Who I am, what I do
The world presents us with endless opportunities to capture interesting moments from daily life in public places, no matter where we happen to live or be at any given time. As a photographer, this is my passion, which I pursue more often than not in an urban setting. Specifically, this website showcases street photography. All content is my own and AI free.
My approach
In no particular order, here are several of the things I do and a few I avoid:
My images deal with people. Their activities and interactions interest me greatly and add context to what would otherwise be subjects portrayed in isolation. Nothing is staged and my subjects are not posed.
I don't carry a shot list in my pocket or a set of expectations in my head. I tend to explore and roam, and I react—I don’t wish for my passion to become task-oriented or in some way a chore.
Capturing spontaneous, fleeting moments means getting close to people and developing a grasp of situations without being obnoxious or getting in the way, all of which requires careful observation, tact, and good timing. The street has its own flow, and falling into step with others allows me to be attuned to what may happen next.
On the street, I am a minimalist and typically rely on a small camera and a compact, quality prime lens—and sometimes my cellphone. Not being perceived as intrusive is important, and using tools that people don’t find intimidating helps.
For the photographer planning an outing, a trade-off exists between trying to prep for every possible situation that may come one’s way—and being weighed down accordingly—or opting for the increased mobility afforded by less and lighter gear. I find myself in the latter camp, which means accepting the fact that at times I will wish I had more options at hand. Greater freedom of movement translates into more time making images and more opportunities for me to react quickly, interact with subjects, and be creative as to composition, all of which enhance the overall street experience. Committing to a few ‘good enough’ tools early is a self-imposed limitation that streamlines preparation and enables what in my view are arguably better outcomes.
I find square or near-square compositions generally more restful to the eye than alternatives. I mostly work with natural light.
I avoid stylistic contrivances—my images should not generate more interest in which filter was used to what effect than in their actual content. More broadly, I try hard to get things right in camera. I also aim to keep post-processing of street images to a minimum, in no small part because it is increasingly difficult to get away from AI-driven processing on today’s editing platforms and I want my work to be recognizable as my own. I don’t rely on editing to save poorly composed images.
My choices are not set in stone and I will deviate from what I usually do to follow my instinct and as situations dictate.
Takeaways
There is no unique path to a meaningful photograph. My definition of a successful image is an image that stays with the viewer long after they first saw it—an image that becomes a memory in the viewer’s mind.
A successful image is its own reward and creating it can be exhilarating.
Few things will improve one’s photography more than thoughtful practice. This may mean returning to one’s favored haunts or exploring new spaces, always and most importantly with renewed enthusiasm and patience. Being open to the unexpected and passionate about one does tends to make light work of the effort involved.
I hope you enjoy viewing these images as much as I did making them. High quality prints are available—please enquire via the Contact page.