• 10 Things Anders Petersen Can Teach You About Street Photography

    10 Things Anders Petersen Can Teach You About Street Photography

    Click to read more

    (All photographs in this article copyrighted by Anders Petersen. Photographs used with permission from Petersen)

    Anders Petersen, b. 1944, is a Swedish photographer, who is best known for his intimate and documentary-based photography projects. He is best known for his project, “Café Lehmitz” in which he photographed prostitutes, transvestites, lovers, drunkards, and drug addicts from 1967-1970. The photographs are very close and personal, and incredibly humanistic and soulful.

    I was honored to meet Anders when I taught my street photography workshop at Fotografiska (he taught a workshop at the same time). People I knew who met him described him as very intense and hardcore- and I was a bit nervous meeting him. However upon meeting him, he was an incredibly loving, caring, and down-to-earth-guy. He looked at my work and gave me great words of advice and inspiration.

    Although Anders describes himself as a “private documentary photographer” – I love his thoughts, feelings, and philosophy that I feel many of us street photographers can learn from. If you are curious about learning more, read on!

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  • Street Photography Weekly Assignment #8: “Surreal” Winners

    Street Photography Weekly Assignment #8: “Surreal” Winners

    Luke Ding

    I am excited to announce the winner for the “Surreal” weekly assignment is Luke Ding from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

    The reason I love his photograph is the strange and ghostly feeling that it evokes. It looks like a person sitting at a bus stop, but the body seems to melt into the background, and strangely enough the head is quite dark. The patterns in the middle of the frame look like knives (or ninja stars) going into the body of the ghostly apparition. The high contrast black and white and grittiness adds to the surreal feeling for me as well.

    Runners-up

    Longwen Chen

    The first runner-up is Longwen Chen, who was also also featured for the Week #6 “Emotion” assignment. When I first look at the image, it looks like a cascade of black water falling back on the man standing in the center of the frame. The reflections of the plastic around him are quite alluring, and the heavy machinery in the background he is working on adds to the tension. What I feel would have made this image stronger is if I could see the man’s face (and not just his back).

    Sacha Lenz

    The second runner-up is Sacha Lenz. The first thing I see when I look at the image is the beautiful black negative space, and the bright tiger that pops out from the background. Whenever I think of tigers, I think of power and aggression, but in this photo the tiger looks quite docile and calm. Strangely enough in the top right corner of the frame, you have an open door with a person exiting the scene through the white light. It gives the photo a very surreal and strange feeling, but I have a difficult time linking the subject of the tiger and person leaving the scene. Also I find the left side of the frame a little empty (although the negative space is nice). I also love the textures and contrast of this image as well.

    Stay updated for next week’s weekly assignment on my Facebook fan page!

    Also the winner of this assignment is purely my opinion, so if you have any differing opinions please leave a comment below (and tell us why!) And please keep it constructive :)

  • FREE GIVEAWAY: Win 2 Custom SLR Packages and $500 Giftcard to B&H Photo (worth over $800!)

    FREE GIVEAWAY: Win 2 Custom SLR Packages and $500 Giftcard to B&H Photo (worth over $800!)

    Hey streettogs, I am excited to share that the great folks at Custom SLR (one of my site sponsors) are launching its black C-Loop and wants you and a friend to shoot in comfort and style. The Custom SLR C-Loop and Glidestrap are fantastic for street photography (as they take pressure off your neck, keep your camera always ready by your side, while keeping your hands free). You can see one of my reviews of the setup here.

    The winner of this giveaway will receive the following:

    The prize for the winner is worth over $800 – so don’t miss your chance on this unique opportunity! Here’s how to enter:

    #1: Be a Fan

    This giveaway is open for our fans and supporters. Make sure to “Like” both my Facebook fan page and Custom SLR’s Facebook fan page to become eligible.

    #2: Enter the Giveaway

    Upload your (1) personal favorite street photograph you have ever taken to my Facebook Fan Page and share the following:

    1. The story behind the shot
    2. Why the photograph is meaningful to you
    3. One piece of advice you would give to other street photographers
    4. Your email address (So we can contact you if you win. It won’t be used for any marketing purposes – we promise).
    Notes:
    • If you don’t have a Facebook, you can leave a comment below and provide a link to your favorite street photograph (and include the following points above).
    • If you upload more than one photograph for the entry (or don’t include all 4 points above in the caption) you will be disqualified.

    #3: Share for More Chances!

    If you want another entry to the contest to improve your chances of winning, you can also do the following below!

    Tweet:

    • “Just shared my favorite street photograph with @erickimphoto for a @customslr giveaway! http://bit.ly/Oww3Sc”

    *Thanks to PetaPixel for the giveaway format/idea! 

    More Info

    • Deadline to submit is Sept 6th.
    • This is a giveaway, and the winner will be chosen via Random.org.

    Any questions about the giveaway? Leave a comment below! 

  • Streettogs Gallery Feature: Ms. Helen Hill’s Mise-en-scène

    Streettogs Gallery Feature: Ms. Helen Hill’s Mise-en-scène

    Eric’s Note: Streettogs Gallery is an on-going feature and intiative by Manila-based street photographer A.G. De Mesa. Click here for more info.

    A.G.:There is a fine line between cinema and photography. Good cinematography and good photography shows when you have a good arrangement of elements such as light, composition, and subject. But more often than not, a cinematographer has total control of everything while the photographer shooting on the streets uses what the streets provide. So when a photographer is able to show cinematic street scenes, that is a feat of skill in itself. That is why you should check out Ms. Helen Hill’s Mis en scene.
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  • 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

  • Street Photography Weekly Assignment #8: “Surreal”

    Street Photography Weekly Assignment #8: “Surreal”

    From my “All the World’s a Stage” series. Shot in Zurich, 2011

    Jonathan Carvajal, the winner of last week’s photo assignment “Backyard” made this week’s street photography weekly assignment: “Surreal“.

    Interpret “Surreal” however you would like, and upload your best (1) shot to my Facebook fan page by 11:59pm on Thursday (8/23). Know it isn’t a lot of time to shoot, but remember “Pressure makes diamonds“.

  • 3 Upcoming Street Photography Workshops in Japan (Intro, Intermediate/Advanced, Film) in Tokyo and Kyoto – November, 2012

    3 Upcoming Street Photography Workshops in Japan (Intro, Intermediate/Advanced, Film) in Tokyo and Kyoto – November, 2012

    (Above photo from my “Dark Skies Over Tokyo” series I shot last year in Tokyo)

    Hey streettogs, I am excited to announce that I will be teaching a series of 3-day street photography workshops in Tokyo and Kyoto with my  good friend Bellamy Hunt, aka Japan Camera Hunter.

    The first street photography workshop I did in Tokyo was last year, and it was a massive success. Passionate street photographers came from all across the globe, including the states, Europe, and Asia. We didn’t expect such a great turnout, but it was definitely one of the most memorable workshops I have taught.

    There is something unique about shooting street photography in Tokyo.

    The city has a sense of energy, a pulse, which inspires shooting street photography. The skyscrapers climb upwards endlessly, the colors are dazzling, qnd the streets never end with an infinite supply of people. It is quite unlike anywhere else in the world I have shot street photography.

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  • 10 Things Garry Winogrand Can Teach You About Street Photography

    10 Things Garry Winogrand Can Teach You About Street Photography

    (Above image: Garry Winogrand, World’s Fair, New York City, 1964. All photographs in this article copyrighted by the estate of Garry Winogrand)

    Garry Winogrand is one of my favorite street photographers that I have gained much photographic insight and wisdom from. He was in-arguably one of the most prolific street photographers of his time (he shot over 5 million photographs in his career) and one of the most passionate. However, he hated the term “street photographer” and simply saw himself as a “photographer”. It is an idea I later understood and respected very dearly, as Winogrand was more interested in making photographs than classifying himself for art historians.

    I never understood a lot of the things that he said about photography like why you should wait a year or two before developing your shots, why photographs don’t tell stories, and how photographers mistake emotion for what makes great photographs. Although I didn’t really get what he was saying, I was intrigued.

    After having done a ton of research on Winogrand and finding out more about his philosophy in photography, I found a treasure chest. Although I am not an expert on Garry Winogrand, he has influenced my street photography profoundly. I wish through this article to illustrate some things that Winogrand taught to his former students (the bulk of the quotes are from “Class Time with Garry Winogrand by O.C. Garza” [PDF] as well as “Coffee and Workprints: A Workshop With Garry Winogrand” by Mason Resnick).

    If you want to learn more about what you can learn from Garry Winogrand, read on!

    (more…)

  • 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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  • 5 Things Stephen Shore Can Teach You About Street Photography

    5 Things Stephen Shore Can Teach You About Street Photography

    Stephen Shore

    (All images in this article are copyrighted by Stephen Shore)

    While in Amsterdam I checked out the FOAM photography museum and picked up a book on Stephen Shore. For those of you who may not know, he is one of the early color pioneers in photography in America. Although his style is classified more as documentary and urban landscape, I think there is a lot of things we can learn from him as street photographers. If you are interested in learning more about color and street photography, read on!

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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!

  • Street Photography Weekly Assignment #7: “Backyard” Winners

    Street Photography Weekly Assignment #7: “Backyard” Winners

    Jonathan Carvajal

    The winner of last week’s challenge: “Emotion“, in which the winner Michael Meinhardt chose this week’s theme: “Backyard“.

    I took a look at the entries on my Facebook fan page, and congratulations to Jonathan Caravajal for winning this week’s assignment!

    The reason I really like Jonathan’s image is for several reasons:

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  • 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.

  • #AskMagnum: Video Interview with Bruce Gilden

    #AskMagnum: Video Interview with Bruce Gilden

    Click to see the video via the Magnum Blog (will not play here)

    Recently Magnum Photos has been doing a great initiative via their Facebook fan page and Twitter titled: #AskMagnum. They have been soliciting questions for Magnum Photographers and asking the best questions.

    They recently did a great interview/video slideshow with Bruce Gilden on their blog. The questions posed related to advice for street photographers, how he stays motivated to shoot new projects, as well as other interesting questions!

    Check it out the interview here. Also read more to see Bruce Gilden’s portfolio.

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  • Interview with Fabrice Catérini, Photojournalist based in Lyon and co-founder of Inediz

    Interview with Fabrice Catérini, Photojournalist based in Lyon and co-founder of Inediz

    Last year at the Leica Magnum event in Paris, I had the great pleasure of meeting Fabrice Catérini, an avid photojournalist based in Lyon who also enjoys to shoot street photography on the side.

    Fabrice was born in 1982 and has been working professionally with Claire Jeantet, another French photojournalist 2008. They founded their own agency, Inediz, dedicated to documentary photography and multimedia reports, often linked to conflict or crisis situations. From housing problems in France to the story of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, from the fate of migrants stuck in Greece to the struggle of a circus family, Inediz bears witness to the daily life of those who are facing injustice. Always looking for innovative ways of telling stories, they have been developing online multimedia documentaries since 2011.

    If you want more info on Fabrice’s personal path, check here. Read more to see his images!

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  • Interview with Benedicte Guillon, Parisian Street Photographer from the Mobile Photo Group

    Interview with Benedicte Guillon, Parisian Street Photographer from the Mobile Photo Group


    I had the great pleasure of being introduced to Benedicte Guillon from my mate Misho Baranovic, one of the founding members of the Mobile Photo Group.

    Benedicte is currently based in Paris, and I was able to interview her about starting off in street photography with an iPhone, her travels all around the world, as well as her inspirations. Check out the video interview above, and see some of her images from her different projects below!

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  • FREE Giveaway! MOO Business Cards and MiniCards!

    FREE Giveaway! MOO Business Cards and MiniCards!

    MOO has generously provided us with 2 sets of 100 Classic Business Cards and 2 sets of 200 MiniCards ($50.00 retail value each) for a give-away to four lucky readers of the blog!

    I really like MOO Cards for a number of reasons: they’re printed on high quality thick stock, the sizes are unique (the MiniCards are about 1/2 a regular sized business card and the Classic Business Cards are shorter and wider than them as well), and you can choose different images for each card and from images that are already linked to your Flickr account. Having business cards to hand out on the street can come in handy – it definitely can take away the ‘creep’ factor when someone asks what you are doing.

    To enter this awesome giveaway, all you need to do is:

    1. Share a link to the street photography photo you would like printed on your Moo Cards in the comment section below OR tweet the link and add @overheardatmoo #ekspmoocontest in the body of your tweet! AND
    2. Like me and Moo on Facebook.

    This contest will end Wednesday, August 15th, 2012. We’ll randomly pick four winners and announce it on the blog! Good luck to everyone!


  • 7 Things I Have Learned About Shooting Street Photography in Color

    7 Things I Have Learned About Shooting Street Photography in Color

    (Above photo: From my newly published “Downtown LA in Color” series)

    I have always shot street photography in black and white. After all, it is what all the classic street photographers did. Whenever looking at famous photographs shot by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Andre Kertesz, Garry Winogrand, and so forth they were always black and white.

    The last 6 months or so I have shot exclusively using color film (Portra 400). After about 5 years of shooting mostly black and white and now shooting mostly color I have learned a lot about the benefits and the difficulties of shooting in color. I have also discovered many influential early color photographers who have had a profound impact on myself.

    Curious? Read on.

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  • 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!

  • Breathe the Streets of Venice and Verona: Introduction to Design/Composition Workshop with Adam Marelli and Eric Kim (9/17-9/22)

    There are still spots open for my upcoming 5-day Design/Composition Street Photography Workshop in Venice/Verona with Adam Marelli 9/17-9/22. Adam is a phenomenal teacher, and has an incredible understanding and knowledge of design and composition. Having studied Sculpture and Photography from New York University, he has continued his education in the pursuit of art by studying at Barnstone Studios.

    This will be an incredible workshop that combines inspirational and practical hands-on learning, travel, and an experience you won’t forget. Keep reading for more info!

    A Secret Tradition

    Come explore the sun drenched side streets of Venice & Verona in a truly unique photography workshop. We will retrace the footsteps of the “Grand Tour” which was the foundation for any serious artist in the last three hundred years. During these formative trips painters like John Singer Sargent mastered Design, Composition, and Light to transform everyday street scenes into masterful works of Art.

    You and your camera will be led on a guided exploration to learn “How to See like a Master Artist.” Many of the design principles were reserved for serious artists and are never taught in photography programs. But in this special (5) day workshop (Sept 17-22), you will learn the secrets of Classical Design that pioneers like Henrì Cartier-Bresson inherited from drawing, to revolutionize the world of Photography.

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  • Street Photography Weekly Assignment #6: “Emotion” Winners

    Street Photography Weekly Assignment #6: “Emotion” Winners

    (Winning Photo: Michael Meinhardt)

    Eric: Congratulations to Michael Meinhardt for winning last week’s weekly assignment: “Emotion“. The reason I thought that this photo was the winning photograph was for several reasons.

    First of all, I feel that the emotion in Michael’s shot it is an emotion we can all relate with (envy, jealousy, and lust) related with material things (cars especially). The fact that it is a really high-end car (Bently) adds to the feeling of desire, and the man’s positioning in the frame is great (on the right) and the expression with his hands. Slouched over, dejected, having his hand over his eye in a look of despair. His balding hair suggests that he has been working for a while (as a middle-aged man), and the watch on the right hand to me is a symbol of his material wants (and running out of time?). The background reflections are quite beautiful aesthetically as well, and shows all the other people walking past him.

    2nd place image: Digoy Isleta

    The second-runner up is Digoy Isleta. The reason I enjoy this image is because of the great layers, depth, and (of course) emotion contained in the shot. The shot feels very three-dimensional, and has many things going on. First of all, the woman in the background looks lost and is grasping a mysterious hand coming out of the shadows (to show hope?) There is another random hand waving above her head, maybe to suggest for her to wake up and exit her daze? Also you one kid on the left (wearing the superman shirt) looking at her – perhaps a superman to save her? And the last boy on the far left, with his arm around the superman girl is looking straight at the photographer, making you feel like an active participant of the scene, rather than a voyeur.

    3rd runner-up: Longwen Chen

    The last winning shot is a photo by Longwen Chen that feels quite dystopic and surreal. The strong grain and grit makes for a nice backdrop, including the mysterious lines and shadows lurking from behind. I first see a young boy in the far left, screaming out – perhaps for his mother? Then enters the man on the left, who is giving a menacing stare to the photographer. He seems to ignore the child on the right (or seems unaware of him) and is exiting the frame. The man’s legs in a “V” shape adds to the composition of the photo. The tilt of the photo distracts me a bit (would have preferred it straighter) – but at the same time it adds to the uneasiness of the image.

    Congratulations to all the winners, and keep updated for next week’s assignment on my Facebook fan page! Let us also know what you think of the winning shots by leaving a comment below!  

  • Book Review: “Zona” – A Colorful Look into Siberian Prison Camps by Carl De Keyzer, Magnum Photographer

    Book Review: “Zona” – A Colorful Look into Siberian Prison Camps by Carl De Keyzer, Magnum Photographer

    Zona Carl De Keyzer Magnum

    (All photographs in the article are copyrighted by Carl De Keyzer / Magnum Photos)

    Finding good photography books is tough, but I am excited to share a personal favorite of mine. It is titled: “Zona: Siberian Prison Camps” – by Magnum Photographer Carl De Keyzer. When I first purchased my iPad, I was looking for photography books to download. One of my friends recommended the book to me and after downloading it, I was blown away. The color, composition, context, and storytelling was incredible.

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  • “Olympic Dreams”: A Project on the Physical and Mental Expectations of Young Children by James Dodd

    “Olympic Dreams”: A Project on the Physical and Mental Expectations of Young Children by James Dodd

    James Dodd Olympic Dreams

    Eric’s Note: James Dodd an award-winning Sheffield based photographer and founding member of Statement Images – a UK based photography collective and co-editor of Street Reverb Magazine. I met James personally a few months back when I was in London, and have been a huge fan of his documentary and street photography. Out of all the projects he has done , the one I was most fond of was his “Olympic Dreams” project. To find out more about James and his project, read on!

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  • 10 Tips For Traveling and Shooting Street Photography

    (Above photo from my “Dark Skies Over Tokyo” series)

    “The grass is greener on your side”

    When I started street photography, I resented the fact that I lived in Los Angeles. To me it was a boring, tired city that I lived in- and I wanted to go somewhere more exotic. I wanted to go to Paris, Tokyo, and New York – where the “real action” was for street photography.

    I have been to all of those places and while they are fantastic for shooting street photography, sometimes the grass is greener on your own side. However if you are still interested in some tips for traveling and shooting street photography, read on!

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  • “Walkers With the Dawn”: The Epidemic of Residential Fires in the Metro Detroit Area by Brian Day

    “Walkers With the Dawn”: The Epidemic of Residential Fires in the Metro Detroit Area by Brian Day

    Photobucket

    Eric’s Note: I am pleased to share the work of Brian Day, a street photographer based in Detroit, Michigan. I have had the great honor of meeting Brian several times – and he is an incredibly down-to-earth and honest guy. Not only that, but he is passionate about storytelling both the beauty and the struggles of the people in Detroit. 

    Brian Day: I was born and raised in Detroit, and currently live and work in the metro area. I have been shooting in and around Detroit for about 3.5 years, and tend to focus on black and white photography across a number of genres, including land/cityscape, conceptual, photojournalism and candid/street photography. Like many photographers, I’m working on a number of unfinished series, one of which is titled “Walkers With the Dawn”, centered around the epidemic of residential fires in the Metro Detroit area. (more…)

  • Weekly Assignment #6: Emotion

    Weekly Assignment #6: Emotion

    “Copyright: Henri Cartier Bresson / Magnum”

    Sorry for not having the weekly assignments up regularly, it will be back to usual every Tuesday! Please submit you images to Erics Facebook fan page here.

    So for this week the theme is “Emotion”, see how you can capture emotion on the street during everyday life! Make sure you submit your best image by Friday for a shot at being featured as the cover image for Erics Facebook page, as well as being featured on the blog next week!

  • How Studying Contact Sheets Can Make You a Better Street Photographer

    How Studying Contact Sheets Can Make You a Better Street Photographer

    (Two shots Henri Cartier-Bresson shot of the same scene. SPAIN. 1933. Andalucia. Seville. © The Estate of Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos)

    One of the biggest misconceptions I know runs rampart in street photography is the “myth of the decisive moment”. What do I mean when I talk about “the decisive moment” simply being a myth?

    Well of course there generally is a “decisive moment” when you hit the shutter – to capture that exact moment you desire in a photograph.

    However one of the common misunderstandings that plagued many street photographers (including myself) was that the decisive moment simply being one shot. After studying many contact sheets from Magnum Contact Sheets book, I was able to gain a new level of insight to read the mind of a street photographer.

    Curious? Read on.

    (more…)

  • Best Student Photos: Paris Street Photography Workshop

    Best Student Photos: Paris Street Photography Workshop

    Marco Gutierrez. Click to see on Facebook.
    Jerome Treize. Click to see on Facebook.
    Bianca van Vugt
    Ryo Ishikawa
    Eri Eschon

    I just finished my Introduction to Street Photography workshop in Paris, France and had a phenomenal time. Special thanks to Neil and Cindy for helping me coordinate the workshop, as well as Ludovic Maillard for being my co-teacher. I have to say that this was an incredibly memorable workshop – from the divine light in Paris, to the red wine during our feedback & critique session, as well as the great vibe & energy from all of the students and participants. I definitely hope to come back again soon – and thank the ghost of Henri Cartier-Bresson for blessing us with some phenomenal weather!

    Congratulations to Marco Gutierrez for winning the first prize in the workshop for the best shots, and to Jerome Treize for wining the runner-up prize!

    See all of the student Paris Street Photography Workshop Photos on Facebook >>

  • Layers, Light, and Color in Seoul: Interview with Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II

    Layers, Light, and Color in Seoul: Interview with Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II

    I have always been a fan of Arthur Quejadas II, seeing several of his images in the Hardcore Street Photography Group on Flickr. After interviewing Trevor Marczylo I had a chance to interview Arthur as well. Check out the interview and see how Arthur creates layers and depth in his images – and chases the light like Alex Webb.

    Color Street Photographs in Seoul by Arthur

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Street Photographer Arthur Quejadas II - Seoul Korea

    Follow Arthur

    If you enjoy Arthur’s work, make sure to add him as a contact on Flickr!

  • Interview on Expert Photography

    Interview on Expert Photography

    I recently got interviewed for Expert Photography which is run by Josh Dunlop. In the interview we discuss how I got started in street photography, how I would describe my style, as well as advice for aspiring street photographers. Check out the interview below if you have the chance!

    Interview with Street Photographer Eric Kim on Expert Photography >>

  • Interview with Street Photographer Trevor Marczylo in Seoul, Korea

    Interview with Street Photographer Trevor Marczylo in Seoul, Korea

    A few days ago I attended David Kim’s Film Photography Workshop in Seoul and was finally able to meet up Trevor Marczylo in person! I have featured Trevor’s work on the blog before, and he has also written articles on Why Street Photographers Should Print in the Darkroom, How to File Out Your Negative Holder, as well as his thoughts on What Makes a Great Street Photograph.

    Trevor moved out to Korea around 6 months ago from Winnipeg, Canada and has been shooting quite a bit of color work (compared to his black and white work in Canada).

    Take a moment to check out my interview in the video above, and scroll down to see his new color work in Korea!

    Color Work in Korea

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Trevor Marczylo Korea Color Street Photography

    Follow Trevor

    Which of Trevor’s new color images from Seoul are your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

  • How You Can Apply Sociology to Your Street Photography Projects

    How You Can Apply Sociology to Your Street Photography Projects

    Dark Skies Over Tokyo

    (One of the photographs from my new “Dark Skies Over Tokyo” project)

    As a sociology student at UCLA, I have learned many insightful things through my courses that I have applied to my street photography projects. If you are struggling with finding your own voice in street photography or how to construct a project- check out my post below. I discuss my personal experiences in sociology, how I applied those concepts to my street photography projects, as well as practical advice to those who want to learn more.

    I am also excited to announce my new “Dark Skies Over Tokyo” project that I shot in 2011 and just published.

    Curious? Read on!

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  • Behind The Scenes: Downtown LA Street Photography Workshop with Rinzi Ruiz and Student Photos

    Behind The Scenes: Downtown LA Street Photography Workshop with Rinzi Ruiz and Student Photos

    I am sad to say that I just had one of the last street photography workshops in Downtown LA for the near future. For those of you who don’t know, I will be moving to Michigan at the end of August to be with my girlfriend Cindy and support her with her academic career. Also have some good project ideas for shooting in Detroit as well!

    Here is some of the behind-the-scenes footage of my recent street photography workshop with Rinzi Ruiz which was focused on projects. The 3-day workshop was short, but intense – and focused on making a project in Downtown LA. 3 days isn’t nearly enough time to work on a serious project, but was a strong foundation for all of the workshop attendees.

    After Rinzi and I judged the workshop attendees projects, we decided that the work of Dan Manwaring was the winner- as his project was tightly edited, coherent, and told a lot about his character (he is a tough-looking guy with a soft heart). Runner-up was Darren Wong who shot a cliche topic (dogs) but did it from very unorthodox angles and created some fresh images.

    Read more to see all of the images!

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  • 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!  

  • How to Find Zen in Street Photography

    How to Find Zen in Street Photography

    Whisper , Mumbai, India 2011

    (“Whisper”. Mumbai, 2011)

    When it comes to street photography, it is easy to get caught-up in the hype of new cameras, spending too much time on blogs, and not enough time out shooting. I think one of the most difficult things in street photography is to find enough time to shoot and being able to also relax when out on the streets.

    I suffer lack of focus, obsession about gear, and also not enough time out shooting on the streets. It is a battle I constantly fight with myself to change. If you ever felt that you have had difficulty finding focus in street photography, hopefully this advice I will share will help you. Also included in the article is some of my unpublished work from 2011, hope you enjoy!

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  • A Street Photography Book You Must Buy: “The Suffering of Light” by Alex Webb

    Alex Webb’s recent book, “The Suffering of Light” is his seminal book encompassing his entire career shooting color street photography. During several decades he traveled across the world, primarily in Latin-American countries, using Kodachrome slide film to capture the intense color and light of the societies he visited. His images are full of life and are beautifully complex, and crosses many borders and dips into photojournalism and fine art as well.

    If you love street photography and are especially drawn to color, definitely pick up a copy of “The Suffering of Light” today. It is definitely one of my top-10 favorite street photography books of all time.

    Interested in learning more? Check out my blog post, “10 Things Alex Webb Can Teach You About Street Photography“.

    What draws you most into Webb’s work? Share your thoughts about his work in the comments below! 

  • An Inside Look into Ukraine, Russia, and Beyond: Street Photography by Thom Davies

    An Inside Look into Ukraine, Russia, and Beyond: Street Photography by Thom Davies

    Click to read more

    (Above Image Copyrighted By Thom Davies)

    Eric’s Note: I am pleased to feature the work of Thom Davies, a doctoral researcher as well street photographer. I first met him in the Flickr group “Grit & Grain” and have been following him ever since. What I find most interesting about his photography is his mix between documentary and street photography, as well as his ethnographic studies around the Chernobyl border region. Interested? Read on!

    Thom: I started shooting the street a few years ago after taking a photograph of a man selling paintings in Spain. He shouted at me and I decided that I did not care. It was the first purposeful ‘street shot’ I had taken and I’ve not looked back since. I think I’m quite a sociable man, but street photography for me is something that has to be done alone. Walking through cities with no other purpose than finding the strange or the unusual within the mundane realities of everyday-life. Anyway, you’re here on Eric Kim’s blog reading this, so there’s no need for me to explain the enduring attraction of street photography. There is a tension there though, that something so seemingly anti-social and solitary can document the social.

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  • Review of the Leica M-Monochrom for Street Photography

    Review of the Leica M-Monochrom for Street Photography

    Leica M Monochrom with Film

    Eric’s Note: This review of the pre-production model of the Leica M Monochrom isn’t going to be a technical review, but rather a practical one for street photographers who may be interested in the camera. 

    I’ll start off my preview of the Leica M-Monochrom with a story. I was ecstatic when I got in my inbox an invitation from Leica to attend their product launch in Berlin. I heard rumors about a new Leica M10, a black/white only camera, and some other stuff about the X2, etc. I always love being able to go to these events, meet other passionate photographers, as well as the good people at Leica.

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  • How To Give a Constructive Critique in Street Photography

    How To Give a Constructive Critique in Street Photography

    (Above image copyrighted by Fred Herzog)

    To become better in street photography (or anything in life), it is essential to get honest and constructive criticism. However the problem with the internet nowadays is that our attention spans are short, and the majority of the comments/feedback we get on our Facebook/Flickr streams include phrases such as, “Nice shot!”, “I love the light!”, or my personal favorite “What camera/lens do you use?”

    For this article I will try to give some suggestions and guidelines on how to give a constructive critique. Giving constructive critiques to others will not only help others, but it will also help you judge your images better as well.

    I also included inspirational images from Fred Herzog for this article, one of my favorite color street photographers at the moment. Hopefully his work will inspire you too!

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  • Street Photography Contest and Giveaway! Theme: “Identity”

    Street Photography Contest and Giveaway! Theme: “Identity”

    We street photographers constantly struggle with the concept of identity. We idolize certain photographers and their shooting and aesthetic styles, but sometimes we have difficulty carving out our own photographic identity. We are also, in a way, saying something about the identities of the people we photography in the style we choose to tell the story.

    For this exciting challenge, we want you to interpret the concept of “identity” in a street photography image and share it with the community.

    1. Take photos between now and July 15, 2012 and choose your single best shot related to the them and upload it to my Facebook Page before end of day on the 15th. You may choose to add a brief explanation or description of your photo.
    2. Myself, photographer Charlie Atkinson, and my Manager Neil Ta will choose the Top 10 images and place them into an album for the community to vote.

    PRIZES!

    Grand Prize Winner: The street photographer with the best image as chosen by the three judges will win a Retrospective 7 bag from thinkTHANK Photo (valued at $155 USD).

     

    People’s Choice: The photograph with the most likes at the end of day on July 22, 2012 will win a copy of Street Photography Now (valued at $30 USD), which is a quintessential part of any street photographer’s book collection!

    Remember submissions will end July 15th, 2012, so get out there and get shooting! Good luck to all!

    Any questions? Leave a comment in the questions below! 

     

  • Streettogs Gallery: An Analysis and a personal note of Jun Abe’s “Manila”

    Streettogs Gallery: An Analysis and a personal note of Jun Abe’s “Manila”

    Jun Abe's Manila

    Eric’s Note: Streettogs Gallery is an on-going feature and intiative by Manila-based street photographer A.G. De Mesa. Check out more info here.

    A.G.: Coming back from a small hiatus, I’m bringing you my analysis and some personal thoughts of Manila photographed by Jun Abe and published by Vaccum Press. I would like to apologize if the images of the book is bad, the actual book is absolutely brilliant. We’ll be back to regularly scheduled features next week!

    Manila, Philippines. August, 1983. Then President Ferdinand Marcos just lifted Martial Law a few years prior but still hold absolute power over the Philippines. The country was in a state of constant flux due to President’s’ aggressive development plans under his dictatorship. This dictatorship was met with heavy opposition from his political rivals. Most notable is Benigno “Ninoy”  Aquino Jr. It is in this month that Ninoy was shot dead in the then called Manila International Airport. With political turmoil and social instability plaguing the country, it was in this period when Jun Abe, armed with his camera, photographed the city of Manila.

    30 years later, Vaccum Press comes out with the photographs coming from that trip.

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  • Street Photography Weekly Assignment #5: View Point Winners

    Street Photography Weekly Assignment #5: View Point Winners

    (Above image by Nick Kenrick)

    Eric: Congratulations to Nick Kenrick for winning the Weekly Assignment #5 for “View Point”. Myself and Charlie loved the viewpoint that he captured from an unusually high vantage point, the simplicity of the leading lines, the complex curves, and the minimalism with that one man in the bottom.

    Runners-up include Antoine Brsslt, which reminds us of a classic Elliott Erwitt shot (shot from ground level), while Joe Aguirre got an impressive shot of a man from a low vantage point, with his arms crossed – looking tough, cigarette in-mouth.  Congrats again and stay tuned for this week’s assignment! All of the weekly winners demonstrate a strong viewpoint from high, mid, and low.

    Antoine Brsslt
    Joe Aguirre
  • “The Mexicans”: A Colorful 4-Month Odyssey Across 22 Mexican States and 15,000 Kilometers by Andrew Quilty (Interview)

    “The Mexicans”: A Colorful 4-Month Odyssey Across 22 Mexican States and 15,000 Kilometers by Andrew Quilty (Interview)

    Andrew Quilty The Mexicans

    Eric’s Note: I visited Australia about two months ago, and had the great pleasure of meeting Tamara Voninski, one of the founding members of Oculi, an award-winning Australian collective. On one of my last nights there, I met up and had a beer with some of the other members of Oculi, and met Andrew Quilty whose color work blew me away. His vision for photography was like a mashup between Robert Frank, Alex Webb, and Constantine Manos – documentary-based, elegant, and colorful.

    Quilty recently self-published a book titled: “The Mexicans” – an odyssey across Mexico where he captured searing insights into the life of the locals through their life & light. Interested in seeing the images and interview? Read on.

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  • What Kind of Street Photographer Are You? (Part 1)

    What Kind of Street Photographer Are You? (Part 1)

    garry winogrand - the animals

    (Above image © Garry Winogrand, from his book: “The Animals“)

    I just read a book titled: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, which was a book about introversion and the conflict they often encounter with extroverts in society. Reading the book as an extrovert, it gave me great insight on how introverts think, behave, and interact with the rest of the world from a psychological perspective.

    Being an extrovert myself, I often have a difficult time how introverts think, behave, and see the world. My girlfriend Cindy is an introvert, and I initially read the book to understand her better. In the end of reading the book, it gave me great insights about street photography as well, through better understanding different personality types. After chatting with my buddy Brian Sparks about the idea, he thought it would be a great idea to share this idea (he is an introverted street photographer). So special thanks for him for giving me the inspiration to write this.

    Interested to learn more? Read on.

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  • Escape to the Colorful and Exotic Streets of Istanbul: Street Photography 101 Workshop with Eric Kim, Charlie Kirk, and Andrew Kochanowski

    Escape to the Colorful and Exotic Streets of Istanbul: Street Photography 101 Workshop with Eric Kim, Charlie Kirk, and Andrew Kochanowski

    INTERESTED IN DISCOVERING ISTANBUL AND DOCUMENTING IT WITH UNFORGETTABLE PHOTOS?

    Ask yourself the following questions:

    1. Have you been cooped up behind the desk for too long?
    2. Has it been too long since you had a nice vacation?
    3. Do you love photography and travel?
    4. Do you want to walk the streets in a foreign land and have the confidence to capture images of people and places you only see in guide books and on TV?
    5. Do you want to meet other street photographers that are as equally passionate about street and travel photography who are interested in learning like you?

    If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, I am excited to announce my upcoming street photography workshop in Istanbul. Imagine the dusty roads with the soft golden light peeking through the sky, the colorful bazaars, the lively sound of the people and music in the streets, and the beautiful mosques covering the skyline. For those of who have never visited Istanbul, it is quite unlike any place you have ever been to—and one of the best places to shoot street photography in the world.

    For this unique workshop, I will be having street photographers Charlie Kirk and Andy Kochanowski as my co-teachers. This will be an incredibly interactive, comprehensive, and hands-on workshop which will be a strong primer to anyone interested in street photography or wanting to improve their current skills.

    Interested? Read on.

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  • Featured Street Photographer: AikBeng Chia from the Mobile Photo Group

    Featured Street Photographer: AikBeng Chia from the Mobile Photo Group

    (“All He Ever Wanted” – Copyright AikBeng Chia / MPG)

    Eric’s Note: I am proud to share the work of AikBeng Chia aka “ABC”. He is part of the MPG (Mobile Photo Group) and is currently shooting in Singapore. I had the great pleasure of meeting ABC when I was in Singapore for my last street photography workshop with Leica, and even more honored to have him as one of my guest speakers/co-teachers at the workshop as well! He has never had any formal training in photography, yet creates visually seductive images that are full of light, humanity, and soul. 

    ABC: My name is AikBeng Chia, aka ABC. I’m born on a little island called Singapore. I like to wander the streets of Singapore, allowing myself to be seduced by the scenes the city I live in provides me.

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  • FREE EBOOK: 31 Days to Overcome Your Fear of Shooting Street Photography

    FREE EBOOK: 31 Days to Overcome Your Fear of Shooting Street Photography

    Around a year or two ago I had this idea to write a free e-book on street photography, particularly one that was focused on overcoming your fear of shooting street photography. Over the course of that time, I have written a substantial amount on the topic, yet it sat in my folder on my computer. It simply felt too overwhelming in terms of how much I needed to edit the text, how to format the e-book, as well as what images to include.

    However when I was in Berlin, my friend Andreas Weeber mentioned the book – and when I was going to release it. I stopped dead in my tracks, and thought to myself: “Oh yeah, what ever happened to that book?”

    On my plane ride home, I then started editing it down further, and trying to prepare around an 80% completed project that I would simply share with others. After all, I think perfection is the enemy of getting things done.

    Info about the book

    As a disclaimer, the bulk of what I wrote for the book was several months ago – and some of my opinions have changed drastically during the time. However, I still think it will be a helpful resource to anybody who is having a difficult time overcoming their fear of shooting street photography. It is also unedited, full of typos, and grammatical errors.

    What I ask for you guys is if you could help me edit the book, make some suggestions, and leave them in the comments below. Also if anyone is interested in helping design a pretty-looking PDF version of it, please leave a comment below!

    Download

    These are the rough cuts of what I have available so far. I am releasing this content as open-source, free for you to pick apart, edit, and distribute freely. However what you are not allowed to do is to charge money for any part of the content in this book. Also I kindly request if you post any part of this book anywhere, please mention my name and link back to my blog.

    Below is the text of the excerpts of the book, in-case you don’t want to download the Doc file or the PDF file:

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  • Street Photography Weekly Assignment #5: View Point

    Street Photography Weekly Assignment #5: View Point

    (Copyright: two cute dogs)

    So for this week, the assignment is “View Point”! This was chosen by the winner of last weeks challenge Anna Delany. Upload your best 1 view point shot captured between now and this Friday to Eric’s Facebook fan page. We will choose the best shots and feature them on the blog!

    Now GO GO GO!

  • Why Validation is For Parking, Not Street Photography

    Why Validation is For Parking, Not Street Photography

    (Above image reads, “Somebody is watching you”. (From my Korea: The Presentation of Self series)

    I recently read a book titled, “Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity” – which was written by an author named Hugh MacLeod. The story goes that MacLeod was struggling and frustrated as a young copyrighter in NYC, and while living at the YMCA, started doodling on the back of business cards while sitting at a bar in mini-comics. His popularity lead to his popular blog, gapingvoid.com – and built a reputation for snarky yet insightful humor about society.

    He gives a ton of great advice in the book (I highly recommend everyone who is interested in creativity or need some inspiration to read it). One of the things that he says that really hit me in the chest was, “Validation is for parking”.

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  • Street Photography Weekly Assignment #4: “Legs” Winners

    Street Photography Weekly Assignment #4: “Legs” Winners

    (Above Image Copyrighted By Anna Delany)

    Charlie Atkinson: Hi guys, I hope everyone is having a good weekend, we decided that the photo above by Anna Delany has won the fourth week of the assignment series, so huge congratulations to her!

    We both really liked her image, as well as the runners up images below! I really liked Anna Delanys as I love the composition and the fact she manage to get the top right leg in the frame, this is my “cherry on top”. Next weeks assignment chosen by Anna Delany will be uploaded on Tuesday! (more…)

  • Review of the CSLR Glide Strap for Street Photography

    Review of the CSLR Glide Strap for Street Photography

    Custom SLR Glide Strap

    (Above image: my Leica MP and CSLR Glide Strap)

    In my 6 years of shooting street photography, I have experimented with lots of different straps. I tried neck straps, wrist straps, hand straps, and even no straps.

    Finding an ideal camera strap for street photography is very difficult. You need a strap that is discrete, comfortable, yet looks good.

    I was really excited when I first came upon the CSLR Glide Strap on the internet (I first heard about it through Kickstarter for their C-Loop). Their revolutionary idea at the time was why not take your camera strap off your neck (where it gets itchy and sticky) and put it over your shoulder instead? This way it could disperse more weight more evenly around your body.

    Not only that, they advertised a “gliding” mechanism that would allow you to quickly draw your camera (just like a gun-slinger out of a cowboy movie).

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  • Book Review: “Capitolio” by Christopher Anderson, Magnum Photographer

    Book Review: “Capitolio” by Christopher Anderson, Magnum Photographer

    Capitolio by Christopher Anderson

    (Above image from Capitolio.  © Christopher Anderon / Magnum Photos)

    One of the mottos that I have is “Buy Books, Not Gear“. Why? While buying gear is important in photography, the best “bang-for-the-buck” way to improve your photography is to buy lots of photography books to improve your photographic vision and insight. Many of us (including myself) can get sucked into “gear-porn” and worry too much about the equipment, rather than gaining inspiration and creating art.

    For this week, I wanted to review “Capitolio” by Magnum photographer Christopher Anderson.

    I picked up my copy of Capitolio via the iPad in the iTunes bookstore after being recommended by my buddy Bill Reeves. The word “Capitolio” refers to the domed building that houses a government. For example in Washington D.C., the Capitolio is set on top of Capitol Hill. For this book, Christopher Anderson set out to Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela.

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  • 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!

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  • “Develop Your Unique Street Photography Project” Workshop with Eric Kim and Rinzi Ruiz in Downtown LA (6/29-7/1)

    “Develop Your Unique Street Photography Project” Workshop with Eric Kim and Rinzi Ruiz in Downtown LA (6/29-7/1)

    STUCK IN A CREATIVE RUT AND LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION TO TAKE YOUR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

    I’m really excited to announce that I will be teaching a 3-day  (6/29-7/1) street photography workshop in Downtown LA at the Hatakeyama Gallery. I will be teaching this street photography workshop alongside my close friend and colleague Rinzi Ruiz. Rinzi has a phenomenal eye for light, shadows, and excels at shooting in black and white for his street work. He has also taught alongside me for several workshops and has had great feedback from prior students.

    This is the last street photography workshop I will be teaching in Los Angeles until middle of next year (I’m moving to Michigan at the end of August), so make sure to attend before you miss your chance!

    This will be an intensive 3 day workshop focusing on developing and executing short and long term photography projects.  While the course is open to photographers of any ability, we suggest that intermediate photographers looking to advance to the next level would benefit most from this course.

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  • Reality Through Abstract Visual Puzzles: An Interview With John Goldsmith, Vancouver-Based Street Photographer

    Reality Through Abstract Visual Puzzles: An Interview With John Goldsmith, Vancouver-Based Street Photographer

    John Goldsmith

    (Above image by John Goldsmith)

    Eric’s Note: I recently had the pleasure of interviewing John Goldsmith, a street photographer based out of Vancouver. He is part of the strange.rs collective, and has also recently released a book, “Drop Out of Art School“. Goldsmith is one of the most prolific and valuable members in the street photography community and is always on the breaking edge of innovation.

    I had the chance to ask him a few questions about his history in street photography, his work, and some of his future aspirations. If you want to gain lots of insight from his way of working, read on.

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  • 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.

  • Street Photography Weekly Assignment #4: Legs

    Street Photography Weekly Assignment #4: Legs

    (Above Image Copyrighted By Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum)

    So for this week, the assignment is legs! This was chosen by the winner of last weeks challenge Giovanni Savino. Upload your best 1 legs shot captured between now and this Friday to Eric’s Facebook fan page. We will choose the best shots and feature them on the blog!

    Now GO GO GO!

  • 101 Inspirational Street Photography Quotes

    101 Inspirational Street Photography Quotes

    (Above Image Copyrighted By Steve McCurry / Magnum Photos)

    Charlie Atkinson: So for this weeks post I thought I would share my favorite quotes from some of my favorite photographers as well as a few others that can be applied to photography as well! They are also not in any particular order, this post is by me as well (not Eric!) as I think there was some confusion on the last gear post I did :). Enjoy!

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  • Breathe the Streets of Venice and Verona: Introduction to Design/Composition Workshop with Adam Marelli and Eric Kim (9/17-9/22)

    Venice Verona Street Photography Workshop Adam Marelli Eric Kim

    Eric’s Note: I am excited to announce that I will be teaching a 5-day workshop in Venice/Verona with NYC street photographer Adam Marelli. Adam Marelli has a keen eye for design, composition, and capturing “the decisive moment”. He holds a degree in Sculpture and Photography from New York University and studied at the Barnstone Studios. If you are serious about your street photography, and wanting to take it to the next level – check out this unique workshop opportunity! 

    A Secret Tradition

    Come explore the sun drenched side streets of Venice & Verona in a truly unique photography workshop. We will retrace the footsteps of the “Grand Tour” which was the foundation for any serious artist in the last three hundred years. During these formative trips painters like John Singer Sargent mastered Design, Composition, and Light to transform everyday street scenes into masterful works of Art.

    You and your camera will be led on a guided exploration to learn “How to See like a Master Artist.” Many of the design principles were reserved for serious artists and are never taught in photography programs. But in this special (5) day workshop (Sept 17-22), you will learn the secrets of Classical Design that pioneers like Henrì Cartier-Bresson inherited from drawing, to revolutionize the world of Photography.

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  • 25 Talented Street Photographers You Should Follow on Flickr

    25 Talented Street Photographers You Should Follow on Flickr

    Light Bulb

    (“Light bulb” by Lesley Ann Ercolano) 

    Recently Complex put out a list titled “The 50 Greatest Street Photographers Right Now” which has caused quite the stir. Although I was happy to see my name on the list, I was a bit embarrassed to see my name there as half of the people included weren’t even what I would consider street photographers.

    I chatted with a few people online, and thought it may be a good idea to make a list of 50 street photographers people should follow on Flickr – who may not be as well known. However after crunching away at this for around 5 hours, I only have enough mental energy for 25. Some of the names you may recognize, and others you may not. Regardless check out the fresh talent in the street photography community on Flickr!

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  • Street Photography Weekly Assignment #3: “One Liners” Winners

    Street Photography Weekly Assignment #3: “One Liners” Winners

    (Above Image Copyrighted By Giovanni Savino)

    Hi guys, I hope everyone is having a good weekend, after talking to Eric we decided that the photo above by Giovanni Savino has won the third week of the assignment series, so huge congratulations to him!

    We both really liked his image, as well as the runners up images bellow! I really liked Giovanni Savinos as I straight away saw the visual pun that he intended to capture as well as the mans facial expression sitting next to the guy on the bus. Next weeks assignment chosen by Giovanni Savinos will be uploaded on Tuesday!

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  • Interview with Chun Tong Chung from the Mobile Photo Group in Amsterdam

    Interview with Chun Tong Chung from the Mobile Photo Group in Amsterdam

    Eric’s Note: Chun Tong Chung is a street photographer, part of the Mobile Photo Group, currently living and working in Berlin, but from Amsterdam. When I visited Amsterdam, the stars aligned and we were able to meet up (and I even crashed for a night at his pad!) He is able to capture beautiful fleeting moments of the everyday with his mobile device (iPhone 3GS) and focuses less on the technology, and more on the shooting. Check out the interview I was able to do with him above, and check out his images below.

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  • 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!
  • Interview with Mehdi Bouqua, Raw Los Angeles Street Photographer

    Interview with Mehdi Bouqua, Raw Los Angeles Street Photographer

    Eric’s Note: Had a chance to interview my boy Mehdi Bouqua, a street photographer based out of Los Angeles. We met first via the internet, when I came upon his Raw Street Portraits series. We realized that we both lived in Los Angeles, met up, and had a blast hanging out and shooting together. His interest in art first stemmed from street photography and street art, and now he pursues his love of photography through the streets and its surroundings. Did I mention the crazy guy can speak four languages? French, English, Arabic and Spanish? Check out the interview above and some of his images below.

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  • “Office”: The Chaos and Alienation of Office Life by by Lars Tunbjörk (Book Review)

    “Office”: The Chaos and Alienation of Office Life by by Lars Tunbjörk (Book Review)

    Lars Tunbjork Office

    (Image from “Office”. © Lars Tunbjork)

    I recently came upon the work of Lars Tunbjörk from my buddy Mattias Leppäniemi, a Swedish documentary photographer. What I love about his style is that he is able to effectively combine the energy and grit of street photography, yet make a statement about society through the rigor of the documentary approach.

    In his project “Office” he captured perfectly the monotony, chaos, and sense of alienation that offices give the modern-day office worker. Having worked in an office myself, it is fascinating to see this strange social world as an outsider.

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  • Hybernation: Can Places Have a Soul Without People? A Project by Dutch Street / Documentary Photographer Jeroen Helmink

    Hybernation: Can Places Have a Soul Without People? A Project by Dutch Street / Documentary Photographer Jeroen Helmink

    (Above Image Copyrighted By: Jeroen Helmink)

    Jeroen Helmink is a Dutch documentary / street photographer. After a corporate career of 15 years, his love for photography led him to a new way of living. It was only two years ago he decided to dedicate all of his time to photography and explore the streets as a full time photographer.

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