another 24 hour photo shoot

Yes you read that right, I am daft enough to keep going to these Photo24 events. But things were a little different this time as we moved from the usual location of London to the university town of Cambridge, where hopefully I wouldn’t need to walk as far as I normally do when I’m in London, I’m not sure that was the case though as my legs were killing me by the time it was all over.

So if you have never heard of Photo24 I’ll fill you in, as the name suggests, it’s photography for 24 hours, all organised by “Photography News” and It’s a sponsored event, the last two being sponsored by MPB. Over the 24 hour period a single theme is set for you to make a picture for every hour of the 24 hours and it’s up to you if you want to paticipate, judging for this is done on the Sunday before the 24 hours is up, it’s nothing to taxing and there is a prize for the best image overall, there’s also a three category competition where you have a little more time to edit and enter your images. You don’t have to enter any of the competitions but it does add to the experience and this year you could win a £500 voucher to spend at MPB.

I have to admit that I don’t take it too serious, for me the event is a chance to catch up with some old friends, shoot the breeze and take some photographs, because as someone who normally shoots in a street style I would normally be out on my own trying to get some good images, I do occasionaly have short converstions with the people I meet out on the street, but mostly it’s a lone pursuit, so coming to this event gives me a chance to be out with like minded people and share the experience.

At this event I had the chance to use a Leica Q2 monochrom from MPB, which I also used at the last event. There is no getting away from it, It’s an excellent camera, and some how they’ve managed to better it with the Leica Q3, can’t wait to try the Monochrom version when that comes out.

As well as the Leica I took my xt5 with my trusty 35mm 1.4 lens, I love this lens, it’s not the fastest but it works pretty well with the new Fujifilm bodies.

I’ve been to Cambridge many times and I do enjoy taking photographs around it’s many alleyways and streets. It would be fair to say that unlike London, there wasn’t a great deal to photograph in the early hours, but if you were looking for maybe a lone bike chained to a railing with no people around you could be lucky, and to be honest, that was one of the images I wanted to get (see below)

I’ve never taken a tripod with me on any of the Photo24 events, but I think if it moves back to London then maybe I will, it’s not the type of photography I do but I think It would do me good to try something different.

I got a couple of people shots I’m happy with as far as street style photography goes, and it’s my favorite of the bunch, but I just wish the subject had a slightly better posture, the one I’m talking about is the image below which I’m calling “kissed by a shadow” as to me the whole shadow looks like a face with it’s lips pukered up for a kiss, do you see it?

All in all I had a great time and my name will be going down for next years event where ever it happens to be. If it’s something you are interested in doing then keep an eye on Photography News magazine, the first mention every year is normally around April time.

Thanks to the following people who took part and I spent some of my day with:

Below are the pictures that I’m reasonably happy with. One day I may be more organised and have some type of plan, but until that day arrives, I’ll just play it by ear.

See you on the street.

Lastly I have to add this picture, taken by Sarah Toon. Myself on the left with Les Martire center and Gareth Danks on the right, all sporting Leica Q2 M cameras.

COLOUR ON THE STREET

PHOTO 24 2022