Street Photography

Note from the Photographer:

Street Photography is a controversial and often debated genre of photography. The voyeuristic aspects and feel, the lack of consent to be observed in public spaces, the use of images and likeness in professional work, surveillance, and so on. Listen, I'm not numb to the complicated nature of this debate. In fact, I'd much rather take photos without people in them. I don't understand people or their motives outside of the learned patterns and behaviors I've accumulated over the years. However, as the spaces I go are often shared, it is inevitable that people will wander into my framing.

As a result, I decided to make it intentional. Rather than finding a composition I want and then waiting for people to move (which didn't always happen), I would just take the photo with the people in it. I didn't particularly like the images at first, but I began to learn a lot about the genre and people in general.

What started as an exercise became a whole new aspect of photography for me. It had other benefits as well - my resilience in social settings increased and I would engage in social outings (if not with people, then at least with events). I had a way to be a part of society without directly interacting, finding a way to slow things down and try to understand people.

It also became a way to portray life as it is and as it is happening. The photos can work as a time capsule, in a way, to capture style, trends, social norms, as well as moods.

Enjoy!

-Doc