Wien 1080 (Josefstadt) Josefstädterstraße Photos

Great weather today. Cold again, but blue skies and lots of sun. I walked around my neighborhood (8th district, Josefstadt) for a few hours. I guess they call it "street photography." I find that I really enjoy capturing people as they go about life, and it's a challenge to do that.

I want to offend as few people as possible (preferrably none). I don't want to make people feel uncomfortable. I want to make them feel relaxed and not mind that my camera is aimed at them.

I think the ability to do that improves with practice. As my confidence grows, people are more receptive to me and the camera. It's a fun game. Here are some of the results from today:

Start out taking a few pictures from behind.

...a few from afar.

...a few off-centered.

Take a break and get something inanimate. This is "my" taxi stand. I used to come here a couple of times a week. I don't take taxis very often, anymore.

Behind and off-centered. I'm interested in showing you some Vienna winter fashions. People pay attention to dress here, and cold weather gives them an opportunity to be creative -- fur coats, rain coats, caps, shawls, gloves, and various accessories.

There's a fur coat...

Rain coat, hat.

Lion Apothecary / Pharmacy

Workers, pedestrians.

Finger foods at Cafesalon.

People are not afraid to take their kids out into the cold. Parents bundle the kids up in so many thick layers that the children are rendered practically immobile, their limbs sticking straight out, stiff and still. The children are then stuffed in to fur-lined, box-shaped winter stroller "compartments" that are zipped closed around them. Poor kids are probably cooking.

Grocery shopping.

Razor scooter...

Liesurely rambling tots trail unconcerned moms.

I generally have the camera set to continuous mode.

I try to take a test shot, to make sure exposure looks OK, and to get my framing right.

Then, when my subject(s) enter the frame, I depress and hold the shutter release button, taking four pictures in one second.

I'm amazed to find how often one of the four photos really sticks out as the "best."

These two ladies stopped long enough for me to snap a few fotos.

Left right LEFT... The lady on the left side of the picture was very attractive and elegantly dressed. I wanted to get at least one decent picture of her, but I didn't have the guts to do it, even though she walked by me several times in the couple of hours I was out and about.

As you can probably tell from the previous pictures, I live in a pretty hard neighborhood in Vienna. Luckily, we have a heavy police presence. (sarcasm alert)

Smart pedestrians wear bright colors (says the guy wearing dark jeans and a forest-green jacket).

This is my main outgoing bus stop. The 13a is an important line for me.

The girl in the red coat is saying "danke" to the driver for opening the doors for her as he looks at the red traffic light, skeptical as to whether the girl in the black coat (running) will be able to board before the traffic light turns yellow, and wondering if he should be gruff to the thankful girl in the red coat to repay her for causing a delay. (The traffic lights turn Red-Yellow-Green-Yellow-Red here)

Vienna is the world capital of prim, proper, perfect little old ladies.

If Stepford Wives aged, they would look like Vienna's fashionably-dressed omas. I mean that as a compliment.

Here's a thing. The kids wear some great outfits here in winter. Bright, modern stuff, sometimes. Other times you see miniature versions of traditional clothing. I would love to show them to you, but I feel uncomfortable aiming my camera at kids too often.

My boldest pictures of the day were my last. This attractive lady was rollerblading right towards me. I pointed the camera directly at her when she was about 15 feet away and kept the button depressed. Only the first shot turned out, but I sorta like it. She's rollerblading along effortlessly, holding a big handbag, talking on the mobile phone, and managing to look good while doing it...