Photo Blog

Marco Larousse photography blog. Read about current projects, documentaries, fine art print sales, gallery exhibits, workshops and speeches by Marco Larousse.

How a street photography photo is planned and created

In street photography, there is quite a complex creative process going on inside my head before I capture the image. But some people may still think that street photography is all about lucky snapshots.

Admittedly, a bit of luck does play a role in street photography because we rely on interesting subjects that are around in the same place and at the same time where we are. And this coincidental factor has kept me going in street photography for the past 25 years - and it has never been boring for me.

But the most important factors that I would attribute to my best street photos are based on exploring a scene and narrowing down the options of a place and the timing. Once you have reached this clear focus and pre-visualization of your image, you are on your way to capture the decisive moment that tells a story in your images.

My friend Steve Brazill invited me to his “Behind the Shot Podcast” and allowed me to take you along the creation process of one of my most famous street images. I share the decisions that I have made before the shot that lead me to narrow down to the final location, timing, and the story that I saw in front of me.

Please take the time to watch and listen to this inspiring interview.

Hamburg's Streets Unstaged - A Photo Project

At the end of 2016, I've decided to start a street photography project in Hamburg for 2017.

The goal of the project was to document the beauty of the unstaged daily life on Hamburg's streets throughout the year from an artistic and classic street photography point of view. During the project, I've captured more than a thousand photos and walked hundreds of miles on Hamburg's streets.

On December 31th, 2017 I've created a short video with a selection of 4 images from each month of the project that you can watch below.

I'm currently in the process to decide how this project will be shared from here on: Maybe a book, an exhibition, or a fine art print series..?

Train Window Diaries at 1/1000s

On every intercity express train ride that I take, I capture images through the window. While the world flies by at up to 300 km/h (186 mph), very few people even take the time to look at the unique and quickly changing scenery.

On a recent train ride from the north to the center of Germany, I captured this series of images - another set of my "Train Window Diaries at 1/1000s".

At this shutter speed, not only the far but even the close objects are frozen in time and can be recognized - which is almost impossible for the human eye to capture at these speeds.

Take a look at the beauty that is often overlooked by most passengers. The varying scenery, weather conditions and snow levels are a good indicator of the distance traveled and the regional changes that come with it.

 

Train Window Diaries - ML - 15

Off-Season / Nebensaison -Timmendorfer Strand & Niendorf

Off-Season / Nebensaison is a photo project where I document popular vacation regions during their off-season.

The strong visual contrast between the busy and crowded peak season and the off-season in vacation regions is a condition that many people never get to see and therefore may not fully appreciate. While the peak season attracts many visitors due to favorable weather situations, special events or vacation time, the off-season can have some qualities and a unique beauty, too.

Crowded streets, restaurants, hotels, parking lots and stores in addition to high peak season prices can take away from a relaxing break time when one seeks to get away from everyday stress. I have learned to appreciate to visit vacation regions during their off-season, too.

I'm seeing places with different eyes when they are almost deserted without the visual and audible distraction that large crowds bring with them. Grey and cloudy days can actually make for a relaxing and comforting mood and create a unique visual beauty to my eyes.

As a visual example of the unique off-season mood that I'm talking about, I share this recent off-season image series that I captured in the North German Baltic Sea coast villages Timmendorfer Strand and Niendorf i.H.

Maybe this is an inspiration for you to see the beauty in locations during the off-season too. Feel free to give me your thoughts in the comments and share this post via the "share" option at the bottom of the post, too.

 

Off Season - Closed Hotel

Off Season - Empty Pier - Kein Winterdienst!

Off Season - Empty Lounge Chairs

Off Season - Deserted Catamaran

Off Season - Closed Beach Chair Rental Shack

Off Season - Swans and Fog

Off Season - Closed Fisherman's Shack

Off Season - Closed Snack Bar

Off Season - Empty Benches

Off Season - Pier in Fog

Oslo and Copenhagen Voyage - alternating color & B&W photography

While coordinating assignments in Oslo and Copenhagen, my travel agent suggested to take a boat instead of planes for this trip. And by boat she meant a cruise boat. I have never been on a cruise ship (large ferry boats not counted) and I was intrigued.

Three weeks later I found myself boarding the Aida Luna (capacity of about 2,000 passengers) on my way to Oslo and Copenhagen. In the spring time the Baltic Sea is always good for surprises - cold rainy and warm summer like moments can take turns within hours. This is what inspired me to make a photo documentary with alternating color and B&W images on this trip.

Here are my impressions. Enjoy!

As a little bonus I've added a time lapse video showing the last 25 mi of the Aida Luna approaching Copenhagen harbour. The video starts at the location of the Helsingborg - Helsongør ferry line, passing from Sweden to Denmark.