Your browser does not support script The Story Behind That Picture 234 - How to pic locations for photography
Thorsten von Overgaard's Photography Website
  Get Newsletter & Free eBook  

 
 
The Story Behind That Picture - 234
Subscribe for full access. It's free.           thorstenovergaard on Instagram Thosten von Overgaard on Facebook Thorsten von Overgaard on Twitter Thorsten von Overgaard on LinkedIn Thorsten von Overgaard on Flickr Thorsten Overgaard on YouTube Thorsten Overgaard video on Vimeo Thorsten von Overgaard on Leica Fotopark Thorsten von Overgaard on 500px  
leica.overgaard.dk


The Story Behind That Picture:
"Nothing happens if you go that way"

By: Thorsten Overgaard. October 14, 2022.

Add to Flipboard Magazine.

How to pick your locations for photography

A few days ago I walked to get morning coffee in Sultanahmet in Istanbul, in a place just behind the famous Blue Mosque. A carpet seller was offended I didn't pass by him on the street where the tourists normally go but instead headed for a hidden back road. "Why are you going that way? Nothing happens over there!" he yelled, and with that – without knowing it – he revealed the existence of the parallel universe I was about to explore.

I knew what I was doing. I was deliberately avoiding the tourist crowds. Already at this early hour 8AM, six busses had just parked on the side and were offloading 250 tourists who immediately followed their leader with the flag, as newborn born ducks in rows.

By walking via the back street where "there was nothing to see", I was following my usual path, and the path from last night where I got the photo below, and I wanted to see what I could do in daylight.

 

Night in a narrow back street in Sultanahmet in Istanbul. Leica M11 with Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95. © Thorsten Overgaard.
Night in a narrow back street in Sultanahmet in Istanbul. Leica M11 with Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95. © Thorsten Overgaard.

 

What happened last night was that I walked this way, and I saw this frame: The cobblestone street with light and shadows, framed with small buildings.

I stopped, took a test photo to set my exposure correct. Then I sat my focus on the lamp post and waited: Whatever would be coming, I would photograph 2-3 pictures the instant a person, scooter or car came into the focus line of the lamp post.

Few seconds later, this person came strolling on his two-wheeler. And then after that, nothing happened for minutes. It could have been the other way around; that nothing happened within this beautiful scene for the next 30 minutes. And I would have gotten nothing, because I would probably have given it 2-3 minutes of my time to wait and see what would happen.

             
     
Setting the scene: First I set the exposure, frame and focus.   Taking the photo: Then, once something happens in the frame, I take 2-3-4 photos. Also notice how the street light is blinking, invisible to the eye, but it is changing the scene from one frame to the next.
             

I take series of photos not only to nail the focus. I take series also because the rhythm changes (where the feet and hands are), the light changes, the facial expression changes. So you work with nailing the overall scene, then leave to coincidence what happens in the 1-2 seconds you are taking a series of 3-4 photos.

Then I usually wait for the next person or thing to enter the frame. I'll do this for as long as I find i worthwhile. Sometimes my patience and hope is half a minute, at other time 10 minutes. You can only be at one place at a time, so either you stay on one spot and miss another opportunity happening 20 minutes into the future. Or you get on with the show, heading to the next possible photos, without getting his one. So much in photography is about making choices.

I often also return to a scene again. A year later when the light and weather is the same, or next day at the same time. Or at another time where the light could be expected to be better.

 

Leave me alone

I love that the guy on the street yelled at me, "There's nothing to see there", because he is quite right. There is nothing to see; there is so much emptiness that you can make anything out of it.

Which leads me to the point of this article: The best photo locations are quiet streets, narrow streets, old and unplanned infrastructure. These offer all sorts of interesting angels, light compositions and scenes, and often the real local life in any city is found in the small streets.

I want to be left alone when I photograph. Just leave me the heck alone. This is is where you observe and see pictures and can wrap your mind around the idea of what it could become.

If there is too much commercial activity, to many guided signs, too many architects who have planned where to put the lamps and the trash cans, nothing really happens. Visually speaking. How could you possibly compose something unique out of something that clearly isn't?

Noisy and happening places are "filling the frame automatically" and that is not a good thing. Stillness allow for you to observe, decide and execute your photos.

Small streets. You walk, you turn a corner, you find the interesting route. On the way you stumble into local life, cute cafes, specialty stores, funny local people and activities, cats sleeping on the roof of a car, laundry hanging from third floor.

For some odd reason, Google maps – even when you walk – suggest main roads. It make sense when driving that the fastest and easiest way is the main routes. But for walking, they should be avoided. You look at the route Google suggest, and you look for how to reroute yourself via small streets.

Google maps say go this way   ou reroute yourself to the small streets
Google maps say go this way   You reroute yourself to the small streets
     

Or, you go in that direction, approximately. You get lost for a minute or two, then you look at the map to get back on track. Approximately. The road is the goal.

The rule is, that the wider the road and the more people that travel it, the least interesting it will be. Photography is like life. It's not about getting to the end of it and then you'll have alle the experience and have it all figured out. It's in the daily life you learn, and it is in the daily life you experience the small moments you will remember. If you recall your childhood, it's not the expensive moments your parents arranged for you that stand out. It's the most odd unimportant things that stand out as the most memorable.

This will be confirmed if you look at iconic photographs taken through history. They're never from The Blue Mosque or any other place "you must see". The best ones are unimportant people in unknown places doing everyday things.

 

"You must see ..."

No you don't. People will often suggest busy and messy areas they would never go themselves, but which are considered must see areas and things. It's just incomprehensible for a tuk-tuk driver why you would want to go see empty streets with beautiful light and not the historic places with too many tourists in ugly t-shirts and shorts. Everybody wants to go there, so clearly you must too.

They say you must go here   So you go here
They say you must go here   So you go here
     

 

They say you must go here   So you go here
They say you must go here   So you go here
     

 

The art of getting lost

Pick small streets, pick the quiet areas, pick the places even locals forget is there. Follow your intuition and go in whichever direction you have an idea could be something interesting and unknown.

 

So nice and quiet: An empty street after midnight in Istanbul. The kind of locations you don't find in tourist guides but by which afre everywhre if you observe what is in front of you. You see this and you know this could be a stage for something. Leica M10-R with Leica 50mm APO-Summicron-M f/2.0. © Thorsten Overgaard.
So nice and quiet: An empty street after midnight in Istanbul. The kind of locations you don't find in tourist guides but by which are everywhere i if you observe what is in front of you. You see this and you know this could be a stage for something. Leica M10-R with Leica 50mm APO-Summicron-M f/2.0. © Thorsten Overgaard.

 

Photography should be easy

The difference between play and work is that play is fun and work is no fun. Walking around and always wearing a camera, and occasionally making a good photo should be easy. It shouldn't be hard or difficult. If it is, its not your style.

A style, simply put, is to do what is truly you. Do what is obvious to you, and if you are afraid it will be too unrevolutionary, don't be so. It's only common looking to you because you see it all the time. When you take the photos and show others, they will be surprised because they never saw it that way.

"The writer's job is to tell the truth," Ernest Hemingway once said. "All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know," and I find that applicable to photography as another form of expression.

Most people are following the flag to see what it out there in the world. When you have a camera, you are holding the flag and people will follow to see what you want them to see.

 

More to come

Bon voyage with it all. Sign up for the newsletter to stay in the know. As always, feel free to email me with suggestions, questions and ideas.

/Thorsten Overgaard



A back alley in Chicago. Leica M10-P with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4. © Thorsten von Overgaard.
A back alley in Chicago. Leica M10-P with Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4. © Thorsten von Overgaard.


Job #2165-1022


Thorsten von Overgaard
Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Article Index
Leica M digital cameras: Leica L digital cameras:
Leica M11 Leica SL
Leica M10 Leica SL2
Leica M10-P Leica SL2-S
Leica M10-R Panasonic Lumix S1R
Leica M10-D Leica TL2
Leica M10 Monochrom Leica CL
Leica M9 and Leica M-E Leica L-Mount lenses
Leica M9-P Leica R digital cameras:
Leica M9 Monochrom Leica R8/R9/DMR
Leica M240 Small Leica mirrorless digital cameras:
Leica M246 Monochrom Leica D-Lux
Leica MD-262 and Leica M60 Leica C-Lux
Leica V-Lux
Leica M film cameras: Leica Q2 / Leica Q2 Monochrom
Leica MP Leica Q
Leica M4 Leica Digilux 3
Leica Digilux 2
Leica M lenses: Leica Digilux 1
Leica 21mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 Leica Digilux
Leica 21mm Leica Super-Elmar-M ASPH f/3.4
Leica 21mm Super-Angulon-M f/3.4 Leica R film cameras:
Leica 28mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 Leica R8 / R9
Leica 35mm Summilux-M ASPH FLE f/1.4 and f/1.4 AA Leica R4
Leica 35mm Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0 Leica R3 electronic
Leica 35mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0 Leicaflex SL / SLmot
Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 FLE
Leica 50mm Noctilux-M f/1.0 Leica compact film cameras:
Leica 50mm Noctilux-M f/1.2 Leica Minilux 35mm film camera
7artisans 50mm f/1.1 Leica CM 35mm film camera
Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f//1.4
Leica 50mm Summicron-M f/2.0 "rigid" Series II Leica R lenses:
Leica 50mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0 Leica 19mm Elmarit-R f/2.8
Leica 50mm Elmar-M f/2.8 collapsible Leica 35mm Elmarit-R f/2.8
Leica 75mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/1.25 Leica 50mm Summicron-R f/2.0
7artisans 75mm f/1.25 Leica 60mm Macro-Elmarit f/2.8
Leica 75mm Summilux-M f/1.4 Leica 80mm Summilux-R f/1.4
Leica 90mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.5 Leica 90mm Summicron-R f/2.0
Leica 90mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0 Leica 180mm R lenses
Leica 90mm Summarit-M f/2.5 Leica 250mm Telyt-R f/4.0
Leica 90mm Elmarit f/2.8 Leica 400mm Telyt-R f/6.8
Leitz 90mm Thambar f/2.2 Leica 35-70mm Vario-Elmarit-R f/2.8
Leitz Cine lenses: Leica 35-70mm Vario-Elmarit-R f/4.0
Leica Cine lenses from Leitz Cine Wetzlar
Leica S digital medium format:
History and overview: Leica S1 digital scan camera
Leica History Leica S2
Leica Definitions Leica S
Leica Lens Compendium
Leica Camera Compendium "Magic of Light" 4K Television Channel
The Solms factory and Leica Wetzlar Campus Thorsten von Overgaard YouTube Channel
Photography Knowledge Thorsten Overgaard books and education:
Calibrating computer screen for photographers Thorsten Overgaard Masterclasses & Workshops
Which Computer for Photographers? Lightroom Survival Kit (Classic)
What is Copyright? Advice for Photogarphers Lightroom Presets by Overgaard
Synchronizing Large Photo Archive with iPhone Lightroom Brushes by Overgaard
Quality of Light Capture One Software
Lightmeters Capture One Survival Kit
Color meters for accurate colors (White Balance) "Finding the Magic of Light" eBook (English)
White Balance & WhiBal "Die Magie des Lichts Finden" eBook (German)
Film in Digital Age "The Moment of Impact in Photography" eBook
Dodge and Burn "Freedom of Photographic Expression" eBook
All You Need is Love "Composition in Photography" eBook
How to shoot Rock'n'Roll "A Little Book on Photography" eBook
X-Rite "After the Tsunami" Free eBook
The Origin of Photography The Overgaard New Inspiration Extension Course I
Hasselblad/Imacon Flextight 35mm and 6x6 scanner The Overgaard Photography Extension Course
"Why do I Photograph?"
Leica Photographers:
Ralph Gibson Riccis Valladares
Henri Cartier-Bresson Christopher Tribble
Birgit Krippner Martin Munkácsi
John Botte Jose Galhoz
Douglas Herr Milan Swolf
Vivian Maier Jan Grarup
Morten Albek
Byron Prukston Richard Avedon
The Story Behind That Picture: Learn with Thorsten Overgaard:
More than 250 articles by Thorsten Overgaard Leica M9 Masterclass (video course)
Thorsten Overgaard Workshop Schedule Leica M10 Masterclass (video course)
Leica M240 Masterclass (video course)
Leica Forums and Blogs: Leica Q Masterclass (video course)
Leica M11 / M240 / M10 User Forum on Facebook Leica Q2 Masterclass (video course)
Jono Slack Leica TL2 Quick Start (video course)
Sean Reid Review (reviews) Street Photography Masterclass (video course)
Heinz Richter's Leica Barnack Berek Blog Adobe Photoshop Editing Masterclass
I-Shot-It photo competition The Photoraphers Workflow Masterclass
Adobe Lightroom Survival Kit 11
Capture One Survival Kit 22
Thorsten von Overgaard Academy Online
Thorsten von Overgaard Free Online Masterclass
Connect with Thorsten Overgaard: Overgaard Workshops & Masterclasses
Thorsten Overgaard on Instagram Overgaard One-on-One Training
Join the Thorsten Overgaard Mailing List Thorsten Overgaard Archive Licencing
Thorsten Overgaard on Facebook Commision Thorsten Overgaard
The Von Overgaard Gallery Store: Von Overgaard Ventilated lens shades:
Ventilated Shades "Always Wear A Camera" Ventilated Shade for Current 35mm Summilux FLE
Camera Straps "Always Wear A Camera" Ventilated Shade E46 for old Leica 35mm/1.4 lens
The Von M Camera Bag Ventilated Shade for Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH
The Von L Camera Bag Ventilated Shade E43 for older 50mm Summilux
The Von Mini Messenger Walkabout Camera Bag Ventilated Shade for 35mm Summicron-M ASPH
Desk Blotters 'Always Wear A Camera" Ventilated Shade for older 35mm/f2 lenses
Sterling Silver Necklace Ventilated Shade E39 for 50mm Summicron lenses
Software for Photography Ventilated Shade for Leica 28mm Summilux
Signed Thorsten Overgaard Gallery Prints Ventilated Shade for current 28mm Elmarit-M
Computer Shade for MacBook Pro Ventilated Shade for older 28mm Elmarti-M
Video Masterclasses Ventilated Shade E49 for 75mm Summicron
Photography Books by Thorsten Overgaard ventilated Shade E55 for 90mm Summicron
Home School Photography Extension Courses Ventilated Shade for 28mm Summaron
Ventilated Shade for 24mm Elmarit
Ventilated Shade E60 for 50mm Noctilux and 75/1.4
Gallery Store Specials Ventilated Shade for Leica Q and Leica Q2

Above: A moment in New York. © Thorsten Overgaard.

Thorsten Overgaard.
Thorsten Overgaard.

Thorsten von Overgaard is a Danish-American multiple award-winning photographer, known for his writings about photography and Leica cameras. He travels to more than 25 countries a year, photographing and teaching workshops to photographers. Some photos are available as signed editions via galleries or online. For specific photography needs, contact Thorsten Overgaard via email.

You can follow Thorsten Overgaard at his television channel magicoflight.tv.

Feel free to email to thorsten@overgaard.dk for questions, advice and ideas.




Also visit:

Overgaard Photography Workshops
Books by Thorsten Overgaard
Street Photography Masterclass Video
Adobe Photoshop Editing Masterclass
Adobe Lightroom Survival Kit 11
Lightroom Presets by Overgaard
Lightroom Brushes by Overgaard
Capture One Software download
Capture One Survival Kit 22

Capture One Styles by Overgaard
Signed Original Prints by von Overgaard

Von Overgaard Gallery Store
Ventilated Shades by Overgaaard
Leather Camera Straps
Camea Bags
Calfskin Camera Pouches
Leather Writing Pads
Sterling Silver Camera Necklace

Leica Definitions
Leica History
Leica Lens Compendium
Leica Camera Compendium
Leica 21mm Super-Elmar-M ASPH f/3.4
Leica 21mm Super-Angulon f/3.4
Leica 21mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4

Leica 28mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4
Leica 35mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4
Leica 35mm Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0
Leica 35mm APO-Summicron-M f/2.0

Leica 40mm Summicron-C f/2.0
Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95
Leica 50mm APO-Summicron-M f/2.0
Leica 50mm Summicron-M f/2.0
Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4
7artisans 50mm f/1.1
Leica 75mm Summilux-M f/1.4
Leica 75mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/1.25
7artisans 75mm f/1.25
Leica 90mm Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0
Leica 90mm Summilux f/1.5
Leica 35-70mm Vario-Elmarit-R f/2.8
Leitz Cine lenses
Leica L lenses

Leica M6

Leica M11
Leica M10
Leica M10-P

Leica M10-R
Leica M10-D
Leica M10 Monochrom
Leica M9, M9-P and Leica ME
Leica M9 Monochrom
Leica M 240
Leica M 240 for video
Leica M 262
Leica M-D 262

Leica M 246 Monochrom

Leica SL
Leica SL2
Leica SL2-S

Panasonic Lumix S1R
Leica R9 dSLR
Leica Q
Leica Q2
Leica Q2 Monochrom
Leica CL
Leica TL2
Leica Sofort
Leica S digital medium format
Leica X
Leica D-Lux

Leica C-Lux

Leica V-Lux

Leica Digilux

Leica Digilux 1

Leica Digilux 2
Leica Digilux Zoom

Leica Digilux 4.3

Leica Digilux 3

Light metering
White Balance for More Beauty
Color Meters

Screen Calibration
Which computer to get
Sync'ing photo archive to iPhone
The Story Behind That Picture
"On The Road With von Overgaard"

Von Overgaard Masterclasses:
M10 / M9 / M240 / Q / Q2 / TL2 /

Overgaard Photo Workshops

Buy eBooks by
Thorsten Overgaard
"A Little Book on Photography" "A Little Book on Photography"
Add to Cart

Add to Cart

"The Leica Q Know-All eBook"
Add to Cart Add to Cart
"Finding the Magic of Light" "Composition in Photography - The Photographer as Storyteller"
Add to Cart Add to Cart
"The Freedom of Photographic Expression" "The Moment of Emptional Impact"
Add to Cart

Add to Cart


The Portrait Book
How to Make People Beautifu
Add to Cart

Preorder: The Noctilux Masterclass
Add to Cart
Extension Courses
The New Photography Extension Course" "New Inspiration Extension Course"
Add to Cart Add to Cart

Lightroom
Survival Kit 11


Workflow
Masterclass

Add to Cart

Add to Cart

Video Classes

eBook
+Video

This is Street Photography

Street Photo
Masterclass

Add to Cart

Add to Cart


Leica Q2
Masterclass

"Leica Q Video Masterclass"
Leica Q
Masterclass

Add to Cart

Add to Cart
"Leica TL2 Quick-Start Video Course"
Leica TL2
Quick-Start
Video Course
"Leica Q Video Masterclass"
Preorder:
Leica M9
Masterclass
Add to Cart Add to Cart
"Leica M10 Video Masterclass" "Leica M 240 Video Masterclass"
Add to Cart Add to Cart
Lightroom Presets
Lightroom Presets Leica M10 Lightroom Presets Leica M9
Add to Cart Add to Cart
Lightroom Presets Leica TL2 Lightroom Presets Leica Q
Add to Cart Add to Cart
Lightroom Dutch Painters Presets by Thorsten Overgaard Leica Presets for Lightroom by Thorsten Overgaard
Add to Cart Add to Cart
"Hollywood Film Presets"
Add to Cart
Hemingway Presets for Lightroom by Thorsten Overgaard
Add to Cart

201 Lightroom Presets
+ 4 Export Presets
Add to Cart
Capture One Styles:
"Capture One Pro Survival Kit"
Capture One
Survival Kit 22
Leica Styles for Capture One by Thorsten Overgaard
Leica Styles for
Capture One
Add to Cart

17 Capture One Styles
Add to Cart



· © Copyright 1996-2023 · Thorsten von Overgaard


 

© 1996 - 2023 Thorsten Overgaard. All rights reserved.

 

Web Analytics