Shooting Random People in Old Town Eureka

Oldtown brickwall setup shot
Originally uploaded by Jackal of all trades

So, early Saturday I had some ants in my pants and I just wanted to go out and do something. I took my new LP120 along with all my other gear, now packed into just my LowPro and a lighting bag (that came from my first "Strobist Kit" purchase) and I went down to Old Town to take some photos.

I've always loved the brick walls in the alley between Bon Bonier and St. Vinnie's, and I thought it would make a wonderful backdrop for some portraits. Check out the rest of the set on this slideshow

Old town Eureka: Just Off Work

I learned a couple of things from this shoot. One is that I need a 2nd light stand to go with my new flash. I clamped the new flash to dumpster, which forced the subject to be pretty close to the wall. If I had a 2nd stand, I could have taken the entire project to the brick wall on 3rd street, next to that store that's going out of business.

Also, I only got two takers. Now, granted, I was only out there for 20-30 minutes, and it was surprisingly dead for a weekend morning, and being in an alley next to a dumpster might have all been detraction, but it was interesting to see people's reactions. Almost everyone who I asked, "Do you want your photo taken?" giggled as a reply. No one seems outright hostile to the idea. I bet if I moved to a spot with more traffic and had a 8x10 of a photo I've taken, more people would have stopped.

Old town Eureka:
"Make sure to keep the shoes in the shot!"

I think it would be really cool to do a Hel-Looks style site for Humboldt County. I'll have to start on a Saturday in Arcata. Or, maybe a weekday morning on the HSU campus. Hmmm...