street photography – explorenation.net ~ photography posts, workshops, writings and thoughts by Steven V-L Lee

Carnival – Up Close and Impersonal

August 30, 2022August 30, 2022Posted in newsTagged 2022, London, Notting Hill Carnival, Ricoh GR, street photographyLeave a comment

After 2 years of Covid restrictions, Europe’s largest street party, the Nottinghill Carnival made a comeback appearance on the streets of West London, over the last Bank Holiday weekend in the UK. I went around 10am on the ‘Family Day’ Sunday, walking up the parade route in reverse which I always do, so as to encounter the bands and performers as they head out from the assembly point on Kensal Rise. It was a warm sunny day, but noticeable cooler than the heatwave of a few weeks earlier, which reached 35 – 40c. It was only 23c that morning but the sun was shining and it felt hotter, due to the fast-paced dodge-walking amongst tightly packed crowds and performers.

Family Day means fewer or no big costume floats, the kind that rivals the best of Rio, those are reserved for tomorrow, Monday. Nevertheless, there are plenty of sights and sounds to saviour as well as Caribbean street food, rum punch and beer.

I don’t think I got any ‘gems’ photographically this year as I didn’t stay on long enough after a quick lunch of jerk chicken and rice, but it was good to see visitors from all over the world back in London having a good time again.

Back in time : Kuala Lumpur

October 18, 2020Posted in explorenation, news, PersonalTagged 2008, Kuala Lumpur, Leica Digilux 2, street photographyLeave a comment

It’s Sunday and where I live it’s now Tier 2 of the latest Covid-designated level of restrictions. Tier 1 being Medium risk, 2 meaning High and Tier 3 is the absolutely no mingling stay home, pub-closing variety. Anyway the scientists (who listen to scientists anymore, I wonder) say all these tiers are confusing and pointless, since the virus cannot read and they fly around in the boundary-less air with the wind, and they will come and infect you whether you are drinking in the pub, exercising in the gym or do sweaty yoga unless you are in Westminster and your name is Dominic or so they say.

But I digress. Here are some pictures of KL central, from way back, yes in 2008, when I was hoping to be a successful ‘street’ photographer (don’t we all) since almost every photowalk that has ever been organised that I recall always starts in Petaling Street and teaches street photography.

Has it changed? I wonder where these people are today, their faces frozen in time. Do you recognise them, it would surely be interesting to know. Apologies for the garish oversaturated colours, but like sepia and spot colouring, it was in trend back then. I’m more into muted tones now.

InstantLondon – Modern British

December 3, 2019December 3, 2019Posted in PersonalTagged InstantLondon, Leica M9, London, street photographyLeave a comment

This is a typical London cafe in the West End. Serving sandwiches for the office workers, and bland fast food for tourists. The pre-heat food culture.

A people’s Carnival!

August 26, 2019August 26, 2019Posted in news, PersonalTagged Carnival, London, Notting Hill Carnival, Ricoh GR Digital 2, street photographyLeave a comment

I seriously think there were 1 million people trying to get in by the time made my way out of the carnival route at 3pm. So happen it was the hottest ever recorded Bank Holiday weekend in the UK at over 34C, and that also brought out the crowds.

Shot with the little Ricoh GR Digital with daylight flash and a slide film filter. Great little camera.

Past Notting Hill Carnival posts here

Notre Dame Photographers, 2002

April 16, 2019Posted in Matters Concerning, news, PersonalTagged news, Notre Dame de Paris, Paris, Rolleiflex, street photographyLeave a comment

“Our mind is enriched by what we receive, our heart by what we give.”
~ Victor Hugo

Dog Day Afternoon

March 10, 2019Posted in news, PersonalTagged Brexit, Fujifilm X100T, London, street photographyLeave a comment

Been out at Victoria Tower Gardens by the Houses of Parliament on this bright and chilly Sunday afternoon with Kipper in tow to join the many Stop Brexit supporters and their pets at the second Wooferendum gathering. Barking mad, you might say, but the organisers have a point. If the UK leaves the EU on 29 March without a deal, any deal, then not only the population, but dogs who frequently travel to and from the continent will have to go through more checks and red-tape, vet medicines may increase in price, and the staffing of veterinary surgeries may be impacted also. Afterall, dogs are man’s best friends and we need to take care of them.

InstantLondon ~ Victoria Embankment Gardens

March 1, 2019Posted in PersonalTagged InstantLondon, Leica M9, street photographyLeave a comment

Here & There, finding art in everyday objects.

Time to heal

November 17, 2018Posted in Matters Concerning, news, PersonalTagged Leica M9, London, street photographyLeave a comment

Encountered an anti-fascism and anti-racism rally in Central London this afternoon. There seems to be a protest of some sort every weekend in this city and this weekend is no different. Division and hate are so prevalent in many societies today, from East to West it seems like they are inherent in the very being of humankind. We just commemorated Armistice Day last weekend, a stark reminder of what man can do to each other.

Engaging Street Portraits – Workshop

September 12, 2018Posted in news, workshopsTagged KLPA, Kuala Lumpur, news, street photography, workshopLeave a comment

In conjunction with the 10th Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards 2018 exhibition in KL (8 – 17 September 2018) I will be hosting a ‘walkabout’ practice session in photographing strangers we meet on the street.

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Many people find taking pictures of strangers difficult, and so they end up photographing from a distance or the backs of them. We will practice how to engage strangers and capture their portraits, with their consent mostly.

This is a totally ‘free to join’ session for 2 – 3 hours, where you will practice approaching strangers and making engaging portraits, and having fun at the same time.

Who is this for?

Anyone who appreciates the challenges and reward of street photography and making portraits that communicate with the audience.

Skill level

You must be well versed in using your camera and its exposure settings. This will not be a tutorial on camera settings and functions, just taking great portraits. Do not let the camera controls hinder your picture taking. Carry a camera and one lens, preferably 50mm or 85mm. Avoid long zooms. It should be an enjoyable experience.

Group size & Registration

10 maximum. Free to join. Advance registration required.

Email : steven@klphotoawards.com

Date and Time

11.00 am to 2:00 pm | Saturday 15 September, 2018

Meeting Point

KL city centre – to be confirmed

Steven Lee is the founder director of Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards.

He began his photographic career as a documentary, travel and fashion photographer in the late 90’s when began writing travel related articles for magazines and journals. In 2000, he published his first coffee-table book titled Outside Looking In : Kuala Lumpur, which received the Asian Prize at PhotoCity Sagamihara Festival of the Image, Japan in 2007.

In 2007 he published his second coffee-table book MALAYSIANS, with 500 faces of diverse Malaysians. In 2008, he released MUSEO, comprising a collection of black & white abstract studies of antiquities, statuary, and architecture photographed in Europe from 2001 – 2005 is now available as a print-on-demand publication. Steven released LUMINA in 2011 his fourth book.

In 2009, Steven initiated the KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL PHOTOAWARDS, an annual international portrait photography competition centred in Malaysia, focussing on the best in contemporary portrait photography and has attracted the participation of some top international photographers. Steven continues to run photography educational workshops through EXPOSURE+ Photo Mentoring platform in Kuala Lumpur with other Malaysian photographers, and has been a portfolio reviewer and judge at international photo festivals and contests.

Steven ran classes on Documentary and Lifestyle / Street photography at City Academy, London from 2014-2016 and his latest initiative was organising the first PhotoSymposium Asia in 2017 and 2018.

www.stevenleephotography.com

Carnival Glimpses

August 30, 2018Posted in news, PersonalTagged 2018, InstantLondon, London, Nikon V1, Notting Hill Carnival, portraits, street photographyLeave a comment

Having missed the last 4 carnivals over the Bank Holiday weekend, this year I made a quick visit on the main day which is on the Monday, a holiday in the UK. Here are a few images from the day.

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