Hello, everyone! Welcome back to the safe space that is my piece of Bearing News. This week, I peruse the streets of Downtown Columbia for the street photography challenge.
This is not normal street photography because it’s centered around the Women’s March last March and doesn’t feature the average commutes of the people as they go about their daily lives. Street photography is a type of candid photography which highlights scenes that one may see on the daily but fails to ever actually observe. We, as humans, tend to ignore the activities around us unless they are overly intrusive or interesting. Street photography forces people to truly be aware of what goes on around them. Focusing in on specific people or objects, it makes the ordinary the center of attention and, in doing so, molds it into a more interesting subject for the viewer.
Protesting is a popular form of street photography because it often expresses a large amount of emotion and activity and has multiple opportunities for dramatic imagery.
This is the photo I chose to highlight:What drew me to this image was the way the subject stood at the crosswalk. One difference between protesters and commuters is the way they walk. Commuters may walk quickly or slowly, but they walk just to get to a destination. Protesters walk with purpose. Each step is in support of a cause that drove them to go out into the public and shout their beliefs. This girl took every step as if she could face any and all opposition single handedly. It was her confidence that compelled me take the picture in the first place.
During the editing process, I cropped out the photographer on the left side and brightened the photo. I ended with this version:I adore street photography because it draws my attention to everything I pass. Every person and object could be a masterpiece in waiting. One thing to note about street photography is that not every person wants to have his or her picture taken. Make sure to not invade personal space and avoid anyone who seems to be hostile. I often don’t ask permission and take shots from a distance if my subjects are not in my immediate vicinity. If my subjects are aware of my presence, but I still want the shot then I introduce myself and ask permission so as to avoid confrontation. At times, you may feel like a spy as you sneak shots of people, but any photographer can create dramatic images from street photography.
Thank you all for joining me this week on Don’t Lose Focus. I hope to conquer more challenges with you all in the future! Don’t forget to try new things!