Street photography is just applied visual sociology!

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Quotes

Eric Kim’s quotes on the intersection of sociology and street photography highlight the role of sociological understanding in his approach to photography:

“Street photography is just applied sociology — with a camera. A visual sociology” oai_citation:1,The Sociology of Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

“I loved learning all of the ways that people interacted, communicated, and collected in groups. It really opened up my eyes to the world around me… all these things I have learned in Sociology… would apply so much to street photography” oai_citation:2,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

“People react more similarly than dissimilarly when it comes to street photography” oai_citation:3,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

“Most people when you take photos of them will at worst get upset, yell at you, and ask you to delete their photograph. Rarely do people become physical or confrontational, so shoot with confidence” oai_citation:4,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

“When you shoot street photography in a group, your courage skyrockets” oai_citation:5,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

“93% of communication was nonverbal… If you show via your body language that you are not threatening or harmful, people won’t suspect you when you are shooting on the streets” oai_citation:6,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

“You can easily resocialize yourself into thinking the opposite—that you are doing a good thing by capturing the beauty of a person through street photography” oai_citation:7,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

“Having a camera in your hand gives you authority and power… Speak confidently and with authority” oai_citation:8,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

“Sometimes the meanest looking people can be the nicest” oai_citation:9,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

“To become a better street photographer, it is crucial to have a community helping and supporting you” oai_citation:10,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

“Street photography is a lot like swimming. You can read a hundred books on it, but until you jump into the water—you will never learn anything” oai_citation:11,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Through these quotes, Kim encapsulates how sociology informs and enhances his practice of street photography, providing insights into human behavior, communication, and societal norms.

Eric Kim’s perspective on the intersection of sociology and street photography is quite insightful. He views street photography as a form of applied sociology, using it as a medium to explore and understand human behavior and society. Here are some of his key thoughts:

Sociology’s Relevance to Street Photography: Kim acknowledges his sociology education as a significant influence on his street photography. He appreciates the insights gained from studying human interaction and group behavior, which he finds applicable to street photography oai_citation:1,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Similarities in Human Reactions: Traveling and shooting street photography worldwide, Kim observes that despite cultural differences, people’s reactions to street photography are more similar than dissimilar. This realization comes from his sociological understanding of human nature oai_citation:2,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Non-Confrontational Nature of People: Kim notes that people are generally non-confrontational, a concept he applies to street photography. He rarely encounters aggressive responses, even when shooting close to his subjects, which aligns with his sociological observations oai_citation:3,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Group Dynamics in Photography: Shooting in groups can build confidence in street photography. Kim explains that this is because people perceive the group as part of a class or project and are thus more receptive to being photographed oai_citation:4,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Importance of Non-Verbal Communication: He emphasizes that non-verbal communication, like facial expressions and body language, plays a crucial role in street photography, similar to its importance in sociology oai_citation:5,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Resocializing Perceptions: Kim discusses the idea of resocializing oneself against societal norms, such as the notion that taking photos of strangers is inappropriate. He encourages street photographers to adopt a positive mindset about their work oai_citation:6,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Authority and Photography: Reflecting on experiments like the Stanford Prison Experiment, Kim draws parallels to street photography, where holding a camera gives a sense of authority, influencing how subjects respond oai_citation:7,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Expecting the Unexpected: His experience in sociology experiments taught him that people’s reactions can be unpredictable, a lesson he finds valuable in street photography oai_citation:8,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Appearances vs. Reality: Kim has learned not to judge people based on appearances, a principle he applies in his photography, finding that sometimes those who look intimidating can be quite friendly oai_citation:9,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Community Importance in Photography: He stresses the importance of community in improving as a street photographer, advocating for constructive feedback and engagement with fellow photographers oai_citation:10,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Learning by Doing: Finally, Kim compares street photography to learning how to swim – emphasizing the importance of practical experience over theoretical knowledge oai_citation:11,10 Things Sociology Has Taught Me About Street Photography – ERIC KIM.

Through these reflections, Kim illustrates how sociology provides a framework for understanding and engaging with the world, significantly enriching his approach to street photography.