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Competition Images Due: “Your City/Neighborhood”

Creative Ways to Photograph Your City & Neighborhoods 

  1.   Play with Reflections and Light
    Puddle reflections: Capture inverted cityscapes in rain puddles or wet streets. Shoot low to the ground for symmetry, and wait for pedestrians to add life. 

    - Neon lights at night: Use long exposures (tripod required) to highlight vibrant signs or traffic trails. Pair with rain for doubled reflections. 

    - Golden hour shadows**: Shoot during sunrise/sunset to create dramatic silhouettes and elongated shadows on sidewalks or walls. 

  2. Explore Unconventional Angles|
    - Bird’s-eye views: Use rooftops, parking garages, or drones to capture layered cityscapes. Highlight patterns in streets or crowds.
     - Ground-level perspectives: Photograph bustling feet, storm drains, or fire escapes for abstract compositions. 

    - Fisheye lenses: Distort skyscrapers or alleys for dynamic, surreal effects. 

  3. Focus on Human Stories
    - Candid moments: Capture street vendors, commuters, or children playing. Use continuous shooting mode for spontaneity.
    - Portraits with context**: Ask locals (e.g., shopkeepers, performers) to pose against iconic backdrops like graffiti or markets. 
    - Nightlife energy: Use high ISO or motion blur to convey the vibrancy of bars, concerts, or late-night traffic.

  4. Highlight Contrasts and Patterns

    - Old vs. new: Juxtapose historic buildings with modern architecture. 

    - Color pops: Isolate bright doors, street art, or seasonal decorations against muted urban backdrops. 

    - Repetition: Frame rows of windows, bridges, or streetlights for geometric harmony.

    - Use reflections: Incorporate reflective surfaces like puddles, windows, or polished surfaces to create unique compositions.

  5. Experiment with Technical Creativity 
    - Day-to-night composites: Use time-lapse techniques to merge images taken over hours, showing transitions in light and activity. 
    - Infrared photography: Convert scenes into ethereal landscapes using IR filters (e.g., foliage glowing white). 
    - Black-and-white edits: Emphasize textures, contrasts, and timelessness in gritty alleys or minimalist architecture. 
    - Experiment with different lenses: Use wide-angle for sweeping cityscapes and telephoto for compressed urban scenes.
    - Capture movement: Experiment with long exposures to show the energy and flow of city life.

 For Indianapolis:

Local Landmarks and Architecture

  • Soldiers and Sailors Monument or the Indiana State Capitol.

  • Indiana War Memorial Plaza Historic District.

Urban Nature

  • Canal Walk,

  • White River State Park.

  • Garfield Park Conservatory

  • Butler Canal Walk

Neighborhoods and Culture

  • Vibrant murals and street art in Fountain Square and Mass Ave Arts District.

  • Lockerbie Square, Woodruff Place, Irvington.

  • International Marketplace District.

Sports and Events

  • Lucas Oil Stadium or Bankers Life Fieldhouse on game days.

  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Hidden Gems

  • •   Broad Ripple Village

  • •   Crown Hill Cemetery,

  • •   Monon Trail.

Final Tips  

  • Safety first: Avoid risky areas, use discreet gear, and respect privacy.

  • Revisit locations: Shoot the same spot at different times or seasons to uncover new narratives.

  • Tell a story: Combine images into a series highlighting contrasts, resilience, or cultural shifts.

Leading Urban Photographers & Their Work

Here are influential photographers renowned for capturing local cities and neighborhood, along with their styles and platforms to explore their portfolios: 

  1. Alex Webb 

    - Style: Layered, color-saturated street scenes with complex compositions.  (https://www.magnumphotos.com/theory-and-practice/brooklyn-the-city-within-alex-webb-rebecca-norris-webb-new-york-street-photography/)

  2.  Vivian Maier 

    - Style: Candid mid-century street photography, focusing on Chicago and New York (https://www.vivianmaier.com)) . 

  3.  Matt Stuart

    - Style: Humorous, serendipitous moments in London’s chaos.  (https://youtu.be/1oO7b_ve3QQ?si=s6COkSxiTtgYx6vv)

  4.  Eric Kim 

    - Style: Street photography education and candid human interactions.  (https://erickimphotography.com)) . 

  5.  Valérie Jardin: https://valeriejardinphotography.com/, https://www.instagram.com/valeriejardin

  6. Thomas Leuthard: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasleuthard/albums/72157646219914715/with/10762809415

  7. Fred Herzog (Canada): https://www.instagram.com/fredherzogphotography/?hl=en

  8. Fan Ho (Hong Kong): http://www.fanhophotography.com/

  9. Daido Moriyama (Japan): https://www.moriyamadaido.com/

  10. Raghu Rai (India): https://www.raghurai.com

  11. Jonathan Jasberg (Indiana)

    - Known for: Street and documentary photography with a nomadic perspective

    - Website: https://independent-photo.com/news/jonathan-jasberg-vagabond-photographer/

  12. Joseph and Georgia McGuire

    - Known for: Documenting the changing built environment of Indianapolis over 50 years

    Work: Not available online (historical photographers)

  13. Joey B. Lax-Salinas

    - Known for: Capturing Indianapolis skyline, Riverwalk, and events

    - Website: Not provided in search results

  14. Daniel Showalter

    - Known for: Editorial-style shots of Indianapolis architecture

    - Website: Not provided, but work can be seen on Instagram

  15. Jason Dozier

    - Known for: Street photography and architectural details of Indianapolis

    - YouTube channel: Available but not specified in search results

  16. Saki (Third Space Photography)

    - Known for: Capturing the international marketplace and community areas

    - Website: Not provided in search results

  17. Scott Richardson

    - Known for: Aerial photography of Indianapolis and Indiana landscapes

    - Website: Not provided in search results

  18. Kristeen Marie

    - Known for: Family photography in downtown Indianapolis locations

    - Website: https://kristeenmarie.com

  19. Casey (Casey and Her Camera)

    - Known for: Outdoor family sessions and lifestyle photography in Indianapolis

    - Website: https://caseyandhercamera.com

  20. Katelyn Ng

    - Known for: In-home family photography in Indianapolis

    - Website: https://katelynngphotography.com

These photographers have contributed to documenting the life and features of Indianapolis, showcasing its urban charm and making various neighborhoods look interesting through their unique perspectives and styles

Citations:

  1. https://indianahistory.org/stories/from-the-street-to-the-sky-a-contemporary-photo-history-of-indianapolis/

  2. https://kristeenmarie.com/photography/blog/category/photograhy-in-downtown-indianapolis

  3. https://www.peerspace.com/resources/cityscape-photographers-indianapolis/

  4. https://hoosierhistorylive.org/mail/2020-10-10.html

  5. https://kristeenmarie.com/photography/blog/indy-love-story-photographing-a-downtown-proposal

  6. https://caseyandhercamera.com/indianapolis-photographer/

  7. https://kristeenmarie.com/photography/blog/downtown-indianapolis-urban-charm-indianapolis-family-photography

  8. https://katelynngphotography.com/2024/01/20/in-home-indianapolis-family-photographer-the-watson-family-katelyn-ng-photography/

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