Month: August 2013

  • My Vision of Open Source Photography

    My Vision of Open Source Photography

    Portrait by Luis Donoso
    Portrait by Luis Donoso

    When I first started this blog, I wrote about the idea of “open source photography.” To sum up the idea, I wanted to make a personal vow to always keep the information on this blog open and free for anyone to use, remix, or share.

    I remember when I was an undergraduate student at school, and I was so broke I could barely afford textbooks. It always infuriated me how these textbook companies would charge ridiculous sums of money for knowledge that I believed should be open and free to promote knowledge, wisdom, and learning for the rest of humanity. Sure I do agree that these companies have to make a profit somehow, but I think that charging $200 a textbook (required reading) was excessive for a student surviving on pizza and ramen.

    I have always been into computers growing up, and my student job was IT. I remember first reading about “open source” software and was amazed how generous these developers were in creating software that changed the world. It gave access to people who could not afford expensive copies of Windows, Office, or Photoshop. The open source versions were free to download, and were nearly as good (sometimes even better) than their expensive for-profit-driven counterparts.

    I grew up in the lower socio-economic class in America, with my mom holding down three part time jobs working as a waitress, cashier, and even cleaning houses to put me and my sister through school. The biggest resources that helped us were public services (thank God for libraries) and other free organizations that helped me build character and leadership skills (Boy Scouts, local community centers, etc).

    I was also fortunate enough that I was able to pay my way through school at UCLA with a combination of grants from the American government and also through my work study job (also subsidized from the government). I also have had countless mentors throughout my life who dedicated thousands of hours to help shape me into the person I am today, and I have a moral and societal obligation to give back to the community.

    Therefore I want to re-clarify my purpose of running this blog. My purpose is to spread and promote the love of photography— via educational posts (what I have learned from the master photographers), inspirational (interviews and feature for contemporary photographers), or community-based (exhibitions, books, etc.) I initially started this blog as a hobby and to help others in their journey in street photography (as there were few community-driven blogs online dedicated to street photography about three years ago). I have been lucky enough to make it a living primarily by teaching workshops.

    I am certainly not the authority when it comes to street photography. There is still a lot I am ignorant of and many things I need to learn. I am not the best street photographer either, I don’t have a body of work I am proud of yet. However I have the passion, drive, and fervent love of street photography I want to promote– and I wish to contribute to the community by sharing things I have been learning along the way.

    Therefore I want to reiterate the fact that I will never charge anything on the blog in terms of information. I will make sure that anything information-based (articles, videos, features, etc) will always be available openly and for free on the blog. I do envision myself writing more paper-bound books in the future, but if I self publish these– I want to always have an ebook available for free online.

    I also plan on offering more free street photography workshops to students as well as those who cannot traditionally afford to attend my workshops. I have recently offered some student scholarships when I taught workshops in Manila, and also hosted a charity-based workshop in Detroit with Brian Day which was pay-what-you-can (the profits went to the Detroit firefighters fund).

    I have no intentions to becoming rich through my blog, and certainly don’t want to be a blood-thirsty capitalist. I studied sociology in school and I view my socio-political-economic views as quite liberal, and I hope not to stray away from my core ideals and beliefs. If I do by chance become a blood-thirsty capitalist/vampire trying to suck profits out of the street photography community, please stab a wooden stake through my heart and bust out the garlic.

    I also wanted to announce that I have recently made all of my photos on Flickr available for free as full-resolution downloads. So if you have ever liked any of my photos and wanted a print, feel free to download any photo and print any sized photo you want. Use it as wallpapers, prints to hang on your wall, or whatever you want to use them for (non commercial). And no, you don’t need my permission.

    I already make a living through my workshops and am currently earning enough to live comfortably. I am starting to think more about my future financially (in terms of starting a family, buying a house, all of that “grown up” stuff) but I want to always keep the information on my blog available for free.

    Currently what I think is charging for workshops to earn my living (and also I love teaching as well) while keeping everything else available for free.

    I also just moved into my new place in Berkeley and finally am starting to get settled in. I ordered an uber-fast 50megabit Internet connection for my home (will be installed this weekend) so I plan on publishing video lectures, and I also hope to write more free ebooks on street photography. I am also currently a bit burnt out from international travel, and I want to focus my energies more locally while spending more time with my girlfriend, family, and close friends.

    I think this year (and hopefully many years to come) will be a well spring of educational learning and community-involvement (I am collaborating more with guest writers for this blog). I also hope to become more involved in the local Bay Area photography scene, as this is where I grew up (I grew up in Alameda).

    Thanks again so much for reading, participating, and helping this beautiful art of street photography flourish. None of this would be possible without you.

    – Berkeley, 8/29/2013

    Free resources

     

  • Observe Collective Interview #1: Antonis Damolis

    Observe Collective Interview #1: Antonis Damolis

     Click to read more

    ​OBSERVE is a new international photography collective focused primarily on the practice of candid street photography. I have sent questionnaires to all 14 of the members, and will feature their responses and images on the blog for the next upcoming weeks. 

    Antonis Damolis: I was born in Crete, Greece, in 1980. I’m an orthodontist and I discovered photography in 2010 when I bought my first DSLR. I started shooting in the street because it was an accessible place. I’m amazed by the way my camera sees the world.

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  • The Psychology of Everyday Situations: Interview with Justin Sainsbury from Burn My Eye

    The Psychology of Everyday Situations: Interview with Justin Sainsbury from Burn My Eye

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    Justin Sainsbury is a street photographer based in Brighton, on the south coast of England. He is also a member of Burn My Eye. What I love about his images is that his photos ask more questions than provide answers. Take a look at his images and interview, and participate by making up your own fictional stories in the everyday lives of the subjects he captures. 

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  • 5 Lessons Bruce Gilden Has Taught Me About Street Photography

    5 Lessons Bruce Gilden Has Taught Me About Street Photography

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    © Bruce Gilden / Magnum Photos

    Bruce Gilden is one of the best street photographers currently alive. He is a photographer who has had a deep influence on me and my approach in street photography– especially when I first saw the video of him shooting in the streets of New York City.

    Bruce Gilden is also one of the most controversial street photographers– and I also feel one of the most misunderstood.

    In this article I will write what I personally learned from his street photography and how I see him as more of a humanistic street photographer (rather than just being an asshole as others might misinterpret him to be).

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  • The Art of Being Aware in the Streets: Interview with Oguz Ozkan from Istanbul

    The Art of Being Aware in the Streets: Interview with Oguz Ozkan from Istanbul

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    Photo by Oguz Ozkan from his “Dog walk” series in Istanbul.

    Oguz Ozkan is a street photographer based in Istanbul. I was introduced to him by Charlie Kirk– and I was amazed how much progress he has made in only about a year and a half of photographing on the streets. We sat down for a beer over dinner at a bar, and this is a typed transcription of my interview with him. 

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  • Scratching the Itch Through Mobile Photography

    Scratching the Itch Through Mobile Photography

    c. Josh White. Blackberry Z10
    c. Josh White. Blackberry Z10

    This article is written by Josh White, a street photographer that has traveled throughout Korea, Japan, and Canada. You can follow his blog here.

    Josh: Photographic purists, especially ones of the docu/street genre will often argue that photography is a process. They will argue that photography should all be taken seriously and photographs should be left to permeate. They will argue that film photography is good for the up and coming photographer as it teaches patience and discipline. We are more likely to like the photographs taken more recently.

    While I believe all this to be somewhat true, photographer’s itch. We itch to take photographs and to look at them. We itch to share them and get feedback. In this world of instant gratification and constant boredom patience doesn’t always come easily.

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  • On Staged Photos and Integrity

    On Staged Photos and Integrity

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    Photo by Charlie Kirk, from his “Outliers” set.

    This article was originally posted by Charlie Kirk on his Tumblr here. Make sure to follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

    Charlie: A week or so ago, Brian Sokolowski posted on Facebook: “Is it me, or is there a whole lot of street-photography out there that’s set up and posed? No, it’s not me… there is. What’s the point of that? I mean if it’s set-up, that’s fine. But don’t try to pass it off as street-photography, because it’s not.”  I agreed with him and cited a few photos from the HCSP group that looked staged.  I’d like to expand upon my thoughts here.

    Let me start by saying that, like Brian, I am not against staged photographs per se.  Jeff Wall is one of my favourite photographers, and I love the portraits of Gilden – who, I would argue, is the best “street photographer” alive today.  What I take objection to is deception which may or may not be a result of a loosening of the commonly held perception that street photography is candid.

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  • Istanbul Street Photography GoPro POV Volume #3

    Istanbul Street Photography GoPro POV Volume #3

    This is the third installment of my Istanbul Street Photography GoPro POV videos.

    Two of my other Istanbul GoPro Street Photography POV’s:

  • Istanbul Street Photography GoPro POV Volume #2

    Here is the second volume of my Istanbul Street Photography GoPro POV series. I put the new GoPro Hero 3 (and shot at 720p at 60fps) on top of my Leica MP. The framelines are roughly 35mm. I have a few more I’m working on, will upload them in the upcoming week.

    If you haven’t seen it already, you can see my first Istanbul Street Photography GoPro POV here.

  • My Experiences Shooting Street Photography in Istanbul

    My Experiences Shooting Street Photography in Istanbul

    This is my second time in Istanbul, and it has absolutely been one of my favorite places in the world to shoot street photography. It is a combination of the friendly people, the diverse history, the historic architecture, the multicultural heritage, and the golden light.

    The other day I put my GoPro Hero 3 on top of my Leica MP and with Portra 400 loaded, made a POV of me shooting the streets of Istanbul — around the Eminonu area in Istanbul which is right by the water and the New Mosque.

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  • Submit to the Miami Street Photography Festival 2013!

    Submit to the Miami Street Photography Festival 2013!

    miami

    I am excited to share that submissions for the street photography exhibition for the Miami Street Photography Festival 2013 is live! For more information regarding the exhibition, read more or you can click here for all the details.

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  • 0.7 m “The Magnificent Miles” Film on Chicago by Satoki Nagata

    0.7 m “The Magnificent Miles” Film on Chicago by Satoki Nagata

    My talented photographer friend Satoki Nagata is putting together a film project titled: “.07 The Magnificent Miles” – a documentation on the city of Chicago. They are completing the film by the summer of 2014, and are current seeking funding for the film. A detailed proposal can be sent per request to anyone interested in supporting the project by emailing info@themagnificentmiles.com. Music in the film is by Laurent Levesque.

    If you want to learn more about Satoki, check out my in-depth interview with him here.

  • What is Street Photography?

    What is Street Photography?

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    I like to think street photography is more than just guys jumping over puddles. One of the most famous “street photographs” taken by a photographer who never even called himself a “street photographer.” © Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos

    I want to write regarding a subject which is highly debated online: “What is street photography?”

    There are countless forum threads, Facebook discussions, blogs, and Flickr boards which argue what street photography is and what street photography isn’t.

    I have thought about the question: “What is street photography?” for a long time– and my thoughts and views have changed and evolved over the years.

    I don’t have all the answers to defining what street photography is (or isn’t) but I will attempt to come to some sort of logical conclusion on what street photography means to me. Consider this article as part of a self-reflective essay for me to better understand my own personal views. And I also hope that you can take some of my thoughts and incorporate it into your own personal views– and reach your own conclusions for yourself.

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  • How to Talk to Strangers: 7 Tips For Photographing People

    My buddy Adam Marelli just presented a talk at the B&H Photo Space talking about feeling more comfortable approaching strangers and photographing them while incorporating compositions and more. Definitely recommend the in-depth 1 hour and 50 minutes.

    Also to learn more from Adam, check out his other talk on how to incorporate design & composition into your work (one of the finest out there). If you want to learn more from Adam, check out his upcoming workshops here.

  • Interview with Shin Noguchi on the Leica Blog

    Interview with Shin Noguchi on the Leica Blog

    Hase Kamakura, 2012. Photo by Shin Noguchi
    Hase Kamakura, 2012. Photo by Shin Noguchi

    I recently had the chance to interview the talented Shin Noguchi on the Leica blog. He is one of my favorite contemporary Japanese street photographers and what I love most about his work is his strong visual images, uncanny moments, as well as his look into Japanese society.

    A quick tidbit from one of the questions I asked him:

    Eric: What is some advice you would give to street photographers starting out?

    Shin: Currently, activity at SNS is the main stream for all kinds of artists, and as for photography, it is in vogue to get a good reputation at reviewing sites such as 1x.com. Under such circumstances, it is important for street photographers, regardless of a review of one photograph or artistic review, to shoot streets coolly as persistent storytellers or spokesmen from the standpoint of shooting documentaries which exist on the bottom of people’s life.

    I do not deny the importance of seeking artistic photographs as expression. On the other hand, I would like photographers to express, without relying on the characters of the subjects, their existence in the themes selected, and the composing ability of elements such as light and shadow, with the final aim of being evaluated by the totality of their activity as a photographer.

    >> Shin Noguchi: Open for Interpretation [Leica Blog]

    Follow Shin

  • How to Take Photos of Kids (Without Being Called a Pedophile)

    How to Take Photos of Kids (Without Being Called a Pedophile)

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    Marseille, 2012

    In today’s uber-pedophile-paranoid society taking photos of kids can be a challenge. It wasn’t a problem even a few decades ago (think of all the great photos of kids that Helen Levitt, Robert Doisneau, and Henri Catier-Bresson shot). But now even if you point a camera remotely close to a kid you can be called a pedophile.

    Personally I haven’t ever had any problems taking photos of kids (whether it be candidly or with permission).

    In this article I will try to share some of my personal tips when I photograph kids– and I hope this will help you!

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