Toronto Photography Meetup Group

On the note of the topic I posted a bit ago, I frequently run out of ideas for photography. I love taking pictures of people in their element... doing things, concentrating on things... my "specialty" as a photographer is people "in their element". If that's youth sports, or a wedding party, or a construction site, or a boardroom.


A street performer magician, looking for a "surreal" shot that incorporated the street he worked on. I wanted him to pose all "magicky", but he has a bad back and needed to hold the position for 20 seconds, so he opted to stand like a statue.


The problem is that it's generally regarded as intruding to take random photos of people in focused activities.

I've done my share of "set up random product shots in my bedroom".



I've done a bunch of "Pretend I work for the newspaper" (I used to shoot for a newspaper, actually, but only occasionally as a stringer)



Does anyone around here have a regular meeting or a "lets go climb around on the rocks with cameras" afternoon, or perhaps a "go as a group to my wife's soccer game and take photos" evening, or anything of the sort? Or even a "my Nikon is bigger than yours" night?

I'm new to town (just moved from out west) and I hate being the "guy alone at the park with a camera" creep.

I'm tired of waterfalls and sunsets and flowers and street performers and taking pictures of stuff that doesn't move.

A creativity injection is what I need! Where do I buy such a thing? Does Henry's sell it? heh.

Putting that post together was kinda fun, digging through old photos and such.

My portfolio would be a mess. It's not very consistent, just dabbling a bit in everything.

Astrophotography is fun...



I also went to Europe recently and played around with HDR a bit.

Brussels, Belgium:



Oslo, Norway:



Madrid, Spain (I just realized, I don't like the cropping on this one):




Middle of Nowhere, Costa Rica:





Now I'm in Toronto... what to shoot....




What to shoot...

I did get some on Canada day....







Sorry for the mass of photos, I guess I'm trying to inspire myself (or look for external inspiration).

Have you checked the events section? Always different events going on. Their should be a strobiest night shooting on the streets random people sometime soon. A TPMG contributor set one up not long ago and I know he plans on doing more.

Even if there is nothing that interest you feel free to setup your own event, if it's something interesting you will get others to join you - so you won't feel like a creep alone in a park with a camera

J.

i am also tired of being the creepy guy with a camera lol
am always looking for photo friends to explore the city
its more enjoyable with some one to talk too while taking pics

How about an event where we shoot creepy guys with a camera?

lol well i would sure be prominent in that shoot lol

Maybe we should wait until the weather is a bit cooler so we can wear raincoats and shorts.

I'll drive my big panel van, it will be great!

Those are some pretty neat photos Eric. I like the Begium market, but it would look better without the woman right in the centre. The one with the magician looks pretty good too, but may look better without the magician - at least not at the centre.

I've been doing quite a few shoots lately with models. It would be nice to have someone to collaborate with. Take turns holding the reflector etc.

It would help if one of us was a lawyer and we could get a Model Mayhem model to play the victim.

Well if it helps, while I don't practice I do have my law degree and have been called to the bar.

As long as you know how to talk to the cops when some one spots us and calls in to the police.

Do we want to play this as Film Noir, cop show real or as Comedy?

If you guys want to go out sometime, drop me a note.

Eric

Or come out to an organized event!

I'll keep my eye out for them.

most of th organized events are hard for me to get to due to the fact i am usually in a mobility scooter now due to back problems and i do not drive