Maybe I was bit too blunt in my previous post.
My opinion about daily photoblogs is (except the fact that it's my opinion, and who am I to judge?) that if it's a stage to share your works with visitors – for their comments and criticism – You should also take in consideration the quality of the uploaded works.
There are different kinds of blogs; some tend to the artistic side others to more of a personal side. Reading your comments (specifically Asaf Karagila, Glenn, Daina, Mahbubur Rahman, Xavi Heredia and the Anonymous Lisa) – Made me realize that my words might have offended few of you and I sincerely apologize for that.
I never meant to hint that each photo I upload here is a piece of priceless art, but I do strive to choose the best photo I can for the weekly (now, most of the time it's bi-weekly) post. This weekly selection process of a photo, for me, is not less important that taking one.
Now, next topic – A real story about how few seconds changed my photo approach and made me spend few thousands shekels.
Imagine – Early sunny morning. Big crowd stands near a late to be opened bank. People grumble at the closed doors.
In the middle of all this fuss (just next to me) stands a guy - About 45 years old, unshaved, uncombed greasy hair, a hypnotizing smile with a mixture of black and gold teeth, dirty slippers, dirty pair of torn jeans and a 'grayish used to be whitish" t-shirt with a big "34" in front. So far, nothing unusual.
Suddenly. A shout from the back and our shining hero turns towards the caller. He raises his hands in welcome and a new figure approaches. A man about 40 with spotless white shoes, neatly ironed white pants, white blazer, cleanly shaved and with hair gel in his black locks. Perfect white teeth. And most importantly - a white t-shirt underneath his opened jacked with a big "35" number on it.
I though I was going to faint. I felt a huge bubble of laugh building up inside me while in the same time I felt like crying because I didn't had any kind of light capturing device on me. The meeting of these "versions" was a painful sight for a photographer without a camera.
On that date, I've made a promise to myself – From this day forward thy shell never roam the streets without a camera.
DLSR is way too bulky for this, so got myself a Ricoh GX200.
What missed frame caused you to curse the gods for forgetting your camera?
There has been 33 Responses to 'Kiss' so far
Craig Ferguson (@cfimages) says:
Missed frames, hmm. One I remember was in Goa, India about 12 years ago. Wandered down from the famous banyan tree above Arambol Beach towards the beach close to sunset. Classic orange sky and a silhouetted woman in sari squatting on the rocks at the edge of the water. Even though it's very cliched, there was something about that particular scene that still stays in my mind today.
Mahbubur Rahman says:
lol - no offense taken :) its just different strokes for different folks :) - in fact, I follow your approach as well, I just wanted to point out that its not the only approach :)
Yes, definitely had those "wishihaddacamera" moments - its a good thing I have the iphone now with me all the time - not as good as a real camera - but works for the most part...
Great pic - Its hard to get these shots without them noticing...
JamesD says:
Slightly off topic, I think your photo here would be even better if it was converted into black and white. I think the bike and the bags would be a bit less of a distraction without colour and would emphasise the couple and the cross. Still a great shot as it is, but that's just my opinion.
Back on topic and I haven't gone anywhere without a camera (sometimes two - digital and film) for about 2 years. It just feels weird being without one.
TIM TOPPLE says:
I've definitely had a few this month. But I try to erase the image from my memory, so upsetting is it to me when the perfect freeze-time moment is missed. Also, it's often due to not being quick enough - i.e. not having camera in my HAND - having a camera with me still wasn't good enough! Thing is, I always have my iphone, so a 'picture' is always possible, maybe just not a print-worthy one
Glenn says:
Great capture, Ilan. Timing was right on.
And I hope that I didn't sound like I was one of those who was offended - I wasn't. I enjoy your post almost as much as I enjoy your photos; they challange me. Thanks.
The one time I didn't have a camera was the one and only time a Maryland Black Bear ran across the road in front of my car and I almost hit it. Big one it was and fascinating to look at up close. Have had a camera ever since and have never seen another one. Go figure :-)
beanow says:
Great framed. Nice street shot...sweet shot :)
daina says:
Hi Ilan- Why would you need to apologize for your opinion? I did not take offence I simply disagreed with your statement and tried to point out a few differences. I disagreed with you discouraging bloggers to post everyday because it is a discipline that has served me well and I am sure it serves others as well also.
I realize you have little time with school and work where as some have a lot more time to devote to photography - as Mr. Rahman says each to his own and all our circumstances are not the same. I also disagree with your implication that if one posts daily one is not considering the visitors. I for one love to have my morning coffee and see a new photo daily (if possible) from my favorite blogs.
Asaf Karagila says:
Firstly let me assure you that there was no offense taken.
Since mid-August I was thinking a lot about why do I bother with posting photos online. I'm rarely getting any worthy critique and most of my followers either miss the point completely or fail to see beyond technical details. Not all of them, of course. And there's Jeri @ d-spot which does a wonderful job, still there are things that don't get to the forum or not get to the blog (or posted in different context in each one).
After much debate, I realized that I'm looking for someone that would for a single moment say "I know how he feels." because photography is my therapy - and I believe that it's a therapeutic tool for many people - and I use it to express myself in ways that I can't always put into words.
Once you realize that about your drive to take photos, that you don't want to document the world, and you don't want to create something beautiful and wonderful. You just want to speak up and say something about yourself, about your life, about the world as you see it... once you realize that, it's harder to see a daily blog and say something about quality of the photography, it just something that transcends that.
Moreover, in this day and age, shooting with film AND being dirt poor requires you to reconsider the frame before shooting it. Then it requires you to reconsider it again and then plan it slightly better. Then shoot it once. That increases tenfold times when you switch to medium format and your rolls shorten from 38 exposures to 12.
So to conclude my point about it, I did not take any offense in your previous blog post. In fact it made me think and rethink the quality of my photography and whether or not I'm happy about it and which ways I want to improve it.
But I also think that you sorta missed one of the aspects of photography and photo-blogging. You may notice that I don't really publish my blog, I don't add it to the lists or contests and awards or whatnot. I tend to choose more carefully the people I discuss it with in completely interactive means (i.e. real life, messengers, etc) because it's a peeping window into my soul. I don't like everyone to see it, but at the same time - I want some people to see it.
You may also notice that apart from the first post of my on-going series Slices of Infinity no blog post had any significant text within it.
This marks the major difference between our blogs:
Your blog is about photography. My blog is about myself, where I speak in photos. In atmosphere. In mood swings.
Both the approaches are legit, but differ in many ways.
As to this blog's topic,
I used to be very sad when I miss a photo, then when I switched to film I started taking my camera almost everywhere, and slowly I realized that I dislike photographing people most of the time, and I dislike shooting during the day just as well. Slowly I realized that it's okay to miss frames, even the ones that will never come back. The important thing is to notice them and be able to say exactly what you'd do if you had a camera (I'd take this camera, with this lens, and this film, which I'd expose like this and from here and there) so when you are ready to take those photos - you will be ready with an instinct and not just a camera.
In my opinion that is a bit more crucial, especially in street photography.
Jeroen Berkenbosch says:
Haha great story. And yes, I've missed a lot of photos either because I a) didn't have a camera, b) was driving around in the car or c) was just too much of a pussy to make the photo.
Since a while ago though, I'm taking my old analog SLR with a 50mm/f1.8 lens with me every where I go. Made some cool shots I think, although the film isn't developped yet.
Tatiana says:
Bel instantané ! Nice picture ;)
Ry says:
I'm the dork who carries my DSLR with me everywhere, however...I'm not a huge fan of whipping it out on the subway. Mostly because it's a little obvious and the scene changes when people see it coming.
Perhaps it's time for me to invest in a pocket cam...
Annephotography says:
Yes, always have the camera with us !!!! I telling me that every day ;) !!! I love this pic, the instant is so well capture, they are alone in the world ... a very sensitive capture !!
Jerome says:
Every photographer will have a story about that one missed frame that made him swear never to go out without a camera ever again :)
For me there are a few occasions, none of them truly priceless moments but the one I remember most vividly was when I was coming out of the metro once. I was going up the stairs, and then I noticed in a little glass window on the left an old woman looking straight ahead with such a focused look, it's impossible to describe. She looked out of place, both physically and mentally, as if waiting for someone. I was transfixed and couldn't think, instinctively I reached for my pocket but I didn't have my camera that day.
Liang says:
this is a beautifully framed shot! nice timing. =]
a.h.lex says:
What do you do in a situation in which one has forgotten his camera? I can only say for myself that I realize the situation, they illuminate for myself and I can enjoy it later. Ultimately, we must also deal with such amazing scenes left something on the streets. So take a Ricoh, a G10 or the like and hold down the scenery, or rejoice for yourself and the next time it was clever.
Great picture, what you show us here anyway. Good composition and feelings.
Have a nice day, a.h.lex.
Doum says:
Yep, original finding... I guess I'll never entered their privacy and ... Then my girlfriend would have what I photograph! God thank you, other photographers have dared. Bonne semaine.
bawgaj says:
nice simetric scene ;]
Anna says:
Sweet Ilan.
Anna :)
Anne says:
Indeed, trés jolie.
John Maslowski says:
Lovely capture Ilan, glad they didn't notice you, it really adds to the wonderful romantic atmosphere. Beautiful setting, the trees and the stone work create kind of a Romeo and Juliet scene. My personal feelings about a photo blog is, I post an image that has special significance to me. Sometimes that image might require a lot of time due to my post processing. Therefore, I usually take about 1 week to post a new image. Use to post more often when I first started photoblogging. However, it started to put more pressure on me and the fun out of it. I enjoy photography immensely and with a passion. I enjoy posting an image that is totally satisfying to me and that usually takes me a week due to my personal and job commitments. Also, it might take several days of post processing or a week to get out and start taking some photos. Anyway, it's all a matter of personal preference and I know some photographers that are more energetic and post some real fine images daily. Like your site for both your images and the debates you seem to generate. Take care.
Fritsch says:
What a perfect framing & eye, Ilan. A brilliant scene, your colours fit so well & leave me speechless once more. A great composition, a great photograph, buddy! All the best & safe travels, Fritsch.
Kamal says:
There are too many priceless encounters to share, and sadly I didn't have a camera with me at those times. And there are some times even when I have a camera with me, I suddenly freak out to aim the camera at the subjects. And these moments just pass by. There's always the 'photographic memory' though. Hehe.
lasiate says:
ilfaut espérer qu'au pied de la croix ce n'est pas le dernier baiser
emillamola says:
Viva Barcelona.
Has aprovechado muy bien el viaje a Barcelona.
Un saludo
Enric
TP@Photoskiasi.com says:
Nice moment you got here!
Greg says:
Hi Ilan,
Today I saw your site for the first time. I was very impressed! Your photos are very good in my opinion. And this specific photo is also great. In street photography I am always facing the dilemma - what if the people in the situation that I photograph don't want to be photographed? Do you have an answer for that?
By the way our biographies are similar in some ways... I also came from Russia to Israel at young age, and I also have a photo-blog, different in aim than yours but still ... :) Would be glad if you could check it out!
Have a nice day, and I am sure you'll see more of my comments on your future posts.
bluechameleon says:
I not only love the images you post, but I love reading your text...which is equally as poetic as the snippets of real life you offer up. So, thank you for that :)
My opinion, I do agree, I think this image would also look good in black and white, but then that's just me.
It's moments like this that make me not lose faith in 'love' and the meaning of the word. Perhaps it really does exist somehow.
Nice camera you got to carry around with you Ilan. I agree, a DSLR is too big and bulky to have with you constantly, and I carry a point a shoot for those not to be missed moments.
Anonymous
beautyful scene and very nice lighting
http://krikis.aminus3.com
Pere Chuliá says:
Bonita imagen de la ciudad y de la vida en ella. Buen trabajo. Saludos.
jelb says:
Bonsoir,
A moving image..Beautiful composition..Good timing..:-)..Bravo!..
LightningPaul says:
I understand what it is to miss a possible great image. I trying to take my camera with me more and more. And I'm leaving my old(er) one in the trunk of the car, just in case. Thanks for the story.
Reiner says:
Lovely street scenery, wich you have very well spotted.
gentse koppen says:
What a great find. A moment that counts.
Keep up the good work
Geert
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