I took the A7III and my two full frame lenses (both Sony - the 28-70 kit lens and the 85 f/1.8) into Philadelphia earlier this afternoon for a photo jaunt and general explore because I had some unexpected free time. My aim was to keep diving into the capabilities of the A7III and to get a mixture of city shots and candid 'street' images of the people around me.
Emergency crews on a break, watching a balancing act across the street. 85mm, f/1.8
I didn't know beforehand that there was a festival going on across what I think was Locust St. Things like that are perfect for street photography, especially if you struggle with the potentially confrontational nature of taking someone's picture without them being aware.
She's got her priorities straight. 85mm, f/1.8
I do get anxiety from that side of street photography, so it isn't my favourite style to shoot though I do enjoy the work of others in that field. That enjoyment comes with a caveat, however. I enjoy the following three things most about photography, and I'm always searching for them and how to convey them, whether the image is mine or someone else's:
Beauty. Not just 'a pretty sky' but something you can just feel as it hits you.
Truth. An unguarded expression when no-one is watching. A clear morning exactly as you saw it. Whatever it is.
Feeling. What you felt when you were there, or what the subject of your image is feeling.
Wrapped up in all that is my belief that, in almost all cases, the photographer should not be affecting the scene. Purposefully disturbing an animal to get a shot, physically rearranging landscape elements to make a different image, putting your camera into someone's face; these all feel instinctively wrong to me.
Because of that, street photography in my experience is infused with a tension between capturing the honesty of the moment and avoiding your presence affecting the situation.
85mm, f1.8
The above image is my favourite from today. Truth and feeling. I saw this couple sitting near Independence Hall with no-one else close by, just watching the people and the hustle and the noise from their own quiet little spot, in their own world.
A little history! 28-70 @ 28mm, f/8
I'm still tracking down Philadelphia's scenic spots, but it's safe to say this is among them! I'm happy with the performance of the 28-70 kit lens at the wider end of that zoom range, especially when stopped down to f/8. You can see decent contrast and sharpness across the building, and the corners aren't terrible either. Apologies for the image being slightly wonky.
Now that's what you call hair. 85mm, f/1.8
I've had my 85mm 1.8 lens for a while, because you can use it on the smaller crop sensor cameras like the a6000, albeit at a 127.5mm focal length. It was always a favourite of mine but the full frame sensor of the A7III elevates it to new heights. The crispness of the last image along with the smooth roll-off into the softer, defocused areas is just... beautiful. Love it.
Close crop of the last image.
This chap below was just strolling through, but I do like the un-self-conscious expression on his face. It also serves as a testament to the autofocus of the A7III; I focused and took this shot in half the time it takes to say 'flerp' but his eyes are perfectly sharp, and the colours straight out of camera are much more on-point than the other models I've used.
I hope you're enjoying these little blog snippets. I enjoy writing them, and it's a fun way to share more of the images I make, so there's more on the way. Do feel free to let me know what you think.