A series celebrating the talent of our friends over in the Londonist Flickr pool who make our site look great with their fabulous photographs. Here, they introduce themselves and share their favourite London shots.
Meet Mario Mitsis.
I love being on the busy streets. The more hustle and bustle there is, the more I like it. I feel alive and connected to the people, even though, in these uncertain times, some view my being there, holding a camera, as suspicious. Street photography to me is capturing the ’lived’, dynamic feel of the world I inhabit and trying to transfer the experience to the viewer.
London is a place of, and for, many different types of people, all milling around in the same cramped space. You can stand in one spot and see the whole world go by. People are interesting. On the same day and within walking distance, you can photograph people shopping, eating and drinking, going to work, visiting from abroad, enjoying cultural events, seasonal celebrations and, on some days, demonstrating against or for something which is occurring here or on the other side of the globe.
I shoot in digital with a Canon EOS 5D and lately I have got into film using a Leica with 35mm lens and developing my own negs, adopting to get close to my subjects and mainly using a 16-35mm (or a 50mm in some situations). I find that with most people, the closer I get, the less I’m noticed and the slower their reaction if I am seen. It seems that, at a distance, they have more time to register and then perform for the camera. Sometimes this is OK: I have a whole series dedicated to that very reaction: a grimace, a suspicious stare and sometimes even a smile. It can make the picture. But there are days when I prefer that they do not notice me until after the shot.
Wide angle also lends itself to great perspective shots. This is another of my favourite type of photo. I also like very ‘populated’ images where there is a lot to take in and perhaps viewing them several times will give them a greater significance. I have a preference for black and white. Colour only works for me if there is a definite relationship in the image.
Working primarily in central London at the moment, there is plenty to photograph without venturing to the outer parts of the city. However, I’m always looking for new places where people congregate so at some point I will venture further.
Check out previous Londonist Behind The Lens posts. If you're a Flickrpool member and want to be featured - hooray - please email us.
