On Practice
The first time I remember hearing the old joke, I was on the second floor of a block of flats in the Cairnhill area of Airdrie. A young boy sitting warming in front of a 3-bar fire. With the smell… Read More »On Practice
Blog
The Importance of Anticipation
My fascination with the exceptional work of the masters of street photography tends to come not from the photographer’s technical prowess, compositional expertise, or excellence of the prints, but from their preternatural ability to find themselves in the right place,… Read More »The Importance of Anticipation
BFI 100: 82 – Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988)
Continuing my resurrected journey of watching each of the British Film Institute’s 100 best films of the 20th Century. Starting at 100 and working my way to Orson Welles’ The Third Man at number 1. This time, Distant Voices, Still Lives.… Read More »BFI 100: 82 – Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988)
Techniques for Candid Street Photography
As a street photographer teaching high school photography, my students are often fascinated by the candid photographs of people going about their lives. Whether looking through pictures of Cartier-Bresson, Garry Winogrand, Jill Freedman, or – less exciting, I’m sure –… Read More »Techniques for Candid Street Photography
BFI 100: 83 – Darling (1965)
Continuing my resurrected journey of watching each of the British Film Institute’s 100 best films of the 20th Century. Starting at 100 and working my way to Orson Welles’ The Third Man at number 1. This time, the swinging sixties in… Read More »BFI 100: 83 – Darling (1965)
BFI 100: 84 – Educating Rita (1983)
Continuing my resurrected journey of watching each of the British Film Institute’s 100 best films of the 20th Century. Starting at 100 and working my way to Orson Welles’ The Third Man at number 1. Michael Caine and Julie Walters star… Read More »BFI 100: 84 – Educating Rita (1983)
More Recommended Reading for Street Photographers
My recent compulsion to spend what little disposable income I have on photo books does not seem to be relenting. With several new additions to the library this month, I’ve been thinking more about the books I recommend to friends,… Read More »More Recommended Reading for Street Photographers
BFI 100: 85 – Brassed Off (1996)
Continuing my resurrected journey of watching each of the British Film Institute’s 100 best films of the 20th Century. Starting at 100 and working my way to Orson Welles’ The Third Man at number 1. Today, some colliery music in the… Read More »BFI 100: 85 – Brassed Off (1996)
Anyone But England (Redux)
As Scotland hosts England at Hampden Park tonight to celebrate the 150-year anniversary of the first International football match, I’ve unearthed an article I wrote for a short-lived periodical during the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine. Rewritten for… Read More »Anyone But England (Redux)
The Art of Photographing Faces
In On Reading, a concise collection of photographs by André Kertész, there is a picture made in The Bowery, New York City, on December 8th, 1960. Two men stand a few feet apart, each reading a newspaper. This picture, however,… Read More »The Art of Photographing Faces