Politia

A policeman in Bucharest near the "Arcul de Triumf" briefly takes his eye off the traffic to pose for a photo.

Kickflip

A skater performs an elegant kickflip in Bäckeranlage, Zürich. I've frequently found that moving objects, especially those travelling towards you at speed, are a focusing nightmare even with the most responsive of lenses. Anticipating where the skater will be and pre-focusing on the ground just below that space got me slightly closer to a sharp image at f1.8.

Mother's Day

  With Mother's Day in full bloom across a number of countries (including Switzerland), I settled for a more predictable theme this week.

With only a 50mm lens to play with (which doesn't get you very close), I stuck two magnifying glasses together and hovered them in front of my camera to get the macro feel to the shot.  It required a bit of experimentation to get the shot right, but I fully recommend the approach to anyone who wants to take close up shots on a budget.

A Storm Brewing

Looking out across the Zürisee as a very angry storm passed overhead, quickly covering the entire lake.

An Oasis of Calm

Taken last Sunday night with only an hour to go before midnight, the deadline after which my 52/50 project would have met an unwelcome and premature end.

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Swinging

Reaching for the treetops during a short break in the weather, somewhere between Selnau and Giesshübel in Zürich.

A Glass of Wine

This particular shot involved two sheets of white paper (below and behind) and two external flash units (although a bright light would have worked). Its always better to fire the flash at the background so that it reflects the light, rather than at the glass itself, if you want to reduce the distracting reflections in the glass.

I found it quite difficult to pour and fire at the same time and I definitely recommend a remote shutter release if you have one! I also opted to cover the flash units in transparent bags to protect them from the red wine :)

On a slightly different note, A Good Eye Photography now has a new home with an improved and altogether more slick user-interface. Please feel free to have a look and tell me what you think!

Singing in the Snow

Despite the snow, most of Zürich seems to be in fairly good spirits. Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and an enjoyable holiday!

Street Portrait

There are two main schools of thought when it comes to taking street portraits, those who ask for permission prior to taking the shot and those who don't.  The latter will always argue that the element of realism is lost if permission is sought, as most willing subjects will pose for the camera and the scene will be contrived.

The former will decline from ambushing unsuspecting members of the public and will argue that the permission approach will make them far less likely to get sued, arrested or even thumped. They may even refer to sources on Youtube like this one to illustrate their point.

For me the jury is still out. On this occasion I opted for the permission approach and asked this gentleman if I could take his picture. He readily agreed, on the condition that I send him a print of the photograph. Like the picture or loathe it, I will take great pleasure in keeping my side of the bargain.

Shadows in Spring

Anne & Maya

Taken in Brunau-Park, one of my favorite outdoor portrait spots in Zürich.

Smoke Photography

Just like all my other "indoor" shots, this was taken in my kitchen. Ingredients required are:

• A black background.
• One off-camera flash (or other strong light source) pointing 90 degrees at the smoke.
• A darkened room (to allow the above to produce some contrast against the smoke)
• Smoke (incense sticks or cigarettes tend to produce good results)
• Shutter speed should be no less than 250th of a second.
• Highest f-stop you can handle in the circumstances (smoke moves, so focusing can be tough)
• Try to avoid drafts which will cause the smoke to quickly disperse.

I ended up placing a ruler next to the source to get the focusing right and the whole operation was conducted under my oven extraction fan. (Very helpful!)

It goes without saying that this is a fire risk and you should never leave burning objects unattended. If you are a minor, please don't try this unless supervised by a responsible adult! 

You can make it

Sometimes a little encouragement is needed on that long and winding road.

Après-ski

Deep within the heart of Graubünden in Switzerland, revelers enjoy the après-ski delights of snowy Laax.

Walking my Orb

Ingredients: a dark park, one bicycle light, string, 10 second camera timer, 30 second exposure, a warm coat and an extremely patient/forgiving subject.

Makeshift Studio Shoot

A Story in Every Reflection

Taken in the heart of Escher-Wyss-Platz in Zürich.

Droplet

The latest shot from my 52/50 Project series. This particular photograph was taken in the less exotic setting of my kitchen.

Chilling

A bit of fun in the snow as sub-zero temperatures linger across Europe.

Rebellious

A stolen moment to take a head-shot with my 50mm, during an indoor photoshoot showcasing Zürich's hottest new collection from Jill Braun.