Just had Street Photog tutorial with John Easterby. It was pretty much as I thought it was going to be. He, very nicely, it has to be said, pointed out what he thought were some good bits in a set of what I know are pretty average images. I think I probably spent the most time of this assignment out of all we've been given so far, yet have come away with the most disappointing results. Having said that, the tutorial helped, because he gave some very insightful advice on how to approach this brief, ie, how to go about winning an unwritten acknowledgment/approval (could be verbal or just a smile etc) that you're operating in particular area and your presence is tolerated. It made alot of sense and made think maybe there are some rules to what is, in essence, an anarchic environment and way of making pictures.

Thanks for the feedback and advice Philip and Damian. I went out in a more positive frame of mind today and, although I didn't get any particularly good images, my mental attitude was better and I was a hell of a lot more relaxed. Hoping to use this new attitude tomorrow when I've got some of the afternoon free. I think alot of my difficulty lies in the fact that I've been limiting the assignment to my local area, and I don't feel anonymous enough. Poor excuse really, but it does play on my mind when I'm on the prowl.

First time blog use

OK, bare with me on this. I've never published or contributed to a blog before, so it's all pretty new. Expect some photos, links etc. at some point - that's if I work out how to do that sort of thing.
To be honest, it's good I started the blog today, as I've been working on the Street Photog brief, and I need to moan to myself (and anybody else out there) about just how difficult I'm finding it.
I had al these big ideas about where I'd shoot and what sort of images I'd get, but the majority of the time I'm coming away with cack handed grab shots that are badly composed, blurred and just downright shit. I really have to pull myself together on this and get into that fabled ZONE that many talk about. In fact, what is the ZONE and what does it feel like? Absolutely no idea. I would say I've reached the pole end of the zone at the moment - nerves, handshakiness, thought process completely skewed. Have a few more days to think and do something about this brief. Got Friday afternoon free to work on this, so I'm gona down a bottle of red at lunch time and walk around naked with my camera - I reckon no-one will notice my camera then.