Street Photography
Street photography will make anyone a better photographer. On the street, everything moves at a rapid pace. Your full attention and focus is a prerequisite. There are stories on every corner, in every alley, at every food stall. They happen in a moment. On most occasions, we pass them by without notice or thought. We are too busy; we are late; we just don't really care. Street photography reminds us to stop and observe, to engage with the world around us.
Street photography engages you with society. It forces you to ask questions about culture; assess and develop paradigms and worldviews. It makes you care. To some extent, it makes you uncomfortable, or at least it should. Oftentimes, a particular moment has only a second or two to capture. No time to tinker with settings, grab a tripod, or frame perfectly. You have to be ready, always. Good street photography requires [sometimes awkward] dialogue with strangers and shooting the same streets again and again.
Above all, street photography makes you better understand and appreciate your neighborhood. It introduces and connects you to the people who live and work around you. Walk, whenever possible - walk to the farmer's market, to the pub, or to the mall. Walk or take public transportation to work. Always have your camera around your neck or over your shoulder, and always be ready to have a conversation. The best shots often start there...
Slack Key by the Sea
As the afternoon turns to evening, a man finds a comfortable spot on a rock wall by the ocean to play a few Hawaiian slack key tunes. The waves and ocean spray do not appear to interrupt his medley. Kaka'ako Waterfront Park. Honolulu, Hawaii. 2016.
Search for Wisdom
A man settles into his usual spot on a street corner in Chinatown and reads the morning paper. Homeless Series. Honolulu, Hawaii. 2016.
Life on the Street
Two men take a break for a cigarette and a chat while a nearby puppy surveys the activities on the street in a rural district outside of Phnom Penh. Cambodia, 2016.
Grease, Grime and a Grin
Two men take a brief break from their mechanical work to share a cigarette and a smile. Sumatra, Indonesia. 2018.
Playtime!
No toys? No problem! Two tiny companions pass the time with the use of their imagination in a game of zoo animals on the streets of Phnom Pehn while their parents operate a nearby food cart. Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 2016.
Two girls find ways to pass the time in an ally by their house. Lubuklinggau, Indonesia. 2018.
A Man and His Cart
This man would sit out by my flat every day and collect plastics and recyclables. I still vividly recall his expression when I brought to him a bag full of glass bottles stored up from several months of consumption. The sheer delight was quite a memory and a reminder to value all that we have in life. Shanghai, China. 2009.
Dolor and Roman Meal
Veggie Delight
A woman offers a smile as she packages her produce to sell at the local market in Lubuklinggau. Sumatra, Indonesia. 2018.
Self Storage
A few friends squeeze into a doorway in Kaka'ako in their subconscious attempt at "self-storage." Honolulu, Hawaii. 2016.