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East Village Stories

August 7, 2021 (updated August 7, 2021)

East Village Stories

Nearly ten years ago, I reached out to a local neighborhood blog asking if I could do a new feature for them, stopping, interviewing, and photographing people on the street.

What followed was a weekly 5.5 year project of nearly 200 interviews called East Village Stories. The project became an oral account of the last handful of decades in one of the most vibrant communities in the city.

Complete strangers opened up about their past and the neighborhood, took me around, and many even took me into their homes and businesses. It was one of the most fascinating experiences of my life.

I’m sharing these stories to give you some motivation, and an understanding that people want to open up. This is fun for them too.

My most exhausted days, where I would want to do anything but stand on a corner harassing people for a story, often led me to find the most incredible people. Pushing myself to do it turned into the most wonderful experiences. A couple of the people below I would start to see all over the neighborhood and have many more conversations.

Now of course your stories don’t need to be this involved. And to keep your attention, the few stories I chose below are some of the most unbelievable.

I don’t want you to think this is what you need to do. Everyday people have fantastic stories. And just getting a person to open up for a short bit will often help to yield an incredible portrait.

The camera is just a tool. It’s just a tool that will give you an excuse to meet someone.

Give it a go, push yourself a bit, and you will create some memorable experiences.

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Mundane Challenge – Recap

July 24, 2021 (updated July 24, 2021)

Mundane Challenge - Recap

For this recap, I think saying less is more.

We all, myself especially, waxed poetic about what was mundane and what wasn’t, but in the end… whatever.

Thinking about what was mundane and what wasn’t was just to get you to open up and think more about your everyday world for inspiration.

What matters is taking interesting photos. And in the photographic world, mundane can be interesting, extremely interesting, but where the photo stands on the mundane-meter just doesn’t matter.

Here were the photos that stood out the most for me, although this was a hard challenge to choose, especially when thinking about my own biases for what was truly mundane.

My feelings were that the mundane photo be a scene of some sort – something everyday, but still a photo that felt like part of the everyday world.

Although you’ll see some great examples that slipped through that definition.

And it had to be a good photo. Something you’d want to look at. Even though I can see the argument for taking photos that people don’t want to look at.

The photos below to me were interesting, but showed objects with less of this context.

But they’re still interesting photos, and placed all together, I find the photos all grow together.

And here were the others that I thought stood out, although some hit higher on the mundane meter than others.

Next challenge will be announced in the next week!

Photo Links!

  1. Nick Meyer Q&A
  2. Twitter Thread: My Favorite Photographers and Their Cameras
  3. Everyone Has a Theory About Shopping Carts
  4. The Anti-Nostalgia of Walker Evans

The 8 Stages That Every Street Photographer Goes Through

June 28, 2021 (updated July 3, 2021)

The 8 Stages That Every Street Photographer Goes Through

Happy 4th everyone! And Canada Day! Hope you’re taking some time off, and some photographs.

Don’t forget to email me your Mundane Challenge photos to [email protected]. The deadline is this Monday, but if you need a few extra days, that’s okay.

We’ve been so serious about everything lately, waxing poetic about the mundane, that I think it’s time to lighten things up.

An easier read for today.

Here’s a description of the progression of your everyday street photographer. Please take this as tongue in cheek.

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Let’s Talk About Traditional Street Photography

June 26, 2021 (updated June 26, 2021)

Let's Talk About Traditional Street Photography

First of all, I really enjoyed the photobook talks we had recently. I learned so much about The Local from all of you.This is going to be a regular feature coming up. 

The next book meeting I think we’re going to schedule a few site-wide hangouts to make it work for people in different time zones. I’m thinking of alternating these book meetings between the group meetings and site-wide as I’d like to balance the group dynamic with also having flexible meeting times for everyone.

Now lately we’ve been covering a full range of topics surrounding street photography, especially how to do this in quiet places, suburban places, in your home, etc.

But I don’t want to leave the more traditional street photography out – the candid people photography, the decisive moment, the serendipitous, whatever you may call it. 

Here are some thoughts and ideas that I wanted to talk about regarding this aspect of street photography.

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How to Approach a Good Photobook

June 12, 2021 (updated June 17, 2021)

The Local by Nick Meyer

How to Approach a Good Photobook

We had an interesting conversation this week comparing two photos. It’s an eye-opening thread. Which one do you like best and do you like them at all? And there was a great followup discussion about two quotes related to ideas of context brought up during the comparison.

I think we’ll share some member work in this way soon to get some community critiques as it’s fascinating to see everyone’s thoughts.

—–

Since we will be starting more hangouts based on projects and photobooks, I thought I’d write about things to think about when going through a book.

The photobook is an artform inside the artform of photography. It transforms the individual photograph and can give it more power to tell a story, create an emotion, or push along a narrative.

Whether creating a project or reading a photobook, you can see that a whole new set of parameters exist. How do you most effectively tell a story? What’s the right amount of photographs to use? Do you show a broad array of photography (portraits, closeups, wide environmental shots for instance), or do you keep the type of photography very tight and consistent? How much work do you allow the viewer to do to figure out the story? And how do you sequence the work for maximum effect?

It’s a tough puzzle to figure out. This post is going to ask more questions than give answers.

Here are some thoughts about photo books.

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Talking About Photographs, Part 3

June 5, 2021 (updated June 5, 2021)

I met Zachary on the Manhattan Bridge while giving a workshop. She was hanging out there smoking weed and agreed to let me photograph her. We all had a nice conversation about photography and art.

But getting the right photograph was extremely difficult. The pole of the bridge was in the way and she either gave me some good poses (which were too posed) or she was engrossed in the conversation so much that it was tough to get her to stay in the right position or engage the camera in the right way.

So we kept talking and I’d occasionally put my camera up to ask her to hold a position or to put her hands on the bars. I really wanted to see her rings. And I kept getting closer with the composition as we went on.

Finally, I got the one I wanted with the last photograph at the last moment that could have worked – She was engaged here but also lost in thought with a poignant expression.

Sometimes taking portraits like this can feel like walking on a tightrope.

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Just Get the Words on the Page – Motivation and Photography

May 29, 2021 (updated May 29, 2021)

Stephen Greenberg

Just Get the Words on the Page - Motivation and Photography

It was very interesting to read through all the comments on your biggest struggles with your photography.

Thank you to everyone for opening up – there’s power and inspiration in everyone coming together like this and being open and honest. And it helps to hear we’re not alone in these issues.

I share a lot of your struggles, and my biggest one right now is slowing down. It’s getting tougher to leave behind the chaos and speed of regular life, clear my head, and focus when I’m out photographing.

It’s so hard to turn the brain off, slow down, and just go with the flow, but it’s so necessary.

David Robertson

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Challenge Results – Showing Emotion in the Inanimate

May 22, 2021 (updated May 31, 2021)

Elisa Carandina

Challenge #4 Results - Showing Emotion in the Inanimate

*The next challenge will be announced during the week, so keep an eye out for that!

Here are the challenge selections for Challenge #4 – there were so many entries (260 photos in total) that I couldn’t show them all – and I don’t think that would have been beneficial anyway.

So I narrowed them down and split them into categories: color, black & white, objects, and an example edit.

Just because some of your photos didn’t make it here doesn’t mean they weren’t good. I did my best to choose photos I related to. And there were some good photographs I left out because they didn’t really fit the challenge.

This was a hard challenge. Alec Soth spoke about not trying to force things with your photography, and I think this was a challenge that made people force things. But I still think it was an important challenge to open your eyes to this sensibility in your work.

Jonathan Snyder

But you can’t force emotion. It comes when it comes and it builds naturally.

While individual images can certainly have emotion to them, I think that the most effective emotions can be built up through a sequence and body of work.

It’s the time, the nuance, the intimacy, the succession of photos that ultimately can create the most emotion and we were lacking all those factors in the constraints of the challenge timeframe here.

So while there are many fantastic photos, it was sometimes tough to escape that forced feeling. But going forward, I think these sensibilities will grow naturally in your work.

 

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Important Tips for Candid Street Photography, Inspiration, May 15th

May 15, 2021 (updated May 15, 2021)

Quick Salon Updates

*If you missed it, there is a new guide called The 10 Commandments of Commenting (and Posting). It’s a 5-minute read that I highly recommend.

**Yesterday, I asked the question, “What’s your biggest struggle right now with your photography? Or aspect of it that you want to improve at?” I found the responses to be very interesting, so check out the comments and add your own.

***Challenge results will probably be next week along with a new challenge. We got a lot of entries!

Important Tips for Candid Street Photography

One of the most difficult but rewarding aspects of street photography is becoming comfortable with the candid aspects of it.

It is the early major learning curve, but once you learn to get through this, the sky is the limit.

Eventually, the idea of getting close and comfortable photographing people will start to feel easy and normal (to some extent), but there are some street photography tips and strategies that can get to you this point much quicker.

Overcoming Fear (and What to Say if You Get Caught)

This is a powerful thing to realize – if you can talk to people the right way about what you are doing, you will become much more comfortable with street photography.

The goal of course is to not have everyone stop you. You can get close and shoot in pleasant ways that will generally keep people from asking you what you’re doing, but it still happens, and the key is to be obvious about it.

When someone stops me, I smile and flatter them. I tell them I’m a photographer doing a project on the area and I had to capture the scene with them as they looked great. I smile and act like I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong because I wasn’t.

This goes a long way and usually ends in a pleasant conversation. I sometimes offer to send them the photograph as well.

But in the situations where the person is still uncomfortable, offer to delete the photograph and apologize. Legally you don’t have to of course (in the U.S., U.K., and most of Canada at least), but it’s the nice thing to do.

On a similar note, I also want to highlight that the more comfortable you look and act while photographing, the more people will disregard you.

Over time, you will figure out a way of carrying yourself out there, which will make this type of photography much more comfortable.

People will notice you no matter what, so acting sneaky from afar will get their attention, while smiling, getting in the action, and looking like you’re having a great time photographing will put people’s guards down so that they leave you be.

And finally, the only way to fully get comfortable is to just to get out there consistently and push yourself a bit more each time. With enough of this, it’ll eventually become second nature.

Linger and Let the Action Come to You

One of the reasons I love street photography is because I love to get lost and explore. I love to walk as a way to escape. The camera is just an extension of that.

But stopping yourself in an area with good potential and waiting for good things to happen is one of the most important things you can do.

Waiting gives you time for those special moments to happen, particularly in areas with interesting backgrounds and lighting. 

Those magical moments where both the background and subject look incredible – that is very often due to waiting in the right area.

What this also does is allow you to get closer to your subjects in a much easier way. This helps a lot with the fear of street photography. Because you are already there waiting, your subjects will be entering your personal space instead of you entering their space. This changes the dynamic significantly.

It also allows you to notice people earlier on since you will be more perceptive of your surroundings.

Walk Slow and Don’t Take Things for Granted

Taking this technique further, when working with photographers, I often notice that some seem constantly on the move looking for that new place and disregarding what’s around them.

Take it slow and try not to disregard anything. Many of the best photos are hiding in plain sight in the most mundane places.

Some of the most interesting photos are of things that you see every day and might disregard because of that.

So if you notice yourself thinking that you’re in a place where you can’t possibly get a good photograph, use that as a challenge and slow down to see what’s really under your nose.

I think you’ll be surprised.

Acting

David Herman

As a street photographer, you can benefit from a little acting if you are going to try to get close to a subject while being inconspicuous. 

And I mean acting subtly. You just want to pretend that you don’t notice the subjects right in from of you.

Avoid pointing your head directly at your subject or making eye contact. There is something evolutionary about eye contact that will make a person immediately notice you.

Instead, try to look through the person, as if you are looking at something behind them and slightly to the side. Act as if you’re focused on something else. This will tend to make you look like you are a little spaced-out or engrossed in something.

Maybe you are engrossed in a building or something happening across the street and the person just happens to be in the way. 

You can even aim up at a building first with your eye in the viewfinder, then move the camera to the person to take the shot, and then aim away from them again. This way, it just looks like you are looking around with your camera.

Karen Covey

I like to just look like I am walking around daydreaming, thinking about what I want to photograph, just lost in my surroundings, and looking in a slightly different direction from what I want to photograph. 

It’s sneaky but it works incredibly well.

When walking towards a subject, I will consciously ensure that my path intersects with then and then I will stop as if I am gathering myself or as if I see something interesting around them.

This is not how I always shoot, a lot of times I shoot directly but very quickly so that the subjects will barely notice, and then I will quickly move on. This is where a small camera and prime lens can help.

But the acting strategy is very important when needed. Sometimes there is no way around it and you just have to be sneaky to get the right photograph.

Travel Light and with Minimal Gear

Ian Gross

You can do street photography with any camera, from an SLR to a phone. But I highly suggest giving a mirrorless camera or any camera with a prime lens a try.

Lightening your load will give you much more energy to walk around and get in position for the right shot without being noticed. You will be faster with your camera, more intuitive, and more inconspicuous.

It will also allow you to carry your camera around much more often, which is the most important key for this type of photography.

Prime Lenses

There can be a fear of missing out when putting a prime lens on your camera. What if I miss that shot because I don’t have a zoom? Yes, you’re going to miss some shots without a zoom.

But I think this restriction will benefit you and allow you to come back with more great shots in the long run.

You will eventually learn to see how the lens sees. It will become second nature.

If you use a prime constantly, then you will get used to the perspective and it will make you much faster and more spontaneous. Because of the fast-moving nature of street photography, any tool that makes you quicker is a big advantage.

I prefer to use 35mm and 50mm (full-frame equivalent) prime lenses, which allow you to get close and intimate with your scenes.

Camera Settings and Street Portraits

We’ve covered both these topics in previous posts, so you can read them here (Camera Settings for Street Photography | Street Portraits).

It’s important to know your camera settings well so you can almost forget the camera is there so you’ll be able to focus more on the moments in front of you.

And street portraits are not necessary to do to be a street photographer, and they may make you more nervous than candid street photography, but trying street portraits can also be a good gateway into the genre.

Act Like You Belong

Jonathan Snyder

Always walk around with a smile and keep an air of confidence like you belong there and there will be much less of a chance of you being noticed or of people caring if they do see you take their photo.

The more you look and act like you belong there, the less people will notice.

Sometimes, if you stand in the middle of a sidewalk intersection, you will be so obvious there that people will give you no thought. It is usually the time where you try to hide and slink in the background that people will notice you.

And if you get caught, just acknowledge the subject with a friendly smile. If they are curious, complement them and explain what you are doing. Always act friendly and confident and never defensive about what you are doing.

Go With Your Gut

Part of the art of candid street photography is going for it – feeling that a moment is going to happen and then reacting and taking the photo without a thought.

Usually, these photographs won’t pan out or will be terrible, but when they work they will create some of your best work.

Photo Links!

  1. Gus Powell’s Lunch Hour
  2. Watch the But Still, It Turns Mack replays. I suggest On Place with RaMell Ross & Curran Hatleberg and On Sequence with Gregory Halpern & Stanley Wolukau-Wanambwa
  3. The Artist Upending Photography’s Brutal Racial Legacy
  4. Stephen Shore: Photography Isn’t Very Good at Explaining (about Steel Town)
  5. New York Streets with Daniel Arnold

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