{"id":68839,"date":"2017-11-07T09:48:12","date_gmt":"2017-11-07T17:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=68839"},"modified":"2017-11-07T09:48:12","modified_gmt":"2017-11-07T17:48:12","slug":"the-street-photography-manifesto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/07\/the-street-photography-manifesto\/","title":{"rendered":"The Street Photography Manifesto"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mad
Mad men. NYC, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is street photography, why is street photography important, who gets to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153define\u00e2\u20ac\u009d street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and what makes a great street photograph?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

CONQUER YOUR FEARS AND MEET NEW PEERS ><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You make your own rules in street photography<\/h2>\n
\"Kyoto,
Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To start, you must define \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for yourself.<\/p>\n

For myself, I define street photography as documenting humanity in public spaces.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Street
Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To me, I am a street sociologist<\/a>, or perhaps a street philosopher. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not really interested in pictures; I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m more interested in people.<\/p>\n

Why I shoot street photography<\/h2>\n
\"Kyoto,
Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shooting street photography is a way for me to better understand people, society, and humanity. The purpose of street photography isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t to make good pictures\u00e2\u20ac\u201d it is to have a deeper appreciation, understanding, and love for humanity.<\/p>\n

Therefore to start off, the good street photographer is the one that loves humanity.<\/p>\n

A good street photographer is DYNAMIC<\/h2>\n
\"Flash
Flash umbrella street photograph with red and blue. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A good street photographer is also brave, confident, and fearless<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A good street photographer knows when to be aggressive to get the shot, but also knows when to stop, slow down, and actually talk and interact with people.<\/p>\n

\"Silhouette.
Silhouette. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A good street photographer has a strong understanding of visual art and aesthetics. A good street photographer knows how to position themselves, where to stand, when to take a picture, and from which perspective \u00e2\u20ac\u201d to make dynamically compelling compositions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A good street photographer also seeks to make street photos with dynamic emotions<\/a>. A good street photographer seeks to make pictures which AFFECT the viewer \u00e2\u20ac\u201d which makes the viewer change how they see or perceive the world. A good street photographer INFLUENCES the heart and mind of the viewer and encourages the viewer to see the world more keenly, more observantly, and with more appreciation.<\/p>\n

Be proud of yourself as a street photographer<\/h2>\n
\"Dots.
Dots. Abstract street photograph. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a street photographer, we need to create our own table of values for ourselves. We need to figure out how we, as individuals, like to shoot street pictures. We cannot look at others to just copy their style \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we need to learn how to define our own style<\/a> in street photography, our own approach, and to not be ashamed of ourselves.<\/p>\n

Make your own rules in street photography for yourself<\/h2>\n
\"Woman
Woman with vent on head. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A street photographer should come up with their own code of ethics\u00e2\u20ac\u201d only for themselves, and not to superimpose their ethics and philosophy onto others. Of course, a street photographer will always be opinionated, and think their method is the best\u00e2\u20ac\u201d but ONLY FOR THEM, NOT FOR OTHER STREET PHOTOGRAPHERS.<\/p>\n

Therefore a good street photographer is NOT DOGMATIC. A good street photographer acknowledges and realizes that everyone can and should shoot street photography for themselves, in their own style and working method.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A street photographer is harsh towards themselves, but open, and tolerant of other street photographers.<\/p>\n

Child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mind in street photography<\/h2>\n
\"Boy
Boy with pink soccer ball. Uji, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A good street photographer is curious. A good street photographer is like a child, roaming the streets with an innocent and pure eye \u00e2\u20ac\u201d like seeing the streets for the first time.<\/p>\n

A good street photographer follows their own intuition \u00e2\u20ac\u201d follows their sense of smell, and goes to new streets, paths, and alleyways which interest them.<\/p>\n

A good street photographer wants to impress themself<\/h2>\n
\"Man
Man with red hat. Tokyo, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A good street photographer only photographs what interests him or herself. A good street photographer is the ultimate judge whether a picture is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or not\u00e2\u20ac\u201d by looking at their own street photograph and asking themselves,<\/p>\n

\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Do I like my own pictures?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The street photographer seeks like-minded peers<\/h2>\n
\"New
New Orleans, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A good street photographer doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really care whether he or she \u00e2\u20ac\u0153pleases\u00e2\u20ac\u009d their audience or followers\u00e2\u20ac\u201d they first care to please themselves.<\/p>\n

They don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seek to make generic street photographs that will gain a huge following. Rather, they seek to find other like-minded street photographers, and to create their own inner-circle or community.<\/p>\n

A good street photographer doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t complain<\/h2>\n
\"Woman
Woman with thick glasses and green hat. BART, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A good street photographer knows that he or she has unlimited possibilities. That they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to live in a super exotic or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153interesting\u00e2\u20ac\u009d city like Tokyo, London, or New York City.<\/p>\n

A good street photographer knows that they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t neeed to photograph only people. That they should photograph buildings, objects, and things they see in their everyday life. That their job is to document, analyze, and record human history – through urban landscapes<\/a>, architecture<\/a>, human-made inorganic objects, and traces of humanity.<\/p>\n

The good street photographer loves life<\/h2>\n
\"Laughing
Laughing lady. NYC, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Above all, the street photographer is a lover and an affirmer of life. The street photographer has an incredible and superfluous, and overwhelming sense of JOY, EXCITEMENT, and OPTIMISM for life.<\/p>\n

The great street photographer is the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153yes sayer\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to life\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and everything that promotes growth, progress, and evolution in humanity, or the human spirit.<\/p>\n

The great street photographer is you.<\/p>\n

BE STRONG,
\nERIC<\/p>\n

CONQUER YOUR FEARS AND MEET NEW PEERS ><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101<\/a><\/h1>\n

\"Tokyo,<\/p>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re new to street photography, start here:<\/p>\n