I like to photograph my dog, rats, flowers, random objects, or just anything I see that I find interesting.
Go on instinct, take some pictures of whatever catches your eye.

I like to take pics of my niece and nephew. I like taking pictures of kids. I have the most patience with them. Also I like to take pictures of myself with different face expressions.

If you haven't seen this on the art thread, these iare pictures of me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmarat/?saved=1

hmm... you know what? it sounds dull but it sounds very fucking useful-- you are right. creativity thrives on limits. when i lived in dc it was easy to find interesting subjects, things i *absolutely* loved and my eyes wanted to eat them. here not so much. but i guess learning to open up to new things is good... which reminds me, i have a friend who lives in a shit town where i just spent 2 years, and he takes the most amazing photos.

i'd like to photograph (some) people, but i think i make them nervous, ha ha.

and thank you for the advice.



yeah, that's my problem! nothing catches my eye! well, i guess if i start looking it will. i'll put myself on a program as ssk suggests. i gotta learn to see this city.

and thanks!!


hm.. maybe i should start photographing nude models-- ha! no, seriously-- not in a pervert way. women are lovely and for some weird reason i associate cities with women. it's as if cities were women, with a personality and physical traits... ok, i'm crazy, i know, but i swear i feel that way. the more i talk the weirder i sound, huh? ha! now that i think about it, there are a few interesting faces i'd like to photograph around here. i'll have to improve my way of talking to people i suppose.

My advice - for what it's worth.

Don't take things at face value - look for reflections, imperfections, details.
Use natural light where possible - preferably not the flat light of the middle of the day, dawn and dusk can make a mediocre subject interesting just by the way the light hits it.

Photgraphing people is tricky nowadays, the general public are much more aware and suspicious of people taking their photo than they were 20 years ago. The trick is to become 'el homre invisible' and blend in with the background. If you stay in the same place for a while people stop seeing you and it's easier to take their picture without them being aware of it.

I've also had some interesting results from just firing off a few shots with the camera still hanging by my side, raising it to eye level is a bit of a giveaway.

Things to photograph in an urban environment - grafitti, weather and it's effect on the urban environment, people using unconventional modes of transport - you basically need to carry your camera with you at all times and always be aware of what is happening around you.

Talking of themes - one I've been thinking about for a few years but have never got round to is 'Feral Faces'. It was inspired by the faces that people pull when they're caught in the rain. Savage looking expressions from pretty innocuous causes.

I really like this picture! The colours give it an industrial feel, when in fact it's just the opposite. Nice.

EMMah you've done it again! These are great!

Thank you Florya.

Thanks :)

yeah i do that for video, it's like, #1, get up at 4am & get ready to shoot, nap for lunch, go shoot again in the afternoon


ah. good plan! i think i'm too conspicuous, but i'll try.


which makes me think my nikon d70s is a bit of a clunky beast. i have a friend who has a tiny leica and wowww.


problem with albuquerque is that it's not very... urban. it's more like a widely extended town. one-storey buildings. i dont mean to whinge, but the architecture here-- wait, i saw this weird buddhist temple the other day. i just need to drive around more.

and re: carrying the camera everywhere-- another vote against my d70s. should i trade it? :confused:


ha ha ha. that would be a tough one to shoot in new mexico-- it's in the chihuahuan desert!

nouh! walk around more! :D

I'm hardly happy shooting in town. I like sunlight and colors on my shots, and buildings block everything.

I like to have some blur in the background or the foreground. And to fight the fact pictures are flat.

Weird angles can be useful on almost every single subject you find.



Well, you can also run the streets of your town looking for plates that could be your Murray Street back cover picture.


That rain on faces idea looks great.

i'd love to! but it's FAAAAAAAARRRRR!!!!

bycicle would be more like it. hmmm....

Don't trade your camera, especially if you're comfortable with the way it works. Part of the secret of interesting photos is being able to adjust your settings quickly.

I'd imagine there are some pretty interesting faces in alberquerque, lots of interesting skin textures. Remember, just because you see these things every day doesn't mean that they won't be interesting to other people who are not familiar with your environment.

Something else to try - if you have a friend who drives, take shots at night from a slow moving car in busy places - outside clubs/sports grounds etc.

well, no, i'm not.

when i "upgraded" from film to digital it all became a mess. i've never been comfortable with that camera. too many fucking settings!

i liked it when all i had to worry about was iso, aperture, & shutter speed.

I like my digital camera, it is the best.