Street Photography – For the Purist words & photos by ... - deviantART
Street Photography – For the Purist words & photos by ... - deviantART
Street Photography – For the Purist words & photos by ... - deviantART
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Preface <strong>–</strong> By Chris Weeks<br />
First off, I’d like to thank Sev, Michael Kaiser, Matt, Rainer, Deb, Errol, Darren, Massimiliano, Bernhard and Patrick Kahn for collaborating in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
collaboration and allowing me to include several of <strong>the</strong>ir own street photographs with <strong>the</strong>ir respective forwards. So very cool of all of you.<br />
All of <strong>the</strong>m share my love for walking a street. Here in Los Angeles. There in Prague. Or Paris. Or New York. Wherever. In <strong>the</strong> chaos of <strong>the</strong> city<br />
or <strong>the</strong> town we find <strong>the</strong> beautiful details of life. We give <strong>the</strong>m order through our simple observation with composition.<br />
All you have to do is look; it’s <strong>the</strong>re. That photograph you’ve had in your mind forever. There it is. Thwaap.<br />
I think it was Mr. Cartier-Bresson who said, “A successful street photograph <strong>–</strong> or any photograph for that matter <strong>–</strong> is when eye, mind and heart come<br />
toge<strong>the</strong>r.”<br />
I may agree with him although I hardly ever do on many things.<br />
<strong>For</strong> me street photography is not only going on my own <strong>–</strong> often solitary <strong>–</strong> photographic quests but looking at o<strong>the</strong>r’s work. By looking at this work I<br />
can tell much about a photographer. His or her worldview comes to mind <strong>the</strong> most. No matter your worldview I think <strong>the</strong> successful street<br />
photographer should leave his or her politics at home or on <strong>the</strong>ir blog. I don’t believe <strong>the</strong>y should intersect one’s work documenting chaotic life on<br />
<strong>the</strong> street.<br />
The best work is unforced; it comes naturally; moments ei<strong>the</strong>r happen or <strong>the</strong>y don’t.<br />
Or … your skills of observation need honing and practice.<br />
Then and only <strong>the</strong>n will you discover that <strong>the</strong>re are no laws or rules <strong>–</strong> except, of course, having to do with exposure and composition.<br />
Develop <strong>the</strong> eye of a fetishist voyeur. A spy. A ghost. A voyeur spy with a great eye.<br />
Even though many of <strong>the</strong> photographers I’ve chosen to contribute with forwards <strong>–</strong> myself included <strong>–</strong> have made photographs of exotic locales, I find<br />
that <strong>the</strong>re is actually more mystery in places one knows intimately.<br />
Open your eyes.<br />
Go for a walk.<br />
Right in <strong>the</strong> middle of <strong>the</strong> chaos.<br />
Find your photo. Then find ano<strong>the</strong>r. Don’t force it. Just go and see and make <strong>photos</strong> of <strong>the</strong> history happening around every single one of us. It’s<br />
out <strong>the</strong>re.