NYC Journal 58, and empathy
Hey there again, so there’s a hope that you’d know this, but only seeing these online I’m not so sure, so I want you to, I want to make jarringly clear to you, the imperativeness to know this: that each of these people is an extension of me, and I of them. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, voyeuristic, or parodic, or deriding in these, no shell of sarcasm or hyperbole. No, they are offered with incredible tenderness…unimaginable really. Do you see this? Or at least can you believe this? For all that goes into them, I still worry it is lost b/c of stunted capabilities, on my part of course, not yours, b/c of my limited reach.  Often it feels like a scream-whisper on a windy day, that for all the effort and intent dissipates to bad-noise and then nothing before the count of one-Mississi… Imagine near-tears near my eyes when I work one these, as it’s something much like that.
Apologies for authorial trespassing and arm twisting.
Here you go:
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
photo: ©Graeme Mitchell 2008
graeme – you are very very good at these. how do u not get clocked by some of these people? !!! 🙂 lol but, really, very good work
I see honesty and respect when I look at your work. Thank you for sharing your work with us.
“graeme – you are very very good at these. how do u not get clocked by some of these people? !!! 🙂 lol but, really, very good work”
He has an honest Manitobian scottish face people can’t really be mad at. As much as you might want to, you really can’t fight a canadian. Its not possible.
@jw: laughing out loud!
these keep getting more fantastic. the second picture on this roll it unreal.
Just got back from Berlin where I saw a very good exhibition of Leonard Freed’s work. These remind me of his earlier street work. Great job, this series gets stronger with each post.
Graeme,
Great stuff!!! Keep street photography alive! May I ask what camera and lens you are using? I’m in the process of simplifying my photo gear and can’t decide wether I want to stick with a 28mm or 50mm focal length. I really don’t want to shoot with a 35mm or 40mm. I’m using a 35mm film rangefinder camera. Thanks in advance.
aciel78, there are 2 cameras I use for this stuff and two focal lengths. A Nikon F3HP w/ a 28mm f2.8 AIS is what I use for 90% of it. For the other %10 I use the Konica Hexar AF that has a fixed 35mm lens. This set was with the Nikon + 28mm. That’s the lens for shooting on the street imho, at least in NYC where things are often tight.
I’d like to get a Leica M4 or something, but right now I’d rather put the $ towards film and the free time needed to work on this stuff. Plus, there’s something sadistic about shooting close on the street with a nikon F! Takes a certain sort of discipline.
wow. you must get in REAL CLOSE with the 28mm! That’s gutsy… Especially in manhattan! After a long headache with a newly acquired M6TTL and 28mm lens (film advance faulty which would cost $400+ to fix) I was lucky to be able to return it and focus on a vintage rangefinder and fixed 50mm lens. I’m excited to see the results. I’m trying to be less obsessed about equipment and more focused on the image. You could’ve fooled me with your perspective, some of the shots look like they were taken with a 50! I cannot stress enough how much your pictures move me. Keep up the great work…
-mike
Mike, my fondness the 28mm is a small opinion, and as far as street work, it’s a cliche. So, with that, I say you shoot that vintage 50 tell it falls apart, don’t use anything but it for a year for anything. That’s how you get famous.
All the photographers I know are different in their approach to gear, love or loathe. I for the most part am not interested in it (as long as it works) and prefer the minimum, for reasons ranging from the practical to the superstitious. But it’s a personal thing and there’s no right way, only what feels right and what makes the photos happen.