VOL 2 | STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
NEW CENTER DETROIT
Street photography is one of the most popular photography genres in the world. The "hashtag" #streetphotography on Instagram or other social media platforms accounts for millions of photos every day. Browsing the fantastic images of other photographers can be inspiring and intimidating.
The addition of AI in the photography world is yet another means to critique my work as a photographer. Sometimes I spend hours walking, creating images. Should I look for the "right photo?" This search makes me ask, is there such a thing as the "right photo"? How would it look? Do I even care?
These questions prompted me to come up with a why. Why the hell do I spend hours taking photos besides the fact that it's fun? I came up with several reasons why.
The obvious is that it's fun, and I enjoy the creative process.
Finding a way to make the most boring things look interesting. Next would have to be the results. The results matter. I enjoy isolating everyday scenes from cinematic angles, which is what the "right photo" is, in my opinion.
Lastly would be growth or getting better. I've decided to be more strategic with my approach.
For example, when I wanted to shoot the New Center Area in Detroit, I did some research online. The first thing that I read was "Home of the architecturally and historically significant Fisher and Cadillac Place (former General Motors) building, and to the nationally recognized Henry Ford Medical Center, New Center is a thriving area for people to live, work and play." Even though I've shot at the Fisher Theatre many times, it's helpful to learn something extra about my subject.
I realized I had never been inside the Cadillac Place building. It's easy to stick to what is comfortable. Comfort is a by-product of a results-based pursuit. I'm not looking for the right image, but rather, I have an idea of what I want to try that day. It can be simple or complex, depending on the goal.
Home of the architecturally and historically significant Fisher and Cadillac Place
PUREMICHIGAN.ORG
Will I be working on framing subjects or moving subjects? Pre-planning doesn't mean that I'm not open to environmental change. Most of the time, things pop up, or ideas just happen. I take advantage of spontaneous creativity. Doing a little research before I go out shooting helps me stay focused, and it also helps me maintain a healthy relationship with my camera.
Believe it or not, it gets frustrating when you go out for a few hours to shoot and return with little to nothing image-wise. So instead of looking for the "right photo," I'm looking to see if I could achieve whatever goal I set for that day. It makes me less results-orientated and more concerned with growth and advancement, which usually results in dope photos. Usually!
