I was in NYC walking down Canal street (Chinatown) back when I was about 20 years old, with a bunch of my friends one afternoon. My friend Paul is a crazy guy, and I told him, “Quick – Go and chase that pigeon over there!” When he took off running, I snapped the shot with my Vivitar point and shoot, and this was the result

Sometimes you get a conceptual image by accident…this one could portray escape, stress, fear, moving away, luncacy – you be the judge!  A little bit of photoshop, a little zoom blur and color isolation, and this was the final result.  An abstract motion blur of a guy running away while flailing his arms around.  You just have to be ready for unplanned action.  Keep that camera around your neck, at your side, or in your hand with a hand strap if you can.  Don’t carry it around in your bag all the time.  Anticipate capturing the next random thing even before it occurs.  It only takes a second or two to move your camera from your side to your face.

Feel free to share your own “accidental conceptual” images here – just post a comment below with a link.

I wish stuff like this took less time.

I still end up spending up to 30-60 mins on one portrait sometimes…sometimes it’s worth it in the end, other times it’s not as cost effective.  You have to remember when you’re just having fun messing around, and when you actually should be getting your work for the day done   Plus, you only learn new skills and techniques by practicing.

I’m not a model, and don’t wear makeup – thank god.  My nose has blackheads (need to get one of my wife’s nose strips or something) I have the occasional zit (don’t we all) and all these little things add up to more time in post processing.

BEFORE:

Me sitting facing a large window, and a $2.50 white plastic shower curtain tacked against the wall behind me.  50mm f1.8 lens at ISO 200, f3.2 and 1/125.

AFTER:

Isn’t photoshop fun !?