Category: Video

  • Watch “Everybody Street”: A Documentary on the Lives and Work of New York’s Iconic Street Photographers

    If you haven’t heard yet the new street photography documentary: “Everybody Street” is now available to watch via Vimeo on demand. You can either rent the film for $4.99, or buy the film via digital download for $12.99. The film is 101 minutes long, and definitely worth the watch if you are passionate about street photography. More info about the film below:

    “Everybody Street” illuminates the lives and work of New York’s iconic street photographers and the incomparable city that has inspired them for decades. The documentary pays tribute to the spirit of street photography through a cinematic exploration of New York City, and captures the visceral rush, singular perseverance and at times immediate danger customary to these artists.

    Covering nine decades of street photography, “Everybody Street” explores the careers and influences of many notable photographers––a number of whom have never been documented, featuring: Bruce Davidson, Elliott Erwitt, Jill Freedman, Bruce Gilden, Joel Meyerowitz, Rebecca Lepkoff, Mary Ellen Mark, Jeff Mermelstein, Clayton Patterson, Ricky Powell, Jamel Shabazz, Martha Cooper, and Boogie, with historians Max Kozloff and Luc Sante.

    For more info about the film, check out their site: everybodystreet.com

  • Intimate Stories and Raw Images: Jacob Aue Sobol Lecture at Nordic Light ICP

    Jacob Aue Sobol, Magnum Photographer and one of my favorite black and white photographers, shares his work and insights in this presentation at the Nordic Light ICP. If you are looking for inspiration this weekend, make sure to kick back with a glass of wine and enjoy this video [1 hour 33 minutes long]. You can see more of Jacbob’s photos on his Magnum Photos Portoflio.

  • Saul Leiter’s “In No Great Hurry” Film Releasing Nov 16th in NYC!

    Saul Leiter’s “In No Great Hurry” Film Releasing Nov 16th in NYC!

    saul leiter

    The team of “In No Great Hurry: 13 Lessons in Life with Saul Leiter” is releasing the film Nov 16th in NYC and releasing a download/DVD at the end of the month. Stay updated with all of the news on Twitter.

    Trailer

    Saul Leiter Interview

    Below is also another video of the 88-year old Saul Leiter talking in Hamburg where he exhibited his work:

    You can also see more of Saul Leiter’s work on In-Public.

  • On the Streets of San Francisco with Jack Simon

    I recently had the pleasure of shooting on the streets of San Francisco with Jack Simon, a well-known street photographer in the community for this month’s fiestamovement mission. I followed Jack around the streets of San Francisco, seeing how he worked the streets, his philosophies on street photography, while listening to his tips and learned a ton from him.

    I also have an hour-long interview that I am in the middle of transcribing that will be live on the blog soon as well. Stay tuned!

  • Streettogs Critique Group Feedback #1

    I just gave some members in the Streettogs Critique Group some feedback and made this screencast – thanks to Michael Meinhardt for organizing the images together! I hope to do more of these in the future!

    If you want to get some more critique and feedback, join the group and the rule is: for every photo you post to the group, you must leave at least 3 critiques to the photos before yours (at least 4 sentences long). Looking forward to having you!

  • Istanbul Street Photography GoPro POV Volume #5

    Istanbul Street Photography GoPro POV Volume #5

    I just uploaded the last Istanbul GoPro POV video in my series above. If you want to watch the full series, you can see all the videos on YouTube here.

  • Istanbul Street Photography GoPro POV Volume #3

    Istanbul Street Photography GoPro POV Volume #3

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

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

  • Istanbul Street Photography GoPro POV Volume #2

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

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

  • My Experiences Shooting Street Photography in Istanbul

    My Experiences Shooting Street Photography in Istanbul

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 3 Lessons I Learned Photographing a Blinged-out Boxing Promoter

    3 Lessons I Learned Photographing a Blinged-out Boxing Promoter

    Just uploaded a new GoPro POV video at Gallo Boxing. This time with Ty, a boxing promoter with great swag and bling.

    The story behind what happened is that initially I was photographing another boxer, and I was going to take some photos of him working the punching bag. Then I saw Ty on my way over, and was blown away with his outfit (his sunglasses, his patent-leather shoes, and the plethora of rings on his fingers).

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  • Gallo Boxing GoPro POV: Volume #2 (Christian Bleha, Fighter with Tattoo)

    Gallo Boxing GoPro POV: Volume #2 (Christian Bleha, Fighter with Tattoo)

    Here is Volume 2 of my GoPro POV series at Gallo Boxing.

    I first saw Christian Bleha chilling after a long workout, dripping in sweat and puffing from exhaustion. I saw him from afar–and loved his tattoos. But I was a bit nervous to first approach him. However I knew I would regret not asking to take photos of him if I chickened out– so I swallowed a big gulp of air, and introduced myself to him and asked if I could take some photos.

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  • Gallo Boxing GoPro POV: Volume #1 (Little Boxer)

    Gallo Boxing GoPro POV: Volume #1 (Little Boxer)

    For last month’s fiestamovement challenge, I learned boxing at Gallo Boxing in Lansing, Michigan.

    I have always been fascinated with boxing culture– both the sport and the culture behind it. I remember watching tons of Rocky movies growing up, and loved the skill, determination, and physical/mental endurance that boxers had to endure to become great fighters.

    After learning a few moves in boxing myself, I had about two weeks before heading back to California. So I took those two weeks to do a mini-documentary project on the boxers in the gym, with my GoPro Hero 3 strapped on top of my Ricoh GRD V.

    I wanted to make these GoPro videos to illustrate how I was able to build rapport with the fighters in the gym (including the very young in this video above) and how I photographed them (how I got them to move around, the angles I used, the use of flash/without flash, as well as how many photos I took).

    Shooting documentary-type work has always fascinated me– but I never had a project or location I felt passionate enough to photograph. Luckily enough, this project at Gallo Boxing was something that kept calling me back.

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  • American Street Portrait Interview #1: Eric Rivera, Ex-Wall Street Trader Turned Philosopher in Philadelphia

    American Street Portrait Interview #1: Eric Rivera, Ex-Wall Street Trader Turned Philosopher in Philadelphia

    Click to read more
    Eric Rivera in Philly, 2013

    When I was in Philly to pick up my Ford Fiesta for the Fiestamovement campaign, I met up with Chris Urie, a street photographer and journalist based in Philly. We took a stroll around one of the major parks there (forget what it was called) and we started to chat with some of the people we met in the park.

    One character I was fascinated with was named Eric Rivera. When I first spotted him, he was chilling on a park bench, enjoying the beautiful weather, while puffing on a nice cuban cigar — donning his Knicks hat with crocodile leather on the bill, and some pretty fly looking sunglasses.

    I approached him and commented that I liked his outfit–and we just started to chat. As part of my “America” street photography project, I had my GoPro with me and asked to interview him–so I could learn more about his personal story. What he shared surprised me.

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  • Environmental Portrait GoPro POV at Kane’s Diner in New York

    Environmental Portrait GoPro POV at Kane’s Diner in New York

    The story: When in New York, I stayed with my good friend Spencer (childhood friend) in Queens. Another of my good childhood friends (Aditiya) mentioned that before I left New York, I had to check out Kane’s diner— a 24-hour diner which they frequently visited.

    I didn’t expect to go there– but one of the days when I was walking to the subway, I spotted it. I stepped in, checked the Yelp reviews, and saw that their Steak and Eggs were quite popular. I ordered some.

    I also started talking with the waiter–who was extremely friendly. We connected well, and he gave me the best steak & eggs I have ever had (at a reasonable price).

    I then remembered my new Ricoh GRD V in my bag, and my GoPro that I brought to do some POV videos during my travels. I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me to ask him to take some photos.

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  • How to Direct Your Subjects When Shooting Street Portraits

    How to Direct Your Subjects When Shooting Street Portraits

    (Above video: New street portrait POV video I recorded in Chicago. Chicago Street Portraits, Volume #5)

    I have always been drawn to people, especially those who I find are interesting “characters.” I tend to gravitate towards people who have interesting facial expressions, to those with outstanding outfits, or accessories.

    Although the majority of the street photography I do is done candidly, I have been drawn towards doing more posed street portraits of people I find interesting. Why? I find it gives me more time to interact with them, learn more about their lives, and also to take more photos of them (with their cooperation).

    So once I get my subjects’ attention– how do I direct them and what is some of the psychology that goes behind it? I will share some candid thoughts (pun intended) about my process in terms of directing my subjects when taking portraits of them.

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  • 3 Tips To Conquer Your Fear of Shooting Street Portraits

    3 Tips To Conquer Your Fear of Shooting Street Portraits

    Last November I shot a campaign for Samsung’s NX20 camera using a video camera strapped to my head to record the footage of me shooting street portraits in Chicago with permission. It was a project that was intensive: I shot for 2 days straight from 5am-noon on little sleep.

    The thing I loved most about the project is that although I certainly didn’t take photos that made it into my portfolio — it forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and interact with lots of people on the streets in a short period of time. The fact that the video was being played live in Amsterdam while I was shooting did give me healthy pressure which ended up being a great learning experience.

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  • My Experiences Shooting Street Photography in Dubai / Heading to Korea

    In the video above, I talk about my experiences shooting street photography in Dubai, the great joy I had in finding time back home to write, and how I am heading to Korea today for around two weeks. If you would like to meet up while I am in Seoul, write on my Facebook fan page or on Twitter.

    In-case you missed my latest articles:

    I also have a few more spots open for my upcoming 3-day Introduction to Street Photography Workshop in Chicago with Satoki Nagata (4/19-4/21). Don’t miss out!

  • Adventures in Mumbai, Thoughts of the New Fujifilm X100s, Leica M & More

    Adventures in Mumbai, Thoughts of the New Fujifilm X100s, Leica M & More

    It has been a while since I did a travel update video, so I just put one together to keep you guys in the loop. Also some written notes are below. Click more to read more about my adventures in Mumbai, thoughts on the new Fujifilm X100s and the Leica M, and more!

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  • What Street Photographers Can Learn About Design and Composition from Classical Art

    Adam Marelli, a talented photographer and artist that I have taught two workshops with recently gave a superb lecture at the B&H Photo space in NYC on design/composition. The talk is about an hour and a half, and worth every minute. I highly recommend every street photographer who wants to better understand how to compose their photos better to watch it. More description of the talk below:

    We will look at how many of the design problems that photographers face have been addressed by classical artists. Bridging the gap of classical art and street photography, Henri Cartier-Bresson combined the two practices and set the world of photography on a new course. We will look at how he and his followers at Magnum, converted the lessons from classical artists into the photojournalism, street photography, and portraiture. We will introduce the visual language, examining its basic grammar and the ways in which photographers can build up each element in their own work. They will be given specific examples from master painters who were proto-street photographers.

    Attendees will walk away with a completely new way of viewing the design accomplishments of classical art. Museums and galleries will breathe with new life as the geometry of art and design is decoded specifically for photographers. You will be given a list of “common compositional mistakes” that many photographers make because the they are only taught to artists. We will also reveal where the “Rule of Thirds” comes from and look at additional techniques to use with a 35mm format.

    If you want to learn more, make sure to also check out Adam’s upcoming workshops here.

  • It’s More Fun to Shoot Street Photography in Manila

    It has been around a month since I returned from teaching/shooting street photography in Manila, and I finally had the chance to do an update video. My experiences in Manila were incredible, and a huge thanks to Jeff Mercader for bringing me over and to Joel Mataro and the guys at DAAN for organizing everything and really taking care of me. Also of course a shout-out to all of the workshop participants who totally rocked the streets of Manila.

    I wanted to do this video to share my experiences shooting street photography in Manila, and why I think it is such a phenomenal country to travel to. I think it is seriously one of the most under-rated places to visit, and I encourage everyone who wants a friendly, affordable, and inspirational place to shoot street photography abroad!

    Their motto is really true: it is more fun in the Philippines! And if you are interested in visiting, make sure to post a message to the DAAN Facebook group and say I sent you.

  • Exciting New Trailer for “Finding Vivian Maier” Feature-Length Documentary Film

    Exciting New Trailer for “Finding Vivian Maier” Feature-Length Documentary Film

    About two years ago, John Maloof started a Kickstarter to fund a feature-length documentary film: “Finding Vivian Maier“. Since then, the film has made a lot of progress (it will be released later this year) and an official trailer has just been released (watch above). After watching the trailer, I am confident that the film will do a great job uncovering the hidden life and photography of Vivian Maier.

    For those of you who are not familiar with Vivian Maier, you can read more about some words I have written about her story here.

    You can also see more work by Vivian Maier on her official website here.

    Follow the Progress of the Film

    To follow the progress of the film, follow the Vivian Maier film below:

  • Shooting the Streets of Brighton with Singaporean Street Photographer Gary Wang

    Shooting the Streets of Brighton with Singaporean Street Photographer Gary Wang

    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.

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  • “More Than Photography”: A Mini-Documentary on SF Street Photographers Brad Evans and Travis Jensen

    “More Than Photography”: A Mini-Documentary on SF Street Photographers Brad Evans and Travis Jensen

    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.

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  • Chicago Street Portraits POV Video Volume #3

    Above is another POV video I made while filming for the Samsung NX20 photography campaign. I hope you guys enjoy!

    1. You can see my first Chicago Street Portraits POV video here.
    2. 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!

  • Travel Update & What’s In My Bag: Kolkata, India Edition

    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!

  • Interview with Krishnendu Saha, Indian Street Photographer from “That’s Life” in Kolkata

    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.

  • Early Morning Street Portraits POV in Chicago with the Samsung NX20

    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.

  • Street Portraiture POV in Chicago with the Samsung NX20

    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.

    Hope you guys enjoy!

  • Tokyo Adventures: Workshops, Contax T3, Undercover Cops

    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 :)

  • Capturing the Constantly Vanishing Tokyo: Interview with Photographer Mike Nguyen

    Capturing the Constantly Vanishing Tokyo: Interview with Photographer Mike Nguyen

    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.

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  • GoPro Tour of the Impossible Project Space in Tokyo with Mijonju

    GoPro Tour of the Impossible Project Space in Tokyo with Mijonju

    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.

    Keep reading to see some of his Instant Photos!

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  • Video Interview with Bellamy Hunt (Japan Camera Hunter) in Tokyo

    Video Interview with Bellamy Hunt (Japan Camera Hunter) in Tokyo

    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!

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  • Tokyo Camera and Film Shopping with Bellamy Hunt (Japan Camera Hunter)

    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!

  • Flying out from Michigan, Heading to Tokyo!

    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 :)

  • Capturing The Spirit of Detroit: Video Interview with Brian Day, Street Photographer

    Capturing The Spirit of Detroit: Video Interview with Brian Day, Street Photographer

    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!

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  • Home is Where the Heart Is

    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!

  • Street Photography Google+ Hangout with Rinzi Ruiz and Vivienne Gucwa, hosted by Karen Hutton and Dave Veffer

    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!

    Some of the photographers we recommended during the Google+ Hangout:
    Adam Marelli, Matt Obrey, Nathan Wirth, and DeShaun Craddock.

  • Travel Update: Shooting Street Photography in New York City (and heading to Venice!)

    Street photography is phenomenal in NYC- it is truly the mecca here. Now heading off to Venice for my week-long workshop with Adam Marelli. Wish me a safe trip and thanks for everyone in NYC for showing me such a marvelous time :)

  • Helen Levitt’s Color Street Photography from New York City in the 1970’s

    Helen Levitt’s Color Street Photography from New York City in the 1970’s

    Helen Levitt is one of my favorite street photographers – as I love her celebration of life through the classic shots of NYC. To me her work speaks to my heart- the small joys of everyday life through the children on the streets and people just living their everyday lives out and about in the neighborhoods of New York.

    I recently visited the photography section of the MOMA, and came upon a slideshow of Helen Levitt’s Slides (in the video above). In 1959 and 1960 she received grants from the Guggenheim Foundation to shoot the streets of New York in color (her previous work was done in black and white). A crazy story is that the best of her shots were stolen from her apartment in 1970. However undeterred, she continued to shoot and her work was featured at the MOMA (in 1974). What remains is a soulful look into the city, in the vibrant medium of color which was very underutilized in that era.

    Photos by Helen Levitt

    Click to see more photos by Helen Levitt on American Suburb X

    If you want to see more color photos by Helen Levitt (in high resolution), check out this feature on her on American Suburb X here.

    Books by Helen Levitt

    Click to see on Amazon

    Below are some lovely books by Helen Levitt (and affordable!). Highly recommend you guys to pick up a copy via Amazon.

    What do you think of Helen Levitt’s work – and which of her images are your favorite? Share your thoughts and love in the comments below! 

  • Video Interview with Anton Kawasaki about Instagram and the Future of Mobile Photography

    Video Interview with Anton Kawasaki about Instagram and the Future of Mobile Photography

    Anton Kawasaki is a member of The Mobile Photo Group and also a street photographer based in NYC. He uses the iPhone more or less exclusively for his work, and started shooting around the same time that Sion Fullana started as well. Coming from a nearly a 20-year background in the comic book industry and also being an editor, his photos of NYC are colorful, vivid, and introspective. He gets close both emotionally and physically to his subjects, and is able to capture those wonderful “decisive moments” which bring a little humanity and life into the crazy life of the big apple.

    In this interview we discuss an article he wrote, “Is Instagram Defining, and Therefore Ruining, Mobile Photography?” and get more in-depth about his thoughts.

    * Once again, the interview was done in a crowded and loud cafe (it is impossible to find anywhere quiet in NYC) so pardon the excessive noise! 

    Photos by Anton

    Anton Kawasaki

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  • Thank You Guys For Everything! Moving from Los Angeles to Michigan

    I am excited and also sad to announce that as of today morning I am moving from my hometown of the last 6 years (Los Angeles) to Michigan to support my beautiful girlfriend Cindy and her Ph.D. studies (Vietnamese Colonial History) at Michigan State. I have had an incredible last 6 years in Los Angeles, and the people I have met and connected with have truly helped me grow not only as a photographer, but as a fellow human being.

    I am leaving behind lots of great friends in LA- but I will be back as often as I can! However in all honesty, I will probably miss everyone in LA more than they miss me (as they now have a phenomenal street photography community to support one another).

    I am also very excited for my new life in Michigan, and especially excited to do more collaborations with my good friends and fellow street photographers in Detroit such as Brian Day and Andy Kochanowski. I look forward in doing more positive photography projects (part street and part documentary) about the people of Detroit– and their incredible positive energy & openness.

    I think this move to Michigan will be another pivotal point in my life (and street photography career) and I wanted to thank you (yeah you) for your never-ending love and support through your comments, Facebook messages, Tweets, emails, and words of encouragement! I could never do anything without you, and owe you my life!

  • Christopher Anderson, Magnum Photographer, Interview with VICE

    Christopher Anderson, Magnum Photographer, Interview with VICE

    VICE recently did an episode for their on-going series called “Picture Perfect” with Christopher Anderson, Magnum photographer. It is a great short video documentary on Anderson, that feels very intimate and discusses some of his past, present, and future projects. Also for those who are curious (who finished watching the video) he survived the sinking of a handmade boat in the Caribbean by wearing a EPIRB, a satellite transmitter which sent a signal to the US Coast Guard (that saved everybody on board).

    Anderson is one of my favorite Magnum photographers due to his soulful imagery, and intimate and personal approach. His photos make me feel that I am really there- along with all the action, drama, and human conflict. Not only that, but he has done a wide breadth of work that range from conflicts in war, photographs of his son and father, as well as a project he is currently working on in NYC. You can see some of his images on the Magnum Photos site here.

    Also make sure to check out my book review of his recently completed work, “Capitolio” here.

    Photos from Anderson

    Below are some of my favorite photos from Anderson in his book, “Capitolio”.





     Books by Christopher Anderson

    Related Links

  • Interview with Matteï Batruch, Street Photographer from Geneva

    Interview with Matteï Batruch, Street Photographer from Geneva

    I just came back to Marseilles from Istanbul after staying a week with my good friend two cute dogs. I had the time of my life, being able to meet other passionate local Turkish photographers, eating the delicious food there, and also shooting a ton (I shot 35 rolls of Portra 400 film there – avg of 5-6 rolls a day). Special thanks once again to Charlie for the hospitality he showed me and the great places he showed me to shoot!

    I was also glad to have my buddy Matteï Batruch, a young street photographer currently studying medicine in Geneva, Switzerland. Last year he attended one of my street photography workshops in Downtown LA, and it was great being able to re-unite with him in Istanbul.

    Check out my interview with Mattei above, where we talk about how he got started in street photography, some of the people he gains inspiration from, as well as projects he is currently working on.

    I am inspired to see how much experimentation he has done the last year in street photography, and his photographic development as well. Some of my favorite shots from him are below!

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  • Tour of the Espas Photo Bookstore in Istanbul with Huseyin Yilmaz

    One of the things I love most about traveling is checking out photo bookstores and meeting new people. Istanbul was no exception.

    Charlie Kirk introduced me to Huseyin Yilmaz, a photographer and a lover of photo books. A few years back, he quit his old job to start a photo bookstore (named Espas) to spread the love of photography with the community. I didn’t show in the video very much, but he also opened up a small gallery for young and up-and-coming artists to showcase their work right across the street.

    Huseyin is also coordinating the Bursa Photo Festival, September 15-21. You can find out more information about the festival here.

    If you want to stay updated, follow the Bursa Photo Festival on Facebook and Twitter.

    Check out the Espas Website here.

  • Interview With Me (by two cute dogs) in Istanbul

    A night or two ago, my good friend two cute dogs interviewed me via my GoPro camera on a roof-top terrace bar in Istanbul. He asked me some great interview questions about some of the following:

    1. The term “streettogs”
    2. About my personal background/history
    3. How I deal with people who criticize me
    4. The issue of being an “internet celebrity” and developing as a photographer
    5. Teaching street photography workshops

    The interview is quite long (around 30 minutes) and a bit noisy (because it was windy) but if you have the time, give it a watch! Also if anyone has any other comments/questions they would like to ask me, leave a comment below!

  • Travel Update in Istanbul and Interview with twocutedogs

    Shooting street photography in Istanbul has been absolutely incredible. The light and colors are gorgeous, and I can’t stop eating the food here either! Not only that, but people are incredibly friendly and generous.

    On my first two days here, I have been shooting quite a bit (5-6 rolls of Portra 400 everyday) because I have been so enamored with the city. Hope to get a few decent shots of the city from my trip.

    Also currently staying with two cute dogs in Istanbul at a nice apartment. Had a minute to interview him on his travels and future in street photography.  Check out the video above and watch it until the end, where I give a quick tour of the place too!

    You can see some of his work on Burn My Eye and please check out the work of the other members here.

  • Travel Update: Seoul, Paris, Marseilles and Going to Istanbul for Street Photography!

    Hey guys, just put together a video of my travels in Seoul, Paris, and Marseilles. Unfortunately there seems to be a sound-sync problem with the webcam on my new 11” Macbook Air. Wasn’t an issue I had on my 13” Macbook Air- hopefully it is a bug that Apple will fix soon?

    Also if anyone is good with Macs – the issue is I recorded in iMovie and the sound sync is off. If anyone has any suggestions how to fix this please leave a comment below!

  • Just Plain Love: A Documentary Film About The Photos and Life of Henri Cartier-Bresson

    If you haven’t yet, make sure to watch this documentary on Henri Cartier-Bresson, the grandfather of street photography. The great thing about this documentary is that he reflects not only on his photography, but on his life and relationship with other artists.

    The film was titled : L’amour Tout Court (“Just Plain Love”) and was directed by Raphaël O’Byrne back in 2001 when Cartier-Bresson was 92 years old.

    Let us know what your favorite part of the documentary was by leaving a comment below! 

  • What’s In My Bag? 2-Month Street Photography Journey to Korea, Paris, Marseilles, and Istanbul!

    Hey streettogs – will be traveling for about 2 months to Korea, Paris, Marseilles, and Istanbul. Loaded up my bag with 100 rolls of Portra 400 (35mm), 25 rolls of Portra 400 (120 film) and my trusty Leica and new Hasselblad (thanks Jeroen) that I got for teaching a workshop in Amsterdam! I also share what else I carry with me when I am traveling for this expedition. A partial list of what I am bringing is shown below:

    Bags

     Cameras/Lenses/Film

    Electronics

    Sorry for the audio sync issues, not sure what is the problem. Will try to sort it out next time!

    Also thanks to support from my sponsor CSLR that helps me fund my travels! If you would like to support me and CSLR (a fantastic company) pick up a CSLR Glide Strap + C-Loop for your street photography. Curious? Make sure to check out my CSLR Glide Strap Review.

    If you have any questions about traveling and shooting street photography, leave a comment below!

     

  • Video Interview with Richard Bram, NYC-Based Street Photographer from In-Public

    Video Interview with Richard Bram, NYC-Based Street Photographer from In-Public

    When I started street photography, one of the first website I stumbled upon was In-Public. I was blown away by the work of all the street photographers there and curious to see how they captured the beauty and irony of everyday life.

    One of the photographers whose work I admired was Richard Bram. I loved his classic black and white work, and was fascinated to read a feature he wrote for Street Reverb Magazine about his transition into color (something I have recently experienced as well). It was also great to see his insights and stories behind his work in “In-Sight” – a documentary on street photography and In-Public members by Nick Turpin.

    The interview is very long (1 hour 30 minutes) and Richard apologies in advance for his squeaky microphone. However for anyone who wants to get incredibly insightful information about street photography I highly recommend you watch it. We talk about Richard’s background in politics and photography, his transition from b&w to color, as well as street photographers who influenced him.

    Also one of the favorite parts I appreciate is when he gives advice to aspiring street photographers.

    Richard Bram’s Advice for Aspiring Street Photographers

    1. Don’t be easily satisfied
    2. Pay less attention to people who like your work, and more attention to people who offer you harder critiques
    3. Become visually literate. Go to the library, take a course on art history (not just photography history). Learn about what makes a composition. Figure out why you don’t like the work of others, and why you think that others like it. Go to the 779 section at the library for photo books and devour them.
    4. Look at pictures all the time, and internalize them.
    5. Read a lot photo books, art books, literature, politics, science.
    6. Get to know sculptors, actors, writers – because they will give you great advice on your photography. Don’t just live in the photography ghetto.
    7. Great photographers know a lot more than photography.

    Richard Bram Black & White Portfolio:

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Color Portfolio

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Richard Bram Street Photography

    Watch “In-Sight” (Richard is featured photographing the streets of NYC)

    Follow Richard Bram

    Which of Richard’s photos touch or inspire you the most? Leave your comments, critique, and feedback in the comments below and show him some love! 

  • Interview with Emilio Banuelos on Creating a Photo Sketchbook for Street/Documentary Photography

    Interview with Emilio Banuelos on Creating a Photo Sketchbook for Street/Documentary Photography

    When I was in SF the past weekend, had the great pleasure of meeting Emilio Banuelos after an introduction from my friend Ibarionex Perello, podcaster and photographer for The Candid Frame. Emilio is a street/documentary photographer currently based in the Bay Area, and has a strong body of work from all around the US as well as Mexico. His documentary work earned him fellowships from the Poynter Institute, the Marty Forscher Fellowship for Humanistic Photography and an award from EnFoco Inc. He also currently teaches documentary photography for the Academy of Art University, and has conducted workshops for the University of California Santa Cruz-Extension and the University of Coahuila and Black Boots Ink.

    Make sure to watch the video above of him showing his photo sketchbook, in which he prints out contact sheets and carries images with him all the time. He looks at them constantly, thinking of editing and paring ideas, while also jotting down notes and stories. A fantastic idea for anyone of us to do, especially in the digital age we live in.

    Also below are some images from one of his projects, “Greyhound America” which I enjoyed very much!

    “Greyhound America”

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    Emilio Banuelos

    You can see the full project here.

    Do you carry a scrapbook, visual diary, or anything of the sort for your photography? If so, share what you do in the comments below!  

  • Weekly Video Roundup: Review of the ThinkTank Retrospective 7, Preview of the Leica M Monochrom, and Review of Micro Lens Pouch

    Published a bunch of videos to YouTube this week! Here is a weekly roundup of all of them in-case you missed any!

    Thinktank Retrospective 7 Review

    Had the chance to review the ThinkTank Retrospective 7, a fantastic bag for you street shooters using an iPad or a 11” Macbook Air (has a little slot in the bag!) Also my younger sister Anna guest stars in this video!

    Link to the Retrospective 7

    Read more to see all of the videos!

    (more…)

  • Stylish Video of the Stockholm Street Photography Workshop at Fotografiska by Brian Sparks

    Huge thanks to my buddy Brian Sparks who put together this stylish video recap of my street photography workshop at Fotografiska, the Swedish museum of photography. Brian taught at the workshop alongside me, and I crashed at his pad for a week as well! Not only did he feed me well with food, but he gave me tons of great resources about photography books, history, and inspiration.

    Check out my interview with him on the blog here.

  • Weekly Roundup: Interviews in Berlin, Sydney, and Photo Books Galore!

    When I was hanging out with my buddy Brian Sparks in Stockholm, he gave me the idea of having a “weekly roundup” of content, videos, etc that you might have missed. I thought it was a fantastic idea, so here it is!

    EyeEm Interview in Berlin

    When I was in Berlin, had a chance to interview with the team over at EyeEm! Check out my spotlight on the EyeEm Blog.

    5 Street Photography tips I mentioned in the video: 

    1. Always have your camera with you.
    2. Get close and don’t be sneaky about it.
    3. It’s better to shoot 10 minutes every day than 8 hours every weekend.
    4. Read as many photography books as you can.
    5. Spend less time on your computer.
    Keep reading to check out all of the other videos and features!
  • Review of the Leica MP vs Leica M6: What’s the Difference?

    Just got a mint (used) Leica MP from Bellamy in the mail and have been using it the last 3 weeks. I was using my Leica M6 for the last several months, but the M6 I had gave me some funky issues (my shutter would get stuck at around 22 shots – and it broke on 3 different occasions while traveling). Now I’m using the MP as my main camera, and the M6 as my backup camera while traveling.

    The video above is my review of both cameras. In performance they are identical, although the MP has superior interior mechanics and is more reliable. There are also some cosmetic differences.

    Interested in buying a film Leica rangefinder? If you haven’t tried it out yet, I’d recommend getting a Leica M6 and a 35mm Voightlander f/1.4 lens. It is a solid combination, and the best “bang for the buck” out there. I have tons of friends who have the combination and love it. Have the cash and want a more reliable and durable camera film rangefinder that will last you a lifetime? Then get the Leica MP and a Leica lens.

    In the end, remember that it is always a better investment to buy books, not gear when trying to become a better photographer. But if you shoot with a DSLR and might want to try shooting film, want something more compact and discrete, getting a film Leica may be a good idea to try something new

    If you are interested in purchasing a second-hand Leica or Lens, hit up my boy Bellamy Hunt (Japan Camera Hunter) or email him at hunts.of.tokyo@gmail.com

    Any more questions about the Leica M6 vs Leica MP? Leave a comment below! 

  • “Arrivals and Departures”: A Journey Across The Trans-Siberian Railroad by Jacob Aue Sobol, Magnum Photographer

    Jacob Aue Sobol, Magnum Photographer embarked on a journey from Moscow to Bejing using the new Leica M Monochrom camera with the new 50mm f2 summicron. The images he captured show really raw emotion, and makes the viewer think about the story behind the images. The Leica blog is currently having an on going series documenting his journey. Check out the links bellow to stay updated on his series.

    To stay tuned for future episodes click here.

  • Introduction to Hasselblad Medium Format Cameras by Jeroen Helmink

    An introduction to using Hasselblad Medium Format Cameras by Jeroen Helmink, Dutch street photographer. Check out Jeroen’s work on his website or on Flickr!

    Also if you are interested in getting a Hasselblad, email Jeroen at jeroen.helmink@gmail.com

    Got any questions about Hasselblads or shooting medium-format film? Leave a comment below! 

  • Street Photography Documentary Trailer: Markus Hartel from NYC

    NYC-based street photographer Markus Hartel just put out a new trailer to his upcoming documentary. Make sure to watch the video above!

  • Street Photography with the new iPad in Sydney, Australia

    Made a fun video shooting street photography with the new iPad with my buddy Adam Rahim while in Sydney, Australia.

    The camera application I used in the video was ProCamera.

  • My Personal Experiences About the Leica May 10th Event in Berlin

    Just made a quick video about my travels and the May 10th event in Berlin!

    Also make sure to check out the GoPro footage below of the event!

  • “Arrivals and Departures”: Photographing the Legendary Trans Siberian Railway by Jacob Aue Sobol

    “Arrivals and Departures”: Photographing the Legendary Trans Siberian Railway by Jacob Aue Sobol

    Magnum photographer Jacob Au Sobol recently took an epic trip across the Trans-Siberian Railway, shooting Moscow, Ulan Batar, and Beijing using the new Leica M-Monochrom camera. Read my impressions about the new camera here.

    Read Jacob’s personal story of the epic journey here on the Leica blog.

    Jacob Au Sobol
  • Video Interview with Filipino Street Photographers (FSP)

    This video was recorded a while back by the Filipino Street Photographers group. Thanks again to Rinzi Ruiz and Jeff Mercader for interviewing me and all the love for my Filipino brothers and sisters back in the Philippines! Watch the video large here.

    I will also be hosting a street photography workshop in Manila, Jan 11-13th (Introductory workshop) and Jan 18-20th (Intermediate/Advanced) in 2013. If you would like more information or register, please email Jeff Mercader at jeffren@titaniumsportz.com

  • Tour of the Camera Museum in Michaels Camera in Melbourne and Photos of My Exhibition

    If you live in Melbourne, make sure to check out Michael’s camera for their sweet camera museum (and some of my photos on exhibition!) Also make sure to check out Michael’s Camera for all your film processing, prints, and gear in Melbourne here: http://www.michaels.com.au/

    I’m heading out to Sydney this Friday – see you guys all soon! :)

  • London Festival of Photography 2012

    If you are lucky enough to be in London this year, make sure to check out the London Festival of Photography 2012! Above is a teaser promo of the event, and the festival program is now available online.

    To stay updated about the festival, follow them on Facebook and subscribe to their mailing list!

  • Street Photography POV Video with Markus Hartel on a Rainy Day in New York City

    Street Photography POV Video with Markus Hartel on a Rainy Day in New York City

    Street photographer Markus Hartel recently rigged a Kodak Playtouch HD camcorder on his Leica M9 with a straight flash bracket and an additional camera hot shoe mount and recorded some footage of him shooting in the rain in New York City on his 28mm Elmarit. To keep his camera dry, he would hold his camera upside down or put it inside his jacket to keep it dry.

    Markus is also holding special 1:1 Street Photography Tours in NYC. Check them out here.

    Markus Hartel with his M9 and rig!
  • Beer, Gear Porn, and Street Photography with Bellamy Hunt, Eddy Boom, and Darren Wong

    Beer, Gear Porn, and Street Photography with Bellamy Hunt, Eddy Boom, and Darren Wong

    Having fun with the boys in Koreatown in Los Angeles. Showing Bellamy Hunt (Japan Camera Hunter) a great time during his last night here!

    People featured in the video

    Bellamy Hunt
    http://twitter.com/jpncamerahunter

    Eddy Boom
    http://twitter.com/lazyedt

    Darren Wong
    http://twitter.com/sticboy

    Cameras mentioned in the video

    • Ricoh GR1v
    • Ricoh GR21
    • Leica M9-P
    • Leica M6
    See you back in LA soon Bellamy!
  • UC Riverside Extension Introduction To Street Photography Student Exhibition

    Some behind the scenes footage from my student exhibition at the UC Riverside Extension Course I taught this quarter (I showed some of my photos as well!) Many of the students had never shot street photography before, and I was very proud of the images they were able to create during the quarter! Thanks to Colin Westerbeck (author of Bystander: A History of Street Photography) who helped edit and sequence the student photos as well!

    Enroll in the Spring course here: https://www.extension.ucr.edu/enroll/catalog/olr_course_details.php?crsid=27030