ERIC KIM ₿

Category: Posts

  • Have An Escape, Not An Exit From Street Photography

    Have An Escape, Not An Exit From Street Photography

    Joel Meyerowitz

    (Above image copyrighted by Joel Meyerowitz)

    Eric’s Note: This article is by Ollie Gapper, a street photographer based in the UK- and now a weekly contributor to the blog. Stay tuned for more of his “Ollie Gapper Thursday” posts!  

    With any genre of photography its easy to become saturated in your work and the work of others around you. In street photography, regardless of the numerous variations in individual photographers approaches and the wealth of locations and types of people we are granted visual access to, we still, slowly, become numb to the photographic impacts that once enthralled us. This is why I, for one, enjoy periodically dabbling in different genres of photography, whether it is shooting or viewing, to allow my mind to refresh and recharge from the relentless practice that is street photography.

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  • 10 Traits of Steve Jobs That Can Make You a Better Photographer

    10 Traits of Steve Jobs That Can Make You a Better Photographer

    Click to read more
    (Above image copyrighted by Albert Watson)

    I just finished the behemoth of a biography on Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson and I gotta say—I am deeply moved. The biography was not only brutally honest, but gave inspirational insights into the thoughts and motivations behind Steve Jobs and Apple.

    Although controversial, he made some of the most revolutionary products this generation (the Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, etc) and had the vigor, discipline, and drive to do it.

    Whenever I read books, it always helps me inspire in both my personal life and even more—my own photography. Although Steve Jobs was not a photographer (he actually dabbled in the idea of getting Apple more into photography) his vision, drive, and passion are all things we can learn from. For this article I will outline 10 traits of Steve Jobs which I feel could make you a better street photographer.

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  • Why You Should Print Your Photos

    Why You Should Print Your Photos

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    RA-4 processed prints from 4×5 Portra negatives.

    Eric’s Note: This article is by Ollie Gapper, a street photographer based in the UK- and now a weekly contributor to the blog. Stay tuned for more of his “Ollie Gapper Thursday” posts!  

    Over the past few months it’s fair to say I’ve spent a lot of time and money on printing. Though it wasn’t entirely through choice, it’s an element of my university course I absolutely would not change. It’s enlightened me, allowed me to look at my work in a totally different way. Being able to hold an image, move it around in the light, hold it close to my face and scrutinise every inch of it, it feels like its making me a better photographer. Seriously.

    I’ve learnt a lot in terms of traditional, darkroom printing, both colour and black and white, and in doing so, I’ve learnt a lot about my film and my photographs.

    Ive also been reading through the Ansel Adams technical guide books (The Camera, The Negative and The Print) which has taught me to reverse this method of only ever printing for your negative, it instead teaches you to expose your negative for your print. I shant go into the specifics of the Zone System or anything, as thats not what I want to say in this article.

    What I want to say is simple: Print your images.

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  • Buy Books, Not Gear

    Buy Books, Not Gear

    Buy books not gear

    You can check out a list of street photography books I recommend here: Inspirational Street Photography Books You Gotta Own

    Introduction:

    I was at Charlie Kirk’s apartment in Tokyo, when he turned me onto a book he recently bought and was moved by, which was a book by Alec Soth—a Magnum photographer. It a lovely book, with a yellow cover and several of his photo projects inside, including excerpts from his blog which discussed the role of gear.

    He said he constantly got questions about his gear for his projects, and then made the remark that he didn’t mind the question that much—considering that most photographers are nerds/geeks anyways. Therefore he listed a long list of his equipment (mostly large-format stuff) and how he processed his film—specifically for each project he did. He then ended the post mentioning that he wrote the post specifically with an Apple iBook. Funny and snarky way to end the post.

    In this blog post my thesis is that we should quit wasting money on gear (lenses, bodies, etc) and more money on photo-books. I feel that the best way to improve your vision as a street photographer is to look at great photography (which is nearly impossible online) and readily found in photo-books. If you are curious about why, please continue reading! (as this post is damn long).

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  • Introducing Ollie Gapper as a Weekly Contributor to the Blog!

    Introducing Ollie Gapper as a Weekly Contributor to the Blog!

    My casual self in NYC

    After seeing Eric becoming ever more inundated with his workshop work, videos, Leica work and all the associated travel I decided to get in touch and say “Hey, how about I help out on a more regular basis?”. The result of the following email conversation? OG Thursdays. (My middle name is Mathew (with one ‘T’) but I thought “OMG Thursdays” may have been easily confused with one of the millions of Perez Hilton-style gossip blogs).

    What is this all about?

    Ill be submitting guest posts every Thursday on a plethora of subjects relating to lifestyle, documentary and of course street photography that I think you guys will enjoy reading. Photographers I have met, people I think you should know, projects I’m working on, experiences I’ve had, equipment I’ve used, you name it and I’ll endeavour to cover it one way or another.

    I’m studying a BA (Bachelors) in Contemporary Photographic Practice at the University for the Creative Arts in South East Kent, UK, which – along with supplying me with vast spectrums of  information, inspiration and experience – also gives me access to lots and lots of rather lovely gear! A vague list for your delectation:

    • Mamiya RZ67 Pro ii (Just about every lens for it too)
    • Mamiya 7 ii + 80mm
    • Fuji GW690
    • Fuji GSW690
    • Bronica SQ-B (Again, just about every lens)
    • Canon 5D MKii (24 1.4, 35 1.4, 24-105, 50 1.4, 100 2.8, 70-200 2.8)
    • Nikon FM2
    • Wista 5×4 (and an incomprehensible number of lenses)
    • Horseman 5×4 (same as above)
    • Bron Color light packs, Pocket Wizards, etc

    The idea is that you guys put in a request for the gear you want to see reviewed (Ill let Eric handle the Leica stuff..for now) and I’ll get the gear, buy some film and I’ll write up as comprehensive a review as I can.

    Im happy to answer any questions regarding my past work or current projects, take a look at www.olliegapperphotography.com www.flickr.com/photos/olliegapper and olliegapper.tumblr.com.

    Comment below for what gear you’d like to see reviewed or any topics you’d like to see me review/cover.

    Contact Me (please!)

    Email me: olliegapper@me.com

    Tweet me: @olliegapper

    My work

    Check out my work on a feature on Eric’s Blog here: “My Life and Story about Street Photography” by Ollie Gapper

  • Tokyo Camera Porn with Bellamy Hunt aka Japan Camera Hunter

    Having fun camera shopping with Bellamy Hunt in Tokyo. If you need a camera, lens, or film case from Tokyo check him out athttp://www.japancamerahunter.com/

  • Tokyo Snapshots: Camera Porn, Beer, and Fun!

    Tokyo Snapshots: Camera Porn, Beer, and Fun!

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    (Golden Leica???)

    Check out my snapshots from Tokyo, which include trips to camera stores, Charlie Kirk’s house, drinking, and fun with Bellamy Hunt!

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  • 1 Month Left to Submit for the International Street Photography Award in London 2012!

    1 Month Left to Submit for the International Street Photography Award in London 2012!

    There is approximately one month left to submit for the International Street Photography Award in London for 2012. The deadline is Jan 5th, make sure to submit before it’s too late! I am also excited to announce I will be one of the judges on the international panel :)

    >> More info

  • Day 2 in Tokyo: Fun at the Racetrack and Interview with Bellamy Hunt

    A funny story of how I got interrogated for shooting street photography at a racetrack for horses in Tokyo, an interview with Bellamy Hunt (how to best shoot in Tokyo), and fun antics with Charlie Kirk in the background!

  • Objectivity vs Subjectivity: What Makes a Great Street Photograph?

    Objectivity vs Subjectivity: What Makes a Great Street Photograph?

    (Fibonacci spiral above a photo by Henri Cartier-Bresson)

    One of the questions that I have been pondering for quite a while is how much a great street photograph is objective versus subjective. I would say that the general consensus is that great photography, like most of art, is purely subjective. As what they say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

    However I would disagree with this opinion, and argue that great street photographs are more objective than subjective. This is much more of a controversial position to hold, but I argue it is more fun to play devil’s advocate than just go with the traditional way of thinking.

    Many of my thoughts will stem from studying the works of Cartier-Bresson, in which most of his iconic images that an average person will call “great” is based on strict composition from geometry – based out of compositional theories from paiting. After all, Cartier-Bresson did start off as a painter and referred to his images as “instant sketches.” I will also draw upon some of my own personal observations and opinions—which you may or may not agree with.

    I will make an attempt to try to discuss how much of composition, story-telling, forms, balances, objectivity, subjectivity, ratios, etc play into great street photographs. Take everything you read with a grain of salt, as this article is more of a personal essay for me to traverse some of my thoughts on the subject.

    Be warned, this essay is ridiculously long (4,000+ words) so maybe bookmark this post and find the time to read it. You’re not going to agree with everyone I say, but if you read the entire thing I can assure you that you will start thinking more analytically about what makes a great street photograph.

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  • How I Shoot On The Street: An Application of Study and Practice by Brent Fong

    How I Shoot On The Street: An Application of Study and Practice by Brent Fong

    “There is a big difference between a photographer and someone who clicks a shutter. One learns his craft and the other looks for a quick fix.”

    – Winslo

    I am an old school photographer born and bred on film. I have been shooting for a long time. When I was in photo school, it was mandatory to shoot 4 x 5 or medium format. Being a stereotypical ‘poor and starving’ student, I did not have a lot of money to spend on film, processing, and development. Every shot had to count. My medium format camera at the time was a Bronica ETRs with an 80 mm lens and one film back. It gave me 15 shots per roll. It had no meter and was manual focus. Shooting street with that camera forces you to shoot with purpose and discipline.

    When I do my street shooting, today, with my current DSLR, I applied the same principle of making every shot count. I do not shoot for quantity I shoot for quality. Is every thing I shoot considered good? Of course not, but it makes culling the images easier because I know what I was aiming for when I shot. This is what Ansel Adams’ call “pre-visualization;” knowing what your photo will look like before you shot it. See his classics series on photography, Book II “The Negative,” for more info. The following is how I shoot on the street using one photo as an example.

    This is the thought process that occurred as I shot my dog walker photo.

    Click to read more

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  • How to Avoid Paralysis by Analysis in Street Photography

    How to Avoid Paralysis by Analysis in Street Photography

    Cut

    (“Cut” by Rinzi Ruiz)

    I am currently reading Malcom Gladwell’s book: “What the Dog Saw” which is a great collection of his best articles published in The New Yorker.

    There is a fascinating section talks about the difference between “choking” and “panicking” which I think plays really well into street photography:

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  • 10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography

    10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography

    Eric Kim Street Photography Chicago
    (Chicago, Eric Kim)

    I studied Sociology during my undergrad at UCLA. I loved learning all of the ways that people interacted, communicated, and collected in groups. It really opened up my eyes to the world around me. However little did I know that all these things I have learned in Sociology (and trained myself to see) would apply so much to street photography.

    Below are some things that I have learned about human nature and interaction – which has helped me along my street photography journey in terms of building my courage and candidly taking photos of strangers. Hope these are as helpful to you as they were helpful to me!

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  • “Headlines” Street Photography Contest by Thomas Leuthard

    “Headlines” Street Photography Contest by Thomas Leuthard

    Thomas Leuthard (85mm) is putting together a fun street photography contest that is open to everyone in the world with the topic: “Headlines“. It is free to enter, and can be a great way to get more exposure in your photography. Below is more information about the contest:

    Info

    The contest is open to everyone around the world. There is no age or any other restriction. The genre is Street Photography and the photos must be taken in a candid way, so don’t setup your photos. There is a minor amount of post processing allowed. This is not a Photoshop contest and your photo will not be accepted, if there are too many changes made. The photos must be uploaded to the “85mm Street Photography Contest” Flickr group. A basic Flickr account is free of charge. There are no special requirements to enter the contest.

    Rules

    • The photo has to be taken in the month of December 2011
    • The theme for the contest is “Headlines”
    • The format must be square
    • The photo must be in Black & White
    • The photo must contain EXIF data
    • The photo must not contain a watermark
    • Everyone can submit only one photo

    The deadline for the contest is December 31, 2011 at the end of the day.

    Contest Judges

    There are also cash prizes for the contest up to $500 (enough money to finally buy that prime-lens you have always wanted!).

    Check out all the contest details here

  • “B-Sides” Street Photography Playing Cards by Blake Andrews

    “B-Sides” Street Photography Playing Cards by Blake Andrews

    Love the street photography by In-Public Blake Andrews or his witty “B” blog? Check out this novel idea: his portfolio from In-Public, family shots, unseen B Sides and outtakes, and other 35 mm personal favorites printed on 52 playing cards.


    Grab your preorder for only $12 and support him and his photography. You can check out the cards here.

    Also check out my past video interview with Blake Andrews on my blog.

  • How to Shoot Stroboscopic Flash Street Photography by Dirty Harrry

    How to Shoot Stroboscopic Flash Street Photography by Dirty Harrry

    Click to read more

    (All images copyrighted by Dirty Harrry)

    Eric’s Note: For this article I am pleased to feature the thoughts about Dirty Harrry, a prolific street photographer from Crete in Greece. His images shot with flash are  not only surreal but technically well done. Make sure to also check out my interview with him here, and see his images on Flickr.

    Hi Eric, thanks for your invitation once again here. My words may be obvious and don’t consider them “rules”. However these are my observations after shooting for 3 years with a flash in my street photography.

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  • My Thoughts About Shooting Street Photography in Mumbai, India

    My Thoughts About Shooting Street Photography in Mumbai, India

    I have been in Mumbai, India the last 3 days and have been having the blast of my life. Kaushal Parikh, an incredibly talented street photographer from Mumbai, has been my host and not only shown me the wonderful streets here, but has treated me like family and is feeding me well (I probably will gain at least 20 pounds before leaving).

    For those of you who have never been to India, here are some of my thoughts about shooting street photography here:

    1. People are incredibly friendly

    I haven’t had a single negative encounter so far. I just make sure to smile and say “thank you”. People are very receptive here and LOVE to get their photo taken. I have even shot with my flash today, and people seem very amused with it, and appreciate the attention.

    2. The juxtapositions are great

    India has a massive gap from the wealthy and poor. The wealthy are incredibly rich (drive around Bently’s) while the poor are dying on the streets. It is really heartbreaking to see, but makes me appreciate what I have so much more.

    However this can make for interesting juxtapositions between the rich and poor, in terms of the people as well as the buildings, cars, etc.

    3. The streets are generous

    There is so much to see and so much to shoot. Although this can be a problem at times (there are sometimes too much people on the street). However it seems wherever I go, there is always people and something going on.

    I am also preparing for my street photography workshop this weekend (I am hosting 3 of them while I am here). Wish me luck and I will keep everyone updated! :)

    Kaushal and Myself Shooting the Streets! (photo actually taken inside a department store)

    Also if you are an Indian street photographer and would like to be considered in the India Street Photographers collective, email Kaushal Parikh at kaush_par@yahoo.co.in 

  • Upcoming Angkor Photo Festival Exhibitions in Cambodia

    Upcoming Angkor Photo Festival Exhibitions in Cambodia

    If you are in Cambodia or in Asia, make sure to check out the Angkor Photo Festival exhibitions coming up in Cambodia. I am also pleased to announce that some of my images will also be featured in the Asian Street Photography Group Exhibition. Make sure to spread the word, and let me know if you will be there!

     

  • How to React to (and Defuse) Confrontations in Street Photography

    How to React to (and Defuse) Confrontations in Street Photography

    (In the video above, I share a story of a recent confrontation I had in Toronto (that got physical) and how I defused the situation.)

    Edit: In the video I previously mentioned an issue regarding street photography in Vancouver. I actually meant to say Quebec. Read all about the canadian street photography laws here.

    Confrontations rarely occur in street photography. As long as you smile and say “thank you” after taking photos of people, 95% of people smile and say “thank you” back or just ignore you.

    However 5% of the time, people typically will react in a negative manner. It is usually one of these below (I will add rough estimates in my experience):

    1. Ask what you are doing: 90%
    2. Ask you to delete the photo 9.95%
    3. Lunge at you: .05% (This has happened only once to me by an old man in Paris. This rarely (if ever) happens).
    When people confront you and ask you what you are doing, be prepared to make the right answer and react calmly and speak truthfully about what you are doing. Here are some steps I suggest:
    1. Explain what you are doing (don’t hide anything)
    2. Offer to show them the LCD of the photo
    3. Speak calmly and relaxed
    4. Offer to email the person the photo
    5. Decide whether you want to delete the photo or not
    6. If you don’t wish to delete the photo, offer to wait for the cops to come
    The worst that will honestly happen to you  in terms of confrontations is people either yelling at you or cursing at you. Physical confrontation rarely if ever happens. I have never heard of a story of someone getting punched for taking a photo. If this were to happen, you can always sue that person (and probably could get a ton of money).
    Keep in mind that I rarely get confronted when shooting (5%) and I shoot really close and use a flash. If you don’t shoot as close as I do and don’t use a flash (majority of people) negative reactions will happen even far less. Watch the video above to get a more detailed guide on how to react to people who get confrontational in street photography.
    The photo (I mentioned in the video) that I took:
    Do you have any stories of people confronting you when you are out shooting? If so, share your stories below and tell us how you diffused the situation.
  • One-Minute Masterclass Advice from Steve McCurry: Be in the Moment

    One-Minute Masterclass Advice from Steve McCurry: Be in the Moment

    In today’s 1-minute masterclass with Steve McCurry, he talks about getting “in the zone” when he is out shooting. He prefers to shoot alone and to quietly explore the streets without speaking much, to get a feel of the environment he is shooting in.

    Although I am a big fan of shooting together in groups (it helps you be more comfortable) shooting alone is when you can be in almost a meditative state– enjoying life around yourself alone.

    More Photographs by Steve McCurry

    Steve McCurry
    Copyright Steve McCurry
    Steve McCurry
    Copyright Steve McCurry
    Steve McCurry
    Copyright Steve McCurry
    Steve McCurry
    Copyright Steve McCurry
    Steve McCurry
    Copyright Steve McCurry
    Steve McCurry
    Copyright Steve McCurry

    When you are out shooting, do you prefer to go alone or in a group and why? Share your experiences in the comments below! 

  • One-Minute Masterclass Advice from Steve McCurry: Shoot from a High Vantage Point

    The folks from Phaidon are continuing their “One-Minute Masterclass” series with Steve McCurry. This new episode features his secret in getting interesting photos from unique vantage points (like a high vantage point). He describes how surprised he was in terms of how accommodating people can be in letting you enter their house or patio to shoot cityscapes. This reflects my own personal experiences, such as when I was shooting in the streets of Beirut, Lebanon– random strangers would start talking to me and even invite me into their house to enjoy some coffee.

    The next time you are traveling, make some friends and ask for permission to enter people’s homes and take the time to know them and chat with them. As they like to say on the internet, “ask and you shall receive.”

  • Help Fundraise for “Everybody Street” a Street Photography Documentary by Cheryl Dunn

    Cheryl Dunn, a filmmaker and photographer in New York City, recently put together a 16-minute short film on street photography. She is now thinking about expanding that documentary into a feature-length film. The film will include street photographers:

    • Bruce Davidson
    • Joel Meyerowitz
    • Mary Ellen Mark
    • Max Kozloff
    • Ricky Powell
    • Martha Cooper
    • Jamal Shabazz
    • Bruce Gilden
    • Clayton Patterson
    • Jeff Mermelstein
    • Rebecca Lepkoff
    • Boogie
    • Luc Sante
    • Jill Freedman
    • Josh Wildman
    Only a donation of $50 will help you get a directors-cut preview of the film before it comes out. If you really love street photography and want to make this project possible, please consider donating. $50 is about the price of a UV filter or lens hood. I know times are tough for everybody, but let’s make this happen as a community! I just donated, you should too!
  • One-Minute Masterclass Advice from Steve McCurry: “Don’t Forget To Say Hello”

    One-Minute Masterclass Advice from Steve McCurry: “Don’t Forget To Say Hello”

    One of my favorite quotes by Alfred Eisenstaedt is “It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter”. When we are out shooting street photography, it is often difficult to find time to talk to the subjects we capture, as life often moves at a very fast pace.

    Steve McCurry, one of the most pivotal photographers of the 21st century, shares the same notion. McCurry has traveled the world and captured subjects in very intimate settings- and one of his pieces of advice is to approach and talk to people (even for a minute) before taking photos of them. I feel that this is a very important piece of advice to take, especially when visiting foreign countries. The video shown above is a feature put together by Phaidon, which can be viewed here.

    Although I still feel that street photography should be done without permission and candidly, I see no problem interacting with your subjects before, during, or even after you shoot them.

    Portraits by Steve McCurry

    Steve McCurry Portrait

    Steve McCurry Portrait

    Steve McCurry Portrait

    Steve McCurry Portrait

    Steve McCurry Portrait

    Steve McCurry Portrait

    Steve McCurry Portrait

    Steve McCurry Portrait

    Thanks to Ian Pettigrew for the tip, and let us know how much you like to interact with your subjects when shooting by leaving a comment below! 

  • Film Street Photography from Winnipeg by Trevor Marczylo

    Film Street Photography from Winnipeg by Trevor Marczylo

    Click to read more

    First off, Hi. I’m Trevor Marczylo I am full-time photographer,  a street photographer eating, living, and surviving in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    My work tends to focus on documentary style street Photography or the simple daily patterns of how people go with their daily routines.

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    I’ve been shooting film for the past 15 years or so, also hand develop and print my own work but I’m not going to lie, I do a lot of digital these days too. I’ll leave that to you to decided which is film and which isn’t.

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    I am constantly shooting and sometimes a roll of film might take me a week or two to finish where as other days I may go though a few rolls of film in a day. I never give it much thought on what I do, I just have a strong passion for capturing emotion and documenting a moment to tell a story. I don’t start my day out to try and produce art I just leave my house with my camera in my hand and simply document as I see.

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    In all honesty, I really dont know what to say. Its just easier for me to explain myself with my photos. with that being said I’ll leave that to the people reading this and viewing the images.

    I’d also like to thank Eric Kim for sharing my images:

    More Street Photography by Trevor Marczylo

     

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    Make sure to check out more of Trevor’s images on his blog! And yes, those borders are real ;)

  • 10 Reasons Why You Should Never Chimp While Shooting Street Photography

    10 Reasons Why You Should Never Chimp While Shooting Street Photography

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    (Photo above by Andrew Eccles. Disregard how classy the chimp looks)

    Chimping– it is a disease and an unhealthy addiction that runs rampart within the digital photography community. What is chimping you ask? It is the act of looking at your LCD screen the second after you take a shot. Why do they call it chimping? Well imagine if you think you got a great shot, you show other people, and point to your LCD screen while saying “ooh ooh ooh” like a chimpanzee. Why is this bad when it comes to street photography? Keep reading to find out.

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  • How to Shoot with a Flash for Street Photography with a Film Leica

    How to Shoot with a Flash for Street Photography with a Film Leica

    My friend Charlie was generous enough to provide this article to discuss how he shoots street photography with a flash with his film Leica MP. Also if you haven’t yet, check out his documentary on Uchujin’s blog!

    I thought I should write a short piece about using a flash for street photography. I don’t profess to be an expert on the technical side, so this is simply a few paragraphs about how I shoot and what I have learnt. I am writing from the perspective of a Leica MP user, although a large part of this will apply to anyone that wants to shoot flash manually.

    Shutter Speed

    The Leica MP has a flash sync speed of 1/50th of a second. What this means is that the shutter speed must be set to 1/50 or slower – otherwise, for complicated and boring reasons, black bands appear on (I think) the left hand side of the photo. Practically this is a limitation. The background will likely blur unless the photographer has a steady hand. I tend to try to shoot at 1/50th as much as possible to avoid this. Shooting at less will increase the blur. While some people might want this, I find it distracting – especially in a city like Tokyo where what happens is that you will get a lot of light trails. But I’d encourage everyone to experiment.

    ISO

    As with non flash photography, I select the ISO according to the time of day and weather. The thing to remember with ISO (and aperture) is that these settings affect the distance that the flash can fire. The lower the ISO the weaker the flash will be. Therefore to shoot in the day a very strong flash (ie one with a high guide number) is required. I use the Nikon SB900. The other problem with shooting in the day is that the photographer is constrained by the slow sync speed. Therefore, it’s usually necessary to close down the lens to f/22 to accommodate for the slow shutter speed.

    Aperture

    I tend to want to have as much depth as field as possible to account for focusing errors. The fastest I will shoot at is f/8, and I’ll only do this to let in more ambient light. The more closed down the lens the weaker the flash power.

    Approach

    The general point to remember is to take a meter reading first, setting the shutter speed to 1/50th. For example, on a sunny day:

    Shutter speed – 1/50th (constrained by x-sync).
    ISO 50
    Aperture – f/11 – f/22

    After this, I’ll underexpose the ambient by a stop or two for a more dramatic look. So, if the meter reads f/11, I would set to f/16.

    Then I’ll enter the ISO and the aperture into the flash and see what distance it gives me. For my flash this will be about 1-2 meters. This means that my subjects need to be at the distance from the camera that is showing on the back of the flash. If I want to take a picture of a subject that is further away, I can zoom the flash, which sometimes might get me an extra meter or two.

    I take the same approach at night, although I care less about the ambient light as often the background is just black sky. The other difference at night is that the ISO will be 1600.

    This means that the flash reading will probably be around 5 or 6 meters. So I reduce the flash power to give me a 1 meter or so reading.

    A couple of final points

    I’m no technical expert, but one thing I have noticed is that the flash tends to freeze subjects when they are closer to the camera. This is important as a 1/50th shutter speed will not freeze them. But when subjects are close it is very important to get the flash power correct, otherwise subjects will be under or overexposed. Underexposure is very common due to the inverse square law (light falls off more quickly the closer the flash is to the subject).

    The other point to note about the inverse square law is that it is very hard to light multiple subjects at different distances from the camera with one flash, especially where the nearest subject is close to the camera. The only way around this is to bounce the flash off the ceiling, use more than one flash, spread the flash beam (if you have that setting) or shoot when the nearest subject is a bit further away.

    So that’s about it. Please let Eric know if you have any questions.

  • 10 Ways Street Photography Changed My Life (and made me a better person)

    10 Ways Street Photography Changed My Life (and made me a better person)

    Inspired by Thomas Leuthard’s post on how street photography has changed his life, I want to take this opportunity to talk a little about my street photography journey, and how it has changed my life for the better, beyond my wildest dreams.

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  • Street Reverb x Xperia Studio “Reality Remade” Street Photography Competition


    The cool folks over at Street Reverb Magazine are teaming up with Xperia Studio in a joint “Reality Remade” street photography competition. There are lots of great prizes including a £2200 grand prize, including free Xperia phones.

    In order to enter, you will need to put together a project proposal interpreting the theme “Reality Remade” and submit a short biography about yourself, accompanying your portfolio. The 5 best proposals will move onto the next round of the competition, where they will be given an project budget of £300 and a Sony Ericsson Xperia Phone to capture 5 images for the theme.

    This competition is free and a great opportunity for you to get your name out there– so make sure to enter!

    >> Enter the Reality Remade Street Photography Competition

  • YOU ARE HERE Street Photography Exhibition Opening TONIGHT in Downtown LA at 7:00PM

    YOU ARE HERE Street Photography Exhibition Opening TONIGHT in Downtown LA at 7:00PM

    I am pleased to announce the opening of the YOU ARE HERE Street Photography Exhibition tonight at the Think Tank Gallery in Downtown LA sponsored by Leica. The concept was that 30 photographers weregiven 10 days to shoot one square block in the Fashion district in Downtown LA. Despite the restriction, all the photographers were able to capture the soul and essence of the place in a beautiful way.

    The exhibition is FREE will feature over a hundred photographs, and complimentary drinks and food will be provided. Free parking is located all around the gallery at 939 Maple Ave, and the exhibition will run from 7:00PM-1AM. If you are in the LA area, stop by!

    Please RSVP via the Facebook invitation and I hope to see you all there!

  • Interview Featured at the 500px Blog

    Hey streettogs, just got interviewed by the folks over at 500px. They asked me some questions about my approach in street photography, how my work has evolved, as well as my thoughts on some controversial topics. If you got a minute, make sure to check out my feature here!

    Thanks to Jen Tse for the interview, and Neil Ta for hooking us up!  

  • 10 Street Photography Assignments by Blake Andrews

    10 Street Photography Assignments by Blake Andrews

    Blake Andrews

    (Above image by Blake Andrews)

    Blake Andrews, a member of the In-Public street photography collective and prolific blogger over at “B” has a list of 10 great street photography assignments. Check them out at the link below and try them out!

    >> Ten Street Photography Assignments by Blake Andrews

    Which of these assignments do you find particularly fascinating? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

  • What Does it Take to Make a Good Street Photograph?

    What Does it Take to Make a Good Street Photograph?

    What's on a doorman's mind?

     (“What’s on a doorman’s mind?” by Simon Garnier)

    Eric’s note: The following guest article is by Simon Garnier, part scientist and part street photographer who lives and works in New Jersey. Read his previous article about getting close in street photography and this new article where he discusses what it takes to take a great street photograph.

    What does it take to make a good street photograph? Many, many, many things. Some weeks ago on this blog, for instance, I discussed the importance of taking a picture at the right scale, that is, at the scale of the event you are photographing. As you can imagine, however, the scaling problem is not the only challenge one faces when doing street photography. I might be at the right scale, but not at the right position or angle; the natural light might create shadows masking important elements; the composition of the picture (that is, the organization of the different components of the image relative to each other and to the dimensions of the picture) might diminish the meaning and clarity of the photograph; the colors (if you shoot in color like me) might simply not get along very well (try flashy green on purple for instance :-) ); the contrasts might be too low to easily distinguish the foreground from the background; etc, etc. Street photography is an easy genre to start with (the easiest maybe?), but for sure it is one of the hardest to master as all these problems must be tackled under strong time constraints.

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  • An Introduction to Zone Focusing for your Leica, Rangefinder, or DSLR

    An Introduction to Zone Focusing for your Leica, Rangefinder, or DSLR

    When I first started shooting street photography, I was always frustrated that my autofocus would always be too slow to capture the decisive moment. After trudging around the internet, I was first introduced to the idea of “zone focusing” by Markus Hartel on his blog.

    For those of you who aren’t familiar with zone focusing you essentially use a high f-stop number with a deep depth of field (f/16 or f/11) and have your camera pre-focused to a certain distance to get your photos in-focus. This is beneficial because although modern autofocusing systems are quite good, they are not 100% reliable. Using zone focusing when shooting street photography allows you to get far more keepers.

    Aperture at f/16 and focused to around .9 meters. You can see everything from .7 meters to 1.5 meters will be in-focus

    Regarding the settings, I typically use the following when shooting:

    • Aperture: f/16
    • ISO: 800-3200
    • Shutter speed: Above 320ths/second
    • Prefocus: 1 meter
    • AV-mode
    Why do I use the above settings? Shooting at f/16 allows me to get the deepest depth-of-field with my lens. I keep my ISO high so my shutter speed will be above 320ths/second (this allows you to capture people walking and not blurry). I don’t mind having extra grain or noise in my images. I actually find it to make my images more gritty and raw. Also I keep my lens pre-focused to around 1 meter– because that is how close I generally am to my subjects when shooting.
  • How to Interact With Your Subjects when Shooting Street Photography

    How to Interact With Your Subjects when Shooting Street Photography

    Alfred Eisenstaedt once said, “It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter“. Upon reading this quote, it made me start thinking differently how I approach my street photography. When I started off, I would avoid eye contact at all costs, often shooting from the hip or being a little more sneaky. However nowadays, I actually prefer making eye contact with my subjects the majority of the time and even interacting with them after taking the shot. Often times when things are a bit too hectic on the streets, I don’t talk much with people but whenever I have the opportunity I try. Keep reading to learn how to interact with your subjects more when shooting on the streets.

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  • Through the Grainy Eyes of Film by Erik Lauri Kulo

    Through the Grainy Eyes of Film by Erik Lauri Kulo

    (Above image by Erik Lauri Kulo)

    Who would have thought that 146 years after the photographic negatives were added to protected works under copyright – people would still use the technique even though there’s an almost futuristic alternative?

    In the late 90s photographic film made, what would seem, a last push to stay on top of the photography market with a row of new cameras such as the Olympus Mju-II that quickly sold around 3.8 million examples. Or the Canon EOS 1-N that served the purpose of showcasing just how advanced Canon’s technology really was at the time.

    But with the millennium came a new king of the market: the digital camera. With the new Canon 1D and Nikon D1 film truly appeared to be losing the battle. And today when technology has reached a level that was a mere fantasy of science fiction fans a couple of years ago, it would seem like film is dead.

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  • Interview with Eric Kim about the YOU ARE HERE Street Photography Exhibition in Los Angeles with The ThinkTank Gallery and Leica

    Interview with Eric Kim about the YOU ARE HERE Street Photography Exhibition in Los Angeles with The ThinkTank Gallery and Leica

    Popsicle

    Interview conducted by Jacob Patterson, co-founder of the ThinkTank Gallery in Los Angeles.

    YOU ARE HERE is a street photography show at the ThinkTank Gallery at 939 Maple Ave in Downtown LA on October 13th which is sponsored by Leica Camera. Over 30 photographers were given 10 days to shoot the same one square block, and their three images which best capture the spirit of the area shot will be displayed together alongside a few installation pieces. Come out at 7pm or after you visit the Downtown Artwalk and see this unique show! You can RSVP via Facebook, and keep reading to hear about Eric’s involvement in the exhibition and see some of his best images.

  • Tenderloin USA Photo Journal: An Exploration of the Tenderloin District in San Francisco

    Click to see the book

    I recently received my copy of Tenderloin USA, which is a 50-page black and white introspection of the Tenderloin, one of San Francisco’s most vibrant yet often overlooked neighborhoods. Street photographers Brad Evans and Travis Jensen go into the heart of the Tenderloin, and capture soulful images of the people who work, hustle, hang out, and live in the colorful and culturally diverse neigborhood.

    The most inspirational part of Tenderloin USA is that 100% of the profits will go to the Larkin Street Youth Services, a San Francisco charitable organization that helps at-risk youth in the area. I am a huge advocate for helping out the community through photography, so do your part and pick up a copy! The journal is only $20 through HP’s Magcloud, and you can buy a copy here.

    Help support this project and the community now!

  • 35 Magnum Photographers Give Their Advice to Aspiring Photographers

    35 Magnum Photographers Give Their Advice to Aspiring Photographers

    Hi 
    (Above image copyrighted by Alex Majoli)

    Bill Reeves, a passionate photographer who is fortunate enough to have Magnum photographers Eli Reed and Paolo Pellegrin as his mentors, told me about a blog post that Magnum had a while back regarding advice to young photographers. It was put together by Alec Soth, who has done a series of fascinating projects such as his most popular, “Sleeping by the Missisippi” which was done on a 8×10 view camera. An interesting excerpt that Bill put together about Alec is below:

    Alec writes up lists of things to shoot. Some normal objects, like suitcases, and others more weird, like unusually tall people. He would tape this list to his steering wheel, and be reminded to shoot those things when he saw them. When he found someone to shoot, he would talk to them, and from that conversation find the next thing to go looking for. An example is he did a portrait of a guy who built model airplanes, and then a portrait of a hooker. The link? She had airplanes painted on her nails. He then went to photograph Charles Lindberg’s childhood home, which led him to photograph Johnny Cash’s boyhood home and so on and so forth.

    I found the advice that these Magnum photographers is golden–and have shared it here to spread the love and knowledge. Keep reading to see their inspirational images and advice. You can also download the free PDF here.

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  • The Top 3 Winners of “The Decisive Moment” Street Photography Contest

    The Top 3 Winners of “The Decisive Moment” Street Photography Contest

    Street Photography Contest - Decisive Moment

    Sorry for the delay, but finally chose the Top-3 Winners of my first international “Decisive Moment” street photography contest! Many of you voted on your favorite submissions to make it to the top 10, and I chose the top three which I felt captured Henri Cartier-Bresson’s aesthetic of what he would have believed to be the “The Decisive Moment”. Congratulations to everyone who submitted and the winners will be awarded Lens Bracelets of their choice!

    Stay updated as I have lots of other new street photography contests coming up! Keep reading to see all the amazing images and the stories behind them!

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  • 10 Street Photography Tips from an Anonymous Street Photographer

    10 Street Photography Tips from an Anonymous Street Photographer

    Click to read more

    I recently got these 10 street photography tips from an anonymous street photographer who wanted to share this information with you. I found these tips to be very insightful, and I hope you will too! Keep reading more to learn about all the goodness.

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  • So You Wanna Shoot Street Photography With Film, Huh?

    So You Wanna Shoot Street Photography With Film, Huh?

    Click to read more

    Eric’s Note: This is article is part of an on-going weekly column by Japancamerahunter (Bellamy Hunt) where he talks about vintage cameras, film, and street photography. You can check out his part articles here. 

    Now that you have taken the plunge and bought yourself a film camera you might be wondering what film you should be using. Well, this is a rather difficult one to answer, as one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

    But, never fear, Eric asked me, your charming uncle Japancamerahunter to try and steer you through the rough (and sometimes expensive) seas that make up camera film.

    Now this article is timely in that it comes off the back of an announcement last week by Fujifilm that they will be cutting production of a number of films. This seems to be a growing trend, and I can imagine it will not be long before only the smaller specialized companies like Ilford and Efke are making film. So if you are fancying a crack at the film game there is no better time than now. Get on it while the going is good.

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  • New Street Photography Magazine: “Radiate” Released (Issue 1)

    New Street Photography Magazine: “Radiate” Released (Issue 1)

    (Cover photo by Charlie Kirk)

    Stu Egan, a passionate street photographer and magazine editor from London recently put together the first issue of Radiate Magazine, a new street photography magazine filled with great street photographers from all around the globe. Not only does the magazine include great images, but it includes insightful interviews and features from street photographers such as Paul Trevor, John Battaglia, the un-posed street collective (Michal Adamski, Damian Chrobak, Pawel Piotrowski, Zbigniew Osiowy, Tomasz Lazar and Maciej Dakowicz), Charlie Kirk, Misho Baranovic, Bruce Byers and Justin Sainsbury.

    The magazine is 100 pages and is only $21 if you wish to get a real paper-back copy. The magazine isn’t priced to make any profit, and is priced at the basement price to get the thing printed. If you really love street photography, you should pick up the paper-back version and enjoy the beautiful images. I just ordered mine and can’t wait until I get it in the mail!

    They also offer a free digital download at the link below.

    > Radiate Magazine Issue 1

    Make sure to also keep posted with their magazine and blog.

    Let us know what you think about this magazine by leaving a comment below!

  • 10 Famous Street Photography Quotes You Must Know

    10 Famous Street Photography Quotes You Must Know

    Garry Winogrand Flip

    (Above image by Garry Winogrand)

    If you want to get a deeper insight into street photography and take better photos, I feel it is very important to study the work of the street photographers who came before us and paved the way for the rest of us. Not only that, but reading the quotes and words by these influential street photographers is a great way to train your mind to take better photos as well. Below are some of my favorite street photography quotes that are concise, inspirational, and have influenced me in one way or another.

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  • Getting Close: Does It Really Make You a Better Street Photographer?

    Getting Close: Does It Really Make You a Better Street Photographer?

    Eric’s note: The following guest blog post is by Simon Garnier, part scientist and part street photographer who lives and works in New Jersey. Read about his experiences in getting close in street photography–and how he grapples with the idea of getting close in street photography. Interestingly enough this post was written before Fabio Pires’ video came out, but it is more relevant than ever. 

    Simon: I am not an experienced street photographer. I started shooting street and candid pictures about a year ago, after several years of irregular experimentations with film and digital cameras. Everything you will read in this post is therefore the result of an ongoing reflection about something that I thought was true, but that I start to find overestimated, and potentially problematic for street photography in general.

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  • Think Tank Gallery Looking for for 32 Street Photographers in Los Angeles!

    The Think Tank Gallery is looking for 32 street photographers from Los Angeles for a fascinating project. Selected photographers will have 10 days to shoot in an undisclosed location during October 1st-10th. Those chosen will then have their best 3 images shown in their gallery during the LA Downtown Artwalk on October 13th.

    If you are interested in participating, shoot an email at youareherethinktank@gmail.com with your 5 best images in JPEG format (resized to 950px wide). This can be a great opportunity to get more exposure for your work and even get featured in an up-coming gallery!

    *Deadline to submit is September 15th, 2011

    *You don’t need to be from Los Angeles to participate, but you will have to be in Los Angeles during October 1st-10th to participate.

    This event is sponsored by Leica Camera.

  • The Top 20 “Decisive Moment” Street Photography Contest Finalists

    The Top 20 “Decisive Moment” Street Photography Contest Finalists

    Rinzi Ruiz

    (“Leaving” by Rinzi Ruiz)

    I am excited to announce that I have chosen the Top 20 “Decisive Moment” Street Photography Contest Finalists. Find the images on Facebook, and vote on your favorite images by “Liking” them! You will have between September 6-14th to vote on the images.

    The 10 final images with the most “Like’s” will advance, and I will judge the Top 3 images.

    See more details from the contest here.

  • How to Market Yourself as a Street Photographer

    How to Market Yourself as a Street Photographer

    Click to read more

    Recently I have been thinking a lot about marketing oneself as a street photographer. Through the past year on my blog, I have featured a great deal of street photographers who are extremely talented yet haven’t had the coverage that they deserved. Thinking more about the subject, I thought especially about Vivian Maier who was indeed one of the great street photographers, but was unknown until after she died. Of course Maier purposely didn’t share her photos with others, but I think that photographers have a duty to share their images with others to inspire and show the beauty of life.

    I know there are many street photographers out there who are still very talented yet don’t know how to get their work out there. I have divided up this blog post up to three parts which will hopefully help you understand what you want out of street photography, how to get your work out there, and how to get your work recognized as well.

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  • Download Thomas Leuthard’s (85mm) NEW Street Photography Book: “Collecting Souls: What Street Photography Means to Me” For FREE!

    Download Thomas Leuthard’s (85mm) NEW Street Photography Book: “Collecting Souls: What Street Photography Means to Me” For FREE!

    I am excited to announce that Thomas Leuthard (85mm) has just released his second book on street photography titled: “Collecting Souls: What Street Photography Means to Me“. This book is much more advanced than his previous book, and contains more of his personal thoughts and ideas when it comes to street photography. It includes more than 30 short chapters about street photography, and should help with your own story-telling and style.

    As with Thomas’ other street photography book, it is totally FREE and available for download here.

    If you haven’t checked out Thomas’ first book “Going Candid“, you can also download that here as well.

    Show Thomas some love by leaving a comment below and telling him what you think about his book/generosity!

  • Call for Photographers: Think Tank Gallery Looking for for 32 Street Photographers in Los Angeles!

    Call for Photographers: Think Tank Gallery Looking for for 32 Street Photographers in Los Angeles!

    Hey streettogs, the Think Tank Gallery in Los Angeles is looking for 32 street photographers for a fascinating project. They will select an undisclosed location, and you will be given 10 days to shoot during October 1st-10th. Those chosen will then have their best 3 images shown in their gallery during the LA Downtown Artwalk on October 13th. If you are interested in participating, shoot an email at youareherethinktank@gmail.com with your 5 best images in JPEG format (resized to 950px wide). This can be a great opportunity to get more exposure for your work and even get featured in an up-coming gallery!

    *Deadline to submit is September 15th, 2011

    *You don’t need to be from Los Angeles to participate, but you will have to be in Los Angeles during October 1st-10th to participate.

  • Seconds2Real Street Photography Exhibition in Berlin – October 15th

    Seconds2Real Street Photography Exhibition in Berlin – October 15th

    Some of the talented street photographers over at Seconds2Real, a co-operative of thirteen passionate Austrian and German street photographers are going to be hosting an exhibition titled:  “Fascination Street”, their first exhibition of contemporary Street Photography. The Berlin show opens October 15th, 2011 and runs for two weeks. They will also be showing more than 100 prints at the unique MEINBLAU Kunsthaus.

    Read more information below to get the inside scoop.

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  • The 10 Most Important Things You Should Be Looking For When Buying a Classic Camera (Or How Not to Get Ripped Off)

    The 10 Most Important Things You Should Be Looking For When Buying a Classic Camera (Or How Not to Get Ripped Off)

    Click to read more

    Pictured above: Canon 7 Black w/50mm f1.2 screw mount. Shot by Bellamy Hunt

     

    Eric’s Note: For this blog post I am excited to present this article written by Bellamy Hunt (aka Japancamerahunter). Not only is he a skilled street photographer, but he is a professional camera hunter. If you are looking for a vintage or classic camera, he is your man. Knowing nothing about classic cameras myself, I asked him some tips that you may need to know when looking to buy one. Read what he has to say below!

    So, you have decided to take the plunge and buy a classic camera, well hold on to your horses, this is something that you shouldn’t run headlong into with wild abandon.
    Obviously if you are buying a $20 camera most of this will be completely irrelevant to you, but if you are thinking of getting something a bit nicer, then there are a few things you should consider.

    First up, and perhaps most importantly, know what you are looking for. Don’t have a vague idea that you want a film camera and just buy the first one you see; you will just be disappointed.

    Here is a little list of things that you should be looking for when you are buying a classic camera.

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  • 10 Things Henri Cartier-Bresson Can Teach You About Street Photography

    10 Things Henri Cartier-Bresson Can Teach You About Street Photography

    Don’t forget to order the new re-print of “The Decisive Moment” by Henri Cartier-Bresson!

    I have been doing quite a bit of research into Henri Cartier-Bresson, the godfather of street photography.

    Although my current approach in street photography is more like Bruce Gilden and less of Henri Cartier-Bresson, HCB influenced much of my earlier work and I still deeply respect his photography and philosophies. I hope you are able to enjoy these things I believe you can learn from Henri Cartier-Bresson about street photography. Keep reading to become inspired and learn more.

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  • “The Decisive Moment” Street Photography Contest: August 18-September 14th

    “The Decisive Moment” Street Photography Contest: August 18-September 14th

    The Decisive Moment Street Photography Contest

    I am excited to announce my first international street photography contest. Adam Elmakais is generously sponsoring the contest and is going to give away some sweet Lens Bracelets to the winners!

    The theme of this contest is going to be “The Decisive Moment” as a tribute to Henri Cartier-Bresson, the definitive master of street photography. For the contest you will submit your best street photograph that best highlights the aesthetic of “The Decisive Moment”. I am excited to see all your entries.

    How the Contest Is Going to Work

    • Phase 1: From August 18-September 2nd you will email me your best street photographs of “The Decisive Moment”
    • Phase 2: On September 5th I will choose the 20 best street photographs and will compile them in a Facebook album on my Facebook fan page. People will then vote on their favorite entries to make it to the Top 10 (from September 5th-14th).
    • Phase 3: On September 14th I will judge the Top 10 entries and announce the Top 3 winners.

    How to Enter

    1. “Like” Eric Kim Photography and Lens Bracelets on Facebook!
    2. Choose your favorite street photograph of “The Decisive Moment” that you have ever shot and email it to erickimphotographycontest@gmail.com
      • Send the photo in a JPEG file resized to 760px (only one photo per entry)
      • Include the following information in the body of the email:
        1. Title:
        2. Location you shot the image:
        3. Tell us the story behind your image (4-8 sentences):
        4. What you love most about street photography (any length):

    Prize

    • On September 14th, I will announce the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners
    • All winners will have their images featured on my blog and will also have the chance to tell the stories behind their images
    • The first prize winner will win 3 Lens Bracelets
    • The second prize winner will win 2 Lens Bracelets
    • The third prize winner will win 1 Lens Bracelet

    Rules & FAQ

    • Each participant is only allowed to enter 1 image.
    • Anyone can enter the contest
    • Entries can be either film or digital.
    • We deserve the right to disqualify any inappropriate images.

    Excited to see all of your wonderful entries!

    Got any questions, comments, or concerns? If so, leave a comment below! I will also put up reminder blog posts along the way.

  • In-Public’s DAVID GIBSON Workshop in Beirut, Lebanon September 2011

    In-Public’s DAVID GIBSON Workshop in Beirut, Lebanon September 2011

    Beirut Street Photography is happy to announce the exciting Street Photography workshop we’re planning with London-based Street Photographer David Gibson from the international In-Public street photography collective.

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  • Alfred Eisenstaedt on Getting Close in Street Photography

    Alfred Eisenstaedt on Getting Close in Street Photography

    alfred eisenstaedt

    The other day I was hanging out with Derriel Almario and we stumbled upon an old Borders bookstore that closed down and was converted into a $1 bookstore. When I saw it, I suddenly got giddy at the possibility that there may be some hidden photography book gems that we could find. Low and behold I stumbled upon a book titled, “The Camera” which was a photography book published in 1970 by TIME.

    There was a chapter on shooting people that particularly fascinated me. Most of the photojournalists interviewed for the book generally agreed it was better to get closer to your subjects than shooting far away with a zoom lens.

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  • Why You Should Stay on the F*cking Bus

    Why You Should Stay on the F*cking Bus

    Jazz Hands
    "Jazz Hands" – Eric Kim

    Finding your own style in street photography is one of the most difficult things to discover. Everyone is influenced by the great street photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Garry Winogrand, but to differentiate yourself from them can be a life-time journey. Personally I have been having difficulty finding my own style, with my earlier work relying more on juxtaposition and architecture. I have recently started to transition in getting closer to my subjects and shooting with a flash–a technique similar to that of Bruce Gilden and very controversial.

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  • Support the Art of Street Photography: Donate to the London Street Photography Festival for 2012

    Support the Art of Street Photography: Donate to the London Street Photography Festival for 2012

    Although I wasn’t able to attend the London Street Photography Festival 2011, I heard it was a huge success. Hopefully I will be able to attend next year, and so will you! If you live in the UK or somewhere closeby, check out their fundraising auction and help support this great cause! All the info you need is below:

    ===============================================

    Festival Fundraising Auction
    24 August 2011, German Gymnasium

    Help us raise funds to ensure the festival is here next year. Enjoy a night of entertainment and fun and have the opportunity to bid on prints from the festival, photographic experiences and much more!Tickets: £20 (includes food, drinks and raffle ticket)

    BUY TICKETS NOW

    =========================================

    For those of you who attended the London Street Photography Festival 2011, how did you like it?

  • 10 Lessons KANYE WEST Has Taught Me About PHOTOGRAPHY

    10 Lessons KANYE WEST Has Taught Me About PHOTOGRAPHY

    Kanye West is one of my inspirations in life.

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  • LA Street Photography Workshop: Day 1 (Street Photography Fun + Leica Orgy)

    LA Street Photography Workshop: Day 1 (Street Photography Fun + Leica Orgy)

    I am glad to announce that my first day of the street photography workshop was a huge success! Everything went off without a hitch, and the workshop has been great so far! We had a wonderful group of participants for the workshop and great food (courtesy of my mom and younger sister). Not only did we have a great time discussing about street photography and learning tips and techniques for the street, we were able to go out and test some Leica gear when we went shooting.

    Many of the participants were able to test out Leica cameras such as the Leica M9, Leica X1, Leica D-Lux 5, and I had the great pleasure of playing with the Leica S2. All I have to say it is a beautiful camera (although a behemoth). The image-quality is unparalleled (it’s hard to tell on the web) and felt solid in my hands. It isn’t an ideal camera for street photography and was difficult to use in the streets, but it was fun.

    ====================================================================

    Also I am going to have my next Intermediate Street Photography Workshop in Los Angeles on August 27-28th. Please email me at erickimphotography@gmail.com if you’re interested or would like more details!

    ====================================================================

    Read more to check out the photos I took during the workshop with the Leica S2 and my Canon 5D with flash!

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  • Vegas Day 3: Last Day Thoughts and Impressions of the Macbook Air

    Vegas Day 3: Last Day Thoughts and Impressions of the Macbook Air

    Today is my last day in Vegas and all I gotta say is I had a blast. Not only was I able to come here for the first time and experience debauchery, gambling, and great food– but I was also able to shoot great street photographs here. Huge thanks for everyone giving me all the advice of places to check out, and especially to Rob DeRosa for showing me around in Downtown Vegas. Watch the video above to hear more about my thoughts about Vegas, and a quick review of the Macbook Air I have been using during this trip.

    Also I still have 2 spots open for my Los Angeles Street Photography Workshop this weekend (July 30-31st). Check out more information here and email me at erickimphotography@gmail.com if you are interested in joining!

    Read more to check out the photos I took today (although not many!)

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  • Download “Going Candid…” a FREE Street Photography E-Book by Thomas Leuthard

    Download “Going Candid…” a FREE Street Photography E-Book by Thomas Leuthard

    Hey guys if you haven’t heard yet, Thomas Leuthard (85mm) just released “Going Candid…” his FREE Street Photography E-Book. It is fill of great information about how to shoot strangers while getting really close to them, how to share your work, and truly tell a story through your images. It is fantastic information for anybody serious about street photography.

    You can download a free copy here.

    Make sure to leave a comment below and show Thomas some love for his generosity and great insights into street photography!

  • Vegas Day 2: Debauchery, Hangovers, and Flash Street Photography at Night

    Vegas Day 2: Debauchery, Hangovers, and Flash Street Photography at Night

    I just completed my second day in Las Vegas and wanted to share some of my experiences. First of all, it appears that for the entire time I have either been a) Drunk or b) Hungover. Not the most fun when shooting street photography, but I still get the job done. Also today I had the great opportunity of meeting up with Rob DeRosa (one of my LA Street Photography workshop attendees this Saturday-Sunday) and he showed me Downtown Vegas which was a ton of fun. It seemed more soulful than the main strip (as it had more locals and fewer tourists). Not only that, but I was able to have a ton of fun shooting flash with my camera, which was awesome.

    If you are interested in my LA street photography workshop in Hollywood this weekend (July 30-31st), please shoot me an email at erickimphotography@gmail.com for more information! There are only a few spots left, and it will be a great opportunity for you to overcome your fear of shooting street photography while being able to test out a Leica M9!

    Make sure to also read more to check out more of the photos I took :)

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  • Vegas Day 1: Debauchery and Daytime Street Photography

    Vegas Day 1: Debauchery and Daytime Street Photography

    Vegas Street Photography Eric Kim

    Although I have lived in LA for many years, I have never been to Vegas before. Deciding to go to Vegas was a random idea, but suddenly it happened. I packed my bag with my street photography gear and headed out Monday morning. I just got here and was able to do some street photography. I’m still pretty inebriated and was barely able to process these images I took during the day. I was able to get a few night street photographs (but ended up going clubbing and kept my camera at home). Hope to do some more street photography with flash tomorrow night–but in the meanwhile read more to check out my photos!

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  • 10 Things Street Photographers Can Learn from Pickup Artists

    10 Things Street Photographers Can Learn from Pickup Artists

    Click to read more

    Neil Strauss, author of “The Game”

    I was talking to one of my buddies today about street photography and how much mental training it required for someone to feel comfortable shooting in the streets. He then saw me shooting on the streets and noticed the way I interacted with my subjects was often similar to that of “pickup artists” as described in Neil Strauss’ best-seller “The Game“. For those of you who are not familiar with the book, the author learns how to seduce women with certain techniques and strategies and documents them. Although the book may sound misogynist, it is more about psychology and a biography than anything else. Also as a note, I quoted an Amazon review of the book to come up with the ten points. Enjoy!

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  • The Opportunity to Shoot the Past is Today

    The Opportunity to Shoot the Past is Today

    Recently from the recommendation of Daniel Schaefer I watched a film called “Midnight in Paris” which stars Owen Wilson and is directed by Woody Allen. The premise of the movie is that Owen Wilson (a writer) is hopelessly in love with the ideal of Paris in the 1920’s and is convinced that his present is not nearly as romantic or great enough. However through a strange series of events he finds himself in the 1920’s Paris where he finds out all the people living during that time-period wished that they were also in an earlier and more romantic time-period.

    Highly recommend everyone to watch this film

    Therefore it had me thinking about street photography and the romanticism we can often attribute to the past. We think of all the great photos by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau, and Robert Frank and think that we can never capture as stunning images because the present is boring. However what we need to realize that today is going to be the past one day, and the opportunity to shoot is now. Don’t let all these excuses about the present not being interesting enough get in your way of shooting.

    Henri Cartier Bresson
    Henri Cartier Bresson – I am sure we can still find opportunities to shoot images like this today

    Also I am excited to announce that for my July 30-31st street photography workshop in LA I am going to have a Leica representative bring Leica M9’s, lenses, and compact cameras for you to shoot with. If you have ever wanted to learn more about street photography (and shoot with a Leica M9) sign up soon! I only have 3 spots available, so please shoot me an email at erickimphotography@gmail.com for more information or to sign-up.

    So have you ever been guilty of romanticizing the past and dismissing the present? Share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment below!

  • The Best Street Photography Blogs on the Web

    The Best Street Photography Blogs on the Web

    Although street photography is still very much a niche online, here are the top street photography blogs I regularly follow online.

    American Suburb X

    http://www.americansuburbx.com/

    Although American Suburb X brands themselves as more of a “photography and culture” magazine, they consistently have photo-essays and interviews with street photographers. If you look at any of their features, they are very well-written and long-format (something that a lot of sites no longer feature). Check out this great feature about Garry Winogrand here.

     

    I recently came upon the great flash street photography work by Dirty Harry and also found out that he curates an awesome street photography blog. On a very consistent basis, he finds the street photographs that he finds the most inspirational to him and posts it on his blog. Stay tuned for an interview with him on my blog soon :)

    Leica Blog

    http://blog.leica-camera.com/

    Where would street photography be without Leica and rangefinders? Regardless, they feature many great interviews with street photographers on their blog and also keep us in the loop with what the masterminds at Leica are up to. Definitely keep them bookmarked.

    B – Blake Andrews

    http://blakeandrews.blogspot.com/

    Out of all the street photography blogs I listed, “B” from Blake Andrews has definitely got to be my favorite. Sarcastic, rugged, and raw– Blake Andrews never sugarcoats anything he has to say that is on his mind. Not only that, but the man has a fantastic eye (he is in In-Public after all) and has great photo-analyses and essays. Here is one of my favorite articles on him on editing.

    Seven Seven Nine – Nick Turpin

    http://www.sevensevennine.com/

    Nick Turpin is one of the anchors in the street photography community and has been working extremely hard in pushing street photography as a serious art in the community. He is also the founder of In-Public and has a fantastic eye when it comes to street photography. Although his blog Seven Seven Nine isn’t updated nearly as often as I’d like–it is still a treasure chest full of great information and insights.

    Yanidel Street Photography

    http://www.yanidel.net/

    Yanidel is a passionate and extremely consistent street photographer from Paris who recently quit his job to travel the world for 80 weeks (the man has balls). I had the great pleasure of meeting with him when I was in Paris, and the guy not only loves street photography but blogging as well. Live vicariously through him and check out his blog!

    JT in Seoul – Josh White

    http://jtinseoul.wordpress.com/

    Josh White is a street photographer that I stumbled upon a couple months back and even had an interview with him on my blog. He describes himself as a “law student on extended vacation in Korea” and is obsessed with documenting the streets of Seoul. Not only does he take great photographs, he also has a plethora of street photography gear (Leica M9, Leica X1, Fujifilm FinePix X100, Ricoh GRDIII, Ricoh GXR, etc) and gives great “real world” reviews. Peep him now!

    Severin Koller

    http://severinkoller.at/blog/

    Severin Koller is a damn good street photographer and has been featured on the Leica blog recently. He hails from Vienna and looks like he is out and about doing street photography workshops with Chris Weeks all around the world right now. Check out his blog for his inspirational images.

    Invisible Photographer Asia

    http://invisiblephotographer.asia/

    If you want a series of wonderfully curated fine art and street photography from Asia, Invisible Photographer Asia is the place. They have been only around for a year through the founding of Kevin WY Lee, but they have exploded in popularity and been getting a ton of great buzz lately. Oh yeah, and I’m a contributor there too ;)

    Burn Magazine

    http://www.burnmagazine.org/

    Curated by Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey, burn is is an evolving journal
    for emerging photographers. All the images included are extremely well-curated, so you know every visit you make you will see some truly great images. Highly recommended for any serious street or journalist photographers out there.

    Street Hunters

    streethunters.net

    street-hunters

    The guys working at street hunters are one of the newest street photography blogs on the block, offering insightful tutorials, tips, and tricks. If you need some inspiration or tips, check them out!

    In-Public Blog

    http://in-public.com/blog/

    in-public-blog

    When I started street photography, I first came across the street photography collective in-public. They do regular interviews on their blog, and are always a great source of inspiration.

    Shooter Files

    http://shooterfiles.com

    fd walker

    I came across F.D. Walker’s blog on street photography — Shooter Files totally by chance. I love how he has bridged street photography and travel photography so well, as well as his enthusiasm and passion. He has great shots and insights, make sure to check him out.

  • New Beginnings Day 8: Street Photography With Wireless Flash at Santa Monica

    New Beginnings Day 8: Street Photography With Wireless Flash at Santa Monica

    Today I hit the streets of Santa Monica and the beach armed with my new YN-560 Speedlight Flash and wireless transmitter. It is a new setup that I have been trying out, which seems to be far better than using a chord for my street photography with flash. Not only is the kit extremely cheap (only $67 for the flash and $20 for the wireless transmitter) but it works well and gives me great images! Screw buying a Canon Speedlite 580EX II for around $500. Having shot with it in Santa Monica today, I have been extremely pleased. Read more to see all the pictures I took.

    Anyways I also have 4 more spots open for my July 30-31st street photography workshop in Hollywood, Los Angeles! It is going to be a ton of fun meeting other street photographers, shooting together in the streets, while also getting helpful critique and learning new techniques. Please email me at erickimphotography@gmail.com if you want more details or would like to sign up!

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  • Conquering the Streets of Mumbai by Kaushal Parikh

    Conquering the Streets of Mumbai by Kaushal Parikh

    Kaushal Mumbai Street Photography
    Simplelives – Kaushal Parikh

    Street photography grabbed my attention only about 3 years ago when I stumbled upon images made by photographers like Cartier Bresson and Joel Meyerowitz on the streets of Paris and New York.

    Those images were so real. So unposed. For the first time I felt emotionally connected to still photographs. I wondered about the people in the images and what their lives must have been like and where they might be today. I marveled at how the photographer captured such a fleeting moment to tell the perfect story. Sometimes I would lose myself in an image for several minutes.

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  • New Beginnings Day 7: Todd, Lighting, and Thorsten Overgaard (+ lots of caffeine)

    New Beginnings Day 7: Todd, Lighting, and Thorsten Overgaard (+ lots of caffeine)

    It has officially been 7 days since I got laid off my job and decided to pursue street photography full-time. Things have been hectic with me working 15-hour days on this blog, booking participants for my workshop, managing my social media networks, and going out and networking! Today I was fortunate enough to meet with Todd over at Lighting Leica and he was able to hook it up with an awesome flash (and wireless trigger) which I plan on using for my flash street photography. Stay posted for an in-depth review later.

    Tonight I was also able to meet up with avant-garde Leica photographer Thorsten Overgaard and had a ton of fun chatting with him and shooting portraits of him with my flash. The guy is super-chill, down to the earth, and did I mention–well dressed? Watch the video above to hear more about my highlights and also read more to see the fun pictures I took as well!

    I also still have 3 spots open for my Los Angeles street photography workshop July 30-31st, so please shoot me an email at erickimphotography@gmail.com if you would like to hear more details! Hurry, spots are running out ;)

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