Have your camera ready, always

When talking to other photographers, one of the biggest issues we all seem to face is the ability to have our camera as ready as possible to capture anything you might come across. Often cameras kept in our bags might be a little too difficult to grab on the go, and often those few seconds it might take us to reach for our camera and get it set might well mean the moment we were so eager to capture is unfortunately gone.

And when I say this, I truly believe in that as I have often found myself looking at some of my favourite shots and thinking that if I had not had my camera ready, I would have definitely missed the moment. Of course, I have learnt it the hard way, where I have often struggled with the bag zip to get my camera out our even simply taking those two seconds to turn my camera on to take the shot and realise I was one second too late. If this has happened to you, you’ll probably know how frustrating it must feel.

As an example, these photos are some of the shots I have probably got just in time.

As I was walking through Covent Garden, a light rain started coming down. And as always, rain and London is a perfect mix and it is only a matter of time before you come across something interesting. I stopped in a doorway, seeking some shelter and as I did so, I noticed two elegantly dressed ladies coming out of the tube station, only to find themselves without an umbrella. One of them quickly covered their heads with a scarf and quickly made their way towards me. I had my camera turned on and set up for street photography and, in a second, they went past me. And that’s when I quickly pressed the shutter button and took the shot. One of the ladies saw me as she stared right into the camera, but they were probably more worried about the rain.

Ladies in the rain

Likewise, as I was on a street corner near St James’s I noticed how the winter light was filtering through the surrounding buildings, creating a very sharp contrast between the pocket of light on the floor and the shaded areas on either side. As I was appreciating this interesting light, I noticed a male about 20 feet away walking towards me and, before I knew, I realised he would have waked into the light before stepping back into the shade. I had my Sony RX100 IV in my hand and all I had to do was point and take the shot. To my surprise the shot came out quite nicely, and it reminded me once more of the importance of being ready; had I had my camera in my pocket or bag, I would have certainly missed it.

Stepping into the sunlight

And finally, this shot below was equally challenging, not only because of the harsh light I had directly in front of me, but also because I happened to notice the cyclist literally as she came around the corner, a few seconds away from me. I had my Sony in my hand and with barely enough time to set the shutter speed, I pressed the button just as she cycled past. In all honesty, I did not think I had made it, but when I looked back I very pleasantly impressed by the quality of the shot, with the golden sunset light in the background and the crowd in the middle ground whilst the cyclist in the foreground created an interesting shadow on the floor. If I tried it again, I don’t know whether I’d be able to get the shot again, but what I do know is that I would have definitely missed the shot if I even had my camera in my pocket, as those three seconds it would have taken me to at least turn it on would have been a second too late.

So yes, remember to have your camera as ready as you can whenever you’re out, to capture that fleeting moment we’re all waiting for.

Cycling into the sunset

Trilens - Your lenses on your belt

Having started my photography journey a few years ago, one of the main things I have always struggled with is the ability to have my lenses readily available to me. Whether it’s when I am out for a street photography walk in London, somewhere else on holiday, or shooting an event, I always want to have my lenses as within reach as possible, to allow me to change lenses quickly and not miss that moment any photographer really wants to capture. Having tried pretty much anything - from big coat pockets to store lenses, to shoulder bags and other camera backpacks, I believe it is only fair to say there’s only so much my pockets can (safely!) hold and I can only be so quick to get lenses out of my bags to capture that moment.

So, I started looking for any solution that would allow me to merge the quick access and safe transportation of my lenses. As I was browsing internet looking for recommendations, ideas and bags, I came across the Trilens, developed by Frii Designs. The concept is fairly simple and yet ingenious. The main body consists in a three lens holder, that can attach to a belt through a metal clip and allows you to store up to three lenses so that they are always on your hip, well within reach. The mechanism also allows the lens holder to spin around its centre so that whenever any lens is attached to it, the holder will let gravity work its magic and have the heaviest or biggest lens always pointing downwards and not be in your way at elbow height. The lenses safely attach to the holder just as they click in on your camera, so there is virtually no way for you to drop them once they’re properly attached. Each lens slot has a quick release button so that you’re able to access any of the lenses with a simple twist and all with one hand.

The design is very effective and the whole holder is very sturdy and durable, and once attached to your belt, the lenses will simply stay in place for you to reach within seconds. The Trilens makes lenses as easy to access and swap as Peak Design clips make cameras easy to carry and access at any time.

If anyone out there is struggling with the same issues, I would strongly recommend trying the Trilens as it has certainly been a game changer for my photography; whether I am shooting street photography or an event, I always know I can have my favourite lenses ready and accessible, within seconds.

Capturing the moment

The Kiss

When you look in the viewfinder, press the button and you hear the shutter click, that moment is now captured and stored away. One of the things I love the most about street photography is the ability to frame a fleeting moment, an interesting second of daily life for others to see at any point in the future. Some could even say it is a very rudimental way to travel back in time, as, through a photograph, we can document life as it is now for the future generations to see.

And it is the very same ability to stop time to capture a moment or a fleeting second that makes a photo unique. Modern cameras and photography gear certainly help to frame the moment, but, as with everything, it is practice that makes perfect. The more you shoot, the more you’ll be able to notice the interesting details in every day life that would make a good photo. And of course having a camera with you at all times can only help. The camera itself doesn’t need to be professional, as often it’s the story we tell that makes a photo interesting more than how sharp or in focus the shot itself is. If it tells a story that makes you wonder, that makes you ask questions, then it’s probably all you need.

Interesting details can be found anywhere, the more we look, the more we find. This could be on our evening walk, on our commute to work, on the bus we take to meet friends or on the platform waiting for the train to the airport. All it takes is to practice viewing the world through you view finder, looking for interesting compositions, candid moments and compelling subjects - and of course being ready with your finger on the shutter button. This photograph was taken during an evening commute on the tube, on a day like any other. As I stood at the end of the carriage, I noticed a few seats were empty but, since it was only a short journey, I opted to stand up. This also offered a much more interesting visual than just the seat opposite you if you were to sit down. At the following stop, this couple got on and my attention was immediately drawn by the hat the girl was wearing. The bright green colour was unique in itself and I turned my Sony RX100 IV on trying to take a photo of such a curious couple; however, I decided to wait, just to see if this scene in front of me could have got any more interesting. And sure enough, as I discreetly set my focal length and shutter speed, they leant forward towards each other and kissed. I took the photo at f2.8 and 1/400 and 50mm on a 1’’ sensor. And that’s when you appreciate the importance of having a camera with you, even the most basic one. It’s for moments like this, where right there and then you are able to capture such a candid moment, framing all the passion of the kiss, with both of them with their eyes shut, focussing on each other - as if all the other passengers sharing the carriage with them were not present, and, at the same time, all the other passengers, focused on their phones, books or just avoiding the awkward eye contact with other people, appeared to be completely oblivious of such unique moment that will never happen again as it unfolded in front of them; almost as if the couple were in an invisible bubble. Who were they? Was it a second date sort of evening? I wonder who was more longing for that kiss? And even more interestingly, has that kiss led to a more serious relationship?

The beginning

Saying that photography has always been one of my passions would probably be a lie. However, it would only be fair to say that it has been a solid interest for quite some time.

It’s been a few years since the thought of getting a camera first crossed my mind and since then, it has certainly been a journey. Not an emotional sort of journey, made of tears and joy, but rather a journey where I’ve had a chance to experiment, learn, grow, improve and, more importantly, allowing my creativity to roam free. When I first started taking photos, I never thought I was particularly good and perhaps that very same awareness is what made me want to improve. And even then, perhaps shots I believed were pretty good, sure enough turned up to be…not as good as I first thought, which, in turn, simply made me want to improve even more. Who knows , maybe in a few years time I will look back on shots I took today and still not be satisfied. When looking at the work of professional or renown photographers, I used to look at the photos, wondering how many shots they had taken before getting “the” shot or a shot they were happy with - possibly even experiencing the same level of dissatisfaction when looking at their previous work. Yet, in a way, perhaps this is the beauty of photography, the constant wish for improvement, continuous desire to do better that the previous shot, and even better that the shots to come. Photography seen not as an objective or destination but rather as a journey to enjoy where one can improve and challenge themselves - no matter how many shots have been taken of a given view or subject, you can always find a more interesting view point.

When I first picked my camera, if someone asked me whether I would have enjoyed it, I wouldn't have had a clear answer; however, I did know that there was something in photography that was captivating, something unique and that would have allowed me to explore a safe space for creativity, to enjoy a hobby that, who knows, it may become a job one day, and a way to enjoy the process of creating something I have made.