APOGEE PHOTO MAGAZINE: The Non-Column #3-More non-photography tricks & techniques

Nitsa is...

More non-photography tricks & techniques

Liberty

Rainy days in New York

Manhattan in the rain

It was raining all the time !

Rain in New York

[The above one was taken on the fifth day in NY, when I finally realized I might damage my neck if I don't find a higher spot for making pictures!]

Vertical New York

Finally, the plane made it to New York. The first thing I promised myself, coming out of the terminal, was to never again make fun of all these nice people who so kindly advised me to pack a few warm clothes. If only I listened.....

My friend took upon himself to apologize for the crazy spring weather.

"Nothing to worry about" I said, knowing I would be able to take advantage of one of the convenient, no-cost tricks being used by the non-photographer [who always welcomes these low-budget special effects].

[Nature effects]

Making pictures in New York the non-photography way made a lot of sense. I was very much thankful for the fact that I didn't need to carry anything with me, but my cameras. (Ok, and some change for the subway...)

Most of the pictures I made were taken in the rain and under low-visibility conditions due to the extra foggy days. These kinds of pictures proved to have a special quality about them which, of course, had nothing to do with "correct" photography. And while taking advantage of nature's natural effects, keeping my camera dry became a fun challenge.

Photographing in the fog was a great opportunity to practice the under expose/over develop method.

New York also turned to be the right city for enjoying one of nature's most stable phenomena - nighttime. Unlike the widely common belief, making night photos is very easily done and definitely without being attached to a tripod. I used my old-time [but not copyrighted] technique of keeping the camera as steady as possible and holding my breath while pressing the shutter button. [And always trying to remember it's OK to start breathing again after the picture
had been taken...]

[New York vs. Los Angeles]
or Vertical vs. Horizontal

Once I heard someone saying it is hard getting the beginner photographer to hold the camera vertically, and drop the familiar habit of making horizontal pictures. I thought about it while making street pictures in New York, and here is the simple solution to the problem : Just send the stubborn freshman to New York ! For the most part, New York's tall buildings don't leave the person behind the camera much choice except to hold the camera vertically.

Trying the same thing in LA, I often end up with a picture that has a lot of sky in it, but not much of LA.

Horizontal Los Angeles

Did you miss the premier of the Non-photographer?

Non-photographer #2

Non-photographer #4

"Nitsa is the first (and so far, the only) non-photographer. She lives in Los Angeles where she took upon herself a one person's project of making street photos." You can see her website at:

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