OM-1 on Okinawa, 1976

[doubs43]

These pictures are five of about 25 that I took at a harvest festival the first weekend in August, 1976, at a village on the East coast of Okinawa. Camera was an OM-1 and most were taken with a Zuiko 100mm f/2.8 lens. Film was marketed by Freestyle as "Essex" which I believe to be Ilford HP-3.











Walker

[olroy2044]

Walker--Outstanding! I've got to shoot more b/w! You've really got it goin' on with those shots! Roy

[PeterW]

Walker,

You captured some wonderful off-guard expressions here. A lens around 70 to 100mm or even 135mm focal length makes a lovely candid-shot lens. Large enough image to fill the frame without poking the camera into a person's face, but a shallow enough DOF to isolate the subject in a crowd. The exposure, and the focus point on the eyes here are both spot-on.

Once again, my sort of picture. Maybe the gospel's spreading. Come on, anyone who hasn't tried this fascinating sort of candid photography. Have a go. People are the most interesting subjects in the world.

If you feel a shade uncomfortable being the only one with a camera photographing people in the street, start at some sort of meeting or gathering where almost everyone has a camera - festivals, bike and car rallies, fun-fairs, theme parks, that sort of thing. Anywhere where there are lots of people. Take plenty of film, or a big memory card, because you'll find wonderful pictures all around you. You'll just melt into the crowd and have a great time, and no-one will take any notice of you.

PeterW

[nikonbob]

Walker

Nice set of B&W candids and I hope they bring back good memories. Never had the nerve to try this type of photography, especially now.

Bob

[doubs43]

olroy, Peter & Bob, thanks for the kind comments. Those are the kind of photographs I enjoy taking and often the subject is completely unaware that they've been captured on film. The OM-1 is one of the quieter SLR's and not as intrusive as some.

Peter, I found that the Zuiko 100mm f/2.8 lens is wonderfully sharp and does a great job of taking the background out of a picture when using a large aperture. I don't recall for certain but I expect that my exposures for these shots was likely f/5.6 or possibly f/8.

Walker