How Not to Do Street Photography: My Thoughts

by Eric Kim on September 6, 2011

Today I saw this video of a guy named Fabio Pires doing some very aggressive street photography in London via PetaPixel. Many people mentioned the link to me and asked me what my thoughts were, considering I received a negative response with the video I shot with flash in Hollywood. Here are some of my initial thoughts about the video:

First of all, I don’t like how this guy is deliberately trying to scare people to elicit a type of response. The fact that he hides behind a phonebooth and then jumps out doesn’t feel right to me. When you are shooting street photography you might scare/surprise people on accident, but that shouldn’t be your primary motive. Even with my street photography, I prefer when I capture images of people candidly without them noticing me. I found in many cases when I get really close to people with a wide-angle lens, they don’t even seem to notice me. And for those who say that I shoot flash to elicit a response– people don’t notice the flash until after you take the photo.

Secondly, his technique looks very sloppy. I am not sure if he shoots under his arms/sideways all-the-time, but it looks like he was doing that to be showy. Although I believe shooting from the hip without a viewfinder is a good way to get your feet wet in street photography, I believe that using the viewfinder is the best way to get solid compositions and framing. To say that he is “more of a perfectionist than Bruce Gilden” is absolute blasphemy as many of his images have poor composition.

In addition, his knowledge of street photography seems to very superficial. He mentions that he is out looking for characters, but simply defines “characters” as people who look different. He also mentions that there is no point in shooting “normal people” which I disagree with. Also, I think he should think more about the story he is trying to tell through the people that he captures.

Lastly, he doesn’t seem to have much respect for the people he shoots, especially the homeless. He has no problem scaring people to get his shot, and the aggressive motion he uses with his camera looks more like a punch than photo-taking. In addition, he mentions that he only deliberately shoots the homeless because they are “different”. To say something like that is unethical in my opinion, as the homeless shouldn’t be seen as easy subjects to capture because of their socio-economic differences from us. All-in-all, you must have the right reasons to shoot your subjects to showcase something beautiful about their character, dress, face, or attitude. You must look for unique and special people to shoot, rather than “different” people. Love the people you shoot.

Although the guy does come off as arrogant and cocky, what he is still doing is legal. Whether it is ethical is a completely different story. I don’t know many street photographers that try to elicit a response on purpose from their subjects, but if that is his cup of tea and artistic style I don’t feel right to judge him based on a video. Who knows, maybe the guy is just a bit confused or mislead. I feel that art always needs to push boundaries and although this guy is doing the extreme polar end of street photography, that is his style.

Let us know what your thoughts about the video are in the comments below. And please try to keep the conversation civil.

Update: One thing I want to emphasize is that let’s not all take out our pitchforks and crucify Fabio. Let’s disagree with his actions, rather than himself as a person. I’m sure he has been reading all the negative comments on the web and feels pretty crappy right now. I know how it feels to be criticized on a large-scale and trust me: it feels horrible. After all the negative press I received after my video, I was actually quite depressed and down-in-the-dumps for several weeks.

Tagged as: street photography, video

Anonymous

Agree. Some photos were good, but I don’t see the point in trying to capture a scared look on someone’s face. THAT isn’t street photography to me, but to each their own.
Matt Ellis

He comes across as a bit of a hack to me. The impression he gives is pretty amateur
He certainly has the nuts for in-your-face street work but his technique is sloppy to me

His comments about not wanting to photograph “normal” people struck me as odd, for me the very reason to shoot street photography is to shoot the “normal” people. Everyone has a story, it’s my job to capture a tiny bit of it. Just photographing the oddballs of this world seems like an easy way out

But who knows, art is art and to some he’s probably a genius – just not to me
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=716350873 Mithun Kumar

Very much agree with you, Eric. Moreover, he’s not really shown what is the kind of images (if at all) he got when he clicked those shots acrobatically! He just shows off some sloppy technique without even caring to validate it with any images from the same shoot!
Just showing some other vaguely cliché snaps, that doesn’t even make him stand out as a good photographer!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1035789932 Gary Tyson

this guy is an arrogant idiot, plain and simple, and with regards his comment as a ‘perfectionist’?!!! hahaha – look at the way he composes…or rather doesnt bother…..total arse! – I would love to bump into this guy on the street – I’m very surprised he hasn’t been knocked out several times already – especially in London.
http://www.streetsofmytown.net David Brewster

I’m always reticent to attach ‘rules’ to street photography as I don’t believe there is one right way. However, I agree with you Eric on every count. His comments about “getting a reaction” grate with me because my aim, like yours, is to capture life as it is, not life ‘as it is when surprised by the sudden appearance of a camera’. I have the same problem with Gilden’s approach on this count. I’m probably one step back from you in that I prefer to avoid connecting with my subjects at all – both before and after – so do still tend to shoot from the hip.

I share your ethical problem with Fabio’s approach to ‘different’ people, particularly the homeless. My approach is to avoid the vulnerable as much as possible – there are plenty of other shots out there without having to resort to preying on the down-and-out.
http://twitter.com/twocutedogs twocutedogs

Agree with everything you say Eric
- http://erickimphotography.com/blog Eric Kim
  
  Thanks for the feedback Charlie, good to see we’re on the same page
http://twitter.com/twocutedogs twocutedogs

Agree with everything you say Eric
John Vincent Torres

There was this guy who let his thing hang out of his pants and he had a hidden camera record people’s reactions to it as he walked around. This Pires guy reminds me of that guy, but less interesting.
Guest

I honestly couldn’t help but feel offended by Pires’ aggressive approach to street photography. I don’t agree with his intentions to elicit a response from his subjects. While Bruce Gilden’s methodology intrigues me, I’m just offended by Pires’. I did giggle at the quick under the arm shots though–for a second he seemed like a gunslinging cowboy. While I don’t agree with his approach and methodology, if he’s happy with his style then I’m glad he’s found it.
Guest

I honestly couldn’t help but feel offended by Pires’ aggressive approach to street photography. I don’t agree with his intentions to elicit a response from his subjects. While Bruce Gilden’s methodology intrigues me, I’m just offended by Pires’. I did giggle at the quick under the arm shots though–for a second he seemed like a gunslinging cowboy. While I don’t agree with his approach and methodology, if he’s happy with his style then I’m glad he’s found it.
Chris Gachot

he is certainly getting a lot of hits on his website with all this press. all press is good press….
- http://erickimphotography.com/blog Eric Kim
  
  That is true, but he probably feels like crap from all the negative comments he has been getting. I don’t approve what he is doing, but feel for him as a human (know what it feels to be on the beating end)
  - Dan
    
    I’m sure he doesn’t feel crap. He’s pretty much a prime example of a British cocksure wannabe gangster moron. I’m sure he is reveling in the criticism and the hits on his site! I don’t know him personally but he comes across as someone with an over inflated ego and little or no respect for his fellow citizens. We should stop giving this guy the time of day. I know criticism can hurt, it goes to show you care about your art Eric and are sensitive. I’m pretty sure that this guy won’t really be that upset, anyone with that little respect for people personal space obviously isn’t that sensitive.
  - Dan
    
    I’m sure he doesn’t feel crap. He’s pretty much a prime example of a British cocksure wannabe gangster moron. I’m sure he is reveling in the criticism and the hits on his site! I don’t know him personally but he comes across as someone with an over inflated ego and little or no respect for his fellow citizens. We should stop giving this guy the time of day. I know criticism can hurt, it goes to show you care about your art Eric and are sensitive. I’m pretty sure that this guy won’t really be that upset, anyone with that little respect for people personal space obviously isn’t that sensitive.
http://martoscbox.wordpress.com/ Martosc, [Gm]

I’m starting to hope that he was being ironic/sarcastic in the video, trying to tell people what NOT to do … that’s the only way I can see his video as a positive thing.

*there’s always a silver lining in everything; hopefully there’s one in that video.
Felipe Arruda

It’s hard for me to encounter a photographer I really hated. Happened three times in my life. This is the third.
- http://erickimphotography.com/blog Eric Kim
  
  After seeing him shoot– I will say I don’t hate him as a person, but hate his approach.
James

This guy gets in even closer and is way more aggressive than Bruce Gilden. Popping out from behind a phone booth like that could be construed as a form of public harassment and he juts his camera into people’s faces, inches away. This is the only time I can remember where watching a street photographer has made me angry. This guy is giving us all a bad name.

I hate talking badly about aspiring street photographers, but I’m going to do it here. With the constant and unrestrained amount that he shoots, you’d think the law of averages would give him a couple of decent shots, but of the 15 street shots on his website, not one of them is even average. There’s no vision at all, just arrogance and novelty in his ‘technique’.
James

This guy gets in even closer and is way more aggressive than Bruce Gilden. Popping out from behind a phone booth like that could be construed as a form of public harassment and he juts his camera into people’s faces, inches away. This is the only time I can remember where watching a street photographer has made me angry. This guy is giving us all a bad name.

I hate talking badly about aspiring street photographers, but I’m going to do it here. With the constant and unrestrained amount that he shoots, you’d think the law of averages would give him a couple of decent shots, but of the 15 street shots on his website, not one of them is even average. There’s no vision at all, just arrogance and novelty in his ‘technique’.
Anonymous

I am not a great fan of the in your face shooting method– particularly with flash. Thankfully this Pires doesn’t use a flash or he would blind people for sure. I looked at his site and his portfolio and I like his “everyday” shots the best. They are the ones without people.
http://www.citysnaps.net/ Brad

Another who doesn’t know the difference between shooting on a street, and street photography. What he does is easy to do. And the results speak to the technique; no context, no subtlety, no narrative, no mystery, no nice light, and ultimately no reason for a viewer to care. And unlike Gilden’s pix, no attitude or gravitas.

It’s an easy way of not dealing with background clutter. But at the *huge* expense of stripping any environmental context that would keep a viewer interested and caring about the subject and image.

Seems many shooters today like to snap the random-person-on-the-street and call it SP. Without a hook of some sort, or something to release narrative in the viewer’s mind, it’s just a snap of a random person on a sidewalk with nothing going for it. Much too easy and not SP.

Shooting SP and having interesting elements coming together in a synergistic manner is difficult. And not seen very often today…
Robert Larson

Tosser.
em

totally agree sir eric
em

totally agree sir eric
Rob-L

I don’t know what kind of photography this is, but I don’t consider it street photography. Also, while the video doesn’t show any of the stills, I can’t see how any of those shots could have any kind of artistic merit. I think he needs to re-evaluate what he is doing and why. That said, he really doesn’t hurt anyone, but I’d be concerned about startling someone with a heart condition (or a mean disposition.)
Rob-L

I don’t know what kind of photography this is, but I don’t consider it street photography. Also, while the video doesn’t show any of the stills, I can’t see how any of those shots could have any kind of artistic merit. I think he needs to re-evaluate what he is doing and why. That said, he really doesn’t hurt anyone, but I’d be concerned about startling someone with a heart condition (or a mean disposition.)
Nykino (John Kim)

Oviously he has guts but he just takes photos ‘in the street’. Although there is no rules about the street photography and everybody has his/her own style, I think photographers must respect people first of all. Mr. Bruce Gilden has his own unique style, but we shouldn’t misinterpret his approach. I don’t hate him but he needs to think how to approach street photography in different way. Instead of his style, I would rather wear “Hello Kitty” or “Smurf” mask on my head and put a small camera inside my coat to take photos of people in the street. It would be more interesting to see people’s reaction.
- http://twitter.com/polarapfel Tobias Weisserth
  
  I do not think it’s guts he has, it’s simply lack of thought and respect.
  - Nykino (John Kim)
    
    Yeah, I agree. Tobias. The ‘gut’ captured in the video is showy-gut, so to speak.
    I really didn’t mean the real ‘gut’. His approach seems like just playing pranks on people. I felt really uncomfortable at his statement “I am looking for characters….normal people…blah blah.” His words don’t match to what he said. That means he didn’t seem to think seriously about what the character means to him and what is normal people. Of course we all are not abnormal people as well. Although some people think his approach may give us a new style of street photography, it will not work for me and I would rather spend more time on finding my own style if Ican. Eric is also exploring/experimenting new style with a flash recently, but Eric’s style with a flash, in my opinion, will not be that way forever. Obviously this is Mr. Bruce Gilden’s. It may create some interesting results for a while and I may try this way some day, but I know this approach cannot be my solid style in the end. I think this video is a good sample to discuss what street photography means to us and put more efforts to think about what we are doing.
  - Nykino (John Kim)
    
    Yeah, I agree. Tobias. The ‘gut’ captured in the video is showy-gut, so to speak.
    I really didn’t mean the real ‘gut’. His approach seems like just playing pranks on people. I felt really uncomfortable at his statement “I am looking for characters….normal people…blah blah.” His words don’t match to what he said. That means he didn’t seem to think seriously about what the character means to him and what is normal people. Of course we all are not abnormal people as well. Although some people think his approach may give us a new style of street photography, it will not work for me and I would rather spend more time on finding my own style if Ican. Eric is also exploring/experimenting new style with a flash recently, but Eric’s style with a flash, in my opinion, will not be that way forever. Obviously this is Mr. Bruce Gilden’s. It may create some interesting results for a while and I may try this way some day, but I know this approach cannot be my solid style in the end. I think this video is a good sample to discuss what street photography means to us and put more efforts to think about what we are doing.
Pingback: Getting Close: Does It Really Make You a Better Street Photographer? — Eric Kim Street Photography
Andrew So

This may sound strange, but I actually admire his willingness to step beyond social norms to capture different images. His pictures will show genuine surprise, shock, and possibly, contempt. However, I cringe upon seeing his approach. Extending a camera directly into a person’s face seems far too aggressive and definitely steps into the field of harassment.

Although he is aggressive and showy, his photographs will show a side of people that is rarely seen. Does he give street photography a bad name? Perhaps. Does he give photography a bad name? I’m not so sure…
Jen Edwards

There’s almost a violence in the way he jumps out and thrusts the camera in people’s faces. (I was convinced he was going to hit someone!) I struggled to put my finger on what bothered me about it, but I think it’s simply this: He doesn’t appear to respect his subjects.

People who don’t “get” street photography might think the same thing of everyone shooting in public–especially if/when they get close for the shot. But there’s a distinction. What good street photographers have chosen to ignore (or… disrespect) is this idea that being photographed in a public place compromises one’s privacy.

(I mean, you’re FAR more susceptible to having your privacy violated by a friend sharing photos of you on Facebook with her 2000 “friends.”)

I think the ultimate goal of a street photographer is to capture the essence of everyday life… and to do this well requires empathy with the characters in your story. That’s what seems to be missing in Fabio’s video. It feels more like a sport the way he does it… or a way to sublimate some pent up aggression.

But maybe he was just show-boating for the camera. I hope.
http://profiles.google.com/matthew.bamberg Matthew Bamberg

Hey Eric,

The guy is a performance artist!
- Knur
  
  Clown street photographer
http://photographystreet.wordpress.com/ Vittore

Well I prefer candid shots, but we can see that sometimes this guy reach some interesting results.
http://photographystreet.wordpress.com/ Vittore

Well I prefer candid shots, but we can see that sometimes this guy reach some interesting results.
Nancy

Wow, ok, he really comes across as a wanker in this video! I really hope it is just that he is young and cocky, and maybe just playing it up for the video. Personally I am more in favour of capturing moments that are unfolding without any interference from me or my camera. To each their own, I guess, but I do find his approach very disrespectful. It may be dangerous too, the way he jams the camera out at his subjects, it is only a matter of time before he misjudges the distance and whacks someone in the face! And scaring people is just not cool.

As an aside, Eric I am sorry to hear about the effect the criticism of your shooting with flash video had on you. While I am not particularly enamoured of the approach, I don’t think you were doing anything wrong, and respect your right to experiment in your style. And I am very grateful to you for sharing your experiences via this blog, and bringing us thought-provoking articles and interviews. You rock!!
Nate Lawson

I just commented on your other post, Eric, on the guest post with Simon, about “in your face” street photography. To me, street photography is about telling a story. It’s about capturing mankind in his/her element without disturbing them or causing a reaction.

That’s exactly what Fabio is doing, just trying to get a reaction. They may make for some humorous expressions, but they certainly aren’t telling me a story. They’re the punchline without the joke.

But if this is what he enjoys doing, I’m certainly not one to judge or say it’s “wrong”. People say you have to use a viewfinder, or black & white film, or get closer. Everyone has their own style and technique and I’m sure there are some that will disagree with my technique. So be it.
Kenneth N

What right do we have – as photographers – to stick our lenses and cameras (with or without flash) up in the nose and face of innocent people/subjects??
Is Street Photography about showing who has the biggest balls? The closer the better? The shorter the lens the better? And even with flash – now you are getting somewhere…?
I do not get it. I thought the idea was to trying your best to record everyday life and scenery from the street, try to record something with contrast, with humour, with feelings, with composition, with whatever – but with that “something” that makes you say: “Ahhh. This pleases my eyes and I want to hang this picture on my wall”.
Do we really want to collect pictures of scared rabbits…?
- Vinny H.
  
  i came across this on petapixel and i hate to give eric any kind of traffic but read this comment and decided to chime in.
  
  kenneth, i’m sure you’re speaking what many many people have thought but don’t want to say. what is the deal with street photographers these days? ramming their cameras in people’s faces to elicit a response so that they can call it a “candid” shot or say they’re documenting life? i find it ironic that eric has gone out of his way to criticize another photographer when the photos he shoots himself are just as bad (based on his criticism of fabio). the photos he produces could be replicated by anyone with a camera and guts. hand a camera to a gorilla and i’m sure you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the gorilla’s and eric’s (and most other street photographers, for that matter). i wonder if these guys would ever blog the day that they shot the wrong subject and got their cameras smacked out of their hands and smashed on the ground or punched in the throat.
  
  these styles of street photography are a joke and it just goes to show that anyone with a camera these days thinks they’re a photographer. buying a $800 DSLR or a $8000 Leica and shoving it in someone’s face as they walk by does not make you a photographer. it makes you an ass who shoves cameras in people’s faces and takes a photo.
  
  thanks for this kenneth!
- http://erickimphotography.com/blog Eric Kim
  
  Hey Kenneth– thanks for your response! To answer your question, getting closer is not always better. The question is… how close is close enough? This post by Simon Garnier explains quite well which explains the adage: “If you’re not close enough your photos aren’t good enough”: http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/09/getting-close-does-it-really-make-you-a-better-street-photographer/
  
  And at the end of the day I believe it is all about how you interact with the people. After getting close to people I always make sure to smile and say thank you. 90% of the people smile and say thank you back
  - Kenneth N
    
    Hi Eric,
    I am glad that you have got the post from Simon Garnier on your blog. This is exactly my point. We do not need per automatic to stick the lenses up in peoples noses. We can instead keep the distance that makes a good picture. So being close with a wideangle can be good in some situations and in other situations 85mm (like Thomas L) can be the right tool. But all of us taking photographs on the street – some of us even have laws that makes it even more difficult – all of us SP’s need to act with respect against people passing by our camera.
    
    I hope this make sense.
- http://erickimphotography.com/blog Eric Kim
  
  Hey Kenneth– thanks for your response! To answer your question, getting closer is not always better. The question is… how close is close enough? This post by Simon Garnier explains quite well which explains the adage: “If you’re not close enough your photos aren’t good enough”: http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/09/getting-close-does-it-really-make-you-a-better-street-photographer/
  
  And at the end of the day I believe it is all about how you interact with the people. After getting close to people I always make sure to smile and say thank you. 90% of the people smile and say thank you back
- http://erickimphotography.com/blog Eric Kim
  
  Hey Kenneth– thanks for your response! To answer your question, getting closer is not always better. The question is… how close is close enough? This post by Simon Garnier explains quite well which explains the adage: “If you’re not close enough your photos aren’t good enough”: http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/09/getting-close-does-it-really-make-you-a-better-street-photographer/
  
  And at the end of the day I believe it is all about how you interact with the people. After getting close to people I always make sure to smile and say thank you. 90% of the people smile and say thank you back
http://twitter.com/Gazonthestreet Gazonthestreet

Sorry but this style of street photography can only give us all a bad name. His subject were alarmed not just surprised, in my opinion that’s just not right
http://twitter.com/Gazonthestreet Gazonthestreet

Sorry but this style of street photography can only give us all a bad name. His subject were alarmed not just surprised, in my opinion that’s just not right
Guest

So Eric.. you still think you’re doing the right thing shooting with your flash? I agree this guy comes around as a prick, but so do you with all you’re talk about how street photography is (almost) all about balls. This guy should be you’re hero!

I still come around this blog because I see some interesting stuff here every now and then, but looking at your work I feel you’re lost. Your work is nowhere near where it used to be. Sorry..
- Guest
  
  Sorry this came out a bit harsh. I hadn’t read your update (and sometimes it’s too easy to post and not think). But I do feel you’ve done great stuff, but you’ve been experimenting with stuff that I don’t think produced nice work and were crossing the line of what street photography should be about imo.
http://www.marcofiori.co.uk Marco Fiori

And this is why I’m going to continue shooting with a 70-300mm. Totally unintrusive.
- Erik
  
  Don’t you feel a bit of a spy doing that? I think shooting someone close up with a 50mm (75 on full frame) or jumping in front of them (flash or no flash) is crossing lines in terms of private space (you’re too close), but I think street photography should be done with the honesty of letting you’re subject now you’re there. I’m not talking about asking for permission, but I feel you should be walking the streets of your subjects. Let them have a fair chance of knowing you’re there taking photos. So I don’t believe in this “the closer the better” idea, but I do feel you should be part of the scene, not spying from a distance with a tele.. It’s not about the pictures it produces (you can capture great moments this way… you can by attacking your subjects with a flash too), it’s about honesty and decency to me.
- Erik
  
  Don’t you feel a bit of a spy doing that? I think shooting someone close up with a 50mm (75 on full frame) or jumping in front of them (flash or no flash) is crossing lines in terms of private space (you’re too close), but I think street photography should be done with the honesty of letting you’re subject now you’re there. I’m not talking about asking for permission, but I feel you should be walking the streets of your subjects. Let them have a fair chance of knowing you’re there taking photos. So I don’t believe in this “the closer the better” idea, but I do feel you should be part of the scene, not spying from a distance with a tele.. It’s not about the pictures it produces (you can capture great moments this way… you can by attacking your subjects with a flash too), it’s about honesty and decency to me.
- Anonymous
  
  That’s the worse type of street photography. I never used anything longer than 70. mostly sticking with 24mm, it’s the photographer and the attitude not the gear.
http://twitter.com/85mm_ch Thomas Leuthard

The video was removed by the originator…
- Simon Garnier
  
  Apparently someone doesn’t have the guts to take responsibility for his own stupidity
http://twitter.com/85mm_ch Thomas Leuthard

The original video was removed. Here is another one which seems to be the same: http://www.youtube.com/user/FabioPiresMedia#p/a/f/0/A9ddAhi5wYA
- Loryne
  
  Also removed it. I wish I had a chance to see it as all this debate is making me curious. I guess it’s true what they say – bad press is still press. He should have kept his videos up rather than hide if he truly believes in what he’s doing..
http://www.sinvertigo.com SinVertigo

Like Bruce Gilden!!!

http://youtu.be/Nc1RrQXidlY
http://twitter.com/mattmaber matt maber

Is the video actually up anywhere?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001744626341 Stamatis Gr

My thoughts are exactly what you wrote Eric!
Certainly NOT my type of “street”
Chad Michael Harnett

Looks like he has taken down his video!
http://twitter.com/polarapfel Tobias Weisserth

Action and reaction, cause and effect. If he feels bad now, we all know the reason for this.

If someone can’t take the heat, they shouldn’t start a fire. If someone wants to do photography this way deliberately this way, then they should be fine with thousands of people starting a witch hunt.
Dertur

I have stopped street photography.

I’m bored felling so bad in front of people who do not really want to be photographied.

And I’m not a thief.

Street photography becomes fast-food. Plenty of pix, cheap in time, but… so what ?

I now prefer to ask people : do you accept I take a picture of you ?

It takes time.

But I feel cool.

Much less pix, but much more pleasure.
- Solomon
  
  I like your style!
- Anonymous
  
  Like you alluded to at the end of your post, Street Photography is what you make it. It is fast food if you don’t spend time with your subjects.
  
  Some people like to shoot telephoto and never get near enough while others will spend the time to explain their subjects to the world and get close. The later is better but so much harder. It separates the good photographers from the tourists.
Dertur

Kenneth said : Do we really want to collect pictures of scared rabbits…?

Il like it !!!

Thank you Kenneth !
Email

Eric,

Be kind. It is already difficult to criticize someone’s work or actions when you know the person well. Everyone is bashing this young photographer bases on a single video. Sure her seems cocky and arrogant and all the other adjectives everyone was fast on providing. Does anyone actually knows the guy? Does he always shoot like that? Would it be fare to think Eric is Eric based on just the “flash” video? I don’t think so. I know you got “bad press” with your “flash” video, but bashing someone else’s work doesn’t make yours better. I am not defending the guy. Just don’t think we should all be judging based on a single video.

This is a very interesting phenomena. Now we can actually see how street photography is being made (good or bad, right or wrong), whereas in the past we could only see the pictures and try to imagine how the pictures were taken. God knows how the Masters’ technique, style of shooting really was.

Cheers
Edward

I wish I could have seen this video before he removed it.
Floydbehrman

Good way to get shot
Bob Beamesderfer

Nothing in his Street Photography portfolio looks as if it were shot using the technique described. He could use an editor.
Michael

All in all we can find this type of photography is perhaps a ‘New Style’ or ‘Bruce Gilden Misinterpreted’ or ‘Deuce bag dumb ass young amateur’ whatever you wanna call it I am really tired of watching these videos. It would be better if we all (including you Eric ) stop making these stupid ‘Look at Me making a fool of my self’ kind of videos and start delivering quality photos that truly brings out passion and deliver something original.
Anonymous

First time I see some interesting street photography. Very cool.
- Knur
  
  Oh yeah ? Now watch Bruce Gilden’s videos on youtube .
http://www.facebook.com/people/Richard-Hankin/1037654521 Richard Hankin

“take out our pitchforks…”
Doesn’t his method of taking “photographs” and his comments about his victims say much about his character?
Guest

Us are on the same line… punch or flash ?
Karolus Naga

I wonder if he ever captured a combat trainer while passing by for breakfast or lunch, pop up like that to guys like those trained SAS then he will learn about REFLEX … which is spending 2 months in hospital
Fabio Pires

FABIO PIRES – The Interview fabiopiresphotography.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/the-interv…
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http://www.galapinoyredux.com Cedric

I could really care less if he thinks his better than Bruce Gilden (his photos say otherwise, I’m sorry), but what really got into me was he thought shooting the homeless somehow gave him street cred as a street photographer. It’s a sad reality I see in forums and even on flickr. You got it right Kim, we look for interesting subjects. I also look for people who stick out, people who are different. But that doesnt necessarily mean they should be homeless. Guess we should stop doing that unless we’ve the intention of extending our help to the person.
Shane

“he doesn’t seem to have much respect for the people he shoots”

“the guy does come off as arrogant and cocky”

Pot. Kettle. Black.
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pyro

good personality=good photographs.. all said and done our own opinions are our own no less or more relevant or irrelevant than anyone elses, and obviously those opinions and feelings help to shape our personality. The fact he has removed the video kind of says to me that he doesn’t really believe in what he did so you got to ask yourself why he did it in the first place. I just wish I had got to see it before he did remove it so I could have more of an idea.
pyro

Just found a link for this vid that has not yet been deleted, have to say it made me cringe.. how he talked about what he does.. “normal” people and “crazy types”.. this guy has basically seen a video of Gilden and completely misinterpreted it as a way to “get images”. Gilden says in that vid that “all these people are his friends” you can tell there’s something deeply personal in Gildens work bit this guy is all about “getting images” not being with people..

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzAyMDYzNTY4.html