Press Button To Blog - Street Photography

There is an inexplicable thrill that washes over me whenever I step out into the unknown with my camera in hand. There's that excitement and anxiousness of never quite knowing what's going to happen in a growingly apocalyptic metropolis when you keep a keen eye out for "interesting", whatever flavour in which it arrives.

Street photography is an art form that dates back to the 19th century and has been a popular genre for many photographers ever since. Other than macro photography, candid photos is my favourite genre. It provides a unique perspective into everyday life while capturing moments that may otherwise go unnoticed. When you remove the element of people trying to look their best, that's when you're able to capture the realness of a person. Old school family photo albums are chocked full of surprised Pikachu (peek-at-you?) faces and unflattering angles, as are the ones taken by paparazzi in the tabloids dredged up at the bottom of supermarket magazine stands. With the proliferation of social media and the self obsessed glamorization of our mundane lives, people don't often share evidence of what they'd rather be unseen to the public eye. If no one spots that double chin or greying hairs, whose to say you ever had that second serving of cake?

In Ontario (Canada), candid photography is completely legal as long as it is done in a public space. However, if someone is in a private space and you try to photograph them, it can become a violation of privacy which does then fall into more perilous territory. It's always important to be mindful of the laws around photography, which of course I do, but I find that some people are still unnerved by the presence of a photographer in general, especially if it's a bigger guy like myself taking the pictures. It's unfortunate that some people don't appreciate the beauty in street photography and the fact that we capture real-life moments that can never be replicated on purpose.

There is a certain rush that comes with going out to take pictures on the street. Not knowing what you'll come back with is a bit of a gamble, what kind of people you'll run into, or what events will unfold in front of your eyes is more unpredictable than any role of roulette at the casino. So much of the success of the other flavours of taking photos relies on such extensive preparation. The gear, the subject, the lighting, the undefinable artistic inspiration that's hopefully behind it. The spontaneity offered in candid is unlike any other, and it's what keeps me coming back to street photography time and time again, especially when my creative juices have dried up like so many crusty socks hidden under teenage beds. Which I would know absolutely nothing about.

One of the things that fascinates me most about street photography is the fact that I'm catching people off-guard. And I fully understand that it's precisely why this type of work can run afoul of other peoples' comfort. There are no staged poses, no perfect lighting, and no makeup artists to make sure that everything is just right. The people captured are authentic and in their natural state, and that's what makes taking photographs that much more interesting to me. I would rather see exactly what that person looks like day to day outside of a perfectly curated image, because contrary to what some might think, that's how the rest of the world sees you as well. A fine tuned filtered pic on Instagram isn't how your date is going to remember you, their going to remember the funny look on your face as you sneeze and that time you spilled a $30 bowl of artisan-Mexican-Caribbean-fusion-spaghetti on your knockoff Gushi purse. SLAY QUEEN YAS!

However, as much as I perversely enjoy the thrill of the moment as I chase that ever illusive "interesting" photos, there are also some social implications that come with taking pictures of people who are not prepared. Being a quote and un-quote guy who is often perceived as "scary", can make navigating the social norms of street photography a bit...let's call it daunting. There's always the potential for an altercation with someone who doesn't want their photo taken, and that's a thought that can take me out of the moment when I should be getting into the "artist zone" to get the specific shot that I want. You have to override the natural desire to not get "caught", even when you aren't technically doing anything wrong.

And unfortunately due to a lot of poor policies and decision making in the city of Toronto, like many other metropolis' there's a rising wave of crime that's having a negative impact on the people who live here. Luckily I've yet to have a gun shoved in my face (while taking photos at least, though there's definitely other stories), and my intimidating demeaner might be working to my advantage in that regard. But I always try to be as respectful as possible and not invade people's personal space or privacy, but it's not always easy. Sometimes the call of the void rings in my ears and the picture can almost take itself. At least that's what I've convinced myself as I've struggled to not take photos of some of the more taboo subjects in the hobby such as at accidents and of the less fortunate such as drug addicts and homeless. There's always been a fine line between journalism and exploitation, and there's a lot of beauty found in the suffering we sometimes unfortunately endure. But maybe when I'm getting paid to take pictures of other people's misery for some dying newsprint publication I'll be able to justify my morbid creative eye. It's always easy to depart from your morals when there's a paycheque on the horizon isn't it.

As a burgeoning street photographer, my main goal is to improve my eye for timing and to get over the social awkwardness that can come with the genre. If my slightly deranged rant at the end didn't convey it, I really like taking these types of photos, negatives be damned. In theory, under the right conditions, I can learn how to replicate the results of other photographers with access to the same equipment, models and locations, because then it only comes down to technique, which is learnable. But out on the street with a just a camera in hand, I can take pictures that no one else can, that are completely unique to me. And that's a cool feeling at the end of my fingers through nothing more than a snap of a button. Even if it sounds like it, it's not always easy taking pictures of strangers without their consent (boy it sounds weird when I use the "C" word though), but it is a highly specific photography skill and a damn fun one learn. So if you happen to see someone taking your photo on the street, give a smile instead of a scowl, because of nothing else someone in life thought you were special enough to remember.