Artificial Photo Recognition Itelligence Lens

First published on 01.04.2016

Internet rumors are rife that a Japanese camera manufacturer has developed a optic that possess a form of artificial intelligence ,that enables it to recognize classic photographic compositions. The story I read says that thousands of Great photographs were scanned into software which enables the lens to recognize when composition and lighting match the work of famous togs like Bresson, Adams and Terry Richardson. A spokesman is quoted as saying that "this new technology will enable ordinary photographers to replicate the classic works of past & present masters".

This controversial piece of kit is already dividing photographic opinion on internet forums, with newbies embracing the advancement and old school togs arguing that compisitional and lighting recognition assistance is a step too far, saying they "don't need technological assistance to make personalised copies of photographic classic works as they have been doing it manually for years".

In my opinion this is just another mode like facial or smile recognition, this is probably going to be of great benefit to many togs who currently spend a great deal of cash and time attending Photo workshops trying to recreate images that already exist. Successful iconic images without the work, that's what everyone appears to want these days isn't it ?

The Manufacturer has not been named in the original piece but is referred to in the article as having the X factor. 

Thanks to the Fiji Optical Organisation Limited for breaking this story .

Luck, Coincidence, Talent & Graft ! (with large portions of failure )

How has 2016 started for you ?

As we approach the fourth month I have to confess that this year has started a little slow for me, I'm happy with a couple of my captures but 2 pix in three months is not prolific although I think its a fare reflection of the effort and time I have invested.

The problem I find is that the more I shoot the harder it becomes to find the illusive "Buzz" that for me is the driving force behind my picture making. Let me explain what the "Buzz" is for those who have not read my rantings before,   every now and then I capture a scenario that genuinely surprises me and defies the law of averages. The last one was my "Time Traveler" effort as this shot was actually nothing more than an idea as I framed up the vintage street photo background with no one in sight, as I was considering how the perspective of the photo compared to the lens I was using, my frame was broken by a jogger running through my viewfinder, I could not of wished for a more suitable foreground subject !

Sometimes these pictures arrive like gifts !

I recorded about 15 other views that day but none of them made the cut which is okay as I believe successful street pix are minor miracles that are formed by a combination of luck, coincidence, talent and the all important hard graft !  (I can't over state the importance of the hard graft).

The acceptance of failure within the photographic process is important and one of the hardest lessons to learn, I am not ashamed of my less than 5% success rate, I know that most captures will end up on the editing floor but at the time of capture I am unaware of which ones are which ?  I should make it clear these failures are based on content, aesthetics or miss timing, thankfully I rarely drop shots for technical reasons nowadays .

Today's take-away point is that weeding out your weaker shots will make the others stronger, with experience you will start to edit at the capture stage although I would be cautious about advising others to shoot less, preferring to advise togs to become more selective of subject and lighting scenarios.

Failure is part of the preparation for success ?

Keep it real !

5 Reasons To Abandon Street Photography (& Take Up Golf !)

I'm sure the reasons people shoot street are as diverse as the the folk who take up the challenge of Street Photography, . I write this tongue in cheek piece today in the hope that togs will examine their personal motivations and expectations of Street Photography .

1. Street Photography should not be pursued in the hope that it will produce a significant income, not only will this corrupt your creative integrity and approach, it will lead to a supply to demand mentality which leads to a create for others mentality, your authenticity is your greatest asset don't sell it . Should your goal be cash , take up Golf ! (or commercial photography).

2.  Street Photography as a means of meeting new people and making friends is probably not the best idea if your serious about your picture making. Street Photography involves the investment of many isolated hours on the street in the hope of working unnoticed . although you are often surrounded by people your interactions are photographic, exchanging only smiles, nods and a thank you with your passing targets. Street Photography in many ways is verging on the anti-social. Should you wish to expand your social horizons take up Golf !

3. Undertaking Street Photography in the hope of emulating the shots of others featured in on-line SP groups is aiming a little low, try to make your SP personal to you, when others Zig take it as a sign to Zag !. Street Photography is not about fitting in, its about breaking out, so if you lack the conviction to explore your uniqueness ,take up Golf !

4. Street Photography is about engaging with your surroundings on a mental and creative level, it is more than a walk with a camera. Should you lack the mental appetite to try and look beyond what others see and search for significance in the every day you should take up Golf !

5. Street Photography is not a Olympic event, it is not competitive and is certainly not about being the best ! Street Photography is a personal exploration of your life and times. The best images you make will be the ones that have deep meaning to you and are relevant to the life you live. Serious Street Photographers all aspire to be the best they can be but not at the expense of others. Should you be hyper competitive with a win at all costs attitude, Golf is the game for you as the integrity and empathy required for Street Photography is probably not part of who you are.

That's it , hope these reasons help you explore your motivations and inspire you to become a better street tog, you don't really want to take up Golf, do you ?

Keep it real !

Wheres The Anger ?

"May you live in interesting times" is said to be be a Chinese curse although this attribution is at best dubious, never the less it is true of the times we live in now. 

What has this to do with the price of fish ? 

My point is that I see very little evidence of togs really connecting with the changes within our country and society, I say this as a member of the "Baby Boomers" generation who must take at least some responsibility for the environmental economic and social problems that exist now, the surprise to me is that i see little evidence of the problems that young people face now being tackled as a photographic subject. I see many togs trying to recreate the classic images of the past but rarely view images with the honesty to reflect life in the UK during the 21st century.

When I meet young photographers on the street they are not slow in telling me that "this place is shit" but will not be persuaded that "the shit" as they see it might be a viable photographic subject preferring to recreate the reality of the lives of those they have not met rather than capturing the one subject they know better than anyone, the life they live now, warts and all !

The levels of apathy displayed by many young folk is worrying, on a personal level I am concerned that I will rely on this generation to make the world a better place as I look on in my dotage. Successive Governments have failed the interests of the young but they seem to take the theft of rights enjoyed by my generation on the chin. The right to be working class has become aspirational in the 21st century and further educational opportunities are being denied to kids from poorer families due to cost.

I would ask young people to engage with the issues they feel trapped by now on a practical and/or photographic level, don't allow yourself to be anaesthetised by the latest i-phone, Nike trainers, X camera or designer coffee served in a paper cup !  

You might not feel as if you can change things but you can at least draw attention to the problems of your generation through YOUR photography.

Street Art seems to engage with the issues in a very direct way .

Euro Referendum & Street Photography ?

Could the Euro referendum have implications for humble street togs and if so what are they ?

I have said before that our legal right to create images on the street should not be taken for granted, most of us will have experienced some sort of unlawful restriction while out shooting and have on occasions given way to requests to stop making photographs on the basis that the pic was not worth the hassle !

The main piece of legislation that protects our rights in public places is Article 10 of the European Convention, which I would imagine could be over ruled if the UK decide to leave the EU. The law is predominantly a protection of freedom of speech and section 12 actually deals with the freedom of expression which is the part that we should all ensure remains should we leave.

The UK law makers are far from reliable when it comes to protecting a free media and artistic expression rights, this is the country that invented the Super  Injunction which appears to be used mainly by footballers trying to avoid "Kiss & Tell" stories .

I write this short piece to try and remind fellow togs that the rights we enjoy now may not always remain as they are, we should shoot what we can while we can as something as simple as photographing and publishing pictures of others on the street might not be a right we enjoy forever !

I  do not believe that any right minded politician or bureaucrat has a sharp knife out to kerb the behaviors of Street Photographers but I could see a day when we get caught in the crossfire between lawmakers and paparazzi photographers .

Keep it real !

We might have to hide the identity of everyone we shoot ?

A long walk starts with one step !

Its been quite a week, I finally got to see my Another Day Off project over the finishing line and see it in proof book form, I can't say I'm thrilled with the proof printing but it seems to hang together quite well.

Strangely this week saw me back on the street creating new work and one piece in particular which I'm really taken with, it looks as if this pic might just be the inspiration for my next series which at the moment is called "The New Series" seriously though "that picture" has suggested a theme that might be worthy of pursuit in much the same way as ADO No1 sparked a 4 year project. 

I'll publish the "New Stuff" once I am convinced that the project is viable.

I am sad to report the demise of the camera that was used to capture the ADO series, it seems I worked the poor thing too hard, although I might proceed with a repair for sentimental reasons.despite it being uneconomic.

Speaking of Cameras I see The Photo show in Birmingham opens next month and I can't decide if I can be bothered to go, I don't need any kit but I could be tempted to buy one or two photo books as I see Dewi Lewis publishing have taken a stand.

Thats it for now, The New Series consists of only one pic but as the header says a long walk starts with one step !

Keep it real !

The Another Day Off project started with one pic !

From One Extreme To The Other !

Its no secret that over the last few months I've done very little photographically , the truth is I just haven't been feeling it, I know from experience that I really need to be up for picture taking if my investment of time is not going to be wasted.

Today was different, I woke up like a man possessed and could not wait to hit the streets !

Where this new found enthusiasm came from I have no idea as I certainly did not go to bed with any thoughts of the next day being different. The clear winter sky and hard shadows created by the bare sunlight might of contributed to my enthusiasm but the U-turn remains a mystery to me.

The 2 hour session was productive although it started slowly I even shot a shadow selfie to get the shutter clicking and try to get my rested eye into some sort of meaningful action.

This day was meant as a sort of gentle reintroduction to my street photography and serve as a taster for future photo exploration, that is not how it turned out !

Many photographers often reply to the question of "What is your favorite photograph " ? with the well rehearsed answer " My Next one " ! but what happens if this glib reply actually becomes self fulfilling and becomes true ?

That is the problem I have created today, as I believe I might of created the best image I have ever captured or even scarier that I might ever capture. The thought of my best work being behind me might be true after today !

This tale reminds me of a friend who bought into a Carp fishing syndicate and caught the fish of a lifetime on his first visit, he never returned to the lake again .

Anyway that is the story of today's shoot, my head is  both excited  by my latest capture and fearful that I might of captured a pic that is better than any I have yet to make.

Having written so much about a image that has only existed for hours I am not ready to publish it , in fact that might be the answer I could pretend it never happened , but it did !

Keep it real !

The naff shadowy selfie I shot to get warmed up !

The Problem With "Heaven" is...

Despite the title I must reassure my readers that I have not changed my Street Photography blog into a religious soapbox, This post is about one of my most recent pictures and the concerns it gives me, despite its on-line popularity.

The first concern I have with this image is that it could easily be viewed as a picture from the 60's or 70's as I have published it in Black & White and the subject is timeless. This picture was captured only a few days ago and for me fails to meet one of my basic "rules",  that a picture should aspire to be "of its time" . What do i mean by "of its time" ?    

I do not believe that as a current street photographer I should be relying on sentimental nostalgic subjects or techniques to attract the attention of viewers.. I will be the first to admit that some images work well when the colour is removed but my approach is to shoot straight with minimal post capture work flow, retaining the integrity of the moment as far as I can. I think it is reasonable to use today's technique (Digital) as this also contributes to an image being "of its time" ! 

Let me state for the record that I love looking at Black & White photography, but i see it now being used as a pictorial device rather than a documentary necessity, as it once was. I feel that it is my responsibility as a Tog in the twenty first century to try and represent the here and now and not to seek refuge in the visual comfort zone of the past !

I see Black & White "Street" imagery in much the same way as I once viewed sepia toned  prints, I'm often left wondering what some of these great captures would look like with less post capture intervention.  

In the end its all comes down to how you see the function of your photography, if you value pictorial values above all else then the decision is made however if you feel that you want to move forward and separate yourself from the work of the last century a more documentary / critical approach might be necessary. 

I see no problem with being influenced by the great photographers of the past but these guys got off the bus a long time ago and its now up to us to move things on before it is our stop. The route might be the same but it should take on a different appearance with the passage of time.

Keep it real !

My Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

                         I have been quite good this year so I hope you can help with a few things to make my Christmas day complete.

I do not really need any toys as I'm a little too old for that sort of stuff and I do not require any cameras, flashes or lenses as I'm very happy with what I have already.                                                   I would be grateful if you could arrange for me to have a little more time to pursue my street photography, I would also welcome the gift of creative thought and a pair of spectacles that help me see & compose my images in a more effective way !

I do not need any photo books this year as I have not really invested enough time in the ones I have already, (Thanks for the ones you gave me last year). I think a good pair of comfortable shoes would help me on the street, as I'm convinced spending more time out  on the street is the only way to improve my photography.

Finally if you could gift me a large good quality picture frame it would give me the motivation to try and create a image worthy of being displayed for everyone to see !

I hope you can help with at least one of my Christmas requests, I'll be more than happy if you can arrange another year of good health and a few slices of luck now and then .

Merry Christmas

David Barrett

All Aboard, Flash ,Bang ,Wallop !

Its official November was the the dullest month on record , its not my photographers paranoia that informs me that the UK available light in winter is rubbish but the weather centre has confirmed my suspicions !

Okay, the above statement might be a bit pessimistic but the long shadows and clear skies of winter are becoming rarer, or so it seems to me ! It also seems that snow is becoming a rarer event !  I have a head full of locations I hope to visit should the UK "enjoy" snow this winter however I have not had the opportunity to shoot snow covered streets locally for years.   Is global warming making life harder for us street togs ?

Inspired by the cover shot of Shirley Bakers iconic book "Streets & Spaces" I'm desperate to shoot the urban landscape under snow. All of the great photographers appear to have captured city scenes with a magical scattering of the white stuff,  our cities  take on a different personality when naked trees, streets and fresh snow feature,  the graphic shapes lend themselves to a classic monochrome approach.even when shooting in colour. I hope we get snow soon !

I hesitate to say it but I think it might be time to start using flash on the streets, as the dismal greyness of England is becoming a problem for me. I know that some of you reading this will think  I'm a lost soul who has gone to the dark side for introducing a artificial light source to the views I capture but my mind is made up, subtle has never been my approach anyway !

I'm looking forward to the challenges of this new approach which will give me the opportunity to create a new (to me) look, I might exploit slow speeds with the flash or introduce some coloured filters, it will be interesting to see how my subjects respond to this less than discreet form of image capture ! It could literally put me on the recieving end of the "Wallop" from my headline !

Summing up, I think it is important for photographers to adapt and evolve as the alternative is to stand still creatively,  going through the motions of tried and tested behaviors (comfort zone) will sooner or later lead to stagnation and a loss of enthusiasm for your image making.

Change , Adapt and evolve !

All aboard , destination unknown but the journey will be fun !

Keep it real  !