2023_CLondon52_July: Check-In

From the C.London website: "We’ve made it to the halfway mark. How have you been doing thus far? On track with your goals, or do you need some time to reset and recollect? This is the month for just that! Take the time to assess where you are in your goals and either reevaluate or pat yourself on the back. Either way, you’re doing great, keep it going!"

1.  Check-in

The monthly format for the prompts this year has been excellent.  Fortunately, I have been able to keep up and submit on time.  I’ve also enjoyed observing and commenting on others’ submissions and have learned a lot from critiques provided on mine and others’ photos.

My favorite shot for this challenge thus far is the one of Joe & Ziggy as it represents one of my favorite genres; photographing strangers.  This photo was made for January (Setting Goals) - Artistic Fears and can be viewed here:  https://www.jeffmarcowitz.photography/Collections/CLondon-52/2023-CLondon-52/i-rXPDLnZ

My least favorite shot is Amsterdam Centraal, taken for May (Abstract) - Movement.  While I attempted to get a story across about the prevalence of bicycles in Amsterdam, I shot it with the wrong gear and tried to make up for it with some hokey post-processing.  Rather than recreate that shot (since I’m no longer in Amsterdam), this photo, shot in Montreal, is a bit more graphic in nature, still includes people & movement and more represents my style.

Outremont

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4 1/160  40mm equiv ISO 1600

Photographed 7/2/23

2.  Reevaluating Goals

My two goals for 2023 are to 1) continue getting more comfortable photographing strangers, and 2) being more abstract and less documentary in my photography.

With respect to the first goal, I continue to seek out opportunities to engage with strangers as well as make candids of strangers in public and then post these images to my blog/website.  With respect to the second goal, I am happy with the results when I attempt more abstract compositions yet I need to be more mindful of working this genre with more intent.

This photo represents my intent of making an IRL photo with an abstract bent.  Shot on the beach in New Buffalo, Michigan.

The Crashing

Olympus TG-4 @ f8 1/320 4.5mm (25mm equiv) ISO 100

Photographed 7/21/23

3.  Reimagine a Previous Submission

March (Community) - Re-creation of a Peer’s Photo

Abandoned - Kapaa, Kauai, HI

Selected this photo because of the colors, distinctive environment and a straight-on composition.  You can view it here:  https://www.jeffmarcowitz.photography/Collections/CLondon-52/2023-CLondon-52/i-hX2scsd

Saint-Louis Square

Montreal, Canada

The reimagined photo also has bright colors, a distinctive environment and a straight-on composition.

Not Abandoned

Sony A7 IV @ f5.6 1/800  27mm  ISO 100

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Photographed 7/1/23

4.  Compositional Guidelines

Montreal Jazz Festival

Montreal, Canada

Rule of Thirds and Complementary Colors are the compositional guidelines employed in this image.

Mereba

Apple iPhone 12 Pro @ f2 1/60 6mm (106mm equiv) ISO 320

Photographed 7/2/23