Juicy bits from the Orange Photography team: tips, behind the scenes, photoshoots, reviews
Last month’s 7×7 magazine boasted three beautifully shot covers, the starlettes of which were a trio of cameras and tourists behind the lenses. For a magazine that celebrates local culture, the camera-centric, tourist-focused photography and accompanying story caught our eye. We caught up with local photographer, Alex Farnum to chat about the cover shots.
Orange Photography: We love the cameras that the tourist models are holding in the pictures. Are they their own or yours?
Alex Farnum: This idea originated from 7×7′s Design Director, Benjamin Hardiman. He supplied me with a comped cover that showed a blown out subject with a camera in hand. He ended bringing the “old” digi cam while I supplied the vintage film cam. If I had to do it again, I would’ve brought at least 7 cameras for a variety. Most tourists these days carry modern digital camera which are quite functional, but lets get real, aren’t all that sexy….
OP: Did you learn anything new about San Francisco when photographing these subjects who are seeing the city through fresh lenses?
AF: Hmm, anything new about San Francisco? I can’t say that I did, primarily because I was chatting with people about their home towns and lives there. One thing is for sure, SF is a world destination and all walks of life enjoy visiting here. I wouldn’t live anywhere else, thats for sure!
OP: As a photographer, do you have any suggestions for tourists capturing a new city on film?
AF: I think the best things to see and photograph in this city are its residents and you would be hard pressed to find them in areas such as Pier 39. San Francisco is known for eccentric people. Trannys in the Castro, the butcher on Mission Street, the 50 year old cosmetically altered princess in the Marina. These are the real people of SF (along with the rest of us). And this just covers the lifestyle part of this city. Think about the amazing views so few actually make it to. Climbing to the top of what I call the rocky outcrop above Castro or Bernal Hill.
