Issue 183 of the SNYC Newsletter
I started this newsletter as a method of sharing my thoughts and experiences on street photography on my photographic journey. You won’t find any theories here. Also, I sparingly discuss technology. apps. gear etc.
People often ask me how I started my business. It isn’t really a story with an easy answer. But without my love of photography it likely wouldn’t have ever happened. I thank everyone who has taken my private tours, group street photography workshops and everyone who is reading and commenting on the newsletter.
Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Dialogue is the best thing for growing as a photographer. As always, Happy Shooting!
The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes. Marcel Proust
I write this newsletter to share my thoughts & experiences on street photography. I hope that you find it of use in your journey. If you are able to, you can support me by buying me a coffee. No sweat if you’re unable to contribute. The newsletter is free for all. Thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee!!! Maybe one day we’ll be able to have a coffee in person. Mucho love.
Life is (Street) Photography
I live and breathe photography. It is what I do. I am very fortunate and I have no idea how I was able to make it possible. I didn’t have a manual to consult in the necessary steps to get here.
I never made a big financial investment nor did I have a business plan. It’s not likely that a financial institution would lend me money to start up this business of mine. And yet somehow, I’ve managed to provide private photo tours and group street photography workshops for the last 13+ years. The last 5+ years it has become my sole source of income.
That said, I am semi-retired. I guess I did my time working for others and now I am able to do what I love working for myself. I don’t shout TGIF at the end of the week. In fact, I usually work weekends. I don’t really call what I do work. My life is photography.
Finding my niche in photography took many years. I tried out many different styles and subjects. I experimented quite a bit. Never really landing on something that really grabbed my attention long enough.
I tried out long exposures and recipes and different cameras and lenses. But none of them really lasted long enough. I just wasn’t that into them. I checked them off the list of possibilities.
So I accidentally became a street photographer after thinking I would become an architectural photographer. It was a natural progression and I became addicted to street photographer. It is my method of participating in the world. Observing and capturing.
One day, 13+ years ago, someone in Amsterdam contacted me and wanted to know if they could go out and shoot with me and see New York City and how to shoot street photography? Then someone from Vienna requested the same thing.
After about 7 years of doing workshops on a regular basis while working other jobs I was able to see the possibility of it as my sole source of income. And I’ve been doing so pretty much ever since then.
But that’s the business side of things. And like street photography you never know what will happen. Some months are better than others. Some days when you’re out shooting are better than others.
Photography is my life and it’s a very rare day in which I leave the apartment without a camera. I feel naked without one. But I’ve been working 3-5 days a week now and I rarely have time to review my photos that I’ve taken. Street photography is an activity that I very much enjoy.
It is possible that it is a rather Zen kind of thing for me. I try to just be in the moment and observe. I’m not looking for something in particular. I am just responding to what I see. In a way, you could say that it’s like having a conversation without words with my environment.
I don’t even know how I learned to do what I do. Through the repetition of shooting on a regular basis, I made and broke habits. I made mistakes and found some of them to be useful. Mostly, I am slowly finding my way in creating photos that feel like I am communicating what I see.
It’s all very spontaneous. And I have no idea what my ratio is to photos taken and photos that I like. It isn’t something that concerns me. Do you keep score during the day how many times you get things right or wrong? I am always finding photos that I took years ago and didn’t process or even remember taking. Again, for me it’s the activity that interests me. Getting some good photos after a day of shooting is a bonus.
If I wasn’t capturing any good photos, I’d question what I’m doing. But I need time and space after a day of shooting to really look and see what I’ve captured. I don’t spend much time previewing what I’ve taken especially since I need to flip out the screen on the back of the camera to see what I’ve taken.
In my workshops I really try to help people not preview their photos, but to also feel more liberated from the camera. To trust in responding to just seeing and shooting. Point and Shoot! If you haven’t tried it, I highly suggest it.
So I’ve been doing what I call lift and shoot (like the photo above) as well as shooting from the hip or chest quite a bit. I only discover after-the-fact if the photo worked. People say oh, but that takes practice. Yes, it does.
But they are also concerned about photos being perfect. Whatever that means. Most of the time they are at an angle. Actually it’s possible that the above photo was taken close to my chest. Regardless, I was walking and shooting at the same time. I am happy that I was able to capture it.
What expectations do you bring to your street photography experience? Everyday is a new opportunity to do something different and to work towards making your photography actually communicate the way that you see and to do it in a manner that feels natural.
I would love to hear about your experiences in street photography and what works and doesn’t work for you. Maybe I might even have some answers to help you out.
Biweekly Photo Assignment -Umbrellas
Rain or shine, umbrellas are sexy in photos. With or without people and even beach umbrellas work. Have fun. Be creative.
This is a voluntary assignment if you want to take part. You can submit your photos to the Facebook group for Shoot New York City and also on Instagram tag @shootnewyorkcity. If you're not a member of the Facebook group yet, all you have to do is request to join.
The Substack app is a great way to read this and many other newsletters at your leisure. You can also read many of the back issues as well.
Further Viewing
Okay, so this video isn’t about street photography. But it is possibly of interest if you want to experiment with doing something different. 1) you don’t have to use a film camera. And 2) the last part is about the lighting gear that she used. I hope that you enjoy it.
Upcoming Workshops
Workshops are a maximum of 5 people Workshops are only scheduled on weekend days. If you would like to have a weekday workshop or a workshop in other areas of NYC, let me know with some lead time and I’ll see if others want to also attend it. Otherwise I continue to provide private workshops on weekdays and in other neighborhoods.
For those who haven't done a workshop or photo tour with me in the past I have a number of reviews on my website and also on TripAdvisor! Workshops are both for people who live here and also travelers, as are photo tours.
Photo tours are one-on-one and arranged on an individual basis for both neighborhood and photographic style and can be designed as a workshop as well. They are customized to your interests and level. Thank you for your patience and Stay Safe!