Solo Photography: Why I Prefer Shooting Alone for Street and Travel Photography

When I think about my most favorite photography themed trips, I only have two categories. Solo trips and collaborations are my main two categories here.

Of those two categories though, solo trips are my favorite.

I do enjoy both types of trips, I am just more inclined to solo trips over trips involving others. I don't know if this is a desire to enjoy the freedom associated with solo travel, if it is some sort of childhood learned behavior, or that it might just be therapeutic. Whatever it is, I just love solo photography.

Why Solo Photography Works for Me

In fact I love it so much that I almost never collaborate with others on any sort of project whether it be a video or photo shoot or even to just hang out as they say. This is partly because I grew up pretty much by myself and learned to enjoy solitude instead of hating it.

When you spend enough time alone, you come to learn the freedom it provides and you actually crave it. So for me, I will operate alone for the most part.

There's something about being out with just my Leica CL and a lens that just works. No one to wait for, no one to compromise with on where to go next, and no one to apologize to when I want to stand on a corner for 20 minutes watching light change on a building. If I see something interesting down a side alley, I can just go. No group discussion required.

The Leica CL is practically invisible anyway. The small form factor means I can blend into crowds at markets or slip into doorways without drawing attention. Try doing that with a group of photographers bristling with tripods and camera bags - you'll clear the street in seconds.

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The Freedom to Move at Your Own Pace

The standard recipe for success is pretty simple. Don't tell anyone you're going out shooting and then go. Lol… I was only half joking here, if you're serious then you will just go.

Another thing that is special about solo photography is that you can explore at a pace that is inconceivable by others. You can go as slow or as fast as you want and can even get into areas where multiple people just would not be feasible.

I've had photowalks where I covered 10 miles in an afternoon because I was following interesting scenes from neighborhood to neighborhood. I've also had sessions where I spent three hours within a two-block radius because the light was just right. Both were equally rewarding, and both would have been impossible if I'd been trying to coordinate with someone else's schedule or energy level.

When I'm alone with my camera, time sort of disappears. I'm not thinking about whether my companion is getting bored or hungry or tired. I'm just in the flow of observation and capture. That's when the best images happen - when you're not trying to make them happen, they just unfold in front of you.

The Drawbacks (Because There Are Some)

Now this is not without its pitfalls either. You see, when you don't collaborate with others your projects typically won't grow past a certain point. If you are the kind of person who has big ambitions for your projects, then operating like me is probably not the best idea.

To be fair though, it is not without its pitfalls too. For some people, being alone with your thoughts is actually terrifying. So if you need interaction with others, then what I am doing here is not for you.

I'm not going to lie and say solo photography is for everyone. Missing out on collaboration means missing out on second perspectives, on someone to watch your back, on bouncing ideas around. If your camera fails, you're on your own. If you get a flat tire on the way home, there's no one to help. And yeah, your channel or your business or your Instagram probably won't grow as fast without the networking and collaboration that comes from working with others.

But here's the thing - I'm okay with that. My photography isn't about building an empire or going viral. It's about the process, the meditation, the simple act of seeing and capturing. And that works best for me when it's just me and the camera.

Gear Considerations for Solo Shooting

Over the years I've learned that when you're shooting alone, your gear choices matter even more. You can't hand off a second camera body to someone else. You can't ask your buddy to carry the extra lens. Everything you bring, you carry.

This is why the Leica CL has become my go-to for solo work. One body, usually just one lens - typically my Voigtlander 35mm Nokton or the TTArtisan 35mm f1.4. A spare battery in my pocket. That's it. I've done full day photowalks with nothing more than that.

The SL2 with the APO Summicron is amazing, don't get me wrong, but that package is heavy and conspicuous. Great for certain kinds of work, but not ideal for wandering around a city for hours. When you're alone, you feel the weight of every piece of gear, and you notice when people notice you.

Minimal gear also means minimal decisions. I'm not standing there switching lenses and missing moments. I know what my 35mm can do. I know where I need to be standing to get the shot I want. It becomes instinctive. Photographer Eric Kim has written extensively about the benefits of minimal gear for street photography, and I've found his approach aligns well with solo work.

Safety and Awareness

Here's something nobody really talks about - shooting alone requires a different level of awareness. You don't have someone watching your back while you're looking through the viewfinder. You're responsible for noticing your surroundings, keeping track of your gear, and making smart decisions about where you go and when.

The Digital Photography School has good guidelines on staying safe as a photographer, which become even more important when shooting alone."

I stick to populated areas during daylight hours. I stay aware of who's around me. If something feels off, I move on. My wife usually knows where I am and when I expect to be back. These aren't revolutionary safety practices, but they matter more when you're solo.

The flip side is that this constant awareness makes you a better photographer. You're tuned in to everything happening around you. You notice details. You see patterns. You sense when something interesting is about to happen. That heightened awareness feeds directly into better images.

Finding Your Zone

When I wander the streets with my camera, I am at peace. No one to make sure you're not leaving behind or holding back. No judgement about equipment, it is just the process. If you have not found your zen activity then I recommend you start looking at what makes you really happy and focus on that.

This took me years if not decades to truly figure out. Looking back, things could have gone a very different way had I followed what worked for me instead of what other people said I should be doing.

For a while there I thought I needed to be out shooting with wide glass, getting close to people, being all up in the action like you see in classic street photography. That works for some people. Not me. I have a real problem invading personal space. It's a hard boundary for me, and trying to force myself past it just made photography stressful instead of enjoyable.

So I adapted. I shoot longer focal lengths (that 35mm on the crop sensor CL gives me a 50mm equivalent field of view). I find my scenes from a respectful distance. I wait for moments to develop instead of forcing them. And you know what? The images are better because I'm comfortable, I'm in my element, and I'm enjoying the process. Not everyone needs to shoot like Henri Cartier-Bresson to do great street photography - finding what works for you is what matters.

How to Get Started with Solo Photography

If you're thinking about trying solo photography, here's my advice: just start. Don't overthink it.

Grab your camera, one lens, and head out somewhere familiar. Your own neighborhood is fine. Walk around for an hour. See what you notice. Don't put pressure on yourself to come back with amazing images - just get comfortable being out there alone with your camera.

Once you're comfortable close to home, expand your range. Try a different neighborhood. Head downtown. Visit a park. Each time you go out, you'll build more confidence and develop your own rhythm.

The first few times might feel weird. You might be self-conscious. You might wonder what you're doing wandering around by yourself with a camera. That's normal. It passes. Eventually you stop thinking about yourself and start noticing everything else.

Solo Doesn't Mean Isolated

Here's the thing people sometimes misunderstand - shooting solo doesn't mean you're antisocial or that you hate people. It just means you prefer the creative process to be solitary.

I still enjoy talking with other photographers. I still like sharing images and getting feedback. I still appreciate seeing what others are creating. I just don't want to coordinate schedules or compromise vision when I'm actually out shooting.

Some of my best photo conversations happen after the fact - showing someone what I found, talking through why I framed something a certain way, learning what others are working on. The difference is the actual capture happens on my terms, at my pace, following my instincts.

The Bottom Line

Solo photography isn't the only way or even the best way - it's just the way that works for me. Your mileage may vary. Some people thrive in collaborative environments. Some people need that external motivation to get out and shoot. Some people genuinely enjoy the social aspect of group photowalks.

Me? I enjoy the silence, the solitude, and the freedom to follow wherever my eye leads me. I love knowing that if I want to spend an hour photographing rust patterns on a fence, nobody's going to roll their eyes or check their watch. And when I get home and look through what I captured, those images feel entirely mine - for better or worse.

If you're wired like I am, give solo shooting a try. Start small, build confidence, find your rhythm. And if you discover it's not for you? That's fine too. The goal isn't to shoot alone - the goal is to shoot in whatever way brings you joy and produces images you're proud of.

Is solo photography safe? Solo photography can be safe with proper precautions. Stay aware of your surroundings, stick to well-lit public areas, let someone know your plans, and trust your instincts. The National Press Photographers Association offers additional safety resources for photographers working alone."

What gear do I need for solo photography? Keep it minimal - one camera body, 1-2 versatile lenses, spare battery, and memory cards. The lighter your kit, the more freedom you have to move and explore.

How do I get comfortable shooting alone? Start in familiar areas close to home. Build confidence gradually, practice being aware of your surroundings, and focus on the creative process rather than self-consciousness.

Is solo photography better than shooting with others? Neither is inherently better - they serve different purposes. Solo shooting offers freedom and personal creative flow, while group shoots provide collaboration and different perspectives.

Thanks for following along on my ramblings here. Check out my street photography portfolio to see what solo shooting produces, and I hope to hear from you soon!"

Other related posts and subjects

• Chasing the light…

• The Nikon Zf…

• My gear page

Recommended Gear for Solo Street Photography

Support this website by using these affiliate links to shop on Amazon:

Leica M11 Digital Rangfinder Camera

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.4 II

Urth M adapter L

Sandisk 128GB Extreme Pro memory cards

Nikon Zf Mirrorless Camera

Nikon 50mm f1.8 S Lens for Z mount

My favorite Pocket Notebook

My favorite Mechanical Pencil

Chattanooga Photowalk: Leica SL2 + Yashica 28mm Street Photography

Chattanooga's Rossville Avenue is one of those streets most people drive past without a second thought. But stop and look closer—you'll find pre-WWII architecture, a century-old cafe that's about to close forever, and urban decay that looks like a movie set. That's exactly what I did with my Leica SL2 and a vintage Yashica 28mm f/2.8 lens: parked for one hour of street photography and came away with something worth sharing.

Hamilton Parts Distributors: Pre-War Architecture in Chattanooga

Today we find me in Chattanooga yet again and this time I am setup on a side street off of Main street called Rossville Avenue and this road has some really neat old buildings on it, some of which I have photographed in the past but I like to get photos of them as I go along to show how they change with time. I get parked and pay for one hour of parking so I have to make it count. Putting a little pressure on myself to come away with SOMETHING of value in this time allotment.,,

Rossville Avenue in Chattanooga—one of those streets you drive past but never really see. Time to change that.

My first stop is the Hamilton Parts Distributors building that has been NOT a parts distributor for quite some time as of this point…2023. The building is really starting to show its age too with numerous windows bricked up on the sides as well as the front giving it a sort of dystopian imbalanced look. This could be a set right out of a movie or something. I took several photos from different angles today and some look better than others. I really like the front door and the corner that I get today for some reason… Here they are, what do you think?

I love how the building still has remnants of the signage that was painted on it some time in the past. Also look at the foundation material—today it's all either poured concrete or cement blocks and has been for many decades. So I'm going to speculate this is pre-war construction, meaning before World War II, based on these limestone foundation stones.

These stones look like they were repurposed from another construction site that existed before this building did. I've seen evidence of these cut stones going back to the mid-19th century in Chattanooga, so I know these are probably something left over either from a fire or were just cast off when another building was demolished. The people who built this building saw a chance to save a few dollars on this part of the construction.

Also notice that they didn't think these stones were very appealing—they hid them behind a mortar stucco finish as you can see in the front door photo. Practical, but not pretty.

What I really love about locations like this is that they tell stories about how Chattanooga was built. This isn't some sterile modern construction—this is history you can see and photograph. The bricked-up windows, the deteriorating facade, the repurposed foundation stones—it all adds up to a building that looks like it could be a set piece in a dystopian film. And it's just sitting here on Rossville Avenue where most people never even glance at it.

The corner angle showing all those bricked-up windows. Dystopian and unbalanced—looks like a movie set.

The front entrance of the old Hamilton Parts Distributors building. Notice the limestone foundation stones—likely pre-WWII construction repurposed from an earlier building.

Zarzours Cafe: 100 Years of Chattanooga History (Closing Soon)

My next stop was right next door at Zarzours Cafe.

Zarzours Cafe—over 100 years in business and closing in less than a month. I'll be eating there before they close. How could I not?

This cafe has been in business for over 100 years. Yeah, you read that right—a century, as you can see on their sign. And it's closing in less than a month from when I took these photos.

I'd never eaten there before this photowalk, which honestly is a little embarrassing considering how long they've been around. But I made a promise to myself right then: I'm going to sit at their cafe and enjoy the fine cuisine they've been serving for a century before they close their doors for good. How could I let that slide? A business that survives 100 years in Chattanooga—through the Great Depression, World War II, economic changes, everything—deserves to be experienced and remembered.

This is what urban photography is really about for me. Sure, you can go shoot pretty buildings and interesting light, and that's fine. But when you're documenting places like Zarzours that are about to disappear, you're preserving Chattanooga history. These photos matter in a way that just "pretty pictures" don't. In ten years, twenty years, someone's going to search for Zarzours Cafe and these images will be part of the record of what it looked like before it closed.

Back to the walk at hand. I took a couple of photos of the restaurant and parking area and headed on down the street.

Another angle of Zarzours. A century of Chattanooga history about to become just a memory.

Koch Foods and Lookout Mountain: Iconic Chattanooga Skyline

The next stop was at the Koch Foods Processing plant. This is one of two processing plants inside the city that I am aware of. These have been here for decades too so they are pretty much fixtures of the city at this point. One is on Broad street and the other is here on Rossville Ave. It being such an iconic location coupled with the skyline containing Lookout Mtn as well makes for a cool photo to me.

Koch Foods processing plant with Lookout Mountain in the background—an iconic Chattanooga skyline view that's been here for decades.

Main Street Chattanooga: Urban Photography in Action

After the chicken plant, I made my way over to Main street and did a little photography on Main as well. Main usually has something really colorful as well as interesting too, this is why I usually always make my way over and look around for a little while at a minimum…

Same spot, faster shutter speed to freeze the construction scene. Main Street always has something interesting going on.

Leica SL2 + Yashica 28mm: Why This Combo Works for Street Photography

These two photos just go to show what all can be found on Main street even when it is not having some sort of special event. All it takes is a little creativity and time of your part to come away with some interesting photos. Now you might be thinking these are not interesting photos, and you will be right as the photo interest rate will vary from person to person, but I found that these to be quite interesting so I am sharing them with you…lol. The difference between the two photo primarily is the shutter speed as one is really slow to blur the truck and the other is faster so it will capture the whole construction scene with out any motion blur on my part.

Main Street with a slow shutter to blur the truck. The Leica SL2's IBIS makes this kind of handheld shot possible.

Leica SL2 + Yashica 28mm: Why This Combo Works for Street Photography

The Yashica 28mm f/2.8 is one of those vintage lenses that just works. It's not fancy, it's not expensive, and it doesn't have modern coatings or any electronic connections. But for street and urban photography like this Chattanooga photowalk, it's exactly what I need.

The 28mm focal length gives you enough width to capture environmental context—like the whole Hamilton Parts building facade or the Koch Foods plant with Lookout Mountain in the background—without getting into ultra-wide territory where everything starts looking distorted. It's the kind of focal length where you can work close to your subject or step back and get the whole scene, and either way, the composition feels natural.

Paired with the Leica SL2, this combination is almost perfect for what I'm doing. The SL2's IBIS (in-body image stabilization) means I can hand-hold at slower shutter speeds than I could with any other camera. That Main Street shot where I blurred the truck? That's 1/15 second or slower, handheld, with a manual focus lens. Without IBIS, that would be a blurry mess. With the SL2 compensating for camera shake, it's clean and usable.

The focus peaking on the SL2 makes manual focusing with the Yashica fast and accurate. I set focus peaking to show me exactly where sharp focus is, and between that and the bright EVF, I can nail focus even in challenging light. It's honestly more enjoyable to shoot with than autofocus sometimes—you're more engaged with the process, more intentional about what you're focusing on.

And here's the best part: the Yashica 28mm cost me a fraction of what a native L-mount lens would cost. I get great image quality, I enjoy the process, and I'm not worried about damaging an expensive modern lens while walking around industrial areas of Chattanooga photographing old buildings. It's the perfect urban photography setup.

IBIS and Adapted Lenses: Technical Advantages of the Leica SL2

One thing I want to emphasize about shooting adapted vintage lenses on the Leica SL2 is how much the IBIS changes what's possible. In-body image stabilization isn't just a convenience feature—it fundamentally changes how you can use manual focus lenses in real-world shooting.

With older cameras, the rule of thumb was that your minimum handheld shutter speed should be roughly 1/focal length. For a 28mm lens, that means 1/30 second or faster. Slower than that and you'd get camera shake blur unless you had very steady hands or were bracing against something.

The SL2's IBIS throws that old rule out the window. I regularly shoot at 1/15 second, 1/8 second, sometimes even slower if I'm careful. The sensor is compensating for my hand movement in real-time, which means I can use lower ISOs for better image quality, or shoot in lower light conditions without needing a tripod.

For street and urban photography where you're often in shaded areas or shooting late in the day, this is huge. The Yashica 28mm has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, which is good but not super fast. In dimmer light, without IBIS, I'd be pushing ISO up to 1600 or 3200 to maintain usable shutter speeds. With IBIS, I can stay at ISO 400 or 800 and let the shutter speed drop, knowing the stabilization will keep things sharp.

It's one of those features that doesn't seem like a big deal until you actually use it in the field, and then you wonder how you ever shot without it. Vintage glass on a modern mirrorless body with IBIS is genuinely the best of both worlds.

Some are asking…

Best Time to Shoot Rossville Avenue: Morning light is good for the Hamilton Parts building facade. Late afternoon gives you nice side light on Zarzours and the other buildings along the street. Main Street is active all day, but I prefer shooting there in the afternoon or early evening when the light gets more interesting.

Parking and Logistics: Like I mentioned, metered parking is available right on Rossville Avenue. One hour was enough time for me to hit Hamilton Parts, Zarzours, Koch Foods, and make my way to Main Street. If you want to spend more time, pay for two hours to give yourself breathing room.

Safety: This isn't the touristy part of Chattanooga (it is more for the local crowd in this area) so just be aware of your surroundings. It borders an industrial area, not dangerous, but use common sense. Don't leave gear visible in your car, keep your camera bag close, and stay alert. I've never had any issues, but it's always smart to be aware when you're photographing in less-traveled parts of town.

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Leica M11 Digital Rangefinder Camera

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Urth M adapter L

Sandisk 128GB Extreme Pro memory cards

Nikon Zf Mirrorless Camera

Nikon 50mm f1.8 S Lens for Z mount

My favorite Pocket Notebook

My favorite Mechanical Pencil

Frequently Asked Questions About Chattanooga Photography

Where is the best street photography in Chattanooga?

Main Street and Rossville Avenue are excellent for urban and street photography. Main Street is more polished with events, murals, and restaurants—it's the tourist-friendly side of downtown. Rossville Avenue offers grittier architecture and history. The area around the old Hamilton Parts Distributors building has pre-WWII structures that make for compelling photography if you're into urban decay and architectural history.

For skyline shots, look for locations where you can frame Lookout Mountain in the background—it's iconic Chattanooga and makes for instantly recognizable compositions. The Koch Foods plant area on Rossville gives you that view. Also worth checking: the riverfront, the Walnut Street Bridge, and the side streets off Main where you'll find older buildings and interesting character that don't make it into the tourist brochures.

Is Zarzours Cafe still open in Chattanooga?

As of when I took these photos in late 2023, Zarzours Cafe was preparing to close after over 100 years in business. This century-old Chattanooga institution on Rossville Avenue was a landmark, and I made it a point to photograph it—and eat there—before it closed forever. If you're reading this after 2023, it's likely already closed, which makes these photos even more valuable as historical documentation of Chattanooga's changing landscape.

It's one of those things that makes urban photography meaningful to me. You're not just capturing pretty pictures—you're documenting history before it disappears. Businesses that survive 100 years deserve to be remembered, and photography is how we do that.

Can you use vintage lenses for street photography?

Absolutely. I shot this entire Chattanooga photowalk with a Yashica 28mm f/2.8—a vintage adapted lens on my Leica SL2. The 28mm focal length is great for street photography because it captures environmental context without being too wide or distorted. You get the subject plus the surrounding architecture and scene, which tells a more complete story.

The Leica SL2's IBIS and focus peaking make manual focusing with vintage glass practical and enjoyable even in fast-moving street situations. Plus, vintage lenses have character and cost a fraction of modern glass. For street photography where you're often shooting at f/5.6 to f/8 anyway, vintage lenses perform beautifully. The Yashica 28mm is sharp, handles well, and cost me way less than any modern L-mount 28mm would.

What camera settings work best for urban photography?

For urban photography like this Chattanooga photowalk, I typically shoot in aperture priority mode at f/5.6 to f/8. This gives you good depth of field to keep both foreground and background reasonably sharp while keeping shutter speeds manageable in changing light conditions.

The Leica SL2's IBIS lets me hand-hold at slower speeds than I could with other cameras—like that Main Street shot with the motion-blurred truck. I set a minimum ISO (usually 100-400 depending on available light) and let the camera adjust shutter speed based on the scene. For adapted manual lenses like the Yashica 28mm, I use focus peaking to nail focus quickly and confidently.

If you're shooting architecture specifically, sometimes I'll stop down to f/11 or f/16 for maximum sharpness corner-to-corner, but for general street photography, f/5.6 to f/8 is the sweet spot.

Where can I park for photography on Rossville Avenue in Chattanooga?

There's metered street parking along Rossville Avenue. I paid for one hour of parking which gave me enough time to walk and photograph the Hamilton Parts building, Zarzours Cafe, Koch Foods, and make my way over to Main Street. The parking is affordable and convenient, and the walk between all these locations is pretty short—maybe a quarter mile total if you're hitting everything.

Just be aware of your surroundings. This area is more industrial and local than touristy, so stay alert when you're setting up shots and wandering around. It's not dangerous, but it's also not the Walnut Street Bridge where there are tourists everywhere. Just use common sense like you would in any urban environment.

How do you photograph closing businesses before they're gone?

When I heard Zarzours Cafe was closing after 100 years, I made it a priority to photograph it while I still could. These historical documentation shots become more valuable over time as the city changes. My advice: shoot multiple angles, capture signage clearly, and include contextual details like the parking lot, neighboring buildings, and street views that show where it sits in the neighborhood.

Take both "beauty shots" and straightforward documentary photos. You're not just making art—you're preserving Chattanooga history. The signage, the facade, the surrounding context—all of it matters for the historical record.

And if you can, patronize the business before it closes. I planned to eat at Zarzours before they shut down for good. If something is worth photographing because it's historically significant, it's worth supporting while you still can.

That's one hour of parking on Rossville Avenue in Chattanooga—from pre-WWII architecture at Hamilton Parts Distributors to a century-old cafe about to close forever, to the iconic skyline view at Koch Foods with Lookout Mountain in the background. Not bad for a quick urban photowalk with a Leica SL2 and a vintage 28mm lens.

Chattanooga has so much history hiding in plain sight. You just have to park, get out, and look. Next time you're driving through, skip Main Street for a minute and explore Rossville Avenue. You'll find stories in every building.

Have you photographed Chattanooga or documented historic locations before they're gone? Drop a comment—I'd love to hear about your urban photography spots.

Want more Chattanooga photography and Leica SL2 content? Check out my other photowalks and vintage lens reviews on the blog.

A day out with Aaron in Chattanooga

It was time.

We have not gathered to shoot photos in quite some time now so Aaron found there was a beard competition happening in Chattanooga and decided to make his way down for it.

When he arrived we spent the evening playing with stuff (his new Z8 in particular) and catching up. But then it was off to bed so we could get up and start our big day of photography.

The next morning comes around and we down some coffee and make a plan to meet up about lunchtime as I had to go to our Church’s Association as a delegate. Seems I made a mistake and assumed I didn’t need to go… lol, I see what that got me. Anyway, I really enjoy Association so it wasn’t like a chore, it meant changing plans a little from the original plans for the day.

So after I finish with business at association, I head over to the Harley Davidson dealership which is where the beard competition is being held. There I find Aaron is short order and it is really crowded. He basically tells me to get my camera out and take a picture with it so I sheepishly do as I am told.

You see I am not very aggressive with my photography especially when it involves people. I will ask at times but most of the time, this is why I don’t shoot aggressive street stuff. So now I am starting to get some photos and it is exactly as he mentioned. People happy to get their photos captured are everywhere. Like this fellow below, he was more than happy to pose for me. I will be honest, this kind of event is the perfect thing to break down your personal barriers to shooting photos of people you don’t know.

Even the girls got in on the fun!

Well the beard competition winds down about 3 or so in the afternoon and we decide to rearrange the rest of the day to shoot some street photography in downtown and also to go have supper at a great Italian restaurant later on.

The streets of Chattanooga were busier than usual with it being a holiday weekend but it still wasnt really bad where we went for our walk.

We found this mural with the light reflecting from the building across the alley and it was just something you couldn’t pass up.

We started on Main Street and then headed down Market Street to about 7th where we turned over to Broad Street and then back towards Main eventually diverting over to Cowart street before arriving at the truck.

So now you have the route, let see what we got. I kept joking about channeling my inner Eggleston as I would take photos of the mundane. Another thing I have learned is my Leica wants to shoot about 2/3 stop over exposed compared to my friends Nikon cameras. I kept -2/3 stop exposure compensation dialed in the whole time. I did this to keep the sky from being blown out as the shadows would be dark due to the bright afternoon sun. I will dig into the setup on my camera more to see if I can find out why it is doing that.

Along the way we saw a lot of cool stuff to photograph, like in the images below where it is different light so the images come out different from my usual time of day. With the light further over to the west we kept getting these awesome light spill shots like the one below of the old Rone Regency Jewelers location. This location will be sorely missed by me when they finally do something with this building. I love the gritty nature of the old signage and it wasn’t long ago that the windows were not boarded up so you could actually see inside the store. Even so, the black painted plywood makes a nice contrast to the lighter color of the upper section of the building bringing balance to the image.

We also found a few people to photograph as well. It was not quite as busy as I had figured it would be for a holiday weekend in the downtown area, but there were a few people out and about and I was able to grab a few photos of them. The Leica SL2 is a great camera for this kind of photography as it makes stunning portraits as well as makes for a wonderful, albeit heavy, street camera.

All in all we had a great time and then even got to go eat wonderful Italian cuisine later too. What more could you ask for? Well, there is one more thing I could ask for…

Lightroom Classic… I did it, I went over to the dark side and installed Lightroom back on my system again. It has the power to edit like I need finally and I kept running into problems that Exposure couldn’t easily solve for me so it was time to upgrade…or move over laterally to or what ever you call it…So going forward, I will be learning how to use Lightroom to edit my photos…wish me luck.

If you want to see more abotu this day, I made a vlog cideo about the photowalk portion of the day and it can be watched here.

Youtube link to vlog

Sometimes, when I go for a photowalk, I don’t want to be a loner…

When I go out to shoot photos I normally go alone as it fits my time table perfectly and I dont have to do any coordination with anyone else. I just grab my kit and go. Well, today is different.

So on this day I linked up with Tim Childers at Mean Mug coffee on Main street in Chattanooga TN and started out with a cup of coffee and some chatting about our youtube channels. Then it was off to find interesting photos and explore some of the old industrial part of the city.

We begin by making our way down to the old foundry turned farmers market. On the way I noticed some interesting stuff at a local processing plant before getting to the farmers market. After grabbing a couple of shots there we headed over to the market space and make some photos of the skate park.

The skate park was basically abandoned so once we worked the scene over as best we could we decided to head over towards the river. From the skate park we make our way to the riverfront industrial area where we grab some photos occasionally while walking down to the aquarium. This is a unique are as it is being converted to modern condominiums and there is a huge development project slated later to construct a park and such as well.

Once we got downtown, we decided to get out of the heat for a little while and grab some lunch at Taco Mac before making our way back to our cars on Main Street. The longer we walked, the hotter it got on this day and by the time we got to Taco Mac I was soaked. We stayed there till I dried out and then went back out in it for more. Haha. Market street has a fair bit of shade fortunately so we was able to avoid most of the sun while heading back to the car.

Some notable stops along the way for me were the intersection of Main and MLK, the HWY 27 bridge, the skate park and the processing plant for me. I hope you enjoyed this little AAR about our photowalk and if you haven’t done it yet, go check out both of our videos from this day at the links below.

Links to both videos are here:

David Saylors Photowalk VLOG

Tim Childers Photowalk VLOG

Also, wanted to thank you for following my blog as well as my videos, It means the world to me.

Photography on a movie set

What do you photograph when on a movie set to capture the essence of the set? I felt my job was more to do that than to capture the movie per say. That’s the movie makers job, not mine.

Here I started at the front gate. If you will notice, it’s nondescript and you really have no idea what is here at all. This is by design for obvious reasons but I still found it interesting to see how bland it was.

The sound stage is a controlled space where “sets” are built to look like locations but the film makers can control literally everything in the environment such as sound, light and weather. It was important to me to get this “side” of the set to tell the whole story.

This is what the other side of that rough framed wall has on it. A complete first century Roman executive office ready for the official to go to work. As you can see, this set of photos is not what you would normally see when watching the movie.

Another aspect I wanted to capture was the people that were there both as tourist and as employees of the location. This shows all of that in one photo as well as how the “more permanent” set features, and then a tarp to protect something not weather resistant too.

Here we have visitors, film crew, actors, film production gear, in a period setting all in one photo. This is what a behind the scenes photo should look like to me. Capturing what is NOT on camera rather than trying to see what is being filmed. This is where the interesting part is at for me. Of course most other people don’t see things like me. They want to see things like the photos below.

Notice how I framed out anything not period correct…

This is fine if you are wanting to maintain the aesthetic of the period in your photos, but that is not my goal.

This is more my speed. Here we have a prop stored in an out of the way spot that is in stark contrast to the modern building in which it is located. Below is another image I quite like. You have a Roman quarter with a prop guy working on decorating the area for an upcoming scene. His presence brings a contrast to the image that makes you wonder about it.

Above is a great example. Here we have gear carts stored in the shade for filming in a nearby area. The juxtaposition is intriguing to me for some reason.

The above image is more subtle though. At a glance it is period correct, but upon closer inspection things will start to appear that should not be there. Like the wheel of a cart or a tarp in the back ground.

As you can see it is fun trying to tell a different story from what the set was built to be used for. The set has become a different part of the actual story which is the behind the scenes life and not first century AD. I hope this has inspired you to do something similar with your photography and thanks for following along!

Why don't I shoot more landscape photography?

The short answer…it is out of my reach.

Mid day sun is “flat”…

You see I have always loved shooting nature and landscape photography and such but once I started really looking at it seriously, I started to realize that it can only be shot at certain times of the day or it doesn’t have that magical look to it.

Deep blue hour adds to this image where the building is white and red neon primarily.

Where the sun is at in the sky makes a ton of difference to how the image looks and for the most part, the higher the sun angle the less interesting the image. Just watch most landscape photography youtube videos and you will see them getting up several hours before dawn so they can get the sky colors like they want with the mood of the terrain like they want as well. Most of the time it is dawn or dusk only for the photos they want. This is for good reason too, the images just won’t be interesting otherwise.

You see, the shallow sun angle makes all sorts of things different and not just the direction the light is coming from. It changes the color of the light, the size of the shadows, how dark the shadows are, the sun controls lots of environmental elements like fog rising off of the grass or water, and if there is frost or not in the image. These are just a few of the things the sun directly controls, but you get the idea.

The main thing for me though is that I am not able to get out at these times of the day so I end up shooting either mid-day or early evening. Both of these are terrible for landscape photography and the images out there prove it. You just can’t get good images of wonderful vistas at those times, it only takes a moment to search the web to see this is true.

I do occasionally get out at the right times and will snag a cool photo or two of some cool landscape stuff, but for the most part … not…

What I do get are photos like the one below. I can get out at night some, and mid day as it seems to work out, but not at golden hour or blue hour either for the most part, but sometimes I will get that chance, so instead I have embraced night photography as well as high contrast mid day photography, which works well for street photography if more people were in the area.

I will also do some local documentary style photos of stuff like buildings in the town that are changing or if there is some kind of activity. Most of the time though, I end up just walking around.

This also turns out to be a good practice as it gives you perspective and you will start to notice images that you didnt see before. It makes me more observant of the environment or so it seems.

Well, I successfully wandered down a rabbit hole anyway… lol. You get the idea though, I am pretty sure I am not alone in why I cant do landscape photography and I am also sure there are more reasons than these. what do you shoot because of your circumstances instead? Leave a comment below and until next time. Get your camera out!!!

Industrial Landscape Photography in Jasper TN

The other day while on a business call, I had to travel through an industrial area and my eye just started picking up these images. Now I cant get them out of my head till I go shoot them.

This is the life of a photographer… once you get a composition in your head, you cant let it go till you shoot it.

It is interesting to me that I work like that. I will get fixated on a photo I want and nothing else will make me happy till I get it.

I am pretty sure that I am not alone on this either. I think it is part of the creative mindset. The photos I have in mind are of the industrial landscape that are local to my area. I saw the area in the morning light and it had this ethereal or maybe apocalyptic vibe. Like it was abandoned but was still intact and could be turned on at any moment. This is because I like those kinds of movies too, I guess.

So here is the plan, get back over there with a camera in the early morning light and shoot a bunch of stuff and then see what I got.

I found the air a little less foggy upon my return, but the morning light made it look good nonetheless so I got out and started getting images. The first stop was a plating factory that was in full operation and had a bunch of steam coming out of the factory. I had to shoot over a 6’ tall fence to get my image. It took several tries to get the one I wanted, but I finally got it.

Then I moved to work compositions around the railroad and associated infrastructure. The balance of the images are centered around this concept. I even hit pay dirt when a local switch engine showed up to move some tanker cars around!

My favorite image though has to be the image of the abandoned cattle gate. This is urban decay at its finest and I love this sort of thing for some reason. I hope this post and images inspires you to go back to something that caught your eye and get a photograph or two of it.

Until next time, get your camera out and go take a picture with it.

David - The Georgia Photographer

Chattanooga Street Photography #6

Well, it has been a while since I have done one of these and for a couple of reasons. I wont run down that rabbit hole right now as the subject is street photography.

Well, maybe a little peek into the rabbit hole is needed. I have been active in my street photography but with an emphasis on video content so the street photos for a long time were mediocre…at best. BUT NOW, video production is not my main priority anymore so the attention on my photos can come to the forefront.

With this also comes my styles and preferences as well and I think they show in the photos I have been capturing.

What I have learned is that I dont want photos of people just walking down the street anymore, I want them doing something more. Anything more than just walking is better than …just people walking down the street…

Well, it seems that getting those photos in Chattanooga, during the windows of time that I have, is pretty tough. This hasn’t stopped me from trying though…it has made the process take longer than I thought it would. I see all the “street” photos of people just walking across intersections and down streets, on side walks, crossing the street and so on.

At least this fellow is multi-tasking…and had no clue I was sitting 5 feet away…

I get it, this is all you have sometimes to get, but what story is it telling the viewer? Now, comes the controversial part, are you shooting for others to view your work or are you shooting photos for your own personal pleasure only? If you do both, you end up letting one or the other down. This is my observation at least, and I base my position simply on social media photo sharing sites. People like a certain photo and literally all the Instagram photogs start shooting those kinds of photos so they will get the engagement on their image as well. This is shooting for the viewer and not yourself. If you choose to shoot what you like, it may never get any traction on social media since it is not the current hotness that everyone seems to like. This is shooting for your self, I mean, if you shoot for yourself, do you even share your photos? If you do, why? You see, shooting for yourself is not to please others, so why share them at all? See my point? This is what Vivian Maier did and is a perfect example of shooting for your own pleasure, as far as I know, she never told anyone about her hobby and it wasn’t even uncovered until after her death and someone bought her photos at a yard sale.

I have a sort of combination of both ideas in what I do. I will share some photos, usually not my personal best either, just something to let people know what I am doing more than anything, but most of my images are kept safe at home on my hard drive and are building into projects over time. I have been building up the courage to see if a gallery will want to host them at some point, but to be honest, this is currently a pipe dream in my eyes as most of my images are simply just snapshots and not gallery material.

Recently I have been looking for specific types of images. There are several types, but in these I am looking for things like large prime color photos (like the ice cream vendor above) , negative space images that drive the eye, some urban decay photos, and even some historical images as I have been shooting in the same area long enough to see buildings come and go and how they are used differently over time. It is interesting to see these changes to be honest about it. Like the building pictured below. I grabbed the first photo of it 5 years ago and even then it was basically the front 40 feet of the old building as the rear portion had already been demolished and removed. Last week they finished the job and now the building looks like the bottom photo…

Old hotel across from Choo Choo circa 2017

This is when I knew I had gotten something historical. They were not going to even attempt to save the building at this point.

This what it looks like as of 5 SEPT 2022… Gone…

I have been doing this as a hobby, as a form of therapy, and I just plain enjoy the interaction with the world around me. Because of these things, I have captured a place in time and saved it from fading into obscurity now. This brings a level of satisfaction that I can not describe. This is why I like finding things other than people walking down the street to photograph when I am out…

What is your favorite thing to photograph when you go out on a walk? Let me know in the comments! Also, like this post if you actually liked it, I am thinking this will help get the word out with google, but I am not sure about that…

Anyway, get your camera out and go take a picture with it.