The idea is simple. If you are using a Ricoh GRIII or IIIx, set your camera’s snap focus distance to 1 meter or use the single point auto focus system and macro mode.
“If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough” – Robert Capa
War photographer and founding member of Magnum photos, Robert Capa, famously quoted to get closer to your subject. This is something that I truly live by for all of my time photographing throughout the years, however I am exploring this idea in a new way using macro mode and extreme close focus distances. Robert Capa’s courage and audacity to get close to the action has been one of my biggest inspirations. This fearless mindset lead me into situations that otherwise I would’ve never imagined such as photographing on the frontlines of conflict in the West Bank.
Uplift mundane moments
While the action on the streets and in the world is an interesting subject to capture at a close proximity, perhaps it’s time to transcend and move beyond these glory shots. Find beauty in the mundane. Observe the intricate details all around you no matter where you may be in the world. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a desolate town, an abandoned alley, a parking lot, or even a bustling city like New York.
Walk very slow
When you slow your body down physically and move with intention and observe with intensity, you will notice the patterns and potential all around you. This is why I’m a big fan of the Vibram Five Finger EL-X barefoot shoes. They encourage me to walk slowly as I feel the surfaces below my feet on the streets. The slower you walk, the more you will notice.
God is in the details
Beauty lies in the details. You should open your mind without preconceived notions of what you may find. Follow your curiosity and get lost in the details. Find perfection in the imperfections. Notice new textures and surfaces that you can create something out of nothing.
The darker the better
Lastly, when you explore using macro mode and photograph at close distances, play with your exposure compensation. I suggest trying darker exposure compensations such as -1 and creating a new, sublime aesthetic. The idea is to create abstractions of reality with your camera. Recognize that the mundane details in the world can transcend and go beyond the obvious. Walk the street like a big kid with a camera and use the street as your canvas to explore life’s details and all of its complexity.