Market town : Low light, mixed lenses

[PolaroidSky]

Was a really tough shoot, very cramped, one position and place to shoot from so I relied on different lenses to give (hopefully) a different range of shots, an 18 - 70mm f3.5, 28mm f2.8 and a 24mm f2.8.

Really low light, probably the lowest I have shot in hand held... down to 1/20th sec for these and a very intense 2 hours.

David was involved in a cycle accident just over 5 months ago.

Asides injuries including a broken upper jaw, broken neck in two places, David was rendered blind from the trauma.

Clinically recorded as NLP (No light perception) he will never regain his sight.

www.rnib.org.uk

www.guidedogs.org.uk

I'd love some feedback RE these... all were made during conversation, no posing (I rarely pose subjects) they were spot metered in camera, white balanced to a grey card, ISO ranging from 250 to 800, no sharpening after the shoot, just levels balanced to get a good bell curve on the histogram and some dodging and burning and no flash just natural light that I would call headache light... through a tiny window behind me over a sliver of outside wall, a cloudy day and windy so the light was changing from shootable to un shootable every 20 seconds or so... and all shot in manual mode : )

Thanks for looking!

Cheers!

Jim

[Mr Bump]

Your work never disappoints Jim. Yet again a very atmospheric and moving set of images. You have succeeded well in difficult surroundings and lighting conditions but, even more than the technicalities, it is the feeling that really impresses.

This is the sort of photography I most like: No endless tweaking in PP to address 'imperfections' - just capture the atmosphere and essence in-camera right on the spot.

These images also remind us just how vulnerable we are and that an incident lasting a split second can change a life for ever.

Bump

[PolaroidSky]

Thanks very much Mr B!...

It's funny... you spend a lot of time trying to get shots technically right... yet without the "feeling" they are rendered impotent. All credit for any feeling in my shots goes to the people in them. They amaze me, I totally hate having my photograph taken, hate it (My partner is just about the only person I've ever felt comfortable pointing a camera at me)... all my subjects are brave beyond words and I more than respect that and find it utterly amazing...

Cheers,

Jim

[karenoliver]

The low light works well, I think it really brings out the scarring and tones in his face. Another great hard-hitting portrait, Jim.

Karen

[OldBoy]

Cracking series of shot that you handled well in the conditions. Very sad.

[PolaroidSky]

Thank you both very much... and yes, very sad.

[amk1977]

Fantastic work, as always, Jim!

Very compelling images with yet another sad tale to tell. When you view the photographs, knowing that the subject has NLP, it makes his vacant stare all the more apparent, almost to the degree of being lifeless.

[matt wilson]

Excellent .particularly like the second and third.

[KMR]

Your photos speak a thousand words. Excellent!!!

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by PolaroidSky

... All credit for any feeling in my shots goes to the people in them. They amaze me...... all my subjects are brave beyond words and I more than respect that and find it utterly amazing...

They are indeed. I would also say that to take this type of photograph and convey those feelings requires a photographer who is exceptionally caring and who has considerable empathy with people who have been very unlucky in life or who find life difficult to cope with. Many photographers have the ability to create superb images but when they see these people only as 'characters' worthy as 'good subjects' their work fails.

Caring and empathy are written all over your photographic work and in the content of your blog Jim and that's what makes the difference.

Bump