CALIBER

One of the things I enjoy searching for when shooting on the streets is nice light. Bad light can instantly kill an otherwise decent photograph. Shooting in the open mid-day in San Francisco is normally a recipe for poor results due to harsh contrasty light.  If not constrained by an event or schedule, it’s so much nicer to shoot in the late afternoon or early morning.

Sometimes though, even shooting mid day, pockets of soft reflected light can be found shining down on darker areas.  The above photo speaks to that  - I snapped it at 1pm in the plaza at 333 Market Street (off Fremont) during a lunch time concert.

Other times due to circumstances you have no control over, such as shooting events, you then need to deal with the light that’s given you. Fill flash can make a ton of difference in those situations.

I snapped the above photo back in April during the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence 30 year anniversary event held in in Dolores Park. The sun was out pretty much at full bore full bore with just a few cloud wisps around – and the park is wide open with no shade. But using my flash (and using it off camera), I was able to add light to their faces and bodies that would have otherwise turned out very dark and contrasty.

The Halloween photowalk tomorrow is going to be pretty sunny, I’m definitely bringing my flash to get much better street photos than would otherwise be possible.