be nervous) but, knowing your rights as a photographer will help you push through that apprehensive feeling and get the shot. In the United States we take our First Amendment rights very seriously and that’s good news for you as a photographer. Watch the video by PPD Online: “A Photographer's Guide to the First Amendment (and what to do if you get arrested)”

New Orleans Photo Workshop

October 15, 2013 by John Batdorff Leave a Comment

Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans

New Orleans is probably one of my favorite cities to visit when it comes to capturing authentic street photography and amazing architecture. Very few cities are as rich in character, grit, and heritage as New Orleans. Last week Staci and I (Batdorff Studio Team) were planning our 2014 workshop calendar and she asked, “If you had to pick one city in the United States (not including Chicago) to photograph people and architecture then what would it be?” I simply replied, “The Big Easy.” The rest is history. So I’m happy to announce we’ll be touring New Orleans this coming May during the Jazz and Heritage festival.

This four day New Orleans photo workshop will be dedicated to a small group of photographers (no more than six) and will focus on street photography, architecture, with processing classes at the hotel. We’ll be staying in the historical French Quarter near the riverside which will allow us to maximize our time exploring the heart of the city.

Thursday

We’ll have a meet & greet and discuss the upcoming days, go over gear, talk about our strategy to photographing the festival and the city, and have dinner. Then, we’ll head out and do some night photography to get warmed up.

Friday

We’ll spend the entire day at the Jazz festival, grabbing as many photos as possible while enjoying all the wonderful music and food that the festival has to offer.

Saturday

We’ll start the day at Cafe Du Monde enjoying beignets and coffee, a very special New Orleans experience. From there we’ll head out around the city and the markets to enjoy the unique French Quarter architecture and flavor that only New Orleans has to offer.

Sunday

We’ll meet again in the conference room for a continental breakfast and to upload and process some of our images. We’ll discuss workflow, style, and more.

Get all the details on our current New Orleans Photography Workshop page and get ready to enjoy great photo opportunities, a nice cup of chicory coffee and a beignet! I look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!

Street Photography e-Book

September 27, 2013 by John Batdorff Leave a Comment

Street Photography

Street Photography has always been a passion of mine so it brings me great pleasure to announce my new ebook “Street Photography: A Guide to Finding and Capturing Authentic Portraits and Streetscapes.” This ebook has truly been a labor of love and at the same time a bit of a departure from my more technical processing-focused books. This book focuses more on my mindset and approach to street photography, while fueling you with solid tips that will hopefully make you a more confident street photographer. What I love about street photography are the barriers of entry are low (you just need a camera) and the only limits are your creative boundaries.

I get a lot of questions from photography workshop attendees on how I approach my street photography and this books answers many of the most common questions such as:

How do you approach people?
Do I need to tell someone I’m taking a photo of them?
What are the best locations to photograph people?
How do you make sure you’re prepared?
Do I need a model release?
What sort of equipment do I need?
What lens do you recommend?
What are your thoughts on color or black and white?

What’s even better is I’ve decided to give away five new presets dedicated to Street Photography. These presets will be available free of charge to any that purchases the ebook and registers. Click this link to order my Street Photography ebook.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Update:

New York City Photo Workshop

I've recently added a 3 day New York City photography workshop dedicated to improving your street photography. If you're interested in learning more then click on the following link: New York City Photography Workshop

MeFOTO Backpacker Tripod review

July 15, 2013 by John Batdorff 12 Comments

Me shooting with the MeFoto backpacker tripod in Death Valley last year. MeFoto review, Death Valley Photography Workshop

Me shooting with the MeFoto backpacker tripod in Death Valley. Photo by Jett Anderson

Finding a good tripod can be a hassle, but finding one that you’ll actually use can be downright discouraging. Lately I’ve shot exclusively with a Gitzo Traveler tripod coupled with a Really Right Stuff BH-40 ballhead. This combination has been my go-to kit for nearly six years. But, here’s the rub: that darn kit was expensive! Definitely worth every penny if you’re going to use it a ton, but I always feel a bit guilty recommending it as a kit to people starting out or just looking for a second tripod to use while traveling or walking in the city. Then something wonderful happened when I started researching a tripod for Staci. Staci and I go out shooting together quite often and I typically focus on the big picture while she enjoys shooting macro (she’s a bit nerdy), so we’re always fighting over who gets to use my tripod. I finally decided I needed a second tripod, but I didn’t want to spend another $1200.00 building an identical kit.

Instead, I decided to reach out to my friend Chris Klapheke, owner at Outdoor Photo Gear, to get his thoughts. Chris is an expert in the field and pointed me in the direction of the MeFoto Backpacker tripod kit, so I bought one. At the time, I think all Staci cared about was that it was lightweight (and it helped that it came in 8 different colors). But after using it for nearly seven months I want tell you it’s much more than a pretty tripod. There are some trade-off’s no doubt, the maximum height is 51.2 inches and the ballhead is no Really Right Stuff head, but then again, for the price of the Really Right Head I could buy three of the MeFoto tripods.

Here’s what I loved about the tripod(Staci too):

1. It comes with a very nice carrying case that makes for easy packing and it’s great for trips. We have a lot of clients bring them to our New Orleans Photo workshop.

2. When folded it comes in a little over a foot at 12.6”. Extended it’s 51.2” so it’s super compact.

3. It weighs just 2.6lbs so there are no more excuses for leaving a tripod behind because it’s too heavy, which means no more excuses for blurry photos. 🙂

4. It comes with a ballhead with an integrated leveling bubble and an Arca-Swiss style quick release.

5. Three year warranty and an additional two years if you register it (so register it!).

6. Ok, I’m going to agree with Staci here….the colors are super cool with over eight to choose from. She chose the green.

7. Finally, the price is amazing and very affordable at $139.00.

What could make it better:

1. My biggest complaint with this tripod is the design of the leg locks which you engage and disengage when you change the angle of the legs. They work fine but I would have preferred something a little bit beefier and with legs that would automatically lock in place.

2. I wish it expanded another 5-6 inches, but that’s where the trade-off in weight and size comes into play.

All in all is this is a great tripod for the price; it’s sturdy, compact, and user-friendly. Like I say, owning a tripod is great as long as you’re going to use it. The MeFOTO backpacker tripod takes away your excuses for leaving your tripod home. It’s great for street photography, or when you’re traveling and need to pack light. We both have been really pleased with it.

Finally, if you’re willing to spend a few extra bucks to get a bit more reach with additional weight support then you might want to consider the MeFotto Roadtrip.

Let me know if you have any questions…John

Breaking Into Street Photography

February 28, 2013 by John Batdorff Leave a Comment

Four Seconds in Times Square

Grabbing your camera and taking photos of complete strangers can be downright awkward for most people. It’s pretty common to hear from budding street photographers about their concerns of being too shy or worrying about upsetting unwilling subjects. One of the best ways to build your confidence as a street photographer is to focus on approaching subjects who are already desensitized to us camera-wielding intruders. Great subjects include street performers, artists, street vendors,or people in a parade.

Central Park Street Artist

Another element of street photography is being in the present (aware of your surroundings) and being fast on the draw. When I first started out shooting, I think I missed more shots than I took simply because I wasn't prepared. The key to being ready for the action is having your camera readily accessible and your exposure settings dialed in. When it comes time to press the shutter button, the only thing you should be worrying about is composition and focus. If you have the luxury of time, then and only then, do you fiddle with exposure.

Presidents' Day at the Rockefeller Center in New York City

As you become more experienced and comfortable you’ll want to practice combining exposure compensation, framing and focusing in one fluid motion, but for now, just focus on getting the shot!