Owen Biddle
Photo School
photo by Owen Biddle
September Photo Newsletter
Finding the Middle Ground to Tell Our Stories:
Street Photography
photo by Owen Biddle
“In photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject. The little, human detail can become a Leitmotiv.” ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson
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August Photo Contest
Close Up
Click on thumbnail to see full image
First Place
Joe Strode
Second Place
Nan Feyler
Third Place
Sam Fowler
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Dear Reader,
Continuing our series on framing, we move from last month's theme of Close Up, to this month's theme, The Middle Ground. Taking a step backwards opens all sorts of possibilities as we integrate subject matter into surroundings, allowing the context to help tell the story - street photography being one of the best examples of how this recipe draws the viewer into another world. These photos capture slices of lives that can amuse, can surprise, can inform, can invite empathy, can inspire.... as all good story-telling can.
Distance makes a difference
The long view gives context, putting a subject in a setting and providing a lot of detailed information. Deep space creates an expansive and open feeling.
Middle ground moves in on the subject, making it the obvious center of interest that dominates the picture.
Close up zeros right in on the subject, eliminating most or all of the background. Positive/negative space adds new compositional interest. And getting so close to the subject creates a feeling of intimacy.
photo by Owen Biddle
photo by Walt Miles
If you are a photographer who loves street photography but are a bit intimidated by the idea of taking pictures of strangers in the midst of their own private lives, this workshop is for you. Learn unobtrusive ways for capturing subjects in natural moments, how to manage distracting backgrounds, the importance of timing, and even the etiquette for what to do when caught in the act with camera in hand. We'll also go into important technical considerations such as using depth-of-field and varied lenses.
First Session: A survey of masters of street photography plus tips on ways to get started taking your own.
Tuesday, 9/22/26 7:00 - 8:30
Second Session: Show your work from the intervening week
Tuesday, 9/29/26 7:00 - 8:30
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Photo Field Trip
In the heart of downtown Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square is the perfect place to get the most out of urban photography - stunning architecture, a lovely park, street scenes, and an endless parade of people being people (and don't forget the dogs!)
Friday, 9/18/26 10:00 - 12:00
photo by Owen Biddle
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September Photo Contest
Street Photography
City, suburb, inside, outside, people living their lives.
Limit of three images per entry.
Deadline August 25
Email your images to: owenbiddlephotography@gmail.com
The winning photos will be featured in our next Photo Newsletter.
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October 25 2:00 -3:30
These are very friendly, relaxed get-togethers in our apartment in Havertown. (Please note: this is a new location - be sure to RSVP to get address and directions) Photographers of all levels are welcome to share pictures, get photography tips, and discuss camera equipment. You can also get ideas for entering photography contests, submitting to photography magazines and having photo shows. Feedback from the group provides encouragement and inspiration to go out and take more pictures. These informal photography critiques offer an excellent opportunity to start identifying themes in your work and to get ideas for new directions. Group size is limited, so if you can come an RSVP is required by email or call (610) 626-7854. Cost is $10.
Check out our online Photo Salon
https://www.facebook.com/groups/owenbiddlephotosalon
Our purpose is to provide an online place for our community to stay in touch, stay inspired and get out there and keep snapping. You can post pictures and get feedback, ask photo questions, make suggestions etc.
DSLR and Mirrorless Fundamentals Tutorials
Below are descriptions of the basic units of our curriculum available to students ranging from beginner to advanced. Most units are five lessons and include a set of assignments designed to give practice in targeted skills with opportunities to get feedback from the instructor so that you learn from your experiences.
Just give a call and we can set up individual sessions to keep you moving forward with your photography.
Call (610)-626-7854 for details.
(click on links for more information)
Fundamentals 1: Camera Operations is for students who are just starting out, or want a good review of the basic camera functions.
Fundamentals 2: Applications is for students who have some comfort with the camera and want to start applying their skills to expand their photographic range.
Fundamentals 3: Composition takes photography beyond the subject, and encourages you to see the artistic and compositional opportunities in everyday life. Here is a chance for your right brain to come out and play!
Fundamentals 4: Lighting Across the Genres is for students who are ready for the next critical step: lighting. Explore sophisticated means of controlling both natural and artificial light for portraits, landscape and still life to get just the mood and effects you want.
Advanced Photography - Using self-generated assignments and in-depth critiques we will help you move forward in your work.
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Not a photo but....
in this painting Horace Pippen (1888 - 1946) invites us to share a quiet moment in the park
photo by David Lorenz Winston
In Memorium
David Lorenz Winston (1943 - 2026)
David and I first met decades ago at the Bryn Mawr College May Day Festival. As we walked out to the parking lot together, David said "You look like a serious photographer." I took this as quite a compliment. A few weeks later we met again at a small gathering of photographers at friend's house. Over the next many years David became a mentor to me. We took road trips together in pursuit of great images. We shared ideas, techniques, philosophy and many laughs.
Quite simply David is the best photographer I have ever known and one of the most caring. His pictures convey feeling and artfulness together in a unique way all his own. Although we have not been in touch for years, as a teacher I tell my students to look at David's pictures to see the power of photography.
Solitude is a picture reproduced and loved all over the world - chances are you have seen it yourself.
https://www.davidlorenzwinston.com/
~ Owen
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Photographer of the Month
Henri Cartier-Bresson
photo by Dennis Stock
Another major inspiration for me (and for many many other photographers), Henri Cartier-Bresson opened our eyes and minds to the thrilling possibilities of capturing the life around us at its most spontaneous, but at the same time at its most decisive and graceful moment. He developed a number of techniques to snap pictures of the life streaming around him, but always with an artist's eye for including just the essence of the scene, excluding the extraneous, the distracting or the simply irrelevant. Street photographers today have a huge debt to Henri-Cartier Bresson. He indeed showed us how a photograph can tell the story.
