Their Own World

Their Own World

May 11, 2012. "Their Own World." Photo 5 of 5 of the Snap! Orlando Series.

In the fourth photo of this series, a young couple on a Friday evening date were pretending to watch a Marc Gouby street photography movie at Snap! Orlando.

Somehow, the series of photos seemed incomplete without this shot bringing it to a happy ending.

The Marc Gouby "Sleepers" and "Commuters" display was excellent. Ultimately, though, street photography is about people, and there is no more important person than the one who is next to you.

Leica X1. 24.0 mm. 1/30. f/2.8. ISO 1600. LR 2.

Date Night

Date Night

May 11, 2012. "Date Night." Taken at the Snap! Orlando photography exhibit in downtown Orlando, Florida.

Picture 4 of 5 from the Snap! Orlando series is a continuation of yesterday's post, this time focusing in on just one couple watching a street photography movie by Marc Gouby.

Something about the girl in the picture reminded me of one of my favorite Salvador Dali paintings, "Girl's Back," except refreshingly less lonely in this shot.

For me, this shot is a celebration of the awkward moments when you first start falling in love; the days when the highlight of your Friday evening is pretending that you're engrossed in a documentary film, while the someone next to you does exactly the same, just so that moment won't have to end.

This photo sets the stage for tomorrow's fifth and final shot of the series. I hope that you see a little of yourself in the faceless couple and return tomorrow for the conclusion.

Leica X1. 24.0 mm. 1/30. f/2.8. ISO 1600. LR 2.

Through the looking glass

Through the looking glass

May 11, 2012. "Through the Looking Glass." Photo 3 of 5 of the Snap! Orlando series.

If you were to go through the door of the melancholy couple from yesterday's post, this bright room is what you'd find.

On the left is a series of Tokyo street photographs by Marc Gouby, part of the "Ginza Line-Tokyo Project." Straight ahead, a video portion of the project is projected against the wall.

In front of that wall, a story will develop over the next five minutes of life. To be continued in photos 4 and 5.

Leica X1. 24.0 mm. 1/30. f/2.8. ISO 1600. LR 2.

All the world's a stage

All the world's a stage

May 11, 2012. "All the world's a stage." Photo 2 of 5 from the 2012 Snap! Orlando photography exhibit series.

Photo #1 of this series focused on the timeless instant aspect of photography. Photo #2 focuses on the beautiful silence.

When you see the scene above, what sounds do you picture? Quiet whispers? The hum of an air conditioner? Gentle echoes?

The light touching the sensor is more serene than the reality. Just behind the red curtain, a group of musicians loudly banged an African drum piece over a hundred sushi-eating socialites sipping drinks and laughing loudly.

I did not want a picture of the drum beaters or the martini sniffers. I wanted a picture of people like me; the ones whose souls seek tranquil open spaces and meaningful moments with just one person, or perhaps a few.

There are a few stylistic elements in this shot that come up from time to time in my favorite photos. Silhouetted people against a contrasting background. Light reflecting off of foreground surfaces. The color red.

People walking through doorways intrigue me as subjects. Light sources often differ dramatically from one room to the next, naturally illuminating a person in transition. It's a powerful metaphor of change.

Watch people walk through doorways in social spaces. You'll notice that they often aren't looking forward. They glance longingly at the things and people they're leaving behind. It's a semi-conscious sort of melancholy that we probably all fall victim to from time to time. Remember the wife of Lot.

The title for this post is from Shakespeare's As You Like It. I found it particularly appropriate due to the real action in life occurring behind the stage, along with the likely possibility that the city of Orlando was named after a character in that play.

The stage is set. The actors are in place. Photos 3-5 of my Snap! Orlando series will take you through the doorway of the melancholy couple into the bright realm of two young lovers oblivious to the world around them. Stay tuned...

Leica X1. 24.0 mm. 1/30. f/2.8. ISO 800. LR 2.

Shadow Puppets

Shadow Puppets

March 16, 2012. Shadow Puppets.

Have you ever had the concert seats right behind that one couple who wouldn't sit down. For hours?

Listening to Peter White play at the Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival this past Friday night, I found myself right behind that couple. Nice folks. Just standing in the same spot for hours, and a bit too opaque.

I started taking a few shots to entertain myself.

After shooting one or two, I realized that someone a row or two behind me was even more bored than I was and was using the gentleman's bright white chinos as his private theatre screen for a shadow puppet show.

Ironically, this happened the same day that a woman in Longwood near the Wekiva State Park was bit in the butt by a black bear.

Note: No shadow bears or white men in dockers were hurt taking this shot.

Leica X1. 24.0 mm. 1/30. f/2.8. ISO 1600. LR 2.

Stolen Kiss

Stolen Kiss

March 16, 2012. Stolen Kiss.

The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, featuring outdoor art displays and live concerts, is an Orlando-area cultural tradition.

This past Friday, as Peter White played jazz guitar in the background, a couple got up out of their lawn chairs and started dancing.

I happened to be doing an initial light metering and focus test shot right as he snuck a kiss.

Leica X1. 24.0 mm. 1/15. f/2.8. ISO 1600. LR 2.

Phone Date

Phone Date

February 3, 2012. Phone Date. A young couple each seem more focused on their phones than on each other on a romantic Friday night in Winter Park, Florida.

Leica X1. 24.0 mm. 1/125. f/2.8. ISO 1600. LR 2.

Chaperone

Chaperone

December 16, 2011. Chaperone. A couple +1 walk hand-in-hand down Cuna Street in St. Augustine, Florida.

 Leica X1. 24.0 mm. 1/15. f/2.8. ISO 1600. LR 2.