Eric’s Note: I am very excited to share this interview that I did with the members of Oculi, one of the most established photography collectives in Australia. Their members are diverse and practice many different styles of photography including documentary, fine art, reportage, street photography, and more.
Their current members are: Donna Bailey, James Brickwood, Lee Grant, Claire Martin, Nick Moir, Jeremy Piper, Andrew Quilty, Raphaela Rosella, Dean Sewell, David Maurice Smith and Tamara Voninski, with former members including: Narelle Autio, Warren Clarke, Nick Cubbin, Tamara Dean, Glenn Hunt, Jesse Marlow, Trent Parke and Steven Siewert.
To find out more about Oculi and their philosophies, read on!
Much thanks to the help of my girlfriend Cindy, I have nearly finalized the dates most of my street photography workshops for 2013. In my recent blog post I mentioned the difficulties of traveling too much, so I am spending more time in Northern America (to spend more time at home with my loved ones, friends, and family).
If you want to take your street photography to new heights by building your confidence, better incorporating design & composition to your work, and want to meet other like-minded street photographers — these workshops are perfect for you.
At the moment registration is only open for my upcoming workshops in Hong Kong, and Dubai. Pre-registration is open for Chicago, NYC, Toronto, Vietnam, Bangkok, Istanbul, LA, SF, Tokyo, and Kyoto! Read more to see the full schedule below.
March
3/16-3/17: Hong Kong – Intro to Street Photography Workshop - More Info & Register – FEW SPOTS LEFT!
3/22-3/24: Dubai – Intro to Street Photography Workshop – More Info & Register – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!Â
April
4/18-4/21: Chicago – Intro to Street Photography Workshop -Â Register Intent
May
5/16-5/19: New York City – Intro to Street Photography Workshop –  Register Intent
June
6/13-6/16: Toronto -Â Intro to Street Photography Workshop – Register Intent
Today I turn 25 years old. The last year has been one hell of an adventure. This year, I have been on the road at least 2-3 weeks out of every month – and I have been to 18 cities internationally, in 15 different countries.
Everyday when I wake up, it still feels surreal that I am pursuing my passsion — street photography for a living. When I got laid off my job nearly two years ago, I was scared, nervous, and uncertain about the future. I had credit card debt to pay off, oustanding student loans, and of course bills and rent to pay on top of all of it.
Fortunately with your endless encouragement I have been able to fully concentrate my efforts on street photography and not get distracted by anything else.
I have so many people to thank who helped me go this far. There is no way any of this would be possible without those giving me a place to stay during my travels and acting as warm hosts, to those attending my workshops, and especially to you — my dear reader for supporting this blog.
One of the problems I have is reflecting on the past. I am very present-oriented (which is a good thing in many regards), but I often forget to dwell on my rich past experiences. That and looking toward the future.
Here are some lessons I have learned about street photography and life in 2012:
Eric’s Note: Junku Nishimura is one of the most talented street photographers that I know in Japan. Not only is he incredibly passionate about his photography (he shoots exclusively film and develops and prints all of his work) but he is also one of the most down-to-earth. I taught a film street photography workshop in Kyoto with him alongside Bellamy Hunt and Sean Lotman- which was an incredible experience. On the last night of the workshop, we were sitting in a bar in Kyoto and I conducted an interview with him. Here is a transcription (along with some edits) of the interview.
Also I am excited to share that Junku has joined international street photography collective Burn My Eye. You can see his portfolio on BME here.
Eric’s Note: I first met Gary Wang when I visited Singapore last year to do an exhibition and a series of street photography workshops. From what I heard about Gary was that he used a rangefinder, shot really close to his subjects (often using a 21mm or 28mm lens), and that his black & white work was stirring. Gary is an all-around cool guy, with a great passion for street photography and the photography community — being one of the founding members for the Rangefinder Singapore (RFSG) group. Oh yeah, and he is a complete black&white film nut as he does all his own developing at home. I also did an interview with him in the past on the Leica blog.
Gary recently was featured in this short documentary during a trip to Brighton pier in which he talks about his philosophy about street photography, traveling, and shooting black and white film. There are also some good video footage of him shooting the streets of Brighton.
Gary told me that they forgot to bring a microphone along, which caused the audio to be quite poor. I have gotten this complaint a ton in the past as well, so I transcribed a rough guideline to what Gary says in this interview. To see more of Gary’s work and read his words, read on.
Eric’s Note: I first met Carlo Gabuco in Singapore about a year ago, at the Invisible Photographer Asia gallery with Kevin Wy Lee. When I looked at Carlo’s work, I was overwhelmed by the sense of beauty and darkness in his monochromatic images. I was even more surprised to discover that he was first a painter (I saw a recent painting exhibition by him in Manila and was also blown away).Â
Discover more about Carlo’s artistic vision and his visions/aspirations for the Filipino street photography community in the interview below.
I recently conducted a video interview with Satoki Nagata, a talented street photographer based in Chicago about his photography and approach.
One of the questions I asked Satoki was regarding his Cabrini–Green Housing, a documentary he did with people in the Cabrini–Green area of Chicago (known to be a dangerous area full of gang-activity with low-income housing). Satoki was drawn to the area, and he was able to take some incredible portraits of the people in the community. My biggest question for him was: “How did you conquer your fear of photographing strangers you didn’t know, especially in a dangerous area?”
His answer was that he photographed a month shooting at his Leica’s minimum focusing distance: .7 meters (2.3 feet).
Eric’s Note: Geric Cruz is a Filipino photographer that discovered photography on accident in 2006 when his uncle gave him a Polaroid Instamatic Camera. Through his travels in the states and in the Philippines, he discovered his unique voice in photography and focuses on personal projects that deal with social issues. His documentary and personal work is strong and stirring, beautifully marrying both form and content.
To see more of Geric’s black & white work, read on.
Eric’s Note: Geloy Concepcion is a young photographer from Manila, who is both interested in photography and street art.  Upon graduating from The University of Santo Tomas, he got selected at the 7th Angkor Photo Workshops in Cambodia, and has exhibited his work in Taiwan, Tokyo, and most recently in Singapore. If you are looking for a talented up-and-comer, definitely keep your eyes on Geloy.
Eric’s Note: This is a transcription of an interview I had with Leanne Jazul, a photographer based here in Manila. He is one of the founders of Usapang Kalye, a forum for “street photography talk” in the Philippines. I was very impressed with his thoughts and philosophies on street photography, as well as his vision and hope for street photography in the Philippines. Read on to find out more about Leanne and his images.
Eric’s Note: Last year, I was a judge and featured photographer of YOU ARE HERE, an innovative street photography event/exhibition in Los Angeles run by the Think Tank Gallery. The concept of the project last year was that 35 photographers had 10 days to shoot in a one-square-block street in Downtown LA’s fashion district. The best 3 photos from each photographer was featured in the gallery. Needless to say, the event was a huge hit.Â
To see a recap of YOU ARE HERE, you can watch the video here.Â
I am now excited to announce YOU ARE HERE II, a sequel to last year’s event- with a controversial twist. To find out more about the event, read on.
Eric’s Note: Chio Gonzalez is a 17 year-old street photographer based in Manila, Philippines. He has been shooting street photography seriously for almost a year now, equipped with a Nikon D60. I first discovered Chio when he applied (and was awarded) for a student scholarship to both my Manila Intro and Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshop. Not only am I impressed by his photography and vision (especially at such a young age) but also by his maturity and humbleness.
To find out more about his photography, beginnings, and vision for street photography in Manila -read on.
Chrome Industries is launching the Streets of Chrome – A photo contest to find the world’s next great street photographer in conjunction with the drop of its new Niko Camera Bags.
Chrome is calling for entries from street photographers everywhere for its Streets of Chrome photo contest, which runs January 22–February 14, 2013. Finalists will be chosen by Chrome’s panel of expert judges and the winner will be determined by open voting on www.streetsofchrome.com February 7th-14th. Photo submissions will be judged based on creativity, originality, and ability to capture the essence of the streets.
The judge panel includes legends Rickey Powell, Tod Seelie and Ken Goto and the grand prize will be a Fujifilm X-Pro1 compact-system camera, a Fujifilm X-Pro1 35mm F/1.4 lens, and a Chrome Niko Camera Backpack.
Eric’s Note: Denmark-based street photographer Jonas Husballe Normann recently embarked on a U.S. tour this summer, and met SF-based street photographers Brad Evans and Travis Jensen. After getting to know them, Jonas was inspired by their work and how they gave back to the community and made this mini-documentary on them and their work. Below is a description of the video/documentary from Jonas.
Jonas: I finally got time to edit some more video from my U.S. tour this summer. I didn’t shoot quite as much as I had planned, but it was still enough to create a story about two talented photographers, Brad Evans and Travis Jensen, as I got to know them on my trip. In the process I developed a lot of respect for their photography.
They spent a year shooting and then creating a photo journal about San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. It’s a very underserved neighborhood that many consider as rough on the edges. I spent a lot of time there, but I didn’t shoot too much because it can be dangerous to visit and play tourist with a camera. Travis used to live in the Tenderloin as a young man and both him and Brad have a good understanding and awareness of the area’s dynamics.
Instead of showing only the bad side of the neighborhood that other photographers have emphasized in the past, Brad and Travis were determined to portray the area’s positive aspects.
The book’s profits are donated to a social charity in the neighborhood that helps at-risk youth living on the street.
Read more to see photos from Brad Evans and Travis Jensen.
Student Photograph by Chio Gonzalez. Manila 2013. Click to see entire album on Facebook
I am excited to share that I finished my first Manila Introduction to Street Photography Workshop here in Manila. Street photography here is amazing, with some of the friendliest people, and bright vivid colors. Definitely a place I will be visiting yearly!
You can see the best student photos from the Manila Introduction to Street Photography Workshop 2013 on Facebook. Vote for your favorite “people’s choice award” photograph from the workshop by “Liking” it. The photograph with the most likes will get a prize sponsored by Lightroom!
If you want to also join in the fun and take your street photography to the next level, check out some of my upcoming workshops in 2013 below!
—
February
2/23-2/24: Mumbai, India – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop. For more info and to register, email Kaushal Parikh at kaushalparikhphotography@yahoo.in
2/27-2/28: Mumbai, India – Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshop. For more info and to register, email Kaushal Parikh at kaushalparikhphotography@yahoo.in
March
3/2-3/3: Mumbai, India (Pune cancelled) – Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshop. For more info and to register, email Kaushal Parikh at kaushalparikhphotography@yahoo.in
3/16-3/17: Hong Kong – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop with Gary Tyson from F8 photography - REGISTER HERE
3/29-3/31: Los Angeles – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop - Register intent - NEW!
Tentative Upcoming Workshops 2013
United States
San Francisco – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop (Summer 2013) - Register Intent
New York City – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop (Summer 2013) –  Register Intent
Chicago: – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop (Summer 2013) -Â Register Intent
Asia
Bangkok – Street Photography Workshop (possibly in April onwards) –  Register Intent
Istanbul – Week-long Introduction to Color Street Photography Workshop (possibly in April onwards) - Register Intent (to stay updated)
“The Americans” by Robert Frank is one of the most influential photo books published of all-time. It has inspired countless numbers of photographers across all genres, especially appealing to documentary and street photographers. I know the book has had a profound impact on my photography and how I approach projects.
While I am not an expert on Robert Frank or “The Americans”, I will share what I personally have learned from his work. For your reference, I used Steidl’s “Looking In: Robert Frank’s The Americans” as a primary resource for this article. The article is incredibly long, and I encourage you to read it not all in one sitting, but in different phases.
I would also highly recommend saving this article and reading it on Instapaper or Pocket. These services allow you to save the article to read later on your phone, iPad, computer, etc. Â
Above is another POV video I made while filming for the Samsung NX20 photography campaign. I hope you guys enjoy!
You can see my first Chicago Street Portraits POV video here.
You can see my second Chicago Street Portraits POV video here.
Tonight I am also leaving to go camping in the Grand Canyon for a week. Just going to bring my Contax T3, 10 rolls of Portra 400, and will take my shot at doing some landscape photography :). I will be back on January 1st, with lots of great new interviews to feature and more.
I wish all of you guys happy holidays and a happy new year! Enjoy your time with your loved ones and those closest to you!
Eric’s Note: I am honored to share this interview with Burn My Eye member Zisis Kardianos on his new book, “A Sense of Place” – an exploration of the Greek island of Zakynthos. As Zisis describes in the book:
“They suggest a tour, off the beaten track, where the personal exploration of my native island is shared in the hope you are left with an emotional awareness of the place rather than a literal understanding of a location. A sense of the place.”
If you want to read more about Zisis’ start in photography, what inspired him to make the book, and how he put it together – read on.
Eric’s Note: I am happy to share the work of JB Maher, a street photographer based in Dublin. JB is a member of the international candid collective Burn My Eye and his photographs of everyday life show both the hopeful aspects as well as the more grim aspects. Check out why he shoots and his images in the feature below.
JB: I am 29 years old and currently live in Dublin, Ireland. I don’t really have any complex explanation as to why I began to walk the streets of my home with a camera in tow. However, having a very bad memory I imagine this unconsciously drove me to pick up a camera as a way to document my surroundings. Little did I know that that was an impossible task and it took some time but I eventually learned that what I see and what a photograph can show are two very different things.
Eric’s Note: I am pleased to share the work of Paolo Rabuffi, a street photographer based in Rome. Working in both color and black and white, he loves to capture the “strangeness” of Rome – while being more present in the everyday moment. Check out some of his thoughts and images below!
Paolo:Â I’m half Roman and half Etruscan and after several years of relocations I am based in Rome. I’m a 32 year old full-time-precarious who sometimes uses to walk with a camera in his hands.
Why photography? I dunno, it was something that grew inside of me slowly about 2-3 years ago. I can’t stop it. Someone call it “obsession”, and may be right.
Photograph by Nick Lorkin from the Kolkata Introduction to Design/Composition Workshop
After an exciting and action-packed week, the Kolkata Introduction to Design/Composition Street Photography Workshop has come to an end! Unfortunately Adam was not able to join and teach, but me, Mikael, and Nick had a great time in the colorful streets of Kolkata.
For the workshop we focused on a different theme everyday, starting off the day with lecture/theory – and spending the rest of the day shooting. I am both amazed and impressed how much Mikael and Nick were able to improve during the week. Both in their photography and confidence shooting in the streets! One great thing that both of them did was when photographing the locals of Kolkata, they talked to them, laughed with them, and best of all – shared their photos with them (albeit only on the back of their LCD screens).
Photograph by Mikael Laurson from the Kolkata Introduction to Design/Composition Workshop
The first 3 days they shot in black and white, and the last 2 days they shot in color. An overview of the week:
Day 1: Diagonals
Day 2: Figure-to-ground
Day 3: Depth
Day 4: Color
Day 5: Anything Goes
To see snapshots from the workshop and their before/after shots- read on! (more…)
I am currently having the time of my life both experiencing the streets of Kolkata in India. The colors are so vivid, the people incredibly friendly, and the food is truly outstanding!
In this video I talk a little about my travel philosophy (packing light), what I’m bringing on my trip, and some reflections on how blessed we are all in life. To find out more about my experiences in Kolkata, watch out the video above!
Recently I showcased the work of Krishnendu Saha, a street photographer from Indian Street Photography Collective, “That’s Life“. Krishnendu is currently based here in Kolkata, and I was blessed to meet him in person. We had a nice coffee, got to know each other better, and then conducted this interview. We chat about Indian Street Photography as a whole, how his background in Mathematics influences his photography, and his advice for other aspiring street photographers.
Make sure to check my recent feature of his work here. You can also see more of his work on “That’s Life” here.
Here is another video of me shooting posed street portraits in the early morning in Chicago. Hope you guys enjoy, and you can see the other POV video I made here.
I am excited to share that my good friend and fellow street photographer Satoki Nagata is featuring some of his street photography in Chicago, December 15th (Saturday). He will show a collection of his street photography and documentary work. More information about the exhibition below:
“The camera captures the moment of the fraction of a second and I found that successful images show the multi-dimensional relationships of the world through symbolic and abstract forms. I found these forms in my photography. By searching for the elements that represent reality I see around me, I can capture them through photographic media. I see the light and shadow produced by flash is the pure form of reality of people living in the city. Inside the bright light line, the significance of existence of the person appears. The image is abstract and surrealistic but also full of life and personality.”
There will be music by Gjeme Markaj, complimentary drinks, appetizers, and good times. I won’t be able to make it, but if you are in Chicago definitely check it out!
Street Photos by Satoki Nagata
You can see my past interview with him on the Leica blog here.
Christmas is around the corner and Dodge & Burn is feeling generous. They know that many of you streettogss are rangefinder users, so they’re giving away four of their awesome t-shirts featuring vintage rangefinder cameras. The Rangefinder Classic, Street Shooter, Fast Shooter and V-Squared tees are up for grabs! If you’re a fan of Leica, the Canon 7 mounted with the legendary 50mm f0.95 or the rare Voigtlander Vitessa, you’re going to want one of these t-shirts!
For the Samsung NX20 “Shoot Wow” live street photography campaign, I roamed the streets of Chicago and focused on street portraiture. Why street portraiture? Because getting 2 good candid shots every hour is near impossible, and street portraiture is something I have always been quite comfortable with and enjoyed. It also gave me a good opportunity to interact more with the people on the streets – something that I lose when just shooting street photography candidly.
This is some footage from the event – a small portion of it. I have over 16 hours of footage in all (still editing and going through it). I will try to put out a series of these videos over the next few weeks.
A quick update for the Samsung Camera NL NX20 campaign here in Chicago in the video above! Unfortunately I was mistaken and there is no live feed available on Facebook, only visitors to the Amsterdam Beurs van Berlag exhibition. If you are in Amsterdam, make sure to check out the exhibition event on Faebook here.
Keep reading to see the shots that I got from today!
I am excited to share that starting today (Thursday 11/29-Friday 11/30) I will be doing a live-streaming street photography exhibition with the Samsung NX20. The concept is that every 2 hours I will be emailing (via the NX20) my best photos to a gallery space in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam every 2 hours alongside 4 other street photographers. Edit: footage of the video and shots will be available later!
If anyone is available in Amsterdam to check out the exhibition, see all the details on Facebook here.
Confused or want to learn more? See the video above or keep reading below!
Eric’s Note: When I was in Berlin earlier this year, I was able to meet up with Severin Matusek, the head of content & community at EyeEm, one of the most popular mobile photo sharing applications. He manages EyeEm’s worldwide community affairs, blog and partnerships and he has also previously published photos books, city guides and camera commercials for Lomography.Â
To learn more about EyeEm and Severin, keep reading below!
(Above: Photograph from my on-going “Suits” Project. The Netherlands, 2012)
When I was in Korea earlier this year, my friend and fellow street photographer David Kim shared a TED talk with me titled: “How great leaders inspire action.†David holds a leadership position at his job, and he told me that this talk changed the way how he lead others and how he leads his own life. Needless to say, I was fascinated by the talk and after watching it – it changed my life.
Eric’s Note: I am pleased to share the work of Krishnendu Saha, a street photographer based in Kolkata. Krishnendu is part of That’s Life, an Indian Street Photographer Collective. He is a student and teacher of Mathematics, but has been honing his photography skills for the last few years as a way to tell the “untold stories” from his hometown. Keep reading to get a better insight about his philosophy and background in street photography!
Krishnendu: To me, street photography is a game that can never be played twice in the same way. A game that is played by me against the world, a game that I control. I decide when to start, when to finish, or when to have a tea break.
It’s a way how I react to the surroundings I am placed into at that time.
Not only that, it allows me to build relationships with different people whom I didn’t know earlier! When I go through my old archives and see the photographs, all those slices of life just start flashing on my mind. I can feel the connection with those persons present in my photographs, with those places.
Heading back to the states from Tokyo today, so I made this video to give you guys all an update and what to look forward to! Thanks so much for your continued support, it means so much to me :)
Eric’s Note: I am pleased to feature this article by Colin Corneau, a Brandon, Manitoba based photojournalist and street photographer. A few months ago he organized a charity photography auction, and wanted to write this article to share his experiences. Also check out his past article on this blog on why he shoots street photography solo here.Â
Colin: We all know the pleasure of creating a photograph that we really like, and the pleasure of one that other people like, too. But it’s not often that a photograph can reach the level of making a difference to other people – occasionally, a photojournalist will produce an image that inspires others to positive action or someone will make a photograph that alters how we all think about something.
Those photographs are few and far between though, and a lot is left up to chance. But there is a way that you can help your photographs hit that higher level – an auction whose proceeds go towards a charity.
One of the guys I have been spending the most time with here in Tokyo is Mike Nguyen, a street photographer based in Tokyo. What I love about his work is that he is a very versatile photographer – combining landscapes, portraits, and street shots into his distinctive style. His photos are a visual diary of Tokyo and his life’s experiences – allowing him to “…hang onto what continually vanishes” and to “capture the minute splinter of reality that is a fleeting moment” (from his bio).
Watch the interview I did with him above, and see more of his images below.
The team at Custom SLR (one of my awesome sponsors) is starting a kickstarter campaign for their new “ProDot” – a tactile shutter release button for cameras. When they first told me about it, I thought it would be a great solution for street photographers out there using DSLR’s to get more tactile response when shooting on the streets.
I know many street photographers who use a similar button for their Leica’s and Fuji cameras, which they feel makes it easier to hit the shutter button.
If you are a DSLR user and interested in the ProDot, it will be only $15 USD to receive a version in Black, Red, and Clear. In addition, you will also gain contributor status and be listed on the CustomSLR website. Shipping to the states is free, $3 USD shipping anywhere outside the states. Also they are currently thinking about making a screw-in version, so if you are interested in that please leave a comment below.
To see the promo video and more images of the ProDot, read on!
Erics’ Note: This guest blog post is by Christian Nilson, a street photographer based in Zurich. For this article he shares his experience (so far) of the 1 year, 1 camera, 1 lens project. You can also see his last article he wrote on the benefits of shooting a TLR for street photography here. Hope you enjoy the post!Â
Christian: 3 down 9 to go!
Eric asked me if I could write something about the “project†that I’m currently working on. 1 year, 1 camera, 1 lens, 1 type of film or “Leica as a teacherâ€, this project is known under different names, the first I read about it was on The Online Photographer blog. It caused a bit of controversy there since it mentions that you have to use a Leica rangefinder and many comments were left saying that this is elitist etc. In my 3 months experience I don’t see using a Leica rangefinder as a necessity, I think it is important that you use a film camera and a simple one at that. With simple I mean, no automatic, aperture priority or shutter priority setting. To get the most out of this you need to shoot fully manual.
About a week ago I met up with my buddy Mijonju, a great photographer (who also has a great YouTube channel about film cameras). I visited him at the Impossible Project Space in Tokyo, and he gave me a tour of the store, taught me more about the Impossible Project, and his own interests in film and current projects.
Photograph by Paul Thompson. Click to see more of the Introduction to Street Photography Student Photos
I was very impressed with all of the student work with my last two workshops with Bellamy Hunt in Tokyo. For the Introduction to Street Photography Workshop, students focused on overcoming their fear in street photography, better understanding what to look for in a street photograph, and also improving their composition. For the Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshops, students stepped outside of their comfort zone to find their own style and voice by focusing on a weekend project.
I hope you enjoy the images from all of the students!
Photograph by Steve Richards. Click to see all of the student photos from the Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshop
As a note, there is also only 3 days left for the early-bird discount for my Calcutta Week-Long Introduction to Design/Composition Workshop with Adam Marelli (12/10-12/14). Don’t miss your chance to fully immerse yourself in the streets of India, break out of your creative rut, and have an unforgettable experience!
In this interview I had the chance to chat with Bellamy Hunt, aka Japan Camera Hunter. We chatted about how he started photography, his inspirations, and why he does what he does.
Keep reading to see more of Bellamy’s street photography below!
Having fun with my mate Bellamy Hunt (Japan Camera Hunter) in Tokyo. Hope you enjoy the video where we talk about the philosophy of shooting film, film cameras, and his favorite film recommendations!
Photograph by Master Sgt. Mark Olsen/U.S. Air Force
The last few weeks I was in Michigan, and heard about the disaster from Hurricane Sandy. I was quite ignorant of how severe the situation was, thinking that it was just “another storm” going through the states.
I was horribly wrong.
I contacted a few friends and family there and the damage and after-math is far beyond what I initially thought. Here is a message I got from my friend Jae after reaching out to him:
Jae: Thank you again for reaching out to me after Hurricane Sandy. Things are getting more and more difficult in the NJ, NY area, but I count my blessings that my family is safe and that we have not gotten flooded from the storm.
There are many who have lost their lives, their home, and hope from this storm. In New York, town like Breezy Point, Staten Island, and Rockaways look like a war zone with many homes either burned down to the ground or completely flooded.
In New Jersey, towns from Belmar south to Spring Lake suffered similar fate from this storm. For the rest of us with our homes in tact, we are getting by with no electricity and heating for 6 days now. The most serious problem now is the shortage of gasoline for our cars and generators. The average wait at limited gas stations is 3-6 hours and the line stretch for 1-3 miles all around the clock.
Folks are getting more and more desperate with news of looting and fights breaking out throughout these regions. My friend even had his generator stolen in the middle of night!
People affected by the power outages from Hurricane Sandy wait in a 2hr line at a gas station to purchase fuel for generators in Madison Park, New Jersey, on October 31, 2012. (Reuters/Lucas Jackson)
Disasters like this can feel so far away and foreign. Fortunately my close friends and family have been safe, but many others have lost their homes, personal possessions, and even their lives.
As photographers we privileged. Although many of us still struggle to make ends meet at the end of the month, we generally spend quite a bit of money on cameras, lenses, and accessories. I can safely say that donating $20 won’t hurt our bank account.
Men dispose of shopping carts full of food damaged by Hurricane Sandy at the Fairway supermarket in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn in New York, on October 31, 2012. The food was contaminated by flood waters that rose to approximately four feet in the store during the storm. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
I feel as a community we should band together, and help our fellow men, women, and families in this great time of need. I know that this blog is read all around the world, and I want to use this platform as a way to mobilize help and aid to those suffering now. You never know when you will be in a time of need, so treat others how you would like to be in the same situation and open up your hearts.
There are many wonderful and hard-working organizations providing relief to the victims of Hurricane Sandy. I think The American Red Cross will be the best organization to donate to, as it will equally disperse disaster relief to those in New York and New Jersey.
The remains of homes and businesses burned down during Hurricane Sandy in the Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, still smoldering on October 31, 2012. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
I urge you to donate at least $20 to this cause. That is about the price of 4 Starbucks coffees, or the price of two lunches. For that small sum of money, we can provide blankets to those who are cold, food to those who are starving, and a dry place for people who have lost their homes to spend the night.
(A photograph from my ongoing “Suits” project. London 2011)
This is an essay I wrote addressing our obsession with “favorites” and “likes” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, 500px, Google+, photo blogs, and so on. If you have ever felt that you were photographing more for affirmation from others than yourself, give the essay a read. Â I share my personal experiences and also make practical suggestions in the end how to overcome an addictions to “favorites” and “likes”. (more…)
The ThinkTank Gallery in Downtown LA is the home to many street photographers in LA. Last year, I was one of the curators for “YOU ARE HERE” – a street photography exhibition in which photographers spent a week photographing the fashion district. It was a great success, and you can see the video of the event in the link below.
I was at the ThinkTank gallery when it first got started, when it was nothing but an abandoned warehouse with no running water, electricity, and rubbish all over the place. Now if you go there, it is a vibrant and bustling home for photographers, artists, and members of the community to showcase their work and art. If you watch the video at the top, you can see how cool the place really is.
If you want to support the love of street photography (they are in the middle of planning YOU ARE HERE 2), and art in Los Angeles, donate to this cause. Not only will you help them open their doors officially, but you will also get some great goodies (including some of my photos, prints of other work, and more!
Donate Today!
Donate and support this noble cause by using the link below!
Currently in Michigan, and getting ready to head to Tokyo. Before I left, I wanted to make this video to share a little of what’s in my bag, what I am preparing for the trip, some of my reflections about shooting street photography on film the last 10 months, what you have to look forward in the blog, and much more! Thanks for the kind words and support – talk more soon :)
The past weekend I had the great pleasure of catching up with Brian Day, a street photographer based in Detroit. I first met Brian Day through a reference by my manager, Neil Ta – and ever since I met Brian (like Neil) I have had a serious bro crush on him.
Not only is he a very talented photographer that explores many genres, but he is also incredibly humble.
Check out the interview I did with him above in which we talk about his early influences in photography, how it is to shoot street photography in detroit, and advice that he gives other street photographers starting off or trying to find their own unique voice in street photography.
I have done several features including Brian, including his “Walkers With the Dawn” series you can see here.
To see my past video interview with him (as well as his images) read on!
While the PDF download is free, I highly recommend everyone to order a print copy, which is only $15.75. I’ve ordered the last two issues, and not only is the print quality excellent, but the double-spreads look fantastic on paper (not on the computer). Nothing beats kicking back after a long day after work on the couch reading Radiate, or even reading it on your commute. Also the print copies are at-cost, so know that you are getting the lowest possible price.
Support this great initiative by Stu (he dedicates a ton of work on this for no profit) by sharing this with your friends and fellow street photographers! Also show Stu and the rest of the guys who are featured some love by leaving a comment below.
I am excited that for this week’s winner for the “Sensuality/Seuxality” theme chosen by last week’s winner Timothy Cadman is Josefiel Rivera!
Definition of Sensuality (by the Merriam-Webster dictionary): The relating to or consisting in the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of appetite.
The reason I enjoyed Josefiel Rivera’s image the most because it has a great combination of surrealism as well as a social statement when it comes to sexuality. Below are some my thoughts of what I find fascinating about the image:
Eric’s Note: I am happy to share the work of Matt Obrey, a street photographer based in the UK. He is part of the new revisedMEDIA collective, and I love his use of light, simplicity, and black & white + color for his work. In the streets where chaos reigns supreme, he is able to find those simple and sublime moments to find some order in this world of ours. Read more about him below and check out his images!
Matt: I’m a 37 year old self employed wall and floor tiler and have been shooting the streets now for around 2 years. I work with a Fuji X100 as my main camera and occasionally use my Pentax ME Super. I work in both black and white and also in colour. Im proud to be part of revisedMEDIA, a collective of photographers from around the globe.
Eric’s Note: Brian Day, fellow street photographer from Detroit, just passed along this information regarding a unique opportunity to meet Alec Soth, Magnum Photographer. More information about the event below:
Brian: Just thought I’d pass this along for those of you within reach of the Detroit area. The Detroit Film Theater is a nice space. An exhibition of Soth’s work will also be in the Detroit area (Cranbrook Academy) beginning November 16.
Eric’s Note: Brian Soko is a street photographer based in Chicago, Illinois. I was first introduced to Brian’s work by Jason Martini, another street photographer based in Chicago. Brian is a native of Chicago, and has been shooting there for many years- and has experienced the changes and evolution of the city. Armed with his camera, his work is straight and honest — showing a great deal of diversity of subjects in his photos, most of which are quite dark and grim. However he shows a great deal of compassion and humanity for his subjects– and remains very humble about his work. I am pleased to share this interview with him.
Eric’s Note: This guest blog post is by Christian Nilson, a street photographer based in Zurich. Christian attended my Introduction to Street Photography Workshop in Berlin this year, and upon meeting Juliane Eirich (one of my guest lecturers) and seeing her work, he decided to experimenting using a square-format TLR. In his article below he shares his experiences and challenges.Â
Christian: After having met Juliane Eirich at Eric’s workshop in Berlin, in May this year, I was intrigued with her photography and the square format. She uses a medium format TLR, which is both a format and a type of camera that I have never used. The first thing I did after my return from Berlin was to check the auction sites for a used Ricohflex and I was soon successful. A couple of days later I had it in my hand. Full working condition. I popped a roll of film in it and went out shooting. It took a bit of getting used to the different way of shooting and composing.
The Week-Long Introduction to Composition/Design Workshop in Venice/Verona with Adam Marelli was a huge blast. Not only did we have the opportunity to explore the beauty, architecture, and history of Venice/Verona – but we also were able to enjoy the great foods, wines, and sights there. The support and energy from all of the workshop participants was incredible, and needless to say that everyone’s photography improved throughout the entire week together.
The workshop was also a special opportunity for me, because it was the first week-long workshop I ever did. I loved it because it gave me more time to get to know everyone more personally on a 1:1 basis, as we did wake together, eat breakfast together, have countless espressos & spritzs’ during the day, shoot together, review together, and dine together. It was a very unique experience that I will never forget.
Eric’s Note: I am excited to share this feature with Sean Lotman, a film street photographer currently based out of Kyoto. His colors are phenomenal, have great richness, and soul. He will also be teaching alongside myself, Bellamy Hunt, and Junku Nishimura in our upcoming Kyoto Introduction to Film Street Photography Workshop (11/16-11/18). See his thoughts on photography and his inspiration images below.
(All photographs in this article copyrighted by Jason Eskenazi)
Eric’s Note: I am pleased to share this interview that two cute dogs did with Jason Eskenazi on his stunning book, “Wonderland: A Fairytale of the Soviet Monolith“. The book is a journey through the former Soviet Union that took Eskenazi 10 years to complete. The original interview was conducted by two cute dogs with Jason Eskenazi in a bar in Istanbul, and I transcribed the audio to make this text-based interview.
In the interview two cute dogs talks with Jason about his background, what got him interested in starting the project, as well as practical advice about how he put the book together, sequenced it, and how to see more of the frame. Curious? Read on.
(All photographs copyrighted by the Estate of Diane Arbus)
Diane Arbus is a photographer that has a very profound impact on me. When I first saw her photograph of the “grenade kid” — it hit me in the chest and has burned itself in my mind ever since. Upon studying more of Diane Arbus’ work — I found her photographs to be very applicable to my interest in shooting street photography of strangers- Â mostly as a mode of portraiture.
There is a wealth of knowledge on Diane Arbus (several memoirs, books, and even movies have been made on her), and I cannot say I am an expert on her work. However here is some golden knowledge I have found from one her books published by Aperture that I found incredibly insightful that I wanted to share with you.
After traveling for the last several months, I really enjoyed the last two weeks relaxing and recuperating in East Lansing, my new home in Michigan with Cindy. It has helped me work on some writing that I have been meaning to do (on Magnum Contact Sheets and Bruce Davidson) and catch up on some work. I still have a lot of work to do, but wanted to make this video recapping some of my thoughts about traveling, the importance of friends & family, and the privilege it is to stay at home with your loved ones.
I’m heading to LA today for an interesting project I’m not able to talk about at the moment, but will keep you guys all updated in the next few weeks.
Thanks again for all of your endless support and words of encouragement, it keeps me going! Also if anyone wants to meet up in LA this week, let me know!
(Above photograph shot on the iPhone 5 by Mike Avina)
Eric’s Note: I’m sure many of you are curious about the performance of the iPhone 5’s camera for street photography. Fellow street photographer Mike Avina has spent around a week or two with the iPhone 5, and here are some of his impressions. You can see his past feature on my blog here and follow him on Flickr. Â
Mike: This is a review of the iPhone 5 as a street photography tool. I am picky about my gear and I am a bit of a minimalist—so I use one old film rangefinder body with a 35mm lens and one digital camera with a prime lens equivalent to 35mm. That said, I have been following the work of several mobile phone street photographers and have been impressed. When Eric asked me to do a review of the iPhone 5 I jumped at the opportunity.
Street Photography Workshop:Â Introduction to Design/Composition
Calcutta[INDIA] – December 10th-14th
Eric’s Note: I am excited to announce that I will be teaching another unique 5-day workshop in Calcutta, India with NYC  photographer and master composition teacher Adam Marelli. Adam Marelli has a keen eye for design, composition, and capturing “the decisive moment”. He holds a degree in Sculpture and Photography from New York University and studied at the Barnstone Studios. If you are serious about your street photography, and wanting to take it to the next level – check out this unique workshop opportunity!Â
Maciej Dakowicz is a Polish photographer, traveller, organiser of photo trips and gallerist living in London, UK. He holds a PhD in computer science, but abandoned science to focus on photography. He is one of the founders of Third Floor Gallery in Cardiff, a member of the Wideangle photo agency and the un-posed Polish street photography collective. He has worked on various photographic projects in the UK and abroad and his interests are in documentary, travel and street photography.
I am very pleased to have interviewed Maciej for his new “Cardiff After Dark“, which is published with Thames & Hudson. The book is available now from various international book retailers, including amazon.co.uk, amazon.fr, amazon.com and the Book Depository (worldwide shipping).
Read more to find out about Maciej and his new book!
(All photographs in this article are copyrighted by Bruce Davidson / Magnum Photos / Steidl)
Bruce Davidson is a photographer that I deeply look up to and admire. He first started taking pictures when he was around 10 years old, and has now shot for a span of over 60 years. He has covered many important political issues, such as the freedom riders – as well as local issues such as the impoverished state of East 100th Street in New York City, and the dilapidated subway. He is truly a “photographer’s photographer” – as he shoots, develops, and prints all of his photographs by himself and during his working career would “live like a monk”.
Davidson refuses to define himself or his photography. He doesn’t agree with the “documentary”, “journalism”, or “fine art” classification (even less with “street photographer”). However I feel that his photographs appeal to many street photographers- and there are many lessons of wisdom that he can teach all of us about street photography.
This article will cover a little bit of background history of Bruce Davidson as well as what us street photographers can learn from his photography and philosophy. Also note that this article is very in-depth and long. Brew yourself a strong cup of coffee and dive in!
(Photograph copyrighted by Alex Webb / Magnum Photos)
I am excited to share the first upcoming Miami Street Photography Festival 2012. It will be featuring some of my favorite photographers, including Alex Webb (Magnum Photos), Rebecca Norris Webb (photographer, author, poet), and Maggie Steber (National Geographic). It will be a very unique 3-day event, showcasing some of the best emerging street photography – and their goal is to promote the love of street photography through exhibits, workshops, lectures, photowalks and portfolio reviews.
The festival will be held in Miami’s internationally acclaimed Wynwood Arts District during the height of Art Basel on December 7-9, 2012. More more details about the schedule click here.
If you are interested in attending the 1-day Masterclass with Alex Webb & Rebecca Norris Web you can find more details here.
Submit your work to be featured
The main exhibit will feature photographs selected from entries submitted by participants from all over the world. We invite photographers of all levels to submit their favorite images for juried selection in the Miami Street Photography Festival.
To submit and for the official rules, click here.
Deadline for submission is October 21, 2012 at 5:00pm EST.
Read more to see work by Alex Webb, Rebecca Norris Webb, and Maggie Steber.
One of the most valuable books I currently have in my library is Magnum Contact Sheets. It is a book that was put out by Thames and Hudson in the last year or so, and contains over 139 contact sheets from 69 Magnum Photographers.
For those of you who are not familiar with contact sheets, they are a direct print made from a roll or sequence of images of film. Before the days of digital, they were an invaluable tool to photographers to quickly look through and edit their work (choosing their best images).
The book is a hefty behemoth full of knowledge, insights, and philosophies of the Magnum photographers within. I know that not everyone has the ability to access the book (as it is sold-out almost everywhere across the world and it is quite expensive) so I wanted to make this post to share some of the insights I learned from the book. I hope this post will help you and your personal journey in photography!
If you are in the bay area make sure to check out Travis Jensen‘s solo exhibition in San Francisco this Thursday (10/4) at Galette 88. Travis is a street and documentary photographer, and his show will be a mix of candid street scenes, street portratirue, and other urban environmental scenes.
Unfortunately I’m in Michigan so I won’t be able to attend, but if you are in the bay area I highly recommend you to check it out!
WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF SHOOTING AND DEVELOPING FILM OF THE BEAUTIFUL STREETS OF KYOTO?
Do you have a film camera just lying around collecting dust? Have you been ever curious about experiencing the magic of film of creating life in your images by processing your own negatives? Do you wish to gain a new appreciation for the craft and experience of film?
Film isn’t just another style in photography, it is a different artistic approach. This workshop in Kyoto can help challenge your photography in a unique way, and kickstart your creativity. It will re-invigorate your photography, while giving you the chance to experience the beauty of Kyoto in the fall.
I am excited to announce that I will be teaching this one-of-a-kind workshop alongside Japanese film pros Bellamy Hunt, Sean Lotman, and special guest Junku Nishimura. If you want to learn how to shoot film with some of the best film shooters in Japan you definitely don’t want to miss this workshop and unique opportunity.
Regardless of your previous experience shooting and developing film, we guarantee that you will gain a unique insight into different approaches and techniques to film photography that will help take your photography to the next level.
Thanks to Trey Ratcliff for inviting me to his Google+ Hangout talk on street photography. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to host, but Karen Hutton was generous enough to lead the discussion. I was able to join my good friend Rinzi Ruiz and Vivienne Gucwa in which we talk about street photography and the stories behind some of our work.
Thanks to Dave Veffer for helping out with the whole production!
Eric’s Note: Streettogs Gallery is an on-going feature and intiative by Manila-based street photographer A.G. De Mesa. Click here for more info.
A.G.:Â Today’s feature is a bit different than the usual. As I said in the intro post for streettogs gallery, I would also love to see if you have a work in progress. Today is extra special because we have a photo book to analyze, dissect, and share opinions. But first, I want to share what I look for in a photo book.
(All photographs in this article copyrighted by Richard “Koci” Hernandez)
Eric’s Note: I was introduced to the work of Richard “Koci” Hernandez by two of my good friends, Misho Baranovic and Oliver Lang from The Mobile Photo Group. What first struck me about Koci’s work is the depth, soul, and the mood of his beautifully-crafted black and white images. Not only that, but all of the street photography done is on his iPhone!
Richard “Koci” Hernandez is a national Emmy® award-winning video and multimedia producer who worked as a photographer at the San Jose Mercury News for 15 years. His work for the Mercury News has earned him two Pulitzer Prize nominations and was awarded a national Emmy® award for the New Approaches to Documentary category for his work on the film, Uprooted. His work has appeared in Time, Newsweek, The New York Times and international magazines, including Stern, and he has worked with lynda.com to produce a course on iPhoneography, iPhone Photography, from Shooting to Storytelling.
To read more about the man behind the camera, check out my interview with him below!
One of the most influential books I have recently is titled: “Imagine: How Creativity Worksâ€. It was a book I was recommended by my good friend and fellow street photographer Brian Sparks. It outlines studies done on creativity, creative people, and the actual science done on the subject.
Sometimes we think that creativity is something that we are born with, and cannot be taught. I think (and the book suggests) the opposite. Creativity can indeed be taught, and there is scientific studies that suggest it. I can only hope that with this post it can help you unlock some of your own creativity in photography, and make your street photographs more unique, creative, and stand out from the crowd.
The article also features some of my unpublished work from 2011. Hope you enjoy!
Leica recently has released a range of new cameras at Photokina, including the Leica M, Leica M-E, Leica S3, Dlux-6, and V-lux 4.
As a street photographer, the two cameras that were interesting to me were the new Leica M and Leica M-E. Here are some of my thoughts of these new cameras as well as the Sony RX-1.
