The Snapping Bishop

Chinese New Year ‘09. ‘street’ (Set 2/3)

First set;  (1/3) Titled. What is ‘Street Photography’?

Third set;  (3/3) Titled. Free Hugs Anyone.

I realised something this morning whilst editing shots for this post: one of the things that intrigues me about this genre of photography is the unintentional fact that many people may not ‘get’ why I took a photograph. I know why I’ve taken the shot and I hope to convey my chosen visual cues to the viewer and trigger similar thoughts. This applies to all photography I’m sure, but in a similar way to devastating war photographs or a beautiful moment caught at a wedding, can street photography convey an accurate account of the moment with the same goal and  intent?

Can I really expect the viewer to pay so much attention just because I’ve labeled the shots ’street’ and insist there’s more to them than might be obvious? It may not be beautiful and it may not be intense, but nonetheless it’s all part our human existence, just not the most popular side. No I can’t, I either accept that many of the shots will be mis-interpreted or take better photographs that convey my ideas and thoughts more clearly. That, however, is considerably subjective, so I stand little chance of satisfying every view’s interpretation even if I were to set myself some unattainable goal.

So that being said I’m back to suck it and see mode…

These shots each have a story to suggest, hopefully you’ll enjoy the ideas and they’ll make you ponde. Some are  merely passing giggles of a shot, some observational views of people’s reactions, others are more serious and intentional. They are all fully and intentionally composed; for me there’s always a point of view in mind… that statement applies to all my photography and although its not obvious there is a great deal of my ‘me” in all of my photographs, slightly scary thought that too…