Has my new lifestyle had a negative impact on my approach to street photography? The short answer is, maybe.
I recently went into the city for day of street shooting and I found that I couldn’t shoot. I felt nervous and too scared to approach the people on the streets. I found myself lifting the camera to take the photo and worrying about what the person I was capturing might think about me. I’d then lower the camera and walk away, feeling ashamed, with myself and with the possibility that I might’ve upset the person I was trying to take the photo of.
I didn’t understand why I was struggling to take photos. Now, I should also point out that unlike in the past when I would’ve gotten upset and screamed that I was quitting, this time I was relaxed and decided to keep trying to take photos while I was talking to a friend on the phone. It was him that pointed out that I was fast and aggressive on the streets. My friend wasn’t critiquing me, it was just his observation of my shooting style, and he suggested that maybe it was my new lifestyle of being calm and relaxed that was taking the edge from my street photography. This has really had me thinking for the past few weeks.
So how do I deal with this? To be honest, I have no idea. But I’ve been racking my brain. I think I need to refocus and maybe reinvent my approach to shooting on the streets, and I’m excited about this. I have no idea where this is going to lead me and my photography but that’s so refreshing.
A new approach to shooting on the streets has arrived at the perfect time. Having a new city to shoot in while I’m trying to find a new approach to shooting street is really going to be a fresh start, and I can’t wait.
You’ll be able to follow this exciting new journey here on my blog.
Till next time.
