If you were ever curious what it is like at my street photography workshops, here are some fun behind-the-scenes snapshots at my recent Amsterdam Introduction to Street Photography Workshop. You can see the student’s work on Facebook here. You can also see all of my upcoming street photography workshops here.
I just put together a quick GoPro POV of me shooting street photography in Dubai with the new Fujifilm X-T1 and Fujifilm 27mm f/2.8 Lens. I discovered Dubai to be a superb place to shoot street photography, and most of the people here are quite friendly. I have a lot more videos coming, stay tuned!
Above is the presentation I used as an introduction to composition in street photography. Feel free to use, edit, and distribute the presentation on Slideshare here.
Learn more about composition in street photography via the lessons below:
For further learning on composition, I highly recommend checking out Adam Marelli (who taught me everything I know). You can also learn more about design and composition from him on Youtube here.
I just had an incredible time teaching my Introduction to Urban Landscapes: A Street Photographer’s Perspective at Gulf Photo Plus 2014 here in Dubai. If you were interested you can see the slides above or on on Slideshare. You can also read more in-depth about Urban Landscapes on the blog here.
You can see all the student photos from the workshop below!
Today I just gave a talk titled: “How to Conquer Your Fear of Shooting Street Photography” at Gulf Photo Plus 2014 in Dubai. You can see the slides above or on on Slideshare. Unfortunately the talk wasn’t recorded, but I will try to re-record it for YouTube in the near future!
You can also check out my free-ebook: “31 Days to Overcome Your Fear of Shooting Street Photography“.
I interview Mike Gesgregen, a homeless man in Berkeley– who shares the secret of happiness in this video above.
Last weekend, I had a phenomenal time teaching my Amsterdam Introduction to Street Photography Workshop alongside Jeroen Helmink, Caspar Claasen, Peter Gerritsen, and Neil Ta. The students all did an incredible job conquering their fears in street photography and stepping outside of their comfort zones. I was also shocked to see how much progress all the students made in the workshop.
They agreed to let me show their “before and after shots.” The “before” images are the 3 images from their portfolio, and the “after” shots are the final photos they got after the workshop. See their dramatic improvements in the post below!
Life is too short to do shit you don’t like doing. I know a lot of people who work in jobs they absolutely hate, stay in relationships they don’t enjoy, and force themselves to do hobbies that they aren’t that interested in.
We all have relatively short lives while we are here on earth. Not only that, but we have no idea when we are going to die. Sure if we are relatively healthy we can expect to live to around 80. But who knows if we get a rare form of cancer and die early? Or if we get into a car accident and die? Or perhaps die in some sort of other freak accident?
Photos in this article are from my “Grandfather” series.
“99% of street photography, if not more, is about failure” – Alex Webb
Street photography is all about failure. The failure to have the courage to take that one shot. The failure to capture “the decisive moment.” The failure to get a clean background. The failure to have your subject make eye contact. The failure to move your feet to get a better frame. The failure to get recognition for your work. The failure to have your photo get “explored” on Flickr. Failures upon failures upon failures.
Daniel Kramer: These images are part of a street photography book in progress that I’m working on and which I’ve tentatively titled “Global Wanderings.” I’ve gone through one round of editing with Mike Davis and now I’m carefully combing through and digitizing my archives which is both a joy and a pain.
Warning: One of the photos in this post is Not Safe For Work.
All photos in this article are copyrighted by Alec Soth / Magnum Photos.
Alec Soth is a photographer whose work I strongly admire. He is a member of Magnum, although he is not the typical “Magnum” photographer. He is generally identified in the “fine art”/documentary crowd– and certainly isn’t considered a “street photographer.” However his philosophies in photography and the way he interacts and photographs his subjects in an empathetic way really helps me connect with him (in street photography).
In this article I want to share some things how Alec Soth has inspired me– both in terms of a human being and as a street photographer:
Eric’s Note: ​OBSERVE is an international photography collective focused primarily on the practice of candid street photography. This week’s feature is David Horton from Boston, Massachusetts.Â
David Horton: I’m a graphic designer by day, street photographer by accident. After art directing and observing some of the finest commercial photographers in the business for over a decade, I made the conscious decision to get behind the camera instead of the photographer. I discovered street photography. I am primarily interested in making emotional connections. I’m interested in telling stories and creating a narrative. I’m interested in capturing the mystery—the mystery of life and the beauty of people moving through the world.
Eric’s Note: Haris P (Xaris P on Flickr) is a street photographer from Crete in Greece. I was blown away by his surrealistic images — and wanted to feature his work on the blog. See more of his images and tips on street photography below.
Haris: Hi Eric thanks for having me in your blog. My name is Haris P(anagiotakopoulos!) and I am a 44-year old greek guy born and raised in Athens. For the last 19 years, I’ve lived in Heraklion of Crete (the cultural capital city of southern Greece as we call it for fun with my mates). I have been taking photos for the last 4.5 years.
Eric’s Note: I am excited to share this interview with the “Street-photographers” collective. I sent them 22 interview questions, and the members shared their personal answers opinions below. See their superb images and insights on street photography below!
All photos copyrighted by Zoe Strauss / Magnum Photos.
About a year I stumbled upon the work of Zoe Strauss in her book: “America.” I was amazed with the power of her portraits as well as how she masterfully combined them with signs and urban landscapes. Also in terms of the book, they are some of the most powerful diptychs I have ever seen.
I recently checked out a copy of her newest book: “Zoe Strauss: 10 Years” and wanted to write an article about her work. She has an incredible story, and equally incredible images to back it up.
Warning: Some of the photos in this article are graphically intense which are Not Safe For Work. This includes nudity, physical violence, which should not be seen by minors or people who are uncomfortable with these types of images.
I’m excited to be part of Gulf Photo Plus in Dubai this year! I still have a few spots open for my Introductory course: “Conquering Your Fear of Shooting Street Photography” (March 13-14th) and my Intermediate/Advanced course: “Discover Your Unique Voice in Street Photography” (March 9-11th). Join me in Dubai and check out my other upcoming street photography workshops in my schedule below:
Amsterdam – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop – SOLD OUT!
Dubai – Gulf Photo Plus Workshops (Intro, Intermediate/Adv, Urban Landscape) – FEW SPOTS LEFT!
New York City – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop -Â OPEN!
New York City – Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshop –OPEN!
Istanbul - Week-Long Travel Street Photography Workshop with Charlie Kirk – OPEN!
Toronto – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop -Â OPEN!
Los Angeles - Introduction to Street Photography Workshop - OPEN!
Los Angeles – Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshop -Â OPEN!
Vancouver (BC)Â – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop -Â OPEN!
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam - Week-Long Travel Street Photography Workshop - OPEN!
Read more to see my full workshops schedule.
Eric’s Note: Nuno Moreira is a visual artist living and working in Tokyo, originally from Lisbon, Portugal. He has recently published his new book: “State of Mind”, which explores different themes such as identity, memory, psychological states or what he refers simply as the “thinking moments”. Get a little more inside his mind and his images in the interview below.
All photographs in this article are copyrighted by Mark Cohen.
I think Mark Cohen is one of the greatest street photographers out there who isn’t as well known as his contemporaries. I’m sure you might have seen some videos of him on YouTube shooting with a flash without using the viewfinder. I have to admit, even to me– he seems a bit “creepy” when you see him working. However the reason he works the way he does is to create art– he feels that the end justifies the means.
I have been deeply inspired by his book: “Grim Street“– and I just pre-ordered a new book he has in the pipeline called “Dark Knees.” His imagery has inspired the way I shoot quite a bit (especially when it comes to photographing details and decapitating heads). Not only that, but it is quite inspirational to see him shoot in his small town for over 30 years.
Below are some lessons I have personally learned from Mark Cohen:
All photographs in this article are copyrighted by Joel Sternfeld.
Joel Sternfeld is one of the most important and influential photographers of this generation. His large-format color work: “American Prospects” was one of the most revolutionary color works of the time– when “serious” art photographers were only using black and white. Inspired by Robert Frank, Sternfeld hit the road in a small Volkswagon van for 3 years and traveled across America– seeking to capture the American landscape. In his Guggenheim report he wrote that the urge was “of someone who grew up with a vision of classical regional America and the order it seemed to contain, to find beauty and harmony in an increasingly uniform, technological, and disturbing America.”
When I was in Stockholm end of last year, I interviewed Ola Billmont— a very likable and talented street photographer. He is one of the co-founders of CUP (Contemporary Urban Photography) in Stockholm, and also shared some of his work at my workshop there. He frequents LA quite often for shooting– and he specializes in shooting with a flash in multiple formats (35mm, medium-format, large-format) in both black and white and color. I put together this video interview at a bar, apologies if it is a bit loud in here!
Read more to see the full transcript and his images from the interview.
All photographs in this article are copyrighted by Trent Parke / Magnum Photos.
Trent Parke is one of the most phenomenal contemporary photographers around. What I love about his work is the strong emotional and personal connection he has in his photographs, as well as his fanatical passion to street photography.
One of his seminal books, “Minutes to Midnight” recently got republished– and I wanted to write an article on Parke, and how he has inspired my street photography.
I think I can speak on behalf of all of us that we all want to be happy. In some shape, way, or form.
Over the years I have thought a lot about happiness. How to “optimize” my life to become “happier.” How to avoid unhappiness in my work, relationships, and my sense of purpose in the world.
There are countless books written on the topic of happiness, and trust me– I have read almost all of them. I am quite addicted to “self-help” books, and always looking to better improve myself. And of course one thing I wanted to increase was my own personal “happiness.”
In the spirit of the “Open Source Photography” approach, I present to you the free online street photography course: “All the World’s a Stage: Introduction to Street Photography.” The majority of this course material was made in 2012, and many of my thoughts and beliefs on street photography have changed since then. However if you are starting off in street photography and want a primer to start, this might be a helpful resource for you.
Also because this is an “Open Source” course, feel free to edit, remix, and distribute this course however you would like!
You can download the syllabus for the course here (.docx file).Â
Update: I have also setup an informal Facebook group for this course. Unfortunately I cannot moderate it at the moment, but you can collaborate with other students here: All the World a Stage: Introduction to Street Photography Facebook Group
Today I turn 26 years old. Life has been one hell of a ride so far. When I was a kid, I had no idea I would be where I am today– with the love of my life, phenomenal friends I have met all around the world, a supportive family, as well as the freedom and opportunity to pursue my passion (street photography).
Ever since I got laid off my job around 3 years ago, life has been a blur. I remember the anxiety I had no longer having a stable income, health care, and a sense of security. I had no idea where my life would take me from that point– but I am so grateful that Cindy, my family, as well as you (my dear friend) was able to support me to run this blog and teach workshops for a living.
I always use birthdays as an opportunity to reflect on life– and think about the lessons that I have learned. Of course in the spirit of my blog, I will present 26 lessons that life has taught me and how it has even given me insight into street photography.
All photographs in this article are copyrighted by Josef Koudelka / Magnum Photos
To continue my street photography book reviews, I wanted to write about “Gypsies” — one of my favorite street photography books of all-time, shot by Josef Koudelka, Magnum photographer.
To give you a bit of background, Josef Koudelka is one of the greatest living black and white photographers of the century– both revered for his phenomenal photography and his obsessive passion for photography.
If you haven’t watched “In No Great Hurry: 13 Lessons In Life With Saul Leiter” — make sure you do! It is filled with great wisdom from one of the color street photography masters Saul Leiter, who recently passed away. In the video above, director Tomas Leach talks about his motivations and the making of the film.
If you want to learn more about Saul Leiter and his work, read my article:Â 7 Lessons Saul Leiter Has Taught Me About Street Photography
Harvey Stein is a photographer, educator, and curator based in New York City. He just released a new book: “Harlem Street Portraits“, documenting portraits in Harlem for over 22 years (from 1990 to 2012). I interview him about shooting and putting together the book– and what other tips/advice he has for street photographers who want to take more intimate portraits. You can also see my previous interview with him on his book “Coney Island.”Â
Photos in this article are from my on-going “Colors” series.
I recently read a book titled: “Die Empty: Unleash your Best Work Everyday” and found great inspiration in it. It is a great book in which the premise is easy: will you die with all of your dreams, aspirations, and talents inside of you– or will you work everyday towards emptying out your mind of al these great ideas and thoughts? Will you lie on your deathbed having any regrets? Or will you die empty having dedicated everyday towards your life work dying empty without any regrets. You certainly don’t want to die full of regrets.
I am excited to open my week-long travel street photography workshop in Istanbul (April 14-18th) with Charlie Kirk. I also still have a few spots left for my upcoming San Francisco Introduction to Street Photography Workshop (Feb 7-9th).
If you cannot attend one of my upcoming in-person street photography workshops yet want to learn from the comfort of your home, you can also join me for one of my special Online 1:1 Street Photography Workshops via Skype.
If you ever wanted to build your confidence, meet other passionate street photographers, and take your street photography to new heights, join me at one of my workshops in 2014!
San Francisco – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop – OPEN!
Amsterdam – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop -Â OPEN!
Dubai – Gulf Photo Plus Workshops (Intro, Intermediate/Adv, Urban Landscape) – OPEN!
New York City – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop -Â OPEN!
New York City – Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshop –OPEN!
Istanbul - Week-Long Travel Street Photography Workshop with Charlie Kirk – OPEN!
Read more to see my full workshops schedule!
I recently traveled to Seattle and taught a street photography workshop there. As a native Californian, I never ventured to the Pacific North-West, and man– I was impressed. I think Seattle is seriously one of the most underrated places in the West Coast (and in America as well).
If you ever have the chance to visit Seattle (flights are quite affordable via Southwest, a one-way from SFO was only ~$69). So if you want a weekend getaway somewhere– Seattle is your place to go.
Huge thanks to Walter Lau who was my generous host during my time there with Cindy. He showed us all the great spots in Seattle, and here are some of his recommendations in terms of where to shoot, where to have coffee, to get food, and drinks! If anyone also wants to meet up with some other great street photographers in Seattle, check out the Seattle Streettogs Group on Facebook.
All photos in this article are copyrighted by Joel Meyerowitz.
I am surprised I haven’t written an article about Joel Meyerowitz yet. He is one of the living legends and masters in street photography, currently at 75 years old. He shot in the streets with other legends such as Garry Winogrand, Tony Ray-Jones, and even bumped into Henri Cartier-Bresson on the streets once.
All photographs in this article are copyrighted by Martin Parr / Magnum Photos. Warning: Some of the shots in the book are NSFW as they show child nudity.
One of my favorite color photography books is “The Last Resort” by Martin Parr. For 2014, I want to start doing more book reviews– sharing some of my favorite books, sharing why I love them, and trying my best to analyze and share my observations about them.
If you are a fan of William Klein, check out this nearly 2-hour interview with MADMuseum. Klein talks about working on the streets, in the studio, and on making his feature films. A great watch to check out over this weekend!
Thanks to Jonas Petermann for sending over the link!
It has been a while since I made a travel video– and I wanted to share some of my experiences traveling and shooting street photography in Sweden, London, and Seattle. I share some thoughts and what I’ve been up to in the video above (filmed in Seattle).
I am also working on some “street photography guides” on where to shoot in those cities (and grab some great food and drinks)– keep posted!
Photos in this article are from my travels in Istanbul this summer.
I often get criticism from teaching street photography workshops. I get criticized that they cost too much. I get criticized that I am not qualified enough. I get criticized that street photography is something that you “cannot teach”– and is something that has to be learned on one’s own.
Instead of defending myself about how I teach street photography workshops I teach– I wanted to write an article about why I teach street photography workshops. I think that we generally forget to question ourselves “why” we do anything at all. By asking the question “why”– it helps us often get to the core of our life’s purpose.
Contrary to popular I don’t teach workshops to make a ton of money and buy all the Leica’s in the world. From my workshops I am living more or less month-to-month (while trying to put a little into savings). I am pretty certain I made more money (after expenses) working at my old 9-5 job.
For this article, I will share some of my personal experiences which brought me to teaching– and dedicate the other part to sharing specifically why I teach street photography workshops– and what I hope that students (and myself) gain out of them.
Photos in this article are outtakes/shots I am considering from my on-going “Suits” project.
One of the things I love most about street photography is how open and democratic it is. Anybody with any camera can shoot street photography. You don’t need anything fancy. Not only that, but street photography is accessible to everybody. You don’t need to be in Paris– you can simply shoot in your backyard.
However one problem that plagues street photography and life in general is this need for status.
In this article I will touch upon two aspects of status when it comes to street photography: 1) Status via cameras/equipment, and 2) Status via social media:
Part 1: Alex Webb Shoots the Korean 5-Day Markets
If you like watching street photographers in-action, check out these two videos of Alex Webb shooting the streets of Korea.
Part 2: Alex Webb Shoots the Alleys of Korea
If you want to learn more about Alex Webb, read my article on him: 10 Things Alex Webb Can Teach You About Street Photography
The work of Boston photographer Stella Johnson is grounded in her photography training at The San Francisco Art Institute and her advanced degree from Boston University. Stella was a Fulbright Scholar to Mexico in 2003-2004 and a Fulbright Senior Specialist to Mexico, in 2006, for photographing and teaching, respectively and a Visiting Scholar to the School of Art, Northeastern University, in 2007.
She teaches at the Lesley University College of Art and Design, at Boston University and at the Maine Media Workshops in Crete, Greece and Rockport, Maine. Her work is showcased in her monograph AL SOL: Photographs from Mexico, Cameroon and Nicaragua, published in 2008 by the University of Maine Press.
Anahita Avalos was born in Tehran, and has lived in Mexico and Paris. In Mexico she began to take pictures on a regular basis in order to explore her own identity as a Middle Eastern woman who grew up in Europe and mom to a child with a rare condition. By observing and trying to understand strangers, she tries to discover herself.
Photos in this article are from my time in Michigan in 2013.
In life I have a certain strategy: I set very low (or no) expectations for myself and try my personal best.
I know often people say you should always set your ambitions and expectations high– but I find several faults with this strategy:
Photos in this article are from my on-going “Suits” project.
One of the things I notice a lot at my workshops and when I see work online is how there tends to be a lack of consistency in people’s images.
I think while it is great to experiment and try out new things– at the end of the day to create a personal style and vision– you need a sense of consistency.
Now that the new year is under way, I thought it would be a good idea that we could all choose a new year’s resolution in street photography.
I know how difficult it is to keep to a new year’s resolution, but I think it is something fun that we can all look forward to. I just came up with some ideas that we could try experimenting or doing for 2014. Feel free to pick and choose what appeals to you:
It is that time of the year again— to make resolutions for the new year.
In 2014, I wrote a post, “40 Street Photography Resolutions Ideas for 2014†and I also wrote a post titled: “15 Street Photography Assignments to Re-Energize and Re-Inspire You†(inspired by the book: “The Photographer’s Playbook: 307 Assignments and Ideasâ€).
Below are some personal new years’ resolutions I am going to make for myself in 2015. I will probably break some of them, but will try my best to stick to them. This is advice I will give to myself— and feel free to pick any of these ideas for yourself (or modify them as you see fit). This list is inspired mostly by Nassim Taleb’s New Years Resolutions for 2015.
Here is my personal street photography resolutions for 2015:
Buy at least 1 photo book a month (and get to really know it).
Give at least 1 in-depth comment/feedback/critique (once a week) to a street photographer who doesn’t get any favorites, comments, or feedback on his/her photos.
Try to meet a lonely photographer once a month for a coffee (with no expectation of “networking†or “gain†on my end)
Don’t go a single day without taking a photograph (smartphone is fine).
Don’t own more than 1 type of camera (only own 1 35mm camera, 1 medium-format, 1 digital). If I accrue more than one of each type of camera, either give away to friend or sell. Don’t accept any free cameras (that I wouldn’t buy with my own money).
Walk for at least 15 minutes everyday to make photos (I’m becoming a fat and lazy car-dependent American).
Focus on education and creating value (not money, fame, or external recognition). Engaging the street photography community more and always try to help.
Make my photographs more personal.
Have at least 1 exhibition of my photos (and also curate at least 1 group exhibition). Teach at least 1 free workshop for charity.
What are some New Years’ Resolutions that you have for yourself when it comes to your photography? Share them in the comments below!
I have never been the type of person to reflect on life. I generally tend to always live in the present moment– and don’t spend too much time thinking about the past or the future. But the quote that always comes to me from Socrates is: “The life unexamined is not a life worth living.”
Ever since I got laid off my job (June 13, 2011) life has been zooming past before my eyes ridiculously quickly. It has been around 2 years and 6 months since I have been doing street photography “full time.” and wanted to use this opportunity to just share some of my thoughts and what I am grateful for.
There is one-week left for the early-bird discount (Sunday, Jan 5th)Â for my first Seattle Introduction to Street Photography Workshop! Don’t miss out on this beautiful unique location, especially if you live in the area!Â
Have you ever walked on the streets and saw a moment that you wanted to capture, but you were too scared to take the photograph? Do you want to become more confident shooting in the streets and learn how to better interact with your subjects? Do you want to meet other street photographers that are as equally passionate about street photography or interested in learning like you?
Steve Richmond is a London based photographer, originally from Northern Ireland. You can see the full “Kimology” series on Flickr here.
Dimitris Makrygiannakis is one of the up-and-coming rising stars when it comes to street photography. He has only been shooting seriously the last two years, and has made a huge leap in his work. I love the sense of surrealism, symbolism, and emotion in his work. He also breaks the “street photography” boundaries by embracing multiple types of work: posed portraiture and “still life” work.
See more of Dimitris’ work on Flickr. You can also see my past feature with his work here. Read more to see the entire transcript.
“The most difficult thing for me is to take pictures from far away.” – Jacob Aue Sobol
Jacob Aue Sobol is one of my favorite contemporary photographers. Not only are his images visually powerful and stirring– but they exude a sense of emotion that pours from the seams. His emotions have depth and soul to them– something that we all as street photographers can learn from him.
While Sobol wouldn’t call himself a “street photographer”–his way of wandering the streets and photographing strangers is something street photographers can all relate to.
I recently received a copy of “Veins” a book he co-authored by Anders Petersen and have been thinking more about Sobol’s work. Therefore I wanted to write this article to better get inside the mind of Sobol and share his inspirational images and thoughts about photography to you.
Warning: Some of the photos in this article may not be safe for work.
Photos in this article are from my Gallo Boxing Series in Michigan. You can see all the GoPro POV videos on YouTube here.
“To try to please everybody is to please nobody” – Publilius Syrus
For those of you who follow my blog (or even worse, my YouTube channel) know that I have a lot of critics. Many people often ask how I deal with the criticism. I’ve had some people tell me that I must have a thick skin, and commend me for it.
However in reality, I actually have very thin skin, and when people do criticize me, it hurts me a lot.
Hey streettogs,
I am excited to announce my new calendar of street photography workshops for 2014 in Seattle, SF, Amsterdam, NYC, Istanbul, Toronto, Vancouver, Vietnam, Seoul, Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, Stockholm, and London! If you want to meet new peers and conquer your fears, join us at a workshop coming to you below!
If you cannot attend one of my upcoming in-person street photography workshops yet want to learn from the comfort of your home, you can also join me for one of my special Online 1:1 Street Photography Workshops via Skype.
Join over 500+ students for an experience you will never forget! Read more to see my full schedule below!
Seattle – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop – OPEN!
San Francisco - Introduction to Social Media for Photographers Workshop – Info TBA
San Francisco – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop – OPEN!
Amsterdam – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop -Â OPEN!
Dubai – Gulf Photo Plus Workshops (Intro, Intermediate/Adv, Urban Landscape) – OPEN!
New York City – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop -Â OPEN!
New York City – Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshop –OPEN!
Istanbul - Week-Long Travel Street Photography Workshop with Charlie Kirk – Register Intent
Toronto – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop -Â OPEN!
Los Angeles - Introduction to Street Photography Workshop - OPEN!
Los Angeles – Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshop -Â OPEN!
Vancouver (BC)Â – Introduction to Street Photography Workshop -Â OPEN!
Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) – Week-Long Travel Street Photography Workshop – Register Intent
Seoul - Introduction to Street Photography Workshop - Register Intent
Tokyo - Introduction to Street Photography Workshop - Register Intent
Hong Kong – Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshop - Register Intent
Sydney - Introduction to Street Photography Workshop – Register Intent
Melbourne - Intermediate/Advanced to Street Photography Workshop – Register Intent
London - Introduction to Street Photography Workshop - Register Intent
London - Intermediate/Advanced Street Photography Workshop - Register Intent
Bangkok - Week-Long Travel Street Photography Workshop - Register Intent
For more information, check out my Eric Kim Street Photography Workshops page. If you have any questions, email my manager Neil Ta at neil.ta@erickimphotography.com
I hate advertising in a lot of ways. Although I think there are some beautiful advertisements (that I think can double as art) at the end of they day, they are just trying to get you to buy something. And with that– advertisers and marketers often create false wants (which we get confused with “needs”). For example, I “need” a new iPad Air, rather than I “want” a new iPad Air.
Not only that, but one of the great psychological tricks that advertisers/marketers use is to create a sense of dissatisfaction with what you already own. Sure, you already have the iPhone 5, but you suddenly feel that you are missing out by not having the iPhone 5S (it has a marginally better camera!)
Eric’s Note: This is an interview with Siegfried Hansen, one of the finest contemporary street photographers who hails from Hamburg, Germany. What I love about his work is how he is able to combine strong graphical elements in the streets – and make simple yet beautiful images. See his fine images and advice for street photographers in this interview below.
I think one of the most difficult compositional techniques in street photography is to incorporate multiple subjects in the frame — without it becoming too cluttered or overwhelming. Generally the problem is that most photographers that try to incorporate multiple subjects have some of the following problems:
In this article I will share some of who I think are the finest photographers to have used multiple-subjects in their photos. I will analyze the images, and hopefully provide practical tips to anyone trying to incorporate more multiple subjects in the frame.
I recently attended Elliot Erwitt’s “100+1” exhibition at Fotografiska, which will be in Stockholm from December 6, 2013 to March 2, 2014. We were given a brochure with great practical advice for street photographers– which I have shared here. This text for the article is extracted from the foreword dedication written by Elliott Erwitt for the book “Personal Exposures.”
Photos in this article are from my road trip from Michigan to California.
One thing I hate about the modern world is our addiction to speed. We want everything to be done faster, more efficiently, and better optimized. We are frustrated when we are loading up a website on our smartphones and it takes longer than a few seconds. We hardly have the patience to cook anymore, so we just pop something in the microwave. We then inhale our food in a few seconds so we can get back to work and be more “productive.”
Besides street photography, I have a great interest in sociology, psychology, and philosophy. What I love about all these side-fields is that they overlap and add unto one another. Not only that, but I have probably learned more about street photography from these outside fields than from the field of photography itself.
A field I have been quite fascinated with is called “behavioral economics” the idea that us humans act “predictably irrational”. This means that we all have similar cognitive biases in certain circumstances. Although we like to think of ourselves as rational beings– we are far less rational than we’d like to believe.
In this article I want to share some insights I have learned from “behavioral economics” (which tends to fit into the field of psychology and cognitive science).
For today’s compositional lesson– I want to talk about color theory— and how you can better utilize colors when it comes to your street photography.
Personally around 2 years ago, I made the switch from shooting fully black and white — to just shooting color film (Kodak Portra 400).
Since then, I have learned to see the world in a totally different way. It has been fun, refreshing, and quite exciting.
However at the same time– shooting in color presented a new bag of worms. Whereas black and white tended to simplify a scene, color could be distracting and take away from a photo (if the colors didn’t add meaning and value).
So for this lesson we will talk about some color theory — in terms of how we can make colors better work for us. I am certainly not an expert when it comes to working in color, but I will try to share some practical tips of how you can better shoot street photography in color.
My good friend and talented street photographer Jack Simon (from Burn My Eye) has recently turned 70 years old (he looks about 2 decades younger than he is). In honor of his birthday, he recently published a new book titled: SEVENTY — which is a compilation of 70 great candid photos. He was also generous enough to offer the book free via ebook. More info about the book below from Jack:
SEVENTY is a compilation of 70 unplanned and unposed images. I enjoy the hunt for that moment of mystery, surprise, and humor in my everyday life. I seek images that hint to a larger story, like a publicity still from some forgotten movie. These fragments of fictional stories are drawn from the real world in an odd coupling of my unconscious, my intentions, and chance. As I turn 70, I celebrate these accidental glimpses into other worlds and untold stories that inhabit my surroundings.
If you want to learn more about Jack Simon and his work, you can see this in-depth interview I did with him here.
Below is a fun video I made with Jack shooting in the Mission District of SF:
Wish Jack a happy birthday by leaving a comment below! :)
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:Â everybodystreet.com
When it comes to composition– one of the first things you should ask yourself is: “Who is the subject?”
If you have a hard time identifying the main subject (or subjects) in the photo– you are in trouble.
One of the most difficult things to do in street photography is capture multiple subjects well. When there are lots of subjects in our frame, it is often difficult for us to focus on who the main subject is.
So how do we overcome this difficulty? I propose the compositional concept of: “Spot the not.”
Erics Note: Rohit Vohra is a street photographer based in New Delhi, India. In a search for new methods to ‘read the city’, his photographs are often about contact with humans and basic living elements. He is also the Editor in Chief of Art Photo Feature.
Rohit: Street photography is one of the purest forms of photography. Love the challenge it presents, of capturing the unknown. You are out on the road with absolutely no idea of what you are going to come back with. I enjoy street photography because of this uncertainty… the joy of capturing that perfect moment… perfect in terms of light, texture, and elements all perfectly in place. Such a flawless alignment of elements, coming together randomly, to create a perfect moment which is visible for the smallest span of time before it vanishes forever… that is what I enjoy. When I am on the street I like to show my reading or perception of reality.
For today’s lesson I want to talk about “urban landscapes.” Urban landscapes aren’t really compositions in the specific sense (compared to lines, curves, etc)– but I still feel they are relevant when creating our street photographs.
If you guys have read my prior lessons on composition– I have thought a lot about what a “composition” really is. For me at the end of the day– a composition can really be anything. The dictionary’s definition to composition is as follows:
Composition:Â The combining of distinct parts or elements to form a whole.
So when it comes to street photography, whatever elements we capture in the background make an image.
I am not exactly sure what direction these “composition lessons” are heading– but thank you for your support. Let us continue to ride the wave– and see where it follows:
In the late 1960’s, photographer Tony Ray-Jones wrote a hand-written note on his “approach” when he took photographs. I think these tips are lessons all of us as street photographers can learn from him. Read more to see some of his inspirational images (and this list typed out):
Eric’s Note: This project is by Trevor Marcyzlo, a Canadian street photographer currently based in South Korea. He is a part of the collective STROMA.
Trevor: Located on the 9th floor of Shinsegae Department Store “The 9th Floor” is a rural themed playground for kids in urban city Uijeongbu. Photos June – October 2012.
“At first, my presence in my photos was fascinating and disturbing. But as time passed and I was more a part of other ideas in my photos, I was able to add a giggle to those feelings.â€
For today’s compositional lesson I want to introduce the idea of incorporating self-portraits into your street photography.
While self-portraits don’t fit into the textbook definition of “composition” per se– I still feel that they are an interesting compositional technique we can add to our toolkit to make more interesting images.
Eric’s Note: ​OBSERVE is a new international photography collective focused primarily on the practice of candid street photography. I have sent questionnaires to all 13 of the members, and will feature their responses and images on the blog for the next upcoming weeks. This week’s feature is Danielle Houghton, based in Dublin, Ireland.
Danielle:Â Picking up a camera in my teens I found myself automatically taking pictures of strangers without really knowing why. After a long break, I now find myself doing the same but this time with a name and understanding of my folly. I like to appreciate the odd in the mundane and find that suburban life can be nicely quirky. In Dublin I often shoot by the coast, in parks or even from the car window. While visually pleasing settings are very important to me the real beauty of photography stems from the uniqueness of people and those moments that cannot be repeated.
All photos in this article are copyrighted by their respective photographers.
For today’s compositional lesson– I want to talk about curves.
To start off, why curves? Well– curves are some of the most dynamic lines that exist.
I can’t remember the exact moment that I discovered the work of Saul Leiter. I think I remember seeing some link on the internet about the discovery of one of the earliest “pioneers” in color street photography. But upon hearing this, I didn’t dig into it too deeply.
About a year ago when I was in Marseille, I re-discovered Saul’s work through a good friend of mine, Yves Vernin. When I left Marseille back to America, he gave me a beautiful Saul Leiter book. When I flipped through the pages, I was overwhelmed by the beautiful colors, reflections, and abstractions of Leiter. It was unlike any street photography I had seen before. It was much more romantic, poetic, and full of expression.
I then started to research more on Saul Leiter and have not only appreciated his images, but his philosophy of life. At his late eighties, he is very down-to-earth, and has no interest in legacy or fame. He lived a simple life and even now with his sudden rise in fame, his ego hasn’t inflated one bit.
In anticipation for the DVD release of his film “In No Great Hurry” I wanted to write this article about lessons in street photography (and life) I have learned from Saul Leiter.
All photographs in this article are copyrighted by their respective photographers.
For today’s compositional lesson I want to talk about perspective.
Google defines “perspective” as the following:
The art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other when viewed from a particular point.
In street photography utilizing unique perspectives or vantage points make images have different impressions and feelings. I often find that street photographers don’t utilize interesting perspectives enough– most photos are just from eye-to-eye level.
To make more edgy and interesting photos, try embracing more unique perspectives (shooting from a really low angle, or getting on top of a roof and shooting from a high vantage point).
I wanted to show some great examples of how some master street photographers used low and high perspectives to make more interesting photographs.
Eric’s Note: This article is written by Mehdi Bouqua, a street photographer based in LA. He shares his experiences shooting with an iPhone– and the importance of documenting life. Mehdi shares more of his thoughts and images below:
Mehdi: Today’s society is definitely over equipped/ flooded with many different types and genres of technological gadgets for all sort of necessities. Photography has become an essential tool of proof and evidence, showing, duplicating a moment and emotion by capturing the exact frame, reflecting it, and documenting it all at once.