Doing street photography is never become an easy thing to do. Yes, it is simple to do because we only need a camera and start shooting anything, anytime, and anywhere. However, to create a decent photo (let alone the great one) is an entirely different story.
After constantly doing this type of photography in the last two years as daily activity, I begin to think, what exactly the reason that keep push me to search for “street” moments out there? Why I still need to do it?
No one ever force me to do it everyday. I do not get any commission or salary from here too (I have other job for living). Then, what is the main reason for me to keep “struggling” search for any unique subject/object/moment out there?
The specific reason why I do street photography as my daily activity:
Street photography is an art. The art of seeing artistic scene (subject/object/moment) on the street (public place) in decisive moment.
It is a beautiful thing to create art (any form of art, not only photography). It feels like I able to convert my imagination into a reality. To make other people (visually) understand the way I see this world and to let them know why I think this world is an artistic place.
I always imagine capture a scene in street photography is like to freeze an artistic moment, that happen in split second gap. The split second time when Universe decide to blend some elements together to create an artistic scene.
This is our “duty” as a street photographer to freeze that moment and let other people know that our world is full of beautiful scenes. Even in the most ordinary or boring places that we can think of. Turn any ordinary objects around us into something magical to see.
The satisfaction feeling when I succeed created an artistic scene from ordinary things is one of the main reason I keep doing this everyday. No, it does not mean I can get a decent or great photo everyday, but rather it keep challenges me to always try to achieve it whenever/wherever I can.
For more reasons why I so fall in love to street photography could be found in my previous blog posts:
Street photography bring you happiness
The art of being content creatorÂ
As additional information, few weeks ago I tried to gathered some opinions from Instagram’s community about “What is your personal reason to shoot street photography?”, even though no one ever forced them to do so. Here are some of their answers:
“Accessibility and uniqueness of images compare to other types of photography”
“Because street photography is beautiful”
“Beautiful moment won’t be able to repeated”
“It is all about spontaneous and candid moments”
“Document our era for those after us”
“To train myself as an introvert person to start interaction with stranger”
“To capture the original behaviour of people”
“Know about the real life”
“Always push me to be more creative”
“Less technique, but push more creativity”
“I feel free behind the viewfinder. Like an alternative reality to me”
I think it is safe to say, we (street photographers) still (trying so hard) continue to pursue artistic scene out there simply because we find joy, peace and unique pleasure by doing it everyday!
Keep shooting everyday and never forget to have fun in street photography!
Nico Harold