REAR WINDOW ETHICS

We just came back from an overnight trip to Miami, where we had a lot of fun, photographing Amanda and Scott's Romance Day. It was a long day but worth it. We drove the two hours to Miami and went straight to our hotel, the Marriott Biscayne in Miami. We dropped off our luggage, waited a half hour then drove over to pick up Amanda and Scott at their apartment. 

For the next six hours we drove and walked around Biscayne Island and the city of Miami. Actually, we walked a lot and drove just a little. For those of you who are not familiar with Florida, I should explain that the temperatures are already in the mid to high 80s. This I love but walking around for the better part of six hours carrying about 17-22 lbs of equipment in the heat can tire you out. 

After the photography, the four of us went to eat at Joe's Stone Crab, a really wonderful restaurant in Miami. When we arrived at about 8PM, we were told there would be an hour wait but it was air conditioned and it served cold drinks and we all were very hungry. Did I mention they served cold drinks? Not just drinks but cold adult beverages!! We decided to wait the hour!! 

By the time we ate, (great food), we arrived back at the Marriott about 11PM. We went to sleep around midnight and I awoke at six this morning. We left the Marriott at about 8:00 AM and after stopping for breakfast, we were back in our house by 1130AM.
We are both a little tired and we are leaving tomorrow morning for St Augustine's to try and photograph some newly born chicks. The idea of doing the post production on all the images we shot yesterday is at the very least an ambitious idea. I did want to post something on this blog today but while the images are from yesterday, they are not from the romance day.

So you're a photographer and your room is on the 21st floor of a hotel. How much time do you spend in front of the TV? The answer is if you're these photographers, not very much time at all. I was in the room not more then four minutes when I picked up my camera and went out to the patio. 

I should mention that one of my very favorite movies is Rear Window; the version starring Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly not the regrettable remake starring Christopher Reeves and Daryl Hannah. Whenever I am standing on a hotel's balcony or looking out a hotel's window, I cannot help but think of that movie. It is about a photographer who is laid up with a broken leg who spies on his neighbors and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. It is directed by Alfred Hitchcock which tells you it will be a fun movie to watch.

I do not turn my lens on the windows of neighboring buildings, ethics forbid me: ethics and lawsuits; unlike Stella, Thelma Ritter's character in the movie.

Stella: I'm not much on rear window ethics!

But I do always like to see what images I can capture from this limited viewpoint; to challenge my creativity.

Lisa (Grace Kelly): I wish I was creative.
Jeff (Steward): You are. You're great at creating difficult situations!

We spent about 20 minutes in our hotel room when we arrived and I spent 10 of those on the patio (my rear window). I started looking for interesting images and found the pool 21 floors below us.

There was only one person in the pool and I really liked the point of view looking down into the pool. I used my 70-200 VR 2.8 lens, of which the regular readers of this blog are familiar, it is one of my favorite lenses. I love the way I can carve out both small intimate landscapes or panoramic images.  

Stella (referring to the Jeff's telephoto lens): Mind if I use that portable keyhole?

I framed this image so that you mostly see the pool and this gentlemen relaxing on a tube of some sort. I really like the image but I knew I would've rather had just the man and the pool but I didn't think Phyllis would go down the 21 floors and ask the guy to get into the proper position for my shot. Plus, I was pretty sure if she did, the image I would get would include one of his fingers, telling me I was number one!!

Stella: Intelligence. Nothing has caused the human race so much trouble as intelligence!

Then one of any photographers least appreciated tools came to my rescue; luck, happenstance or karma whatever you call it. You would be amazed at how many times it comes into play when shooting candids or nature. Even inspiration at times needs help!

Lisa: Where does a man get inspiration to write a song like that?
Jeff: He gets it from the landlady once a month!!

As I watched, another man jumped into the pool and swam to another part of it and just stood there. I quickly snapped off two shots before he started moving around. This is one of them.

You can see how I used the rule of thirds in both of these images. I almost always do unless it is one of those times that I break the rule!!! I really love the simplicity of this image.

We needed to leave the hotel at that point and I quickly looked around and saw this scene. I loved the composition as soon as I saw it. The biggest challenge was getting all the people in the shot using the lens I had. This was the image I captured.

We then left and photographed Amanda and Scott as I mentioned earlier. When we returned at 11PM, I was way too tired to trust my camera in my hands out on the patio 21 floor ups. 

I awoke at 6AM and within two minutes, I was on the patio in my underwear (what I do for my art!!!) taking pictures of the sunrise over Miami Beach.

 The image above was about 10 minutes before the sun rose. I love the pink hues hovering over the blueish green hues and the skyline's silhouette dividing them.

 As the sun approached the horizon, the colors turned more towards the warm pink hues.

  When the sun became visible, the colors turned a warm orange.

  I love the textures, hues and detail in this image.

So there it is my tribute to Rear Window. My nest posting (probably Wednesday) will have images taken during our romance session. Here is a little sample:

I love the juxtaposition of the people in swim attire and this great looking couple in formal wear walking among them.