STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

My definition of street photography is any scene we see while walking in and around cities and towns. I enjoy this genre because it gives me slices of life; fast-disappearing slices of life that are gone in an instant. 

Photography is the only medium that freezes a second in time; often a split second in time, never to be duplicated, even by its creator. 

My first example is the one photograph on which I get the most commentary. I titled it "Urban Sole."

I patiently waited until she sat down on the bench and all the other commuters got on a train and vanished. For just a few minutes, she was the only human at this train station. Then, she too was gone; gone into the mysterious night, leaving me with questions: who is she? Where is she coming from and where is she going? Isn't she afraid of being there all by herself? Why is she dressed like that? 

What questions does this image stir in you?

This is downtown San Antonio, Texas, called The Riverwalk. On any given Saturday, this area is wall-to-wall people enjoying the history, old architecture, the numerous choices of restaurants, and just being in a "happening" place. 

You might wonder, why doesn't this image reflect that? Well, I decided to be at this location at around 7:00 am, on a Saturday, hoping the partiers would not be up that early on Saturday morning. I was right. The result was a very surreal image--lots to do, but not a single soul in sight. The only person I saw was an early-morning breakfast cook who took a quick cigarette break, then disappeared back into the restaurant. 

I saw this middle-aged man, a contortionist street performer, in Boulder, Colorado's downtown Pearl Street (open) Mall. He told me that scientists at the University of Texas once studied him to find out how he was able to do what he does with his body. I never found out what the results of the study were, but he told me it comes naturally. He's even smiling while he has one leg behind his back and over his shoulder while he juggles three balls!!! 

Let's stay with Boulder for a while. There is this vehicular bridge that spans over Boulder Creek downtown. I walked under that bridge and, to my pleasant surprise, saw this really cool mural on one of the bridge's support beams. Right next to it, and in-between the two support beams, runs Boulder Creek and a walking/running trail. I was on that trail when I saw the wolf mural. 

It had rained the day before, so there were several puddles under the bridge, beside the trail. As I stared at the mural and looked back at one of the puddes, I imagined that if I jumped over that puddle and got low to the ground with my tripod, I might be able to get a reflection of the wolf in the puddle. I titled it, "City Dweller."   

Street performers are everywhere, in cities big and small. Mike was in Chicago, across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago.I took several full-body photos of Mike, but I really like this tight close-up that reflects his character; his persona, without even seeing his face. 

As I walked around downtown Crested Butte, Colorado, I was in the mood for java; a little cup of coffee. As I sipped my coffee in the quaint courtyard sprinkled with umbrella-covered tables, I saw tons of license plates decorating the exterior walls. Texas, Tennessee, Colorado, and other states were represented, randomly nailed to the walls. When I finished my coffee, I walked around to the other side of the building and found this! No-brainer. Get it. Now! I traveled several states without moving. Composition, as always, was the key to this image--the bike, the pot, the light, the windows, and, yes, the license plates.

You can't see them from this low-resolution image, but there are plates from Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Tennessee, Arizona, Washington, and California. 

Since we are in Crested Butte, how's this for street photography? I couldn't resist. It was like a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting. The locals ride all over town on bicycles locally known as "Townies." The storefront doors and signs, the bench with a newspaper on it, the old Western architecture, and, of course, the "Townie," really completed my image, titled "The Slow Life." 

I saw these homeless young folks in downtown Boulder. I wanted to give them some money and I also had a choreographed idea, so I decided to do both. I politely approached them, gave them some money, and asked if they would oblige me with an idea I had. They didn't hesitate. 

I love the dogs, their non-judgmental companions. One of them even has his own backpack. I also like the contrast between the two young men and the woman and the beautiful silver sculptures in the background. Note the guy on the right. He has his old weathered boot patched up with red tape. The homeless. We have stereotypes about them. I wonder what stereotypes they have about us? 

I spent a couple of hours with my camera in the French Quarter in New Orleans. I came across this cute boy playing a tuba that seemed twice his size! Note the duct tape he used to make sure he continued entertaining folks and making money. 

 

This is my last example, also from downtown Boulder. Yes, throughout my career, Boulder, Colorado was a great canvas for my photography. 

This husband and wife were unique street performers--they took their baby to the streets to join them. Over a period of two years or so, I took several photos of this couple and their baby, but this remains one of my favorites. It focuses on the beautiful uniqueness, avant-garde, and bohemian style of the young mother. Note her tattoos, ear lobe, attire, and artistic fedora. I wondered how she could carry and play that huge accordion. It must have been heavy. Oh, and their baby, on her husband's back, is staring at Mommy as she performs. Cute. 

She also has a Mona Lisa-like smile. You don't know if it's a smile of approval. Is she used to people taking her picture, or tired of it? In either case, it's one of my favorite street photography images. 

So, head downtown, or any part of any city or small town, and see what you can find. Go with an open mind. Don't overanalyze--just have fun with it!!