Posts in Category: Street
Street Photography with my Leica at Fort Worth Stockyards
When I am walking around by myself or with others doing a bit of street photography, I generally just take my trusty Leica M9 with a 35/2 Summicron attached. It’s very lightweight, unobtrusive and mostly manual operations so it forces me to think before I shoot. Also, its much easier to handhold. For example, I photographed the tractor above hand-held at ISO 500, f/2.8 with a shutter speed of 1/15 of a second just before the start of the Championship Rodeo at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Try that with your DSLR. Sure some can do it, but not many and I will be the first to admit I can’t handhold a DSLR at that shutter speed.
As for the rodeo, it was a blast and my relatives from out of town thoroughly enjoyed it. I would personally recommend it to anyone who is looking for some clean family fun.
Photographed by Dallas professional photographer Alex Cena at the Stockyards in Fort Worth, TX
Photographed by Dallas professional photographer Alex Cena at the Stockyards in Fort Worth, TX
Photographed by Dallas professional photographer Alex Cena at the Stockyards in Fort Worth, TX
Street Photography – Mother and Son
Mother and Son enjoying the park on the corner of S. Second Ave and Canton Street photographed by Alex Cena
I really enjoy street photography where I have the opportunity to record candid moments. It’s a shame I do not have the opportunity to do more of it on a regular basis. While I was in the Deep Ellum neighborhood of Dallas Texas, I spotted this woman and what I believe to be her son playing on a field while framed by detailed rain clouds as well as the Texas and American Flag. They could simply be spending some time together outside before the storm arrives or they can be exploring the possibilities: Today’s hope, tomorrow’s dream.
Event Photography – 2013 Dallas Tap ‘n’ Run
Jam Active hosted it’s Tap ‘N’ Run 4k race in Dallas Texas on March 9, 2013. The race started and finished at the Sandbar Cantina in Deep Ellum. It’s a fun race doable for a wide range of ages and physical conditioning. Heck there were folks there that definitely should be more defined as beer guzzlers as opposed to runners. The race is all about friends and teams, hilarious costumes and amusing group concepts, responsible entertainment and leave-the-kids-at-home-and-let-off-some steam though some parents did bring their kids along. Tap ‘N’ Run is about drinking beer and having a ridiculously good time! And the after party, is perfect or those who still miss those college days when they looked forward to Spring Break.
Tap ‘N’ Run is an extremely short distance, 4k or 2.5 miles, which anyone can complete within an hour. Multiple ‘beer chug’ stations are strategically placed at the Start and on the race route where participants get to indulge in 5-6 ounces of beautiful beer on a trek to the Finish Line where a full brew awaits! In addition to an awesomely unique experience, every runner receives a sweet Finisher’s medal (that doubles as a bottle opener…no, really) and a you-know-you’ll-wear-it-around-town race t-shirt. Race and running is a bit facetious as most participants walked the 4k as opposed to jogging or heaven forbid run the race. It’s perfect for those who want to hone their event photography or street photography skills, while getting up close and personal or dodging runners, drinkers, dancers and all around crazy people having a blast. And of course, enjoying the beer!
JAM Active offers fun, entertaining and competitive active events for today’s active lifestyles! JAM Active brings more than 15 years experience producing quality sporting events for all age ranges and skill levels across the US, Canada, and Europe. In addition to Tap ‘N’ Run, which will visit over a dozen cities this year, JAM Active also produces the Republic Bank Big Hit ½ Marathon, Buckhead Border Challenge Triathlon & Duathlon, iChallenge Indianapolis Triathlon & Duathlon, and Rival Race 5k. More than 10,000 participants have toed the starting line and seen first-hand that JAM Active events are focused on participant enjoyment. While we don’t take ourselves too seriously, there’s nothing more important in our book than the customer experience.
Like a Good Neighbor Volunteer Firefighters Are There for Us
It was a very bright and clear day as well as extremely windy today when I went to the Triple R Lazy D Ranch to visit our neighbor Ray and to check out his new livestock. While we were examining his horses and newborn lambs, we heard a large number of sirens blaring from emergency vehicles coming up the hill. It was unusual for emergency vehicles to come up our mountain top with lights and sirens at full tilt. We did not think anything of it and resumed our visit. However, we did not realize a brush fire had erupted on our side of the mountain located near the Delaware Water Gap in the Poconos of Northeast Pennsylvania.
My wife and I finished with our visit and proceeded home only to find our street partially blocked by emergency vehicles. A quick discussion with one of the emergency responders confirmed there was a brush fire on Turkey Court and emergency vehicles were on their way up the hill but we were free to drive past in order to reach our home. Our neighbor Ray was still back at the ranch so I gave him a call to let him know there was a fire a block from house.
We did not want to get in the way so my wife and I simply went home to have some lunch. Unfortunately, the urge to go out and snap a few photos was too strong. I wolfed down my meatloaf sandwich and headed out with my Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and slapped on a 70-200mm/2.8 to see what I can get. Since it was the middle of the day, I also threw on an 81A warming filter on my lens to minimize the impact of the harsh overhead sunlight.
By the time I jumped on my ATV and rode the mile over to the fire, all the excitement was over. What I missed turned out to be a two-acre brush fire on Turkey Court off of Cummins Hill Road in Westfall Township, PA where volunteers and equipment from all over the county including Westfall Township, Dingman’s Ferry, Matamoras and Mill Rift responded. There were all kinds of vehicles there including brush trucks which have four-wheel drive and carry 250 gallons of water, tanker trucks that carry 2000 gallons of precious water, ladder trucks, ambulances and command vehicles. And, of course, the all important volunteers.
All was not lost, I got to chat it up with a couple of volunteers monitoring the road and snap a few photos of some great machinery and even better people who offer their services to the community for nothing but the thanks of their friends and neighbors.
Pastry Chefs
Carolyn photographed making lemon shortbread at the Patisserie Fauchere in Milford, PA. Photo by Alex Cena
Carolyn photographed making lemon shortbread at the Patisserie Fauchere in Milford, PA. Photo by Alex Cena
Benjamin photographed removing bread from the oven at the Patisserie Faucehre in Milford, PA. Photo by Alex Cena
I spend quite a bit of time eating chocolate croissants and drinking coffee at the Pattiserie Fauchere in Milford PA, which is located near the Poconos and the Delaware Water Gap in Northeast Pennsylvania. The food is fantastic, the Wi-Fi is free and the people are extremely friendly. Even though it is a bakery and cafe, they also serve some very tasty soups and sandwiches as well as beer throughout the day. My personal favorite is the carrot ginger soup.In fact, I am there several times a week.
Benjamin the head pastry chef was kind enough to invite me into the kitchen to watch him and Carolyn in action one morning. While they start baking at 4:00 am, I did not come in to capture these images until after 8:00 in the morning. It’s always nice to be able to see where your food comes from. Maybe next time I can do a little food photography to show off some pastries and artisan breads.
All photos taken with a Leica M9 and a 35/2 Summicron.
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- Pastry Chef Salary Doing the Research (yepthatsme.com)
- Chemistry And Sugar: The Secrets Of A Great Pastry Chef (gizmodo.com.au)
- Executive Pastry Chef at the Patisserie Fauchere (alexonlocation.com)
- Pastry Musings (randomramblings40.wordpress.com)
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