Sweaters? Dark mornings? How did that happen!? Chicago is grudgingly surrendering its idyllic 2024 Summer. As the smell of pumpkin spice crowds out the smell of suntan lotion, those endless sunny days dwindle. It’s getting cooler; time for a change of wardrobe, and in my case, a change of lens.
Darker days need a brighter lens. My Summer Do-It-All lens has been the Fujifilm GF32-64, f/4.0. That is street photography eye candy, covering the 35mm equivalents of 24, 28, 35 and 50mm. But at F/4.0 wide open, it’s a dark choice for darker days. So, time for a change.
I´m celebrating the change of seasons with my new prime lens, a Fujinon GF45, f2.8. Small, as Fuji medium format lenses go, which is to say, small-ish. It´s not a sun bunny prima donna like the Fujifilm GF32-64. At f2.8, shadows play with the diminishing light and those medium format Rembrandt tones warm the chill in the air.
Time to visit the Randolph Street Market, one of Chicago´s largest and quirkiest street flea markets, complete with antiques, vintage clothing, arts, crafts, and plenty of interesting characters to keep a street photographer busy.
I’m a creature of habit. As always is the case for me, I’m most comfortable with equipment I use regularly. A new addition to my kit is always a bit daunting. There is no “Honeymoon Period”, quite the opposite. I generally feel a bit unsure with new equipment. I expect that the first few photo walks will be a little awkward. Remember first dates? Even when your partner could be ‘The One”, there are always going to be a few uncomfortable moments.
So, it is with the GF45. My “keeper” ratio is lower than normal. More photos got tossed than is usual for me. But it´s a good date. We will go out again. There will be new photo walks to take. We will get comfortable with each other and even become friends. I will grow to trust the new lens to create the images that I want. Time is on our side.
Having a relationship with a new lens, like any relationship, means that you learn what works and what doesn’t. Art is a process. Work together and keep an open mind for what is possible. Grow together and find your wonderful images. It´s growth, its joy, and it’s a sure ticket to Medium Street.
Short Stories on Medium Street
Walk and watch. There are small plays all around you on Medium Street, if you learn to see like a street photographer.
Dark Shadows on Medium Street
What better holiday than Halloween to discuss dark photography. An evening dining al fresco. A rainy night stroll. A walk down a
Walking With Vivian
What is street photography? Depends on who you ask! It’s a metaphor, it’s a memory, it’s a frozen moment, it’s a document
Old Friends and a New Lens on Medium Street
Sweaters? Dark mornings? How did that happen!? Chicago is grudgingly surrendering its idyllic 2024 Summer. As the smell of pumpkin spice crowds
Just Breathe On Medium Street
Electric fusion of Mexican Latino rhythms, tacos, tiny magical alebrije dogs and frogs, carved from wood and whimsically painted. Families in flag
Artistic Skinship on Medium Street
Twice a year Chicago hosts the largest “Call to Arms” in the country. The Villain Arts Chicago Tattoo Festival fills a cavernous
Dog Days of Summer
Dogs, dogs, dogs. You meet many interesting people during photo walks and dogs are some of the most interesting “people” that you
A Multi-Cultural Medium
Chicago is a tapestry of cultures and every summer they celebrate in the street. Every weekend, festivals honor neighborhoods, foods, authentic dress,
The Museum Is the Medium
Street photography belongs in the museum, and not just in frames, hung on the walls. Museums are temples of art, color, geometry
The Big Medium
When life is big, bright, and popping with color all around, you’ve just turned onto Medium Street. There is nothing small-format about
Hot and (Medium) Heavy
I just tell myself “He ain’t heavy, he’s my….camera!” walking with my big Fuji in the sweltering heat of a surprise Summer
Oh, The Places You´ll Go, When You Go Medium
You might worry about using a medium format camera for street photography. It´s bigger. It´s out there. You are Out There. Do
Up Close and Personal
I headed out on my photo walk on a beautiful, sunny day in Chicago. The temperature teased near 80 degrees, but, it’s
Blaze Your Trail
The One of a Kind Show happens only twice a year in Chicago. Hundreds of artists, craftspeople, jewelers, nuns selling handmade baked
The Oddities of Medium Format Street Photography
Huge pet Tegu lizards, pierced Goth lithographers and perky midwestern purveyors of bondage paraphernalia recently provided a macabre feast of street photography
“Medium Powdered” Street
Red, yellow, blue, purple and green powder was being painted on, and tossed in the air, by the joyful, dancing crowd at
Getting to Medium Street
The road to medium format street photography, for me, began with traditional street photography. If you “get” street photography, you’re on the
Welcome to Medium Street!
Street Photography in a New Medium and Medium is the New Street Photography! What is Medium Street? Medium Street is somewhere new
