I've spent my past two weekends working on these photos for the Getty Master Class inspired by the works of Japanese photographer Mikiko Hara as noted by my last entry. I've gone through 4 rolls of film already and working on my next 2 rolls this weekend. My advisors will be meeting with representatives from the museum so I, along with my fellow colleagues, should be getting more news in the next coming days and I'll be able to detail some more stuff in another update.
One of my favorite styles of photography has always been street photography. I loved the chaos of it all. Having no control of the situation and or (arguably) the subject. The simple act of documenting (city) life is what has lead to me in joining Los Angeles Pierce College's newspaper publication and seeking a career in photojournalism. It was only natural for me. Other than simply documenting, there was no other reason for me do go out and shoot some street work; that when I do go, I went out with little purpose.
Having dedicated much of my free time to produce work for this class made me reconsider my approach to street photography. I used to go out and shoot whatever caught my eye at that very moment but I find myself waiting for my shot more now. Stalking my subjects and waiting for that peak and decisive moment even though I'm trying to emulate Mikiko by not looking through my viewfinder. Working with and on film has made me more patient and careful how I shoot off my frames. I had the same rational with my digital work because I cut my teeth in film first but I no longer feel pressured or hurried to get a photo that's forced.
With some of the photos that I've taken for this class, I'm quite pleased at the results I'm getting. How the photographs seem to flow more; that everything works.
I turned in two more rolls to my lab today and I can't wait to see the results from those. They're black and white this time. Different than Mikiko as she works on color negative so it'll be interesting. I also got my hands on some new color negative film and I plan on going out again this weekend to shoot more for the class with this film.