Photography in Paris or how I stopped worrying about time

[Pursuivant]

OK, so to start with, I was in Paris last year in the spring equipped with my trustable Yashica-mat EM and a Zorki 4Kwhich I managed to break the second day.

Anyhow, I wasn't going all "touristy"... the Yashica is excellent for taking street scenes as people dont realize you are taking photos as you're not holding the camera to your face. I was trying to get some architecture and "streetlife" shots. However I managed to get to places which had no people or very few so I could try and seize the moment. Now the Yashica eats 120-format paper film with 12 6x6 exposures, so you need to ponder what you shoot.

Lets start with a little timer issue. Now getting a good focus first, then you press the release and twist the timer

...balls!!!

OK, so you twist the timer, press the release and it starts whirring and you have 10-12 seconds to get in position...

... so what the hell the shutter jammed, oh damn.... *click*

OK, so lets go at it again, now this time remember to sit comfortably...

Goddamn tourists...

And then they wonder why I never smile in my photos?

..screw you guys, I'm goin on the boat!

[skandagupta]

Did you prick your fingers?

[AldenG]

That would make a good subject for a video short, especially if you used a discreet remote control for the still camera.

Put the video camera on another tripod behind the still camera, where it will simply attract even more attention.

Show yourself walking up to the camera over and over and setting the supposed self-timer, then walking back when you actually know someone else is going to end up in the shot. The short shows the people coming up and then you insert a click sound and overlay (crookedly) the still you took at that moment. You'd even catch some people looking at the odd setup, hesitating, waiting, and then walking into frame and at that moment you snap the remote.

This series of photos is already funny by itself. But you could make a Monsieur Hulopäinen classic of this idea.

[raamv]

Nice one Hank!!
I can suggest a title..
Pursuivant does Paris!!

[MagicJ]