I came across Craig’s website a couple of years ago and thought: “Hmmmm, this guys is really amazing.” And bookmarked it. Today I am very pleased to have the opportunity to post a few excellent shots from his latest workshop, find out about Craig’s approach and equipment after
the break

I grew up in a family of Harley owners. Actually, I don’t remember a time when bikes (motorcycles) weren’t around. This may help explain why I like to photograph Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Florida so much, but then again maybe not. I did race motorcycles when I was a teen, but only for a short time, but I’ve never owned a motorcycle as an adult, I don’t wear boots nor do I have any tattoos. In all actuality I have absolutely nothing in common with Bike Week or the lifestyle therein. But as a documentary photographer and street photographer, it fascinates me.

I started shooting Bike Week in 1991 while attending photography school in Daytona Beach at the Southeast Center for Photographic Studies at Daytona State College, and have gone back many, many times over the years. I started conducting street photography workshops during Bike Week in 2009, and just finished teaching one last weekend during, which is when this series of pictures were shot. All photographs were taken with the powerful Nikon V1 and the 10mm pancake or the 18.5mm standard lens.

The 10mm pancake is my weapon of choice. It’s tiny, focuses super fast, and is approximately a 28mm equivalent, allowing me to get up close and personal with my subjects. I love the fast focus and long battery life of the Nikon V1. Plus the files are really, really good for such a small sensor, especially in bright light at lower ISOs. Even at ISO 800 and ISO 1600 I like the results. It seems more film-like when it gets a little grainy. I think most people would be amazed what comes out of this camera. I like clean files such as what the Fuji X-E1 or Sony RX1 produces as much as the next guy, but there is just something magical about the V1.

Plus nobody takes you too seriously when you point it in his or her direction; not like a DSLR anyway. I try, whenever possible though, to go unnoticed which allows me to get some great shots that I might not have gotten otherwise. I shoot really fast and employ many different street photography techniques when needed, which almost never fail me.

Craig Litten
March 2013
StreetPhotoWorkshops.com

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