Feb 14 2007
Street photography
I have always admired photographers for their ability to disappear in a crowd and by doing so enabling themselves to photograph people who have no idea they are being photographed.
Armed with a small camera and a grayish coat they become chameleons who spy on life and add order and beauty to it.
Maybe one has to have a specific type of personality to be able to do so. I could wear a gray coat and even if I would completely hide my camera I would still be noticed. I am a studio photographer at heart. My main quality is establishing a direct contact with the model I photograph.
This method of confrontation is a handicap in street photography.
Lately I have been focused on video and the rare opportunities to photograph occur when I am on my way to a location to shoot video. My camera is strapped to my shoulder and it is rather large. It really sticks out — in fact it should alienate people and it does, but just before that happens there are one or two seconds during which the person I walk up to is considering options. In this ultra-short period of time a situation evolves that is almost comparable to a studio setup. The person being photographed is well aware of the camera and there is eye contact, but he or she is not ready to strike a pose — or to duck.
I love those one or two seconds.
