How to take better STREET PHOTOGRAPHS in harsh sunlight | LEICA M

When it comes to street photography, light can either make or break a photograph. Poor light can ruin an amazing composition, and great light can bring the simplest of images to life.
Even though colour photographs can work better in harsh sunlight, as predominantly black-and-white photographers, we have developed ways of working to get the best from the light while shooting in monochrome.
I have been shooting natural light photographs for over three decades and in this video, I share ways we shoot street photographs in the worst type of light - harsh, contrasty sunlight. It features our black-and-white photography and occasional forays into colour.
If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below.
Thanks for watching.
~ Jeff
Resources:
Jeff's website - jeffascough.com
Sarah's website - sarahascough.com
/ ascough_photo

[@Gravitys-NOT-a-force]

You have a knack for quantifying what's right or wrong with a photograph. You've taken some great photographs and I greatly respect your photographic advice - for that reason. There are photographs, however, which you will happily spend 60 seconds looking at while saying to yourself "Wow, that's a great one!" and others which, while having no obvious faults, are done with barely a glance. I'm arguing that it's not so easy to quantify the appeal of a piece of artwork - especially with words.

[@iaincphotography6051]

Love it, oh for the bright light and saturated colours of summer and those deep shadows that are formed, you guys are not scared of it, you embrace it, hell yes.

[@peterrothwell4964]

Master class thank you

[@AldermanFredCDavis]

Generally speaking, here in the U.S., I prefer to shoot in color on cloudy/overcast days, and/or within an hour of sunrise/sunset, and b&w on sunny days and/or at midday. Love the colors I get here in the northeast, especially on film and especially from October through February, there is a quality of light that just speaks to me.

[@nworbydnar]

What a great video and photos. The pace of the video is excellent.

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you 🙏

[@christiandumontphotography3996]

Very interesting video. The examples in photos are carefully chosen. Thank you so much.

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you for watching!!

[@johnwaine56]

Really valuable video. Thanks Jeff

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thanks John

[@gregpantelides1355]

Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom. I really appreciate your insights!

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you for watching 🙏

[@johnscratchley3288]

Some great tips to follow in this video.

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you. Glad you found the video useful 🙏

[@TomKaszuba]

I’ve been a fan for many years. These videos are wonderful. Thank you very much.

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you, Tom. We are glad you are enjoying the videos.

[@bujins123]

Gd information here

[@chrisathanasiadisphoto]

Great video. I live on the beach and shoot mostly in harsh sunlight so always looking for different ways to shoot and you gave me some ideas. Much thanks!

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Cheers. Thank you.

[@chrisathanasiadisphoto]

@@WalkLikeAlice thanks for the inspo. And I just bought a 21mm lens. The Leica lust is victorious once again!

[@alex70max]

Excellent video - inspriring

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you

[@ChrisSpeddings]

Just want to say, I love your videos. Seeing how you work with different situations is a real inspiration to go out and just shoot as much as I can! I love your Bournemouth videos in particular, as someone who lived and studied there for 4 years, I never made the most of the photography opportunities that you show in your videos! I am definitely going to go back and see it from a new perspective!

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you, Chris. That’s very kind of you to say so. I think everyone is guilty of not making the most of where they live. I know I am. It’s the travelling to other places which stimulates the eye. Cheers, Jeff.

[@mickeysphotography9262]

Excellent as always!😊

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

Excellent video , exellent examles and techniques explained

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thanks Christine 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@jasongold6751]

Great video. B/W so much more fun in digital. I love film, unless one prints, it's awful when scanned.

[@WalkLikeAlice]

I’ve got some decent results with scanning, but there are lots of variables and I’m always thinking that I could get a better scan. I don’t have that with digital.

[@carlmcneill1139]

This is one of the benefits of digital vs film. I can shoot in raw and use either color or b&w. With film you're stuck with what's loaded in the camera until you use that roll up. Unless you shoot color and you scan it as a raw file. Then you have a digital negative to work with.

[@WalkLikeAlice]

The other side of that argument is that if you decide to shoot with colour or b/w, your intent is different. The pictures you look for are different.

[@mrkrsl_]

Great stuff. Thanks!

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you, Mark

[@bujins123]

Nice lesson on light

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you 🙏

[@codyallen3729]

Do you plan on doing any videos on editing? I am curious how much of the results come down to the baked in leica look versus editing choices for things like color and clarity.

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Not at this stage. I'm happy to work privately with photographers on editing. Details of that are on my website jeffascough.com As for the Leica look, the Leica is easier to get to where we want to be with the editing, but I like to make sure everything is consistent across the various camera that we use. Hope that helps :)

[@zathraspersonal]

Great video - in fact I enjoy all of your output. I like shooting in strong light so this is very helpful. 😀

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you. Glad you found it useful 🙏

[@PeterGregg]

This is an awesome video in so many ways. Totally world class at every level all the way down to that handsome guy doing the narration lol 😎 This video alone is like getting a one on one class with Jeff. I am SO happy you stepped in front of the camera Jeff, it's about time, you have such a magnetic personality. Great imaging too - as they say "you must have a really good camera" hahaha. Big thumbs up on this video 👍👍👍

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you, Peter. Although the “handsome guy” comment is a bit of a stretch!! 😂🤪

[@astrodoug]

Thank you!!

[@WalkLikeAlice]

🙏🙏

[@LoveStoryArt]

Loved the video, makes me want to grab my camera and go downtown :o) As I'm newer to film photography my head was spinning to think about metering all those scenes with the various light :o)

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Thank you. Glad you liked it 🙏

[@John_Abernathy_]

What settings do you guys typically use? And are you focusing with the Visoflex or just using it to compose with zone focusing?

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Hi John. We are using M9 and Monochrom cameras with external brightline finders. They are used for compositional purposes only. Focusing is done via the rangefinder. Settings depend largely on the situation and we are both completely different in this respect. Maybe we should make a video on it as we get asked about setting a lot.

[@duncaninvest]

thank you

[@Gravitys-NOT-a-force]

Is it the filter - assuming you're using a filter - that causes "flare"? Do you have some tips for minimizing flare other than "don't shoot into the sun"?

[@WalkLikeAlice]

I have lenses that flare. Filters just add another layer to the flare. I like flare so i will actively use it. If you don’t want flare, don’t shoot into the sun, or at the very least, use a lenshood.

[@eunaosouovasco]

The like count is at 666, I need to change that before I watch the video

[@WalkLikeAlice]

Haha