The street photographer is a skilled artist with a quick hand. The poet is more of a critic behind the photographer. Language can also be a part of photography. It can make a photo more readable. They were twins, and it was clear they didn’t walk at the same pace or have the same expression at the moment.
Leica M8 with Summicron 35mm f2 v4 King of Bokeh (7-element)
The reason why reflection is popular in photography is not because it looks like a mirror, but because if you flip the photo, you will see that this perspective makes the figure look more magnificent, yes, this perspective comes from the horizon.
Leica M8 with Summicron 35mm f2 v4 King of Bokeh (7-element)
I’ve developed a good habit: when I’m on my phone, I always stop and stand, and I’ve firmly given up the bad habit of walking and looking. This change came from a big wake-up call. I tripped over an iron screw on the road, fell on all fours, and the phone flew out several meters away, which was quite a mess. Luckily, there was no one around at the time, which prevented the situation from becoming a bigger deal. I was lucky that I didn’t bring my camera that day, or it would have been a disaster. I was also lucky that there were no street photographers around, or it would have become another “accidental scenery” photo. It turns out that those missing warning stakes of the barricade screws are hidden in the daily invisible traps, always reminding us to walk when we need to be more vigilant.
Leica M8 with Summicron 35mm f2 v4 King of Bokeh (7-element)
Photographers are magicians. They can freeze time and make the world black and white. Black and white, 0 and 1—this is the starting point of all magic.
Vivian Maier captured a lot of portraits of people with a sense of the times, which made me realize that street photography doesn’t require a lot of compositional skills. Just take a picture of what you see and keep taking pictures of it. That approach will definitely be right. Because over time, even the most ordinary things can become unusual, and every person without expression can become meaningful. Time itself is an artist.
Leica M8 with Summicron 35mm f2 v4 King of Bokeh (7-element)
In many cases, when the subject is aware that you’re taking pictures of him, he’ll often appear less relaxed. Only photographers who can blend in can capture the real face. Clearly, I’ve got this down pat. Haha.
Leica M8 with Summicron 35mm f2 v4 King of Bokeh (7-element)
I’ve been paying a lot of attention to handshakes lately, photographing them as I come across them, after all, they are one of the most obvious human interactions. You are limited by what you have.
Leica M8 with Summicron 35mm f2 v4 King of Bokeh (7-element)Leica M8 with Summicron 35mm f2 v4 King of Bokeh (7-element)
Street photography is like an impromptu movie you watch for free in the real world. As you walk down the street, you see everyone as the star of their own story. The photographer captures all those little moments, like the way people move, what they look like, and the way they bump into each other. It’s as if the director never said “cut.” The drama of life has been captured on camera, and you are the audience and recorder.
You don’t need a script or an actor to rehearse because the most real and touching moments often happen in the most unconscious moments. People walking, talking, smiling, frowning, and every subtle change of expression and natural twist of the body are like the invisible director’s interpretation of their plot for you. All you need to do is stand back, use your own unique perspective and keen perception to capture those fleeting images, as if you were using someone else’s body to tell a colorful story of theirs and the world.
Leica M8 with Summicron 35mm f2 v4 King of Bokeh (7-element)Leica M8 with Summicron 35mm f2 v4 King of Bokeh (7-element)