Humanistic Photography

Berkeley, 2014
Berkeley, 2014

Dear friend,

I wanted to write you this letter on some of my thoughts on “humanistic photography” — how this might be a better definition and way to visualize and understand “street photography.”

What is “street photography” anyways?

Tustin, 2014
Tustin, 2014

I was having dinner with one of my good friends (Christophe Wu) the other night, and I was asking him for some life advice. I told him that I felt that I wrote “practically everything” I’ve wanted to write about street photography— and what direction I should take my photography, my blogging, and just my life in general.

He told me that one thing he found interesting about “street photography” is that he thought a photographer could do it practically anywhere. He argued that “street photography” could be done in the suburbs, on a farm, on the beach, and perhaps (one day) even in space. He made the argument that “street photography” was probably more of an approach, a way to see the world, and the fact that you are interested in making photos in man-made environments or a public place.

For a guy who is interested more in portrait and editorial photography— I was knocked back. He hit the nail straight on the head. “Street photography” wasn’t this super specific genre of just taking photos of strangers in busy downtown areas. It was rather a way to approach life, to interact with the public world, and it could be done really anywhere.

A better definition

In and Out, 2014
In and Out, 2014

Which got me thinking— “street photography” seems to be such an imprecise phrase. I often see a lot of “street photography” done in places where there literally are no “streets” — for example in the subway (Bruce Davidson’s “Subway”), on the bus, or even at the beach (Bruce Gilden’s “Coney Island” comes to mind).

I propose a more embracing idea: “street photography” is really “humanistic photography.”

Let me explain more below:

First of all, most “street photographers” I meet are people who love humanity. They love their fellow human-beings, they love being in public places, they love studying other human beings, and they are generally only interested in taking photos with people in them. They are sociologists with cameras— using the camera as their research tool. They are trying to understand the world and their fellow human beings through the agency of a camera.

What is “humanism”?

Tucson, 2013
Tucson, 2013

Let me go back to the idea of “humanism.”

To start off, when we think of the “humanities” in college and university— we think of “non-science/math” majors (English, Latin, History, Sociology, Psychology, etc). However in ancient times, the “humanities” (‘humanitas’ in Latin) was more connected to the Greek work “philanthrōpia”, from philanthrōpos ‘man-loving’.

When we think of “philanthropy”, we think of billionaires giving money to charities. However the original meaning was to just love our fellow human beings.

So in short, the word “philanthropy” and “humanities” are both fields that are interested in how to be a good human being, how to show love to fellow human beings, and to contribute to all of human-kind.

Are you a “humanist”?

LA, 2013
LA, 2013

I recently read Jaron Lanier’s compelling book: “Who owns the future?” In short, he is skeptical about the future of technology and human beings— he is afraid of these cloud-based emperors (Facebook, Google, Amazon) who will eventually take over our lives and such.

One of the questions Jaron puts in the book is this:

“Are you keeping people at the center?”

After all, these services on the internet, our tools (laptops, tablets, smartphones, cameras, etc) should be used to serve humanity. We shouldn’t be trying to build artificial intelligence to replace humans — rather, we should be making technology which helps empower human beings.

So the question I have for you is:

Do you love your fellow human beings?

I feel this is the most important thing of being a “street photographer” — or a “humanistic photographer”.

Do you love people? Do you love being around them?

I mean, you have to in order to document them, to be fascinated in them, and to be a part of society.

One of the main reasons I studied sociology in college was to better understand people around me. To me, humans are the weirdest animals— we are so rational in so many ways, yet so irrational in many ways. And at the end of the day, I am a very social person— I love being around other humans. When I am stuck alone in my apartment, I feel depressed and miserable. I generally feel the most “alive” when I am interacting with others— whether making small chat at the cafe, whether that is teaching, whether that is traveling and meeting new people, having engaging conversations over dinner, or taking photos of people (especially strangers).

Make love your mission statement

Nashville, 2013
Nashville, 2013

I know to talk about “love” in today’s age seems to “new-agey” and fluffy. But really— do you love the people you photograph? Do you show love to them?

Street photography gets a lot of flak— that we are simply “assaulting” strangers in public with our cameras, our flashes, and being “intrusive”. But I am pretty sure that you have all the best intentions in mind— you don’t want to go out and hurt people. You are just interested in people, and you want to make compelling images that reflect what you find interesting in others or in the world. Generally that requires you get physically and emotionally close to people. And sometimes that means that you need to talk and interact with them as well.

Don’t define yourself

San Diego, 2013
San Diego, 2013

While it is easy to say that you are a “street photographer” — if you meet a stranger who isn’t a photographer or artistic, they will probably think you mean that you photograph back-alleys, graffiti, or roads.

If you meet other photographers and you tell them you are a “street photographer” — they will probably think you just take black and white photos of people jumping over puddles.

But remember— even though you like to shoot “street photography”— first of all, you are a human being. Don’t label yourself as a “street photographer”, or even a “photographer”. You are a human being, that happens to be interested in other human beings, and the camera is a bridge that helps you make connections with other human beings.

The problem with defining yourself is that you put yourself into a box. Let’s say you call yourself a “street photographer” but you are also interested in documentary or photo journalism or “reportage”. I find all these genres of photography go under the umbrella of “humanistic photography” (you are primarily interested in photographing fellow humans).

However if you tell someone that you are a “humanistic photographer” — you will just sound pretentious or you will just confuse people.

I’ve found the easiest is to just tell people that you are a social person who just happens to like to take photos. If you tell people you are a “photographer” they will probably ask you, “Oh, do you make a living from it?” or “Do you shoot weddings— I hear they can make a lot of money!”

The camera as a tool for love

LA, 2013
LA, 2013

While today’s society sees the camera as a 1984-big-brother surveillance/privacy-eroding device, I see the camera as a way to show attention and love.

For example, if you ask a stranger to make their portrait— you are giving them a huge compliment. You singled them out of millions of people, because you found something unique and interesting in them. So if you approach your subject in the right way (non-creepy way), you will make their day. You will bring happiness and joy in their life.

If you take photos of your loved ones or friends, you can make them look good— make them look heroic (and give them a nice Facebook profile picture while you’re at it).

The problem with “street photography” of taking candid photos of strangers without permission is that sooner or later— you’re going to piss someone off. But you have all the best intentions in mind. So in these situations, don’t deny the fact that you’ve taken a photograph of them. Calmly tell them what you find interesting about them or the scene, and if people get really pissed off— offer to delete the photograph. 99% of the time it won’t be a good photograph. And what is more important, the fact that you get a half-decent photo that will give you a few dozen “likes” on social media— or trying to make a person not feel violated?

Ask yourself

Pittsburgh, 2013
Pittsburgh, 2013

Ultimately all of these letters/essays I write isn’t to force my own ideas upon you. It is to provoke you to think for yourself.

So ask yourself: “Why do I shoot street photography?” Ask yourself what interests you about “street photography”. Are you keeping people in the center? Are you using your camera as a tool to show the beauty in the world for some greater good? Or are you making photos because you’re just used to getting a lot of “likes” on social media?

Ultimately there is no “right” or “wrong” in photography— just do what feels genuine and authentic to you. Know yourself, know your intentions, and I hope you always do it out of a place of love.

So love humans, love humanity, and don’t forget to love yourself (and your own photos).

Always,
Eric

11:01am, March 8, 2016. Currently battling a cold, but after an almond-cappuccino and (strong) drip coffee, I feel much better. Thank God for coffee.

Find more meaning in your photography

NYC, 2013
NYC, 2013
  1. The “Personal Photography” Manifesto
  2. A Photographer’s Search For Meaning
  3. How to Find Your Passion in Photography
  4. Find out What to Photograph, Not How
  5. Why Do You Take Photos?
  6. Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself
  7. Do You Like Your Own Photos?
  8. Simple Contentment
  9. The Cindy Project
  10. The Things That Matter Most
  11. The Point Isn’t to Be a Good Photographer, But to Enjoy Life
  12. Social Media 4.0