ERIC KIM

Photolosophy: With Physical Proximity comes Emotional Proximity

A photolosophy idea: by photographing at a close proximity to your subjects, you’re more likely to feel the emotions of your subjects. And the closer you are to your subjects and the closer you frame them (with a wide angle lens), the more emotional connection your viewer can feel from your photos!

Robert Capa said, “If your photos aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” — which is probably the most distilled version of this saying or aphorism.

I’m pretty amazed; I’m revisiting the work of the old school (OG) Magnum photographers (like Robert Capa), and I’m so grateful he got super close to the action, and had the guts to make all these epic photos of the war, and history in the making.

Why?

Well, when I look at the photos of Robert Capa:

  1. The photos feel more real; I feel I’m really there! Thus I feel more gratitude to live my life without the perils of war obstructing my life.
  2. The photos will do better service to the future of humanity; to show the horrible aspects of war, to hopefully prevent future wars.
  3. Aesthetically, even looking at the photos spark joy, delight, and optimism in my heart. I think this is because the compositions are closer and more intimate. And Robert Capa has the audacity and brazenness to shoot certain scenes that others might feel shy or awkward (or scared) to shoot:
SPAIN. Les Masies. October 25th, 1938. Farewell ceremony for the International Brigades.
ICP 525. July, 1943. A member of the American Medical Corps treats a German prisoner of war.
ITALY. Sicily, near Nicosia. July, 1943. German soldier captured by American forces.
FRANCE. Normandy. W.W.II. Operation OVERLORD. Omaha Beach. June 6th, 1944. In June 1944 the Allied forces opened a second front in Normandy (after the one in North Africa and Italy) to liberate France. On June 6th, in what was later called D-Day, 90,000 soldiers landed on Omaha Beach (the coded name for Coleville-sur-Mer). Many of them were killed by German troops, but the Allies managed nonetheless to defeat the Germans. FRANCE. Normandy. W.W.II. Operation OVERLORD. Omaha Beach. June 6th, 1944. The first wave of American troops lands at dawn.
ITALY. 1944. Drivers from the French ambulance corps near the front, waiting to be called.
TUNISIA. April, 1943. American pilot.
FRANCE. Normandy. June, 1944. French fishermen looking at the corpses of slain US soldiers on Omaha Beach.
FRANCE. St. Laurent-sur-Mer, Calvados. June, 1944. German soldiers captured by US forces.
FRANCE. Normandy. Omaha Beach. The first wave of American troops lands at dawn. June 6th, 1944.
SPAIN. Barcelona. January 1939. Little girl resting during the evacuation of the city.
GERMANY. Leipzig. April 18, 1945. American soldier killed by a German sniper.
FRANCE. Paris. August 26th, 1944. Crowd on the pavement after snipers in buildings overlooking the Place de l’Hotel de Ville opened fire on the celebrations after the liberation.
GERMANY. Near Wesel. March 24th, 1945. American paratroopers landing in Germany.
CHINA. Hankou. March, 1938. Children playing in the snow.
FRANCE. Arras. March 23rd, 1945. An American Parachutist preparing to board the plane for the jump accross the Rhine River.
BELGIUM. Near Bastogne. December 23rd-26th, 1944. A US soldier with a German prisoner of war during the Battle of the Bulge.

So the morale of the story is this:

When you feel awkward or nervous getting close to shoot a street photography scene which you find interesting or meaningful, know that you’re shooting it for the greater good! Thus, be bold, brazen, and get closer!

Tip 1: When in doubt take a step closer.

The 25% principle

And another tip: when you think you’ve got the shot, you haven’t got it yet. Try to always shoot 25% more than you think you should, and you’re more likely to get a good photo!

BE BRAZEN,
ERIC

Photolosophy

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