What Drew Me to Street Photography
My first formal introduction to photography was in a film photography class I took in high school. I had a ton of fun in that class (and quite a few frustrations with screwing up my film). I had a great teacher (thank you, Mr. Putnam!) and fun classmates.
I really didn’t know what subjects to photograph at the time, so I ended up taking pictures of my friends. I’m not sure if I still have any of those photographs kicking around in a box somewhere.
It wasn’t until maybe five or so years later that I was truly bitten by the photography bug. There was a speech that my friend was giving in college, and he wanted some photos of it. I started looking into some tutorials on how to photograph an event or a speech like this, and while I only photographed the speech on my phone, just that was enough to rekindle and ignite my passion for photography.
I also made a video version of this blog here:
Becoming Aware of Street Photography
As I was learning about general photography, I learned about all the genres: landscapes, portraiture, sports, weddings, and finally, street photography. I was interested in the typical types of photography associated with local photography businesses because in my mind at the time, that would allow me to avoid having a boss.
But when it came to street photography, it didn’t really have anything to do with making a living. It was just pure art. I think from the first time I heard the term “street photography,” I was enamored. It sounded so gritty, edgy, and real. I loved how street photography improved my ability to notice and appreciate the world around me.
I was consumed with learning all about it. Over ten years later, I still am to this day.
Learning About the Genre’s Great Photographers
Learning about street photographers was a fascinating process. Every great street photographer had their own unique style and way of seeing the world. They inspired me to get out on the streets to start creating my own body of work.
I’ve always been interested in stories about real life. I love documentaries, biographies, and autobiographies. Truth is often stranger than fiction. So learning about street photographers, their upbringings, their lives, their personalities, and their photographic process was almost as interesting as their street photography work itself.
Some of the photographers I discovered early on were:
I later gravitated to street photographers like:
Authenticity
A big part of what drew me to street photography was its authenticity. Many of the images we see are polished and Photoshopped. Images for ads and marketing.
Street photographs, by contrast, show real life in all its gritty glory. Warts and all. There’s something about this that is much more intriguing to me than perfectly fake images of something beautiful. Street photography is a breath of fresh air in comparison.
I loved how with street photography, it takes these fleeting, unplanned moments and makes them into art. Turning real life into art is no easy feat. So not only was I captivated by the pictures I was seeing, I also found it very impressive what street photographers were able to do.
The Adventure and Discovery
Not long after learning about street photography, I knew this was something I had to do for myself. That fit well with me because I love learning about the history and the place where I live. I also love traveling and discovering new places.
You can live in a place for a very long time and not really, truly know it. With street photography, you get out on the streets and you learn every street, intersection, back alley, you name it.
It’s not just the adventure either. It’s also great to simply get outside, experience the real world, and be active. Street photography requires tons of walking, which is perfect for me, because I love walking. Street photography is a great excuse to walk.
How it Makes You Live in the Moment
When I do street photography, I forget about all of my worries and just focus on taking photos. I take in my surroundings, looking for subjects and backgrounds that catch my eye.
Call me corny, but it’s a bit zen-like.
These Things Will Keep Me Going into the Future
When I get unmotivated to do street photography, it’s often because I’ve temporarily forgotten about these things. Whenever street photography is at the forefront on my mind, even if it’s just going through the works of my favorite photographers, it makes me motivated to get out and do it.
That’s usually the biggest hurdle - is just taking that first step and getting outside to do it. From there, I quickly get in the zone and everything is gravy.
