Trying something new
A week ago I decided to head into Newcastle Upon Tyne for sunrise with the aim for trying out some Street Photography. I have been trying to diversify my skills and was particularly looking for strong shadows at decent angles against which I could try and capture the people of Newcastle going about their morning lives.
I got there about 30 minutes before sunrise and could already see that the morning was going to be a hazy one, so not as much direct light as I wanted. I was looking for angles and anything that jumped out. I think that’s what is wonderful about photography, its so individual!
I am getting more and more into silhouettes at the moment so opened up my shooting with this one which I have deliberately edited to keep the shadows dark and the outline sharp.
I waited a few minutes to get the bird just above the peak of the dome - I was luck because on a quiet morning there is a large Seagull population in Newcastle which really helped me out here, as it was rather chilly and I was losing the feeling in my fingers at this point!
172mm
ISO 640
f/ 6.3
1/200 s
Newcastle has an iconic and well celebrated metro system which is characterised by bright yellow signs and really good access. There are flights of steps leading down into the system all around the central greys monument which provided my next few images as I tried to capture a decent angle:
The yellow light flows out onto the street which I have tried to enhance in the edit a little bit. In hindsight I should have cut off some of the foreground to capture the full monument at the top of the image, but that a part of learning I guess!
Looking up and out I really liked the symmetry and steps, along with the reflections of the railings. Reviewing it now I think I want to go back one night to get an evening shot and really see the difference. Although that streetlight will unbalance it more then so I may have to find another set of stairs!
Writing this blog is proving incredibly useful in the review of my images.
It was around here that I realised my next mistake - I was too early, there were really not many people around for me to try and capture, so I had a look round for somewhere to warm up and came across some wonderful neon in a local shop - can you guess what it specialises in……
I deliberately lightened the shadows so we can see the actual socks in the background. This was such a vibrant colour!
I found a coffee shop in which to shelter and had to snap an image of the counter - notice how the coffee machine, grinder and trays form a barrier between the barista and the customer.
This was a 100% remote purchasing experience, card only and all done via those screens.
It made me appreciate those little exchanges I usually have when ordering a coffee elsewhere!
I continued my travels after a little while and headed down to the train station:
Just look at that roof! This is such a fantastic structure, dating back to 1850 you can imagine those iron ribs of the roof being obscured by steam and smoke from the many trains passing through. With the marble floor and open ends the station is always cool, but full of som many features - I will need to go back and spend a little more time there!
As you walk out of the station and head right you find what must be the smallest park in the North East. This is a park apparently. I guess there is a small path through it, but sure this is more of a large flowerbed?
I was drawn to the ranks of scooters waiting to be used and spread across the city. I always wonder how long it takes for them all to be collected and how often they do so. Either that or they have some automatic homing program and scoot themselves along - now that would be a sight, passengerless scooters whizzing down the roads of Newcastle in the early hours!
My final image was a people shot - I remember when these stairs were installed around 20 years ago. They are a little worn now but are great for framing individuals.
I was spotted by this character who obliged with a direct look at the camera - he joked about wanting paid if it went viral.
I tried a couple of other images with people but am not yet comfortable with getting in people faces and taking pictures of them. I think this will become easier with time, but never go completely away. I believe that I would always need that risk and uncertainty to capture a true image rather than a pose. Something I will definitly keep practicing at!