On the Streets of Ventura

[JimFox]

We had a goal this year to visit all of the 21 old Mission churches in California in 2017. As the year wound down we still had 3 missions to go. So Dec 31st involved driving up to Ventura to shoot San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura, and it ended up racing down to San Juan Capistrano to visit the mission there.

Well, while in Ventura after visiting the mission we spent a little time walking the old street area around it which seemed pretty full of life. And I decided that I had better get to trying to shoot some street photography as Jeff (Beavens) had inspired me with his earlier fine work.

Street photography is definitely a different breed of animal! It took a bit to try and figure out possible interesting situations and people. When processing I found that the scenes most often felt cluttered or confused with color, but by going to B&W the eyes seemed to really be able to then center on the action and elements. I was tempted to crop the left off on this to better focus on the people, but in the end I left it as I shot it as I thought perhaps the vehicles also added an important element? Not sure on that.

All comments and thoughts are welcome as I really had no clue as to what I was doing.

Jim

 

[Mike Mancil]

I like it (although not an accomplished street shooter either) as an interesting life scene. The ever present phone and the lady digging in her purse add interest and questions for the viewer. The b/w processing is spot on.

I don’t Facebook but search for Ruud Albers, a Dutch street shooter that is an amazing street photographer... Mike

 

[Ben Egbert]

Since I don't know much about street photography, I have been looking at them and trying to say what i see. A simple response but it does get one to look a bit.

Here I see a man on his cell, and probably his companion who appear to be waiting for something.

The lady is searching for change I suspect for the parking fee.

Another couple is walking away as if they have already parked and paid and know where they are going.

B&W was a good choice here.

I used to live about 2 miles from the San Fernando Mission when i was a kid and took craft classes there, went on tours, and attended weddings there. That sounds like a great project to photograph all of them.

 

[BarryHamilton]

Appealing street scene, really impressive tonal range in a fine b&w!

 

[beavens]

Well shot and processed, Jim! Might look to crop some from the left and top, playing up the zigzag lines of sidewalk and people going from lower-left to upper-right.

Get us some more West Coast street!

Jeff