Bag Contest Daily Inspiration #10
by Aashish Mehta
Hey Steve,
Finally, you have pushed me to submit something. I am probably too late, but either way, it would mean a lot if I could contribute to your site in some way or form.
Last year I went on a road trip with the family around Europe and managed to capture a lot of pictures on film using a FM3A, Leica M6 and Contax T3. Our drive consisted of Munich, Cremona, Cortina, Lake Como, Milan, Monte Carlo & Bordeaux then took a train to Paris en route to London.
The pictures below were taken in Italy using a Contax T3. I wanted to select pictures that encompass the Italian lifestyle of beautiful homely architecture, friends and family. I hope these do it justice.
Thanks for the amazing information on your website.
Kind regards,
Aashish
Brilliant pics, especially No. 1.
The first 2 pictures are nice but the third is very flawed. It is supposed to be a family photo but your family is out of focus.
Hey thanks for the feedback. I guess that’s what I like about it 🙂
Some of the finest family and group portraits with an Italian flavour in b&w were taken in 1953 by Paul Strand. Typically, he used house exteriors as backgrounds and they also ensured the subjects were roughly equidistant from the lens. I feel a little sorry for the other members of this family who missed out being anywhere near the focal position; the male on the right was the lucky one. I see no point in fuzzing out 3/4 of the family.
No. 1 has lovely light airiness to its 3-D feel.
No.2 I don’t understand with its large empty foreground space and featureless black shadow area taking up most of the shot of what might be an near empty eatery.
Hey James, thanks for the feedback. I wish we did a portrait, but we just had time for a wefie which I took without looking through the viewfinder, but it gave the picture a different feel somehow 🙂
I am not very good at selecting architecture pics, so point noted. I mostly shoot general street shots.
Thanks, Aashish. Check out Paul Strand and see what you think.
Thanks, for pointing me to Paul Strand. I definitely have a lot to learn from those amazing pics 🙂
Good points James.
Family portrait excellent
Much appreciated 🙂
The best I’ve see there. Thanks
Thank you 🙂
Three fine images showing your trip, 1 & 3 are the strongest for me, no. 2 still has great feel. I bet there are more images you could share on this site.
Thanks for the feedback. I’ll definitely try post more here 🙂