{"id":3605,"date":"2025-06-13T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/?p=3605"},"modified":"2025-06-13T10:45:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T08:45:54","slug":"applying-my-own-lessons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/2025\/06\/13\/applying-my-own-lessons\/","title":{"rendered":"Applying My Own Lessons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>I <a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/2025\/06\/06\/why-cant-i-start-a-photography-project\/\">discussed wanting but failing to start a project<\/a> lately. My conclusion was that if you can&#8217;t find an obvious project, one way of starting could be to choose a technology, a constraint, or a theme, then  go out and take photos to see where it goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was in Oslo lately (for work). So I decided to put that conclusion into practice. I decided:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Not to shoot monochrome because it&#8217;s currently my comfort zone.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shoot only streets, because landscapes are a safe zone for me and I want to learn street (human activity) photography.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use only one camera and <a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/2025\/05\/26\/the-bestest-travel-setup-in-the-universe\/\">travel light<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, I decided to experiment with a few techniques:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Camera movements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shadows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patterns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0736_published.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0736_published-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3613\" srcset=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0736_published-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0736_published-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0736_published-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0736_published-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0736_published.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electric scooters in the streets of Oslo, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>Some techniques were more successful than others. In particular, camera movements didn&#8217;t work for me.  I was inspired by Olga Karlovac&#8217;s photos and I experimented with various directions of camera movements on rainy days (I didn&#8217;t have an ND filter and the 5D mk II doesn&#8217;t have an electronic ND, so couldn&#8217;t try that on bright days), but didn&#8217;t get anything I really liked. I need to experiment more to see what works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0828_DxO-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0828_DxO-1-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0828_DxO-1-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0828_DxO-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0828_DxO-1-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0828_DxO-1-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0828_DxO-1.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oslo street with camera movement, Oslo, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I think part of the problem is that the movements weren&#8217;t ample enough and it looks more like it&#8217;s out of focus than on purpose, and the movements need to align with the major lines in the image (therefore vertical in a city).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While I was taking random photos of the Norwegian streets, trying to apply these various techniques, I realised that I was attracted to two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>People on pedestrian crossings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People in sunlit areas when the rest of the street is in the shadow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>I was most surprised by how I liked taking photos of people either crossing the road or going down the road on pedestrian crossings. I think it&#8217;s in part because of the pattern that the crossings make. The lines not only act as a box that frame or partially frame the subject, but they also lead the eye in a near hypnotic way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0746_published.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0746_published-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3617\" srcset=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0746_published-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0746_published-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0746_published-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0746_published-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0746_published.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Crossing the road, Oslo, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, believe it or not, living in the middle of nowhere, we don&#8217;t have pedestrian crossings here, and they feel exotic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Above all, I liked taking photos of people in the street, in movement, over a pedestrian crossing. Most of my photos show blurry people in some kind of activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0760_published.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0760_published-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0760_published-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0760_published-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0760_published-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0760_published-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0760_published.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bicycle crossing the pedestrian crossing, Oslo, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>the other thing was light and shadows. As I was going to work before 9am, the sun was already high, but not above the buildings. So long shadows crossed the streets. Sometimes creating interesting and elaborate shapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0936_published.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0936_published-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0936_published-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0936_published-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0936_published-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0936_published-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0936_published.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cyclist in the light, Oslo, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of the people I photographed were cyclists and people on those electric scooters because, well, they were everywhere. And I liked the fact that with a slow enough exposure, they appeared blurry with movement and dynamic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0913_published.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0913_published-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0913_published-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0913_published-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0913_published-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0913_published-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0913_published.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Man on a  bicycle, Oslo, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result of that week, I created two photo books (<a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/2025\/05\/02\/the-case-for-printing-photographs-in-the-digital-age\/\">remember to print<\/a>, people): <em>Oslo Light and Shadow<\/em>, and <em>Oslo Street Corners<\/em>. I&#8217;m not used to make those, so the page setup is really boring, and I&#8217;m still learning street photography. Be indulgent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Oslo Light and Shadow<\/em> specifically concentrates on the light and she long shadows in the streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Oslo-Light-and-Shadow-2025.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of Oslo Light and Shadow 2025.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-d33b7135-7617-4fa1-a877-8081b7fb84ff\" href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Oslo-Light-and-Shadow-2025.pdf\">Oslo Light and Shadow 2025<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Oslo-Light-and-Shadow-2025.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-d33b7135-7617-4fa1-a877-8081b7fb84ff\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Oslo Street Corners<\/em> is more a travel log of a week in Oslo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Oslo-Street-Corners-2025.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of Oslo Street Corners 2025.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-6025e024-2119-4910-bf15-ede87d6d778a\" href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Oslo-Street-Corners-2025.pdf\">Oslo Street Corners 2025<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Oslo-Street-Corners-2025.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-6025e024-2119-4910-bf15-ede87d6d778a\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I still have a lot to learn and I need more practice, but I&#8217;m fairly happy with this start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>#Photography #Opinion #IMayBeWrong #Theory<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I discussed wanting but failing to start a project lately. My conclusion was that if you can&#8217;t find an obvious project, one way of starting could be to choose a technology, a constraint, or a theme, then go out and take photos to see where it goes. I was in Oslo lately (for work). So &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/2025\/06\/13\/applying-my-own-lessons\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Applying My Own Lessons&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,9,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","category-personal","category-theory"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3605"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3605\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3674,"href":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3605\/revisions\/3674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/photoni.st\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}