Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with this whole Tommy Ton photography thing lately, and let me tell you, it’s been a trip. I’ve always dug his street style stuff, the way he captures people just being themselves, you know? So, I figured, why not give it a shot myself?
First off, I went down a rabbit hole, reading everything I could find about the guy. Turns out, he’s been at this for over ten years, shooting folks on the streets, mostly fashion types. And yeah, he started with * or something, so he’s kinda a big deal. Apparently, people feel all honored when he takes their picture, which is kinda wild when you think about it.
So, I started by just watching his photos, trying to figure out what makes them tick. I noticed a few things. He’s all about that natural light. No fancy flashes or anything, just using whatever light is there. And he’s a master of candid shots. It’s like he’s a ninja with a camera, catching people off guard. No posed stuff, just real moments. I tried to use VSCO to edit my picture, but it did not work very well.
Armed with this, I grabbed my old camera and hit the streets. Man, it’s harder than it looks! People don’t exactly love having a camera pointed at them, especially when they’re not expecting it. I got a few weird looks, a couple of “no photos, please,” and even one guy who chased me down the block. I had to delete a bunch of terrible photos, mostly blurry or just plain boring. I tried to focus my camera on people’s clothes. But a lot of people’s clothes are just regular!
But I kept at it. I started to get a feel for it, anticipating moments, finding interesting light, and trying to blend into the background. I even started to enjoy it, the thrill of the hunt, the challenge of capturing something real and interesting. I realized that it was not just about taking pictures, it was about observing people, understanding them, and finding beauty in the everyday.
- Natural light is your friend. Forget the flash, just work with what you’ve got.
- Be sneaky. Candid shots are where it’s at.
- Don’t be afraid to get close. But maybe not too close, or you might get chased.
- Keep shooting. Most of your photos will probably suck, but that’s okay.
- Have fun with it! I am still learning, but I am getting there.
Here’s what I learned:
I’m still no Tommy Ton, not even close. But I’m learning, and I’m having fun. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll even get good at this. Or maybe I’ll just go back to taking pictures of my cat. Either way, it’s been an adventure.
