Street photography is the most difficult type of photography out there. There is so little we can control, and it takes a lot of courage and confidence to shoot in the streets.
-
Video Interview with Eric Kim in Hong Kong by Gary Tyson
Huge thanks to Gary Tyson and Vishal S from Camera Film Photo for putting together this interview video and questions while I was in Hong Kong. We talk about my fears in street photography, books, film, and more.
-
On Patience and Street Photography
Garden Grove, 2014 I am often frustrated with my photography. Sometimes I will prowl the streets for hours, without getting any decent shots. Sometimes I ask myself, “what is the point of all of thisâ€â€“ does it all really matter?
One of the biggest inspirations in my photography is Josef Koudelka. He is the type of photographer who takes 10 years to publish one book, and the book is damn good. He takes his time with his photography, and the only person he has to impress is himself.
-
On Excuses and Street Photography
Sydney, 2014 We often have tons of excuses in life. We don’t have enough time. We don’t have enough money. We don’t have the opportunities to do what we love.
I always make tons of excuses in my street photography. When I am traveling on the road, I have tons of opportunities to shoot and always feel inspired. However, when I’m back home— I don’t feel the same inspiration. I fall into the same boring routines of my everyday life.
-
The World of GlassWeegee (NSFW)
(A.g.’s note:Â Some of the photographs in the article are for mature audiences only. Viewer discretion is advised. Words by A.g. De Mesa. Interview and questions by Eric Kim. All photographs are the respected copyright of Dougie Wallace)
Through the years of photography, the question weather the photographer is but a mere passive participant in the scene and subjects has been debated through in through. For a person like Dougie Wallace who actively documented Blackpool, witnessing how England’s generation is growing up in a place where Lads go to get hammered and ladies let go of their inhibitions, can we argue that the photographer itself is merely an observer? Or perhaps the mere presence of the photographer brings about a certain personality or performance in the subject since they know they are going to end up in a photograph somewhere?
-
Must-Buy Books: “The Decisive Moment” by Henri Cartier-Bresson and “Exiles” by Josef Koudelka
I am really excited to share that Henri Cartier-Bresson’s “The Decisive Moment” in addition to “Exiles” by Josef Koudelka is going to be reprinted. These are two of the greatest street photography books published in history, and once sold for hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.
Don’t miss out, pre-order a copy today!
- “The Decisive Moment“: Henri Cartier-Bresson
- “Exiles“: Josef Koudelka
Learn more about the masters:
- 10 Things Henri Cartier-Bresson Can Teach You About Street Photography
- 10 Lessons Josef Koudelka Has Taught Me About Street Photography
Remember if you’re feeling uninspired in your photography, “buy books, not gear“– and check out this list of inspirational street photography books.
What other photography books are on your list? Share your recommendations in the comments below.
-
Change film, meet people, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the pause
A.g.’s note: Here’s a guest post for Sven Kraeuter that was originally posted in his blog. He shares to us an encounter he had while shooting around his neighborhood with a medium format camera that lead to an interesting encounter. Text and photographs belong to Sven Kraeuter.
Sven: Resurrecting my old east German medium format camera is a great experience so far. Coming from a rangefinder where you don’t look through the lens, hence have no visible indication of the depth of field, the first astonishing difference was to see this huge 6 by 6 centimeter view through the open aperture lens. This is a problem since everything looks gorgeous with that massive three dimensional pop and you could snap pretty much everything you frame right away ;-).
-
A Guide on How to Shoot Street Photography on a Film Leica (or Rangefinder)
My Leica MP I know a lot of street photographers who have gotten into film recently, and have recently invested in film Leicas (specifically Leica m6’s). I wanted to write this guide to share everything I personally know about shooting on a film Leica based on my 3 years of experience.
Disclaimer: I am not a Leica expert, nor do I claim to be. But I will to share some practical tips and insights about film Leicas and how to shoot them on the streets.
-
Experimental Color Street Darkroom Prints by Sean Lotman in Japan
Sean Lotman is a street photographer based in Kyoto. I recently met up with him in Kyoto and he showed me his beautiful 8×10 color darkroom prints. I was amazed by the colors, poetry, and beauty of the images– and wanted to share some of his work on the blog. You can see my past feature with him here.
Sean is a storyteller, critic, and occasional haiku mechanic.
-
Bruce Gilden Shooting the Winter Streets of NYC (2014)
To learn more about Bruce Gilden, I recommend reading: “5 Lessons Bruce Gilden Has Taught Me About Street Photography” and “An Afternoon with Bruce Gilden“.
-
Eric Kim Ice Bucket Challenge in Sydney
Charlie Kirk nominated me for the Ice Bucket challenge and I just donated $100 to support ALS. If this blog has helped you out in any way (or this video entertained you) please consider also donating to ALS. There is no better joy than paying it forward and helping others :)
To pass on the torch, I nominate Justin Vogel to do the Ice Bucket Challenge! Special thanks to Greg Marsden for helping out make this video!
-
Review of Rollei Digibase CN200 Color Film for Street Photography
Hong Kong, 2014 Recently I hooked up with my buddy Vishal from Hong Kong (he runs Camera Film Photo) and he hooked it up with some Rollei Digibase CN200 film. I was quite excited about the film (as it is new) — and decided to have a go. I shot around 2 rolls of film, and wanted to share some images and share some thoughts about the film.
-
The Vibrant Street Light of Sydney by Greg Marsden (Ho Hum)
Greg Mardsen (Ho Hum) is a street photographer based in Sydney, Australia.
I’m Greg, an LA-born, Sydney-based photographer. I’ve had a number of life experiences that have shaped how I see the world and take pictures. From playing bass in a pre-Guns N’ Roses band with Slash and Steve Adler to working in combat zones in Central America and the Middle East to busting bad guys as an undercover cop in Germany. I’ve traveled significantly throughout America, Asia, and Europe; was in Berlin for the fall of the wall and at the flash point in South Central Los Angeles during the LA riots.
I’m a trained psychologist and more recently was a senior executive in a large corporation. A few years ago I decided to ditch the tie, follow a passion, and take pictures full-time.
I’ve never been poorer. Or happier.
-
Photographing Feelings with Compact Cameras by Josh White
Seoul, South Korea. This article is written by Josh White, originally posted here.
Josh: More fish. After spending the previous weekend in Busan I found it hard to get away from the couple of photos I took there. I feel like I figured something out about myself there.
I’ve always found it really hard to explain why I like the photos I take with small, compact cameras more. It always seemed that if I went on a trip or something no matter how many huge cameras I took the photos I ended up liking the most were the ones from the smaller cameras.
-
The Loose Documentary of Andy Kochanowski
(A.g.’s note: Eric interviewed Andy Kochanowski. Check out his origin story, Life as a Burn My Eye Member, and his interesting advice to photographers. All photographs are the respected copyright of Andy Kochanowski.)
Eric: Great to have you Andy. Let’s start from your beginnings in photography. When did you first pick up a camera and “discover” street photography?
Andy: Let’s get the terms right, Eric, I like to think of it as loose documentary. What I do is watch and wait until something interesting happens.
But the beginning, that must have been back in the ‘90’s when I was traveling a lot to London after I got done with school. I had learned how to develop film and built a small darkroom in my basement, and began to travel with a Canon AE-1 that I had bought a couple years earlier and shooting Tri-X at night when I wasn’t working. I had never picked up a photo book, though I did have a subscription to Photo & Darkroom magazine that (I think) was then edited by Mike Johnston, The Online Photographer. I shot quite a few rolls in SoHo, Leicester Square, which were close to where my firm had a flat. That was my first introduction into just being there and looking. The results were predictable and boring of course, but since I’d never seen anything else I thought my photos were pretty good.
-
Eric Kim Show #1: Rolleiflex and TLR Love
I just made a fun video at Dan K’s office in Hong Kong featuring an episode on Rolleiflex’s, TLR’s, and film. Enjoy! :)
Featuring:
- Dan K / Twitter
- Vishal S / Camera Film Photo
- Geoffery C / Flickr
-
102 things I have learnt about street photography – a slightly flippant and deliberately controversial guide by two cute dogs
Photo by Charlie Kirk If you want to read two cute dog’s deliberately controversial (yet incredibly insightful) tips on street photography, read more:
-
No Camera is Perfect : Embracing The 80% Principle in Photography
San Diego, 2013 We are never satisfied. Nowadays with a barrage of advertisements and commercials– we always want the next big thing. We want something better. We want to optimize the stuff we own. We become easily dissatisfied with what we own.
-
Please Tell Me My Photos Suck (And How I Can Improve)
NYC, 2012 We are insecure. We don’t want people to be brutally honest with us. We like feeling liked. We don’t want to hear the truth, or at least what people really think about us and our work. We like it when things are sugar coated (I know I do), and facing reality can be tough.
I remember when I started photography, I thought I was awesome. I thought my work was incredible, and I deserved fame, glory, and attention.
Then one day, I remember stumbling on the work of the masters and the greats of photography. I then realized my work sucked in comparison to theirs.
At first I was discouraged. I though to myself: I could never be as good as them, why bother even trying?
-
Streettogs Academy Assignment No. 3
Thank you again to everyone who participated in our 2nd Assignment and to everyone who is making Streettogs Academy Facebook Group a nice place to find good people and good photography.
I got to talk to Assignment #2 Editor’s Choice, Jomel Bartolome aka Dada Bear about the next topic. This one is something near and dear to his heart.
-
Tokyo Diary 2014
Shinjuku, 2014 I’m currently on the skyliner, on the way to the narita airport to Hong Kong and wanted to share some reflections of my trip. For those of you who have never been to Tokyo, it is an incredible city. It is one of my favorite cities to shoot street photography in the world. There is so much action, energy, and a pulse to the city that isn’t matched anywhere else. Going to shibuya, shinjuku, and harajuku are like blasts to the past– with a modern day twist. I love the romanticism of Tokyo, and the food here is also amazing. (more…)
-
“Needing†versus “Wanting†to Make Photographs
Kyoto, 2014 What motivates you in street photography? What is the fuel that keeps you going? Why do you decide to go out and shoot, even though you might be tired, exhausted, or frustrated?
-
Streettogs Academy 2nd Assignment “Friendship” Results and Analysis
“Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .”â€
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
The 2nd Assignment, chosen by 1st Assignment Editor’s choice Helio Tomita, focuses upon the basis of human interaction that fosters romance, lifelong companionship, and the light when things are bleak. Friendship is an essential part of human sustenance. It does not fill the belly like a good hearty meal but it fills the soul with experiences and unforgettable moments. Such moments often times happen on the streets. These are those moments.
-
The Benefits of Constraints in Street Photography
Dubai, 2014 I always thought to myself: the day I had unlimited money, unlimited time, and unlimited cameras was the day I could truly be creative.
Funny enough, I found out that wasn’t the case. Out of all photographers I’ve met, the ones that are most creative are the ones that are strapped on resources– the ones that have constraints.
-
Interview with Bellamy Hunt (Japan Camera Hunter) and Tour of His Office in Tokyo
I recently had the chance to catch up with Bellamy Hunt (Japan Camera Hunter) in Tokyo. In this video he gives us a tour of his office, shares why he does what he does, and advice regarding photography, film, and life.
See my video interview with him from 2 years ago and a video of us camera shopping.
Follow Bellamy
-
How to Avoid Boredom in Street Photography
Hanoi, 2014 One of the most exciting ways to live life is to avoid boredom. By following what makes us curious, passionate, and have fun create meaning in our life.
I think one of the great ways to guide our work in street photography is to avoid boredom.
-
Nobody Gives a Shit About Your Photos
Oakland, 2014 Nobody gives a shit about your photos (except yourself).
Sometimes I get frustrated and confused why I take photos.
I think ultimately I take photos because I want my photos to influence, affect, and perhaps inspire my viewers (and other photographers). This sometimes gives me anxiety because it puts a lot of pressure on me to “perform†by making really strong images for my audience.
But it has recently dawned on me that the only person who really cares about my work is myself. Nobody else really cares or gives a shit.
-
Irish Photography on Center Stage! Irish Street Photography Exhibition 15th-22nd of August
All roads lead to Dublin as the Irish Street Photography Group together with the group admin Des Bryne brings together the Irish Street Photography Exhibition.
47 Street Photographers, 47 Photographs from Established Street Photographers to Emerging New Talent from Ireland and beyond, this is the first “Irish Street Photography Exhibition” from the ISPG (Irish Street Photography Group)
-
Embracing FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) in Street Photography
Saigon, 2014 I recently came across a funny phrase: “FOMOâ€. It stands for “fear of missing outâ€.
Nowadays, “FOMO†is ubiquitous in digital life. We always feel like we are missing out– that someone is doing something more interesting than us.
-
Savoring the Moment
I just checked out of my hotel in Seoul, and was on my way to the subway. I had a bunch of bags I had to carry, and ended up missing two potential street photos I would have liked to capture:
One of the shots was a guy in a suit, with his suit jacket propped over his right shoulder with a finger. My camera was still in my bag.
The second shot was a muscular black man carrying an umbrella (similar to what old Korean ladies wore) also wearing spandex.
My camera was in my bag for both of these potential shots, so I missed the moment. However rather than being frustrated at myself for not taking the shots, I tried to savor the moment.
For example, I smiled at the muscular guy who walked by me and said “love your outfit.” He gave me a huge grin and smiled back and said, “Thank you.” His smile felt so warm and genuine.
This reminds me : I don’t need to capture a photo of everything I experience. Sometimes by not taking a photo of something, I better appreciate the moment and commit it to memory more.
So nowadays if I’m seeing fireworks with Cindy on new years, I try to purposefully put the camera away and just enjoy the moment.
Whenever I miss potential street photos, two thoughts come into my mind :
- Always have my camera around my neck (I never know when a good photo opportunity might arise).
- That was a nice moment I missed, but I’m glad I’m alive and experienced it.
Furthermore, missing the potential street photos from today further invigorated my love of street photography. I thought to myself, “Wow, life is pretty incredible and amazing. There are so many different colorful people on the streets, and all these wonderful moments happening all the time.”
So I guess in conclusion my thoughts contradict each other a bit: always have your camera with you (preferably around your neck or in your hand), but sometimes it is good to just savor and appreciate a moment (especially if you didn’t take a photo of it).
At the end of the day, I think experiencing a moment is much more valuable than capturing it.
-
Advice for Young Street Photographers
Toronto, 2012 A few days ago I wrote a letter to my 18-year old self, and gave myself some advice on if I started street photography all over again. I told myself things I learned in the 8 years I’ve been taking street photos. I wish someone told me this when I started off.
Similarly, I was inspired to write this post for young street photographers starting off. I think this can apply to both young photographers (age wise) and also street photographers just starting off (young, experience-wise).
Here I go, I hope you enjoy :)
-
Seoul Diary, 2014: Josh White and Documenting my Personal Journey
Photo by Cindy After being in Vietnam for about a month and a half, I am currently here in Seoul, Korea for a week. I’m primarily here on holiday, and wanted to have a chance to see my grandmother, some family, and some close friends here. In the spirit of my “Saigon diary†series– I wanted to share some personal reflections about my trip so far:
-
Saigon Diary #7: Trip to Hanoi, Now in Seoul
Hanoi, 2014 This is the last installment of my “Saigon Diary” series. I plan to continue this “Diary” series moving forward in my travels.
I’m currently in Seoul. Just left Vietnam a week or so ago, so I wanted to share some reflections towards the end of the trip.
After a great time in Saigon, I headed up to Hanoi with Cindy. We didn’t have a real reason to go– we just wanted to check the place out (because it was so close in Vietnam).
Hanoi was a beautiful place. Much smaller than Saigon, a lot less hectic, and more peaceful. It felt almost like Paris in the sense that the streets were narrow, windy, and a bit random. But there was great beauty in the randomness of the city.
-
Stories Behind The Photos: Dimitris Makrygiannakis and Kaushal Parikh
Photo by Dimitris Makrygiannakis A.g.’s note: We previously had the chance to feature That’s life street photography collective members Dimitris Makrygiannakis and Kaushal Parikh. Dimitris treated us with his Transformative Experience of shooting street photography abroad and an interview Eric had with him about  Surrealism and Symbolism while Kaushal shared his thoughts on how he is Conquering the streets of Mumbai. They are back this time telling us stories behind some of their favorite the street shots. They also have a series of upcoming workshops. Details of it are at the bottom of the post.
-
The Quick Straight Right of Sye Williams: Interview by Chris Stoltz
A.g.’s Note: Chris Stoltz shares to us one of his favorite photographers he got the privilege of shooting with, the L.A. based Sye Williams. Sye shares some of his inspirations, personal work, Photography Origins, and nuggets of wisdom. All of the photos are the respected copyright of Sye Williams. Here’s Chris with the interview:
Chris: Sye might be my new favorite photographer. I met him recently on a video shoot while working as a grip. He showed up because he was friends with the rest of the crew, arriving via skateboard. I hit it off with him immediately because he had a Leica M8 dangling over his shoulder. I asked him about his recent purchase and, in-between grabbing lights and helping with the video, he told me how his career in photography started.
-
Alec Soth Advice on Approaching Strangers, Working on Projects, Photographing Abroad, and More
Copyright: Alec Soth / Magnum Photos While in NYC, I visited the ICP bookstore and picked up “Ping Pong Conversations: Alec Soth with Francesco Zanot”
a lovely photobook/series of interview questions. I found it to have lots of great wisdom regarding photographing strangers, editing, and projects.I copied my favorite excerpts which I found was particularly helpful, especially to those of you who want to be more serious about your photography and projects. Read more to learn from him!
-
A Letter to My 18 Year Old Self: If I Started Street Photography All Over Again
Dear Eric,
You are 18 years old. You just got a point and shoot digital camera from Mom as a high school graduation present. You are super excited, as you never had a camera before. A lot of exciting things will happen in your life surrounding photography. I wanted to write this letter to you and give you some advice I wish I knew. This is coming from your 26-year-old-self.
-
The “One Street Photograph a Day” Challenge
I think one of the most difficult things as a photographer is to stay inspired. How do we stay inspired to shoot everyday– when the boredom and monotony of everyday life sets in?
-
It is Impossible to Take 100,000 Bad Street Photographs in a Row
Stockholm, 2015 I recently read some advice by author Ray Bradbury for aspiring writers:
“Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.â€
I think the same applies for street photography. To change the numbers a bit– I think it is impossible to take 100,000 bad street photographs in a row. I think it was Henri Cartier-Bresson who said, “Your first 1,000 photos are your worst.†I think in the digital age, it is more like “Your first 100,000 photos are your worstâ€.
Assuming you shot 100 photos a day, that would be 36,500 a year. So at that rate, you can reach the 100,000 street photos mark in 3 years. If you’re more prolific and shoot more– you can reach that 100,000 mark much quicker.
I think it is impossible to take 100,000 bad street photographs in a row.
-
A Photographer’s Guide to SEO, Blogging, and Social Media
Hong Kong, 2012 If it weren’t for my blog I wouldn’t be anybody. I have my blog and the street photography community to thank for my “success†in life.
I’m lucky to be born in a age where one can easily build an online presence with a blog and social media. And of course, I have to greatly thank you, my dear reader, and the street photography for supporting my blog and the beautiful genre of street photography.
-
How to Embrace “Stream-of-Consciousness” in Street Photography
Berkeley, 2015 One of the best pieces of advice I got on writing is the importance of writing without editing. Which means, turn off the inner-censor in your mind and write freely.
What or who is the “inner censor”? Well, the inner-censor is the little voice in your head which tells you “Oh don’t do that, that’s stupid. That sounds stupid. That looks stupid.” It is that inner-voice that prevents you from writing in a stream-of-consciousness flow.
-
Street Photography is a Journey, Not a Destination
Indianapolis, 2013. Part of my on-going “Only in America” series. I have often read that life is a journey, not a destination. Meaning that we all have goals in life. But the happiest moments aren’t when we reach our goals. Rather, life is a “beautiful struggle” in which we are happiest when we are pursuing our goals. When we are pursuing our happiness.
I have often found the same is true with street photography. I am always motivated by my photography through the projects I am working on. I used to think that once I had my project completed and published– it would bring me great joy.
-
10 Tips on Shooting Street Photography on Film
Leica M2 of Callan Tham I have learned a few things about shooting street photography on film from my own experiences (and the advice of others). If you want to read the full list of things I learned shooting film– read more!
-
12 Scientifically Proven Ways to Have More Happiness in Street Photography
San Diego, 2013 Photos in this article are from my on-going “Only in America” series.
I’m currently reading a lovely book titled: “A Philosopher’s Notes: On optimal living, creating an authentically awesome life and other such goodness.” It is a easy and insightful read– and I have been savoring the book so far.
In one of the chapters, I stumbled upon “12 Scientifically Proven Ways to Have More Happiness in Life” via the book “The How of Happiness“. The list is as follows:
- Expressing Gratitude
- Cultivating Optimism
- Avoiding Overthinking and Social Comparison
- Practicing Acts of Kindness
- Nurturing Social Relationships
- Developing Strategies for Coping
- Learning to Forgive
- Increasing Flow Experiences
- Savoring Life’s Joys
- Committing to Your Goals
- Practicing Religion and Spirituality
- Taking Care of Your Body
I found the list to echo everything in the self-help and philosophic literature I have read so far. And of course in the spirit of this blog– I wanted to link the concepts of happiness and street photography.
So how can you “scientifically” gain more happiness in street photography? Here are some ideas I glued together:
-
Saigon Diary #6: Trip to Pulau Bidong, Switching to Black & White, Thoughts on Digital
Sorry guys, it has been a while since I last updated my “Saigon Diary” series. A lot has happened since the last time we talked. During that time, I taught a week-long Saigon street photography workshop, I traveled to Malaysia and visited Pulau Bidong (a refugee camp where Cindy was born). I also took a week-long trip to Singapore, where I did a free talk for Fujifilm Singapore, did a 3-day weekend workshop, and now I am back home.
I am only in Saigon for another week and a half, then Cindy and I are heading to Hanoi for a weekend. Then after that, we are traveling to Seoul and Tokyo (teaching an intro workshop in Tokyo), then Cindy is heading home. After Cindy heads home, I’m teaching a workshop in Hong Kong with Gary Tyson, then teaching a workshop in Sydney and an intermediate/advanced workshop in Melbourne.
Not sure where I can update you guys– but will try to skip around with my thoughts.
-
Producing or Evoking Myths: Street Photography by Peter McCollough
Peter McCollough is a photographer based in Oakland, California.Â
Peter: The inspiration for these images is manifold but films would be at the root of it all. While going to school for photojournalism my idealistic intentions of doing something positive for the world through documentary work faded away for various reasons. I was naive. I knew I could excel in the industry, but at personal and artistic costs that made me realize I wasn’t a good fit for it.
I’m a person driven by dream logic and imagination, so it’s more comfortable to try and bend reality towards fiction. When I began using documentary images in edits that felt like fictional stories, I started having fun again. Street photography became a natural segway because it’s so much easier to project onto what you’re photographing. It’s a really free, non-committal genre, less complicated. Editing is a big deal. I’m way more attached to edits than individual images. It’s rare that an individual image moves me the way that a string of well placed images do.
My friend pointed me to a quote that sums up how I’ve always felt about it all:
“The only photojournalistic images that remain interesting are the ones that produce or evoke myths.”
-Torbjørn Rødland -
Streettogs Academy Assignment No. 2
I’d like to start by thanking everyone who joined our Streettogs Academy facebook page and giving a congratulations to everyone who participated in our first Assignment and props to Helio Tomita who got our Editor’s choice. We hope you learned something new from that assignment. As promised, our editor’s choice will be the one choosing the theme for our next assignment. Here are some of Helio’s thoughts in selecting our assignment:
-
Magnum Photographers Give Advice, Share Personal Challenges, and Talk About Technology
Copyright: Richard Kalvar / Magnum Photos I recently came upon this superb publication by IdeasTap and Magnum. In this magazine, there are exclusive interviews with 12 Magnum photographers– spanning from advice for young photographers, difficulties in photography, and their thoughts on technology. I included my favorite quotes from the magazine in the feature below, enjoy!
-
Before/After: Saigon Travel Street Photography Workshop 2014
Photo by Ed Comino, shot during my Saigon Street Photography Workshop. I recently had the pleasure of teaching a week-long travel street photography workshop in Saigon, Vietnam. It was seriously the time of a lifetime— I loved all the time I spent with all the students, and it was inspiring to see how much progress everyone made during the week. I also loved the sense of friendship and community that formed during the workshop— over talking about photography, eating great Vietnamese food, and (very) strong Vietnamese iced coffee.
It is an experience I will never forget— and to see the before/after of the students really brings me a lot of pleasure and happiness as a teacher. Check out their images below, and you can see my upcoming street photography workshops for 2014 and 2015.
-
Disregard Critics: Make More Art
Garden Grove, Los Angeles 2013 “Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.â€Â ― Andy Warhol
As street photographers, I think we are all artists. We craft our version of reality from fragments from everyday life. We don’t just take photos– we make them.
In my art– I am quite insecure at times. I want to make great photographs– images that awe and inspire my audience. Whenever I upload an image that doesn’t get as many “favorites” or “likes” as other images I wonder to myself, “Perhaps that photograph wasn’t any good?”
-
Streettogs Academy 1st Assignment “Square” Results and Analysis
Before we begin, I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone who participated in the first assignment of Streettogs Academy. We hope you continue to participate in the group and learn a thing or two about street photography I’m trying to see how I can better moderate the group to make it an enjoyable and educational experience for everyone.
So without further adieu, here are some of the best entries and our editor’s choice for our assignment.
-
Why Sharpness is Overrated
Copyright: Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos / SPAIN. Valencia. 1933. Inside the sliding doors of the bullfight arena Sharpness is over-rated in street photography. Even Henri Cartier-Bresson once said, “Sharpness is a bourgeois concept.”
I remember when I first saw one of HCB’s exhibitions in person in Paris, I was surprised by how soft most of his shots were. And many of his photos were significantly out of focus (thinking about the famous shot of the man in a bullfighter’s ring in Spain (above).
When I stated street photography, I was obsessed with sharpness. This of course, was due to all the nerds on gear forums who showed corner to corner sharpness tests on brick walls. I was suckered into thinking a sharp photo was a good photo.
-
Shooting the Streets of Downtown LA in my Introduction to Street Photography Workshop
I recently edited some behind-the-scenes footage that my friend Todd Hatakeyama shot of my Downtown LA Introduction to Street Photography Workshop. We had a ton of fun sharing our passion for street photography, interacting with people on the streets, and giving honest feedback and critique on each others’ work– and I was amazed by the sense of friendship & community that formed during the workshop.
If you want to build your courage in street photography, be re-inspired, and meet other passionate street photographers– check out my upcoming street photography workshops in Tokyo, Melbourne, Stockholm, London, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, and NYC.
-
Be Cool: The Photography of DAYV MATTT
(A.g.’s note: I’ve been a long time fan and follower of DAYV MATTT on tumblr. He is such a great person to interview and is the type of person who tells it like it is! He Straightforward in his answers and in his photography. This was a really fun interview and I hope all of you enjoy. Cheers! All Photos are owned by Dayv Mattt.)
A.G.:You started out in Toronto Photographing the Jungle/DnB Rave scene right? How did you end up in the streets of Seoul, then in Colombo?
DAYV: Shooting DnB raves was a lot of fun because I didn’t really dance, and it was fun documenting the scene. It was a pretty close knit group back then but as the parties got bigger I attended less and less shows. I never thought those pictures would go anywhere…and for the most part, they haven’t. In 2002 a buddy of mine who was living in Seoul called me up and asked me if I wanted to work with him in Seoul. I said yes, and seven days later I was in Korea. Seoul didn’t really have a music scene I gave a rat’s ass about at the time so I started shooting street photography. It just sort of grew on me. In 2012 I moved to Sri Lanka for reasons I don’t really want to get into, but I will be returning to Seoul, then Gwang-ju, this coming July. I’m pretty stoked to shoot in Gwang-ju, which is around three hours south of Seoul.
-
Video Interview with Brian Soko in Chicago
This is a video interview I did with Brian Soko in Chicago about a year ago. Enjoy his images and a transcript of the interview below!
-
Street Photography Contact Sheets #1: Face Tattoo, Downtown LA 2014
At a recent workshop in Downtown LA, IÂ was shooting with one of the students (Luis) when we come across an interesting character with all these tattoos all over his body. He told us he just got out of jail (a few days ago), and was struggling on the streets. We gave him around 2 bucks, and asked him if it was okay if we took some shots. He had no problem with it– and to pose for the camera.
I asked him somewhere along the line what other tattoos he had, and he got excited and showed us all of his other tattoos all over his body.
-
On Going With the Flow in Street Photography
Indianapolis, 2014 I just finished reading a book titled: “Trying Not to Try: The Art and Science of Spontaneityâ€. It was a fascinating read on the paradox of “wu-weiâ€â€“ which is a concept in Taoism of “action without actionâ€. This means nature accomplishes everything without effort. Similarly, we should be able to accomplish many things in our life without unnecessary effort. In-fact according to wu-wei, most things in life (especially things we love) should be effortless.
Of course you know in my blog, I like to relate everything I read back to street photography. And I think this idea of “wu-wei†in street photography is quite fascinating.
To sum up, in street photography (according to wu-wei), our best shots should come to us naturally– without making any unnecessary effort.
-
What Do You Want Out of Street Photography?
Many of us shoot street photography because it is challenging, fun, and brings us great joy. However one question I find that most people don’t ask themselves (myself included) is what we ultimately want out of photography.
I just finished an intense week-long street photography workshop in Saigon which was absolutely incredible– and one of my students Sascha Jung asked me what I ultimately wanted out of my photography, and whether I wanted to become a great photographer or a great teacher.
-
Video Interview with Steve Simon, “The Passionate Photographer” in Dubai
When I was in Dubai, I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Simon who wrote an incredible book titled: “The Passionate Photographer“. We talk about working on projects, finding passion, and advice for aspiring street photographers. Read more to see his incredible photos:
-
Shooting a Hasselblad Street Portrait in Downtown LA
Here is just a fun short behind-the-scenes clip of me shooting a street portrait with a Hasselblad in Downtown LA. Enjoy!
-
On Free Street Photography
Detroit, 2013 One question I am asked a lot is how I make a living in street photography, and questions about selling prints, and making money.
To start off, I am blessed enough to make a living from my street photography in teaching workshops. I make about 95% of my living from workshops (and around 5% from Amazon affiliates from links to books and other products on the blog).
But I have always been an advocate of “open source” in life and photography– and the greatness of having things open and free.
-
Looking for the bigger picture, Interview with SelvaSP Collective
Photo by Gustavo Minas (Editor’s note: All photos are the respected copyright of the members of SelvaSP)Â
Take a look at this interview of  SelvaSP. They are a street photography collective hailing out of Sao Paulo, Brazil. We explore how this collective is being run, what it is they look for, and how they approach the art of street photography.
-
On Bridging the Gap in Street Photography
Tokyo, 2012 I feel one of the most important traits to become a better street photographer is first identifying what makes great street photography. This means having good taste.
A quote from Ira Glass from NPR comes to mind– in terms of having good taste:
“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you.”
-
On Polarization and Street Photography
Hong Kong, 2012 I am a big fan of Nassim Taleb and his concept of the “barbell theory” which he derives from his book: “Antifragile” (one of my top 3 favorite books).
The concept of the “barbell theory” is that you embrace two extremes in life– rather than going for the boring “middle” strategy. For example Nassim Taleb says it is better to save 90% of your money in boring cash– and invest 10% in hyper-risky investments (rather than just putting it all into “medium risk” ventures). Nassim Taleb also mentions that regarding drinking, it is better to drink liberally 3 days a week (and completely abstaining the other days) rather than drinking “moderately” everyday.
I recently read a book titled: “A Perfect Mess”
in which the author promotes the benefits of randomness and messiness. -
Interview with Ibarionex Perello from “The Candid Frame”
Ibarionex Perello is a photographer, writer, educator as well as the host and producer of The Candid Frame photography podcast. He is the author of 5 books including “Chasing the Light Improving Your Photography Using Available Light“. His latest book is “Portraits of Strangers.”
-
10 Ways How to Have a Good Day in Street Photography
Stockholm, 2012 - Smile at and compliment a stranger.
- Surprise a friend with one of your favorite prints (for no reason).
- Give a constructive criticism to a street photographer with 0 comments online.
- Promote the work of another contemporary street photographer whose work you admire.
- Go out and only shoot with 1 camera and 1 lens (and turn off your smartphone).
- Contact a local street photographer to go out and shoot together.
- Lend one of your favorite photography books to a fellow street photographer.
- Give away a camera you don’t use to charity, a photography program, or someone in need.
- Donate some of your time by teaching a photography class or lecture to less-privileged students.
- Give yourself permission to take bad shots, enjoy a nice coffee, and shoot to please yourself (not others).
How do you have a good day in street photography? Share your tips in the comments below!
-
Reflections on Tijuana by Eric Labastida
(Editor’s note: The following are words and photographs of Eric Labastida. These are his thoughts and reflections during his time photographing Tijuana from 1992 to 2002)
When I started this project and photographing in general, I found inspiration in the library. Â This was before the internet, before we had the ability of riding the flood of information as we do now. Â I checked out photo books. Â My first visual and poetic guides were Henri Cartier-Bresson, Josef Koudelka, Mary Ellen Mark, and of course, Gene Smith. Â I was on a diet of strong composition, strong content and a feeling of pure joy in trying to catch that moment in the blink of an eye. Â It all had to be there: geometry, Â timing and magic. Â A very elusive beast indeed, Â but the hunt was pure living, and I got hooked.
-
Saigon Diary #5: Travels to Bien Hoa, Learning Vietnamese, and Coffee Culture
Cindy by the water in Bien Hoa, just outside of Saigon. Hey streettogs, thank you for waiting for this new episode of “Saigon Diary“.
A lot has happened the last week, namely me and Cindy visiting Bien Hoa– a place about an hour outside of Saigon. Cindy’s cousin got married recently, and it was a great time getting to know her father’s side of the family (while of course, eating some delicious food).
I’ve also learned a lot more Vietnamese– and can now hold a pretty basic conversation (a 4-year old is still better than me).
I’m still not sure what I ultimately want out of this “Saigon Diary” series– nor do I expect to really make any good photos while I am here. But like I mentioned before, I want to share some personal thoughts on the trip, my photography, and keep it all as transparent as I can.
-
Composition Lesson #14: Square Format
Symmetry in 6×6 photo by Diane Arbus You can see all my composition lessons here.
I have been quite fascinated with the square-format in street photography for a while. My fascination first came about from Jeroen Helmink, a photographer from the Netherlands (you can see a fun video we made on shooting Hasseblads). There was something quite sexy about the 6×6 format– the way that it created perfect balance in the frame, the simplicity, as well as the novelty.
Of course as Instagram has become insanely popular– the square-format just looks like an “Instagram shot.” I have heard of Instagram as “ruining” the 6×6 format (medium-format film).
However I don’t think it really matters what camera, format, or aspect ratio you shoot in. Ultimately the most important thing is to create a visually compelling image that speaks to our hearts or souls.
-
Introducing Streettogs Academy
We always push for people to keep on practicing and developing your skills and your eye. We also believe in having a passionate group of people helping each other to become good with this passion of ours. With that in mind, we are launching a new initiative here on the blog: Streettogs Academy.
