Keepsake

Unseen, Sydney, Australia – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography Art Gallery

Keepsake, Circular Quay, Australia – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography Art Gallery

This is an unframed, limited edition collection landscape photography print of only 25 units. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl papers, structured to refract the highest values in colour and detail. It’s high-quality ink absorbing layer enables exceptional image quality with enormously detailed sharpness, and a very broad colour range, providing archival permanency of your artwork for over 100 years.

Canon 5DMk2, 28mm, F10, 1/80th sec, ISO 1600, no filter, light painting technique, processed in Lightroom.

You always see funny or quirky scenes around Circular Quay. Buskers, performers, miles of tourists and all sorts of cultures. I spotted this lady asking the aboriginal performers to stop playing the didgeridoo so she could take a photograph. Unbeknownst to her the aboriginal culture does not like photos of them directly as they believe it steals their spirit. I found it interesting that these willing performers would pose for this lady. I had to record the scene.

Keepsake, Circular Quay, Australia – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography Art Gallery

When photographing people on the street, get their permission first, or do not show their face. Try catching them in their natural state, not posed. I love movement as a blur technique as well, using a slow shutter speed. Gives the hint of human life but doesn’t define their identity. If you are going to ask someone to pose for a photograph, do as this woman has done and get to eye level. She hasn’t ask them to stand, she went down to them. The most natural flattering portraits, even on the street documentary poses, are done at eye to eye with the subject. If you want to try different looks, sure change your height or stance, but always get an eye to eye level image as well.