How to Make Controversial Street Photographs

Tokyo, 2011

I’m the most hated street photographer on the internet.

Why?

It’s because I’m controversial.

Act I

Tokyo, 2011

Primo, what is controversy?

It’s going against (versus) the consensus (public opinion).

Society doesn’t want us to be controversial. Why not? Or else we cannot be slaves to the system and social order.

Tokyo, 2011

I’m a bit of a street photography anarchist. I’m like, “Fuck the rules!” I thought it was bullshit that I had to follow these arbitrary “rules” on shooting candidly, without permission. I was too heavily influenced by the street photography dogma online.

Act II

Tokyo, 2011

One day I was like fuck these rules. Imma shoot street photography how I want to shoot.

I experimented. I asked for permission. I shot some candidly. Some photos, I shot candidly then asked for permission afterwards.

Rather than swallowing the truth from others, I sought to discover it for myself.

Act III

Shot on phone. Mexico City, 2016. Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Now I feel liberated. I don’t even care for the definition of “street photography.”

I’ve declared my own definition.

To me, street photography is documenting, analyzing, and connecting with humanity.

My rule:

If street photography is making you more distant from real human beings, you’re doing it wrong.

Street photography should bring us closer to real humans. Not to just treat them like “photo things” to be uploaded to Instagram, and to get likes.

Question:

Do you “like” the humans you photograph?

Conclusion

ERICKIM x HENRI NECK STRAP

Join ERIC KIM FORUM, the first supportive photography community, without all the bullshit and snobbery on most online photography forums or sites.

All are welcome.

Share your favorite shots. Make constructive critiques for others. Contribute. Communicate. Connect.

Excited to have you.

BE STRONG,
ERIC


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STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101 BY ERIC KIM

Tokyo, 2012

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