Human Interest Photography-Story of The Day.

One of the most important success factor in the shooting 'Human Interest" is the photographer's ability to break the ice and blend with environment to be photograph.To break the ice,I always come into their midst in order to see it and talk I ask many relevant questions.'Human Interest" is live and it no less important to make many friends.

Encik Sepawi at his weekend market stall.

My human interest story is about Encik Sepawi.In the year 2009 working as a gardener.cleaner and bush cutter who come to work place with his rusty old bicycle and simply faded white t-shirt and same old pant almost everyday.As you can see from the picture above Encik Sepawi is now a very successful weekend street vendor .According to him all his stock such as cake are prepare by his wife and children.I transport all my good with my new Van .My customers mostly tourist from West Malaysia & Sabah who prefer to buy Sarawak Cake Lapis.
I love to hear successful stories of the local people like Sepawi,there are motivating when we hear of other people's hard work paying off.When we share these successful stories others can also learn from them.

From Encik Sepawi Stall.

I see this how the photograph 'Human Interest' you will appear more alive.

Street Photography:Let your images speak up!.

Shoot in Kuching.

So my obsession with street will continue, as it is an obsession, you have to be totally consumed by it, for it is a genre all by itself, and hopefully I can continue to share my passion and views of the world as I see it, and also share the way in which I do what I do with others.

 So the danger of street photography…..Someone takes offence to you having taken their picture….Well everything has its hazards, and this is street photography’s,

 I never ask to take an image, or influence the events happening around me, it either happens or it doesn’t, I either capture it or I don’t, if I do great, if not…Well that’s the game that is street photography, the image that got away, the image that is left out there to be caught another day, when the time is right, it drives me to go out, and keep looking.

 So my style…..I’m not sure I could label it, I just try to capture what I see, and how I see it, the uniqueness of people, and what they do, the individuality, the strangeness, the emotion, the scenes we create by our mere interaction with those we know, those we don’t, and the inanimate objects around us day to day.  I don’t really follow or try to emulate the greats of yesterday or the greats of today, my style is my style,

 Do you like Street Photography?.Find them by click this link Thelonelywalkers' Blog

Kuching City- Urban Street Style.

I may not know them, but the most stylish people in the world are the people that no one knows. I always say like, we're not the best dressed, but there are so many people out there that can do it just as good and even better.

 It’s not street style in the genuine sense.  I shoot people doing everyday things, stepping out of the grocery store, walking to work, out for lunch, etc.

 There are a wide array of reasons that people love big size hats. If you have a big head, you may need a large hat to fit it. Some people, however, just like the style of having a big hat, as they can be great fashion statements. They can also do a good job protecting you from the sun.That what the above picture tell you ,she wearing hat.What is street photography for me?
It’s all about a feeling and flavour, the peculiarity of its corners and narrow streets.meet people with style.

A moment.  Something unique that catches my eye.  Style is important, but more so a personality that shines through.  I’m actually somewhat annoyed by the whole ‘fashion show’ I don't shoot modelling either .

I like to photograph people the way they are, beautiful but also human and perfectly imperfect. I think streets have an identity to show as well… the way light crosses the streets, the walls and ground, how streets welcome people and host them, how that street portrays and shows the identity of the city itself.

  I found actual street style. So candid, these people don’t even know they’ve been spotted. I look for the atmosphere.This  people just happen to be in the frame.

The Street Stylish.

Like most other forms of photography, shooting Street Style takes time, practice, and a certain level of technical know-how to get really great looking photos. Personally, I’m still something of a novice at it myself,I'm still in learning process.

Self Image.

Shoot Everyday
Or at least as much as you can.  If you really want to improve your Street Style pictures, the most important thing you can do is to actually go out and shoot. See which photos you like or don’t like, learn from them, and apply what you’ve learned the next time you’re out shooting. Street Style is all about practice, practice, practice. The point is that eventually, when you edit your photos, you’ll find the ones you do like, get rid of the ones you don’t like, and you’ll start to train your eye towards developing a personal style within the context of Street Style (which, admittedly, has more limitations inherent to it than just about any other style of photography).

Photographer Street Style.

 Sometimes the best Street Style photos are the really candid ones

Street in Kuching City.

 It is very difficult to take high-quality candid street-style photos on the streets.In fact, capturing amazing candids is one of the reasons I most look forward to shooting street stylein my local home town.

Well, I guess the above-image the dressing styles can offer you a lot reference on clothing.  Have you ever thought of being dressed like this?.
 So if you enjoy street fashion or street photography.  Give it a try!  You'll be glad you did.

Street Photography-Hunting Down The Moment.

Location:Waterfront @ Kuching in Sarawak. Photo by Awang 2011.

One of the exciting things about photography is the anticipation of ‘the shot’ – hunting down the moment in time that is worth recording and being there with your camera poised when it happens.

India Street Mall in Kuching.

 No genre of photography creates this anticipation like ‘Street Photography’; moving with the crowd, ever alert to the signs of human activity, watching and waiting: to see and not to be seen.

 Street photography has been a passionate past time for many since the discovery of photography. The very first fixing of a photographic image  of a person was a street scene.

Everyone has the potential to be a street photographer. Not everyone is game.
This is my approach. It doesn’t suit everyone and there may be some ethical questions I am answerable to, but I’m sure you can weed out the bits you like from the borderline criminal behaviour of an obsessive street photographer such as myself.

Photo by Awang 2011.

Irrespective of your ‘rights’ there is the question of etiquette. That also varies from culture to culture and person to person. I have my own personal approach (which requires the wearing of a good pair of running shoes and a more than ignorant look on my face) but that may not suit everyone. Ultimately, discretion, common sense and personal safety, are the prime considerations. It may not always be about ‘getting the shot.’

Photo by Awang 2011.

Talking about place of the shot.The usual venue is where people gather. ‘Street’ can be interpreted in many ways and might include alleys, shopping malls, shops and cafes, parks, buses and trains, market places, in fact, anywhere you will find the structures and architecture of civilisation with the people who frequent them.

My favourite places are shopping malls (open and closed), High Street in small towns and villages, and the back streets of big cities.Just be careful if you catch someone doing something they shouldn’t be doing. That’s when it can get ugly.

Telephoto Street Photography.

Whether or not the photographer uses a telephoto or a wide angle also depends on if they plan to ask the person's permission to take the shot. Chances are you are not going to ask permission with a telephoto because whatever inspired you to take the photo in the first place occurred at some distance from the subject. If you were inspired to get closer to the subject before taking the shot, then it doesn't matter what lens you used.

Shoot with telephoto 70-300mm @ India Street in Kuching.

 

 Many photographer and experts like to say that you should use wide angle lenses because they require being close to the subject. This makes street shooting a “fair” game. It seems dishonest to use a telephoto by hiding from a distance.However, we are photographers and our goal is to make great images. We are not in a contest with people on the street or with each other. The choice of lenses is governed by artistic considerations, feasibility, or convenience, not by some superficial notion of machismo.Often I use lenses from wide to short telephoto, including small zoom. On occasion I have fun with my  telephoto 70-300mm.

Shoot from distance using telephoto 70-300mm @ waterfront in Kuching.

70-300mm telephoto @ India Street in Kuching.

 

 Long lenses can flatten an image. The point of the candid shot it to invite the viewer into the reality of the subject. A wide angle draws the viewer into the photo and makes them almost a part of it. This is subtle, but can often be the difference between a good shot and a great one.

The boss reading newspaper @ old part of Kuching City shophouses..Shoot with wide angel lens from Lumix LX3.

 

 Use any lenses that you think are most appropriate for your situation.  Don’t concern yourself with artificial rules that many candid street photography experts try to push.
Happy Photographing....

Attend Local Events and Practice Your Street Photography.

Local events such as festivals, parades, rally, demonstrations are some of the best way to practice and hone our skills as photographers, whether you are a an amateur, hobbyist, or a professional. Events are fun, exciting and can provide wonderful picture-taking opportunities.

Photograph by Awang "The Political Party Rally in Sarawak"

Photograph by Awang "Political Rally".

Photograph by Awang "Political Party Rally".

 Here are some helpful tips in photographing local events :
Do a Research : Find some of the events that are scheduled for that day. Second is of course local newspapers, magazines, local tv news.
Prepare your gear :  Making sure your gear is ready is a priority. In events I usually bring two camera bodies and two lenses, a wide angle lens and a telephoto lens. Check your batteries and make sure they are fully charged, make sure your memory cards are all formatted and in proper working condition.
DDay : Once you get to the event, just blend in, let everyone know that you are taking photograph. Now, to tell the story, you need to be observant, focus on participants, look for facial expressions, details, colors. You also need to learn to relax and not be overwhelm of the crowd and actions that are happening around you.
I hope you found this little tip helpful.

Colourful Spices That Make Great Photos.

An explosion of colour can make a great opportunity for a photograph and, as any traveler will probably know, a table full of spices in a shop or souk can provide that opportunity. Here are a few photographs that demonstrate the fun of finding a table full of photographic opportunities.
Location of shoot India Street in Kuching,Sarawak.

Street photography in the eyes of Malaysian.

Street photography is a hobby I pick up to sustain my interest in photography. I take pictures for living, and there are times, when picking up the camera is a chore to me.Street photography has become a therapeutic indulgence, when I go out there to the enjoy the people, food and places - eddieputera.
And below is another wise word from eddieputera that inspire/inspirit me most.
If those are too complicated to achieve at the moment, than capture the everyday life. As opposed to photojournalist who were given tasks and topics to report, street photographers has millions of elements on the streets that they can capture and smile about. An old lady crossing the street with shopping bags, capture her pain and endure. A conversation between a disgruntled teen ager and policeman can make a good picture. The frantic sight of a young lawyer in black suits trying to hail a cab to the courtroom. A mamak showing his flattering skills of 'tarik'ing a glass of tea on the streets. Take that camera out and shoot these things. Tourist haggling with street vendors. Ah, so many things lah, just grab the camera and head for the streets. Open your eyes, be observant, take your time before click click, open your heart and most importantly, enjoy your outing.-eddieputera

what's the difference between shooting a sleeping old man and a beautiful rich looking woman walking down the street? Or for that matter, anything in the slums of xxxx, where poverty is a lens cap away? But wait, don't the all depict life on the streets, regardless of their status or well being? Don't we as street photographers have that every right to capture every bit of it as we see fit? Point is, shoot what you like, but don't tell others what they should not be shooting...haha, i guess this comment is from the hard core Malaysian street photographer.
I like...:)

I read a photography forum recently Thread: Street Photography.The moderator did not allowed the forumers to upload a kind of some street beggars,homeless peoples and people sleeping down the street.
Well,quite an interesting discussion going on here about photographing beggars on the street. Generally, I don't believe anyone should be telling you what to photograph and what not to. However, it is worth considering one's motives for shooting beggars.The homeless have long been accepted as one of the classical subjects for street photography. Some of the earlier photographers photographed to highlight social issues, others for personal acclaim and others just to fit within the conventions of what they have seen done before.
Read here from ROBIN WONG Portrait of a Homeless.
Do you know that some forumers would comment "I'll sue you for taking my picture when I'm asleep and posting it for public display because I'm a freak. What was your intent when you shot that picture?
I guess everyone sees things differently. As far as I am concerned, I feel that the photographer is showing different scenes from street life. At no point did I feel that the person in picture 7 was freakish in anyway.

To me he is a part of this world, living his life in his own way as do the other people in the other pictures. To me the photographer has documented street scenes which show the variations in human life. How would a picture of a sleeping beggar (assuming the person above ) be "wrong" while a picture of a sleeping taxi driver (so to speak) be "okay" hehehe....

He may or may not like his picture being taken, just as any other person may or may not like his/her picture being taken. But to me, avoiding taking the picture of someone like this is akin to ostracizing them from society. I mean if I am a beggar I could ask the photographer, "So you only take picture of rich people and not people like me ?"...So.what say you....
So many things lah,,,,, just grab the camera and head for the streets. Open your eyes, be observant, take your time before click click, open your heart and most importantly, enjoy your outing.Be yourself & establish a personal photographic style.

Attend Local Events and Practice Your Street Photography.

Local events such as festivals, parades, rally, demonstrations are some of the best way to practice and hone our skills as photographers, whether you are a an amateur, hobbyist, or a professional. Events are fun, exciting and can provide wonderful picture-taking opportunities.

Winner photo ..photo credit to www.financetwitter.com

 One good example of practice street photography is at 'BERSIH' rally in Kuala Lumpur on 09 JULY 2011 .To read more about what is 'BERSIH 2.0 rally you can log on to this website  :::
The most electrifying moment only happen in the city  

Rally by the political party in Sarawak during the State Election 2011.

Prepare your gear :  Making sure your gear is ready is a priority. In events I usually bring two camera bodies and two lenses, a wide angle lens and a telephoto lens. Check your batteries and make sure they are fully charged, make sure your memory cards are all formatted and in proper working condition.

Simple Rally by local apposition political party in Sarawak year 2010(Malaysia Day).

Local event rally in Kota Samarahan.

Once you get to the event, just blend in, let everyone know that you are taking photograph. Now, to tell the story, you need to be observant, focus on participants, look for facial expressions, details, colors. You also need to learn to relax and not be overwhelm of the crowd and actions that are happening around you.I hope you found this little tip helpful. If you have any street photography tip, I would be happy to hear them. Feel free to leave a comment below.
Thank You.