In 1777 Samuel Johnson said: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford”. We can replace London with New York or Vegas or Bath. The latter city (slightly off topic) is currently having what it laughingly calls a “Christmas Market”, something apparently popular and imported from Germany. Essentially hundreds of wooden sheds and thousands of people in the streets blocking the way of those who want to actually shop or move about the city with their camera. I don’t see anything particularly German about it, unless the Germans can’t get enough of Gingerbread, Scented Candles and endless cheap tat imported from China. Anyway, we could also edit Johnson’s quote to read: Tired of Street Photography, tired of Life, for there in the Street is all that Life can afford.
All the photos contained in this blogpost were taken last week in Las Vegas. You know the score with me and Vegas, so we don’t need to mention it again. The point here is that we all lack inspiration at times, it’s a torture worse than death to simply pick up your camera, go for a walk with it and see some life. I’ve been in a photographic slump since the summer as far as Street is concerned. The only Street shots I’d actually taken for a long time whilst in Ireland were deleted by mistake (read about that here “Eejit”). I can assure you they were my best ever work, though just like a fisherman and the size of the one that got away, it’s merely hearsay. Or in the case of my photos I suspect more like heresy.
Writers block and Photography block are one and the same, debilitating. Worse still if you have a photography blog. There’s no enthusiasm, you’ve read or seen it all before, nothing new to type or click. The only way out of this lethargy is to just do it (that would make a catchy slogan for, I don’t know, off the top of my head, a sportswear business?). Each morning when over there I’m compelled to get coffee and have a walk. I almost left the camera in my room a few mornings. In my head: What’s the use of sitting alone in your room, life is a cabaret my friend. Closely followed by: All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players. And so, “As you like it”, I slung it over my shoulder on the way out. I’m glad I did.
Apart from giving me something to write about I reconnected with the Street and ergo life. Admittedly I took fewer photos than usual. I was there for a week and managed around 250 shutter releases, that’s a roll of film per day I know, but not that many as I’m digital. The camera not me. I realised that there are always new things to see. I’ve visited Nevada 30 times, but photographically it’s just background if you’re interested in humans. I’ve taken hundreds of photos over the years of that crossroads with the Apache Hotel in the background (opening shot), the people are what really grabs and fascinates me.
That’s the spellbinding beauty of life, it’s the people, friends, lovers and family. And with Street Photography complete strangers. All of which it is imperative that we as photographers must document. You can never tire of that endless stream of humanity, it’s impossible to resist and we learn about ourselves in the process. Pick up your camera, go for a walk. Don’t concern yourself with the results, one good shot a year is enough.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. All images can be opened by clicking on the thumbnails. Not that it matters they were made using a Leica M with a Summicron 28mm lens fitted. I used an Apple keyboard to type it all out.
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