Some recent candid photography, waffle from me and a Japanese word Komorebi:
Street Photographers are an odd lot I know. Even with that in mind I’ve begun to think that Street Photography is a little bizarre and wonder sometimes why we do it. Taking photos of strangers is strange almost any way you look at it. If you could imagine being one of the “normal”, non-photography type people for a moment. It’s easy if you try, imagine all the people (someone should write a song) who aren’t obsessed with documenting every moment and become one of them. Now you can observe street photographers in their natural habitat as a normal/civilian person might. You’re in your local city or town for some shopping and a quiet coffee, might be that you're on your way to the office, just sightseeing or perhaps making a delivery like the guy in the opening shot. An example from the other day: the Exit from Bath Railway Station.
You’re a “normal” sat on a bench waiting for someone to arrive on their train or just taking a rest. You could be people watching, incidentally deemed as not being strange whatsoever. An urge to start taking photos of them is. Anyway, you see me, stood there with my camera, clicking a couple of shots. I’m in the reflection in that frame above. Passengers emerge from the exit whenever a train arrives. I walk over to the right of the exit, lean up against that mirror like glass, nice and tight. Each time the automatic doors open I click. Weird right? Especially when you consider that I already knew what the result would be and wasn’t necessarily something I like anymore. I still took them though. Strange.
It’s peculiar behaviour and must be disconcerting for anyone coming out of those doors. What’s really strange is that no one ever says anything to me. Not a word. They look directly at me sometimes, but say absolutely nothing. What are they thinking? The first thought might be; wow, a Greek God. I get that, they’re only human after all. Coming in a very close second, and let’s face it the reality; wow, that’s very strange, what the hell is wrong with him. Okay, they have a point and I’ve recently attended a Street Photographers Anonymous Meeting or better known as S.P.A.M. We discuss, show and publish our recent photos. There’s a lot of SPAM images displayed on social media if anyone is interested.
Here’s a typical introduction: “Hi. My name’s John. Lately I’ve found myself taking reflection and silhouette photos. I mean, it’s all light and shadow, high contrast black and white. I really wish I could stop”. The gathered Street Photographers slouched in their seats, stare at the floor, heads nod knowingly. They’ve all been there. Some have gone way past that. They’ve read a couple of books and perhaps stumbled upon the work of Alex Webb. They completely miss the genius of his photos and get drawn into the layers and copy only that, but on steroids. The next thing you know, they’ve started making and posting videos on the theme of ‘how I shoot street photography’ or ‘the camera settings I use’, a desperate and somewhat futile attempt to get attention. Sadly they and their videos also end up in SPAM.
We’re told by the wizened and wise group leader that there was a way forward. Heads lift from hands. Hope is at hand from our Sensei who says: “Those of you who are in street photography because it’s trendy or hip need to sell your gear and move on to the next thing. Don’t put off the inevitable, do it now. You’re in it for all the wrong reasons as anything in life. If you’re entering into something for what you can get out of it or improve your circumstances then you’ll never achieve happiness, contentment or satisfaction. To thine own self be true”. Turns out that he’s a bit of Shakespeare fan. Over half the SPAM attendees stand, shuffle the walk of shame to the door and disappear to sell their film rolls. No more photos of people just walking along at least.
The Sensei continues: “Street Photography is strange. Yes of course, but isn’t any kind of creativity. You won’t be able to define it, you can’t explain it. You will look strange to others whilst in the pursuit of a photograph that’s is not only very likely unobtainable but also you’ll find impossible to define exactly what it is you’re searching for, either if asked or to yourself. Street Photography is brutal, you may never find it. All you can do is observe, possess endurance, commitment and remember Koroebi. No one present knows what Koroebi means? It’s the ever-changing small things. The minute details”. Still more walked out. Our Sensei glanced, picked up his camera took a couple of shots and said: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances”. I parted my lips to say that quote doesn’t quite fit, our Sensei notices the most minute of details, he put his finger to my lips.”Go and write a blog John, but remember - brevity is the soul of wit”. He was starting to get on my nerves with all these quotes from the bard and we all know brevity isn’t my thing. Anyhow, a tenuous link to our ‘strange’ theme exists with the next shot.
My eldest grandson here with his grandmother, my first ex-wife and former “Miss British Aerospace”. The strangeness continues. Not the fact that she was ‘Miss British Aerospace’ in the very early 1980’s. I’m having lunch with her in Bath and my youngest son from the second marriage, along with my eldest daughter from the first. I know, you might think all this strange, I don’t. Nor do I think it strange to be taking photos of them all the time. Must be bloody annoying for them though.
I live alone every other week. To some that may seem strange too. Why aren’t you desperate to meet someone and how can you cope with being alone? I’ve discovered after numerous failed experiments that I’m less lonely on my own. The data backs it up, I enjoy solitude. Holidays, being constantly busy, money and perceived status used to be of interest me until I realised that it’s not the answer, if anything it’s is just bragging. The older I get the more meaningless any of it becomes and I’ve done my bit of all that. No contentment or happiness to be found there, only burnout or possible bankruptcy. Of course, I enjoy travel and I need company occasionally during my week of freedom, I see friends and family, and there’s always my creative outlet with Street Photography to maintain some semblance of sanity.
I know the vast majority won’t like my photos, who cares, and this is where photographers miss the point. Develop your own style. Your past experiences, loves, influences and life story dictate the photographs that demand attention for you to make. Not what Alex Webb or Bruce Gilden have taken. They can inspire you, but “to thine own self be true”. If you haven’t had a life that’s moulded like theirs you shouldn’t try to take their kind of photos. that to me is strange. Make photographs of what you like, have the courage to be honest regardless of the ‘likes or loves’. Have the courage to be disliked, you’re never going to be liked or loved by everyone, it’s impossible. That’s true photographically and in life.
Let’s go back to our sensei and that word, Komorebi. Photographers, street or otherwise, should know this if they don’t already. Literally it means “sunlight leaking through the trees”. There’s far more to it than that. My dad knew it, not the word, but for sure its meaning. It was the original title of Wim Wenders 2023 film “Perfect Days”. About a man living alone (in solitude), a Tokyo toilet cleaner called Hirayama. I’m hesitant to recommend it, Amélie (my youngest daughter) and I discussed this after we watched. There are people who will never understand, appreciate or would be prepared to sit through a film just over two hours in length in which seemingly nothing much happens. Of course, much does happen, only in subtle changes just like that sunlight leaking through the trees. In fact our toilet cleaner takes photos of that change amongst the foliage every day on his break and smiles. Even in the most mundane of lives, dictated by routine, or photographing the same place and streets over and over there is always something new to see and make you smile. Here’s an extract from a review:
“It speaks of a profound connection with nature, and the necessity to pause, to take the time to absorb and appreciate the perfection of tiny, seemingly insignificant details. Hirayama has not only grasped all of this, he has made it the keystone of his essence. He sees all things, all people, as equally important, with an equal capacity for transcendence. While other pedestrians ignore the vagrant who camps in a park, Hirayama watches in wonder as the man moves in his own dance of self-expression. And the toilets themselves, although humble in purpose, are architectural gems.”
Not a great photo I know, but this lady I spotted walking past the cafe door had it right. No phone, taking it all in, table for one, very wise. Street photography is strange, odd, peculiar. Whatever. It is crucially about creativity and a celebration of the subtle, small details in life. You see it all when you’re looking. Photography is a catalyst for mindfulness. Impossible to get bored walking around Bath or Las Vegas or the countryside, anywhere in the world. There are always moments to see, it isn’t mundane. Rarely are they big, mostly it’s Komorebi. Little changes in life are the most profound and meaningful. One from the archive.
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 Summicron 28mm lens fitted. I used an Apple keyboard to type it all out.
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