To varying degrees of success I’ve been trying to develop a photographic style that reflects my taste. I’ve become bolder in how I take my photographs, sometimes right in peoples faces, sometimes with their knowledge. However I don’t think I’m there just yet.

I’ve been shooting from the hip quite a lot recently, which has resulted in some pleasing images, but it’s like a lottery. What I really need to work on is my ‘eye’ as it were, how to assess the scene and ‘see the photo’ before I hit the shutter. Which I also think comes down to confidence, when you’re low down aiming a camera at someone, it’s pretty difficult to pretend that you’re not, it’s a mental wall that needs to be broken through. I’m yet to have a bad experience, I’m sure I will, it’s just a matter of time.

It’s a balance between taking a photo that reflects my taste and style whilst communicating to the viewer. I’m getting there but I need to keep up the practice

So by now I’ve managed to take well over a thousand photographs, getting used to the camera, learning about framing, details and layering, means 99.9 percent of the shots are garbage, with the occasional ‘good’ shot. I’m a big fan of minimalist photography however when it comes to street photography it seems to not work so well. You need details, story, decent framing and lighting. It seems the less empty frame the better, at least that’s seemingly what most people get trashed for from looking at forums. 

My confidence has definitely improved though, I feel more comfortable taking photos of people on the street, even if they’re aware of it. There are ethical questions about street photography, such as ‘is it ok to take photos of people without their permission?’ or ‘isn’t it an intrusion of their personal space?’, the answer to both is yes, and it’s ok. We are photographed constantly throughout the day, cctv cameras etc… and at least with street photography you’re able to ask the person taking the picture to stop, which they will if they’re half decent people. There’s also nothing sinister about taking photos of people on the street because it’s not about them, it’s about the photograph.

Yesterday I went out to Brixton to get some shots. It’s been a few months since I visited Brixton and it was actually kind of shocking how much it’s changed. I always saw it as a place of vibrancy, buzz and life. An ideal place to photograph people and scenery, although it still seems to have a lot of that left, it just doesn’t feel like the same place. Maybe I’ve become too familiar with Brixton or maybe it really has changed it’s hard to say. There was a particular subject I was hoping to get, a man who sits in the park covered in pigeons feeding from the crumbs in his hands. A cliched image but still interesting, I imagined having a conversation with him. Maybe getting to know about his life and his past. He wasn’t there, which is not surprising really. Any way didn’t really get any shots I was too happy with so going to head out somewhere else today to see what I can get. Hopefully will be posting some new photos up by the end of the day.