In my About Me page, I write about my re-introduction to photography during a trip to Barcelona. Not only did I reconnect with my passion for photography, but I also found myself drawn to taking candids of people on the street - street photography. In fact, I was doing more of that than the usual—and expected for most—tourist shots. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy all kinds of photography and I am the first one to suggest a weekend shooting spree on the Blue Ridge or the beach. But I am drawn to capturing people.
Living photography: Photographing people in a way that captures their personality, emotion, circumstance, relationship, desires and disappointments. That is what inspires me. Think about a wedding. Yes, a photographer is obligated to capture the classic shots by lining up the wedding party - pop. Now the groom’s parents - pop. Let’s bring in the bride’s parents now - pop. Ok, grandma, let’s bring you in - pop. That is all well and good, but what about those intimate moments? Moments where the bride and groom share a personal glance, mom and dad in tears, the sister fixing the veil, the flower child’s quick expression of boredom. These are the moments that, when captured, will inspire an emotional reaction in whoever looks at the photo. That is living photography.
My very last photos in Barcelona were of a couple that I noticed at an outdoor cafe. I was exhausted after a long day of walking and shooting around the city and I felt like I had captured all that I could. The camera was back in the bag and I sat down for a beer before heading back to the hotel to pack for the trip home. The woman sat down first. She had a look that inspired me to pull out the camera again. By the time I had my camera in my hands, her partner showed up. Pop, pop! What was the story these two snapshots told? Were they a couple meeting up for an after-work beer? Was she enamored with him, or just the opposite? What was he thinking?
I would love to hear from you about your thoughts regarding these two shots. What is the story that they are telling you? Tell me in a comment below.
To see more of my street photography just head over to my street portfolio. There are more stories to decipher there.
Until the next session,
Steve
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