I find street photography to be quite challenging. It isn't an issue of being quick or skilled with a camera, but a dilemma of confidence. I find it difficult to cope with the idea that the random person I'm photographing on my lunchtime walk will turn around as I finish snapping my picture, resulting in him/her snapping my neck.
I'm aware of several techniques that more timid street photographers might employ: Saying that the photo is for a school project, humbly apologizing and being honest, pretending you were fiddling with your camera and hoping that they didn't see the shutter close, etc. More outgoing photographers might even like asking every single person for permission.
Regardless of how smooth a liar I am, I don't like the feeling of being confronted, and asking for a subject's permission (as polite as it may be) violates the reason that I photograph people out on the streets in the first place.
I walk around if I have free time, looking for people to photograph because it is the ultimate panacea for struggling with capturing moments under pressure. Nothing is as satisfying for me as taking a hasty picture and having it come out well.
Another soothing bonus of street photography is actually not far from what I fear the most: being spotted. I have a great faith in people in general, and I have thankfully never been assaulted, battered, and tenderized yet. Instead, the people who do see me tend to smile.
It's a nice feeling to know that I live in a time where a lot of people actually understand and appreciate hobbies like photography, and are willing to smile for a stranger, even without fully knowing his intentions.
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| "Keep practicing," said this sushi joint owner after I took his picture. |
Although I love taking portraits and landscapes, street photography, even at my novice level, has a different kind of rewarding experience -- one that's felt before pressing the shutter, instead of after closing Photoshop.
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