Why I Stopped Getting Close in Street Photography

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street photography, street photography tips, street photographer, motivation, inspiration, Ricoh GR3, Ricoh GR3x, Leica M, Leica SL2, Hong Kong

[drunacres]

I lived 25 years of my life in Hong Kong from 1987 - and have a very emotional and close connection to the place. To hear your line about how people in HK have changed and are more worried about being watched or photographed is heart breaking. HK's soul sounds like it has changed. Great video.

[simonbarnes]

For 20 plus years I was a wedding/portrait photographer. What I found was that getting in close caused my subjects to become affected by my presence and by that I mean the natural look in their faces and the scene became awkward. So I set to use a telephoto and shoot reportage style from a distance. A new dynamic was unfolding when I shot like this because the people looked and reacted naturally because they were unaware of me taking their pictures.

In 2013 I decided to shoot people on the streets and so wedding photography being a stage set if you like was like photographing Ground Hog Day. Wash rinse repeat. I needed a more unscripted world in which to photograph and street photography became my playground. I never listen to the greats of any genre, I just do my thing. There are no rules in photography that were meant to be unbroken. A photographer who inspired me was not a street photographer, but photographed models in the streets of New York on 35mm not the expected medium format. He is David Bailey. I also like the work of Aussie street photographer Trent Parke, but ultimately I follow my own path. Great video as always.

[MightyBrend]

I find getting close in street photography really difficult, mostly for the reason you said, the subject is aware of it and they get anxious and paranoid. Coming from a place of empathy it's not something I'm comfortable doing, especially if people already feel insecure in their lives.
Loved this video, overall very inspiring! Thank you for sharing!

[sethlnh]

I love the sentiment you share on “getting close” and the alternative meaning. Your video resonates with a video of Sean Tucker quoting another photographer about “Bruising the Scene” when getting too close to affect the subject. Some new street photographers these days get too close and it just seems disrespectful of others space. You can still capture life on the streets without gettin within arms distance from them. I wish more street photographers documented street life in a wider context.

[sunnyipyt]

Hello, I am Sunny from Hong Kong. And I started crying near at the end of your video. Thank you very much for your great work and I feel the love of you to this City and People. Hey! We still love you. You will not be alone. Thanks a lot Ivan! You have woken me up.

[aramdavid]

I never thought about it this way... the close photo is like a "trophy"... I have been feeling this lately, as street photography has become more of a thing. So many photos are more of a game of chicken than telling an actual story. Im thankful for you sharing your thoughtful approach to photography here, because I think you can inspire people to up their game, not only through your beautiful and thoughtful photos, but through your astute and articulate observations on the genre.

[AlexSinclair]

I did a four year degree studying photography in college. I wish your videos were around then. They would have provided so much value and context to these isolated concepts. I think a lot of your ideas very much identify that fundamental difference between knowledge and wisdom. I'm so grateful that you put these out there for free for anyone to access.

[Marko]

Very well said, I think what you’re developing is a “ social conscience “, you are aware that not everyone is comfortable having a stranger stick a camera in their face, you are respecting others and that can only be a good thing, as with many things in life, there is a time and a place, great vid !

[GajanBalan]

A very thoughtful and considered perspective. I appreciate you sharing this. There’s an intimacy to getting up close that I enjoy but more importantly, it allows me to briefly share a space with someone else, hopefully for the better. I think about a lot of the things you’ve mentioned and I also wonder am I a better human if I’m capturing unnoticed. There’s no right or wrong tbh, but it is fascinating to have these conversations.

[KarinMajoka]

I love how many layers you added to the question of getting close. I found myself in the rut of thinking I can only be good in street photography when getting close - but this video helped to take a step back (literally) and rethink that whole concept. Thanks for the inspiration and thanks for making me add Hong Kong to my list of places I need to visit one day.

[gregsimmons]

10:51 “The need for privacy is more important than ever…”

Subscribed right there!

[romaingautier]

It's exactly the same with wildlife photography. At first, you want to be the closer with the animal you want to photography. Because it means your hide was good, you were enough patient, you were lucky... But now I prefer to have my subject in a more "wide" scene.

The more I practice street photography, the more I find a lot of similiraties between the two practice (wildlife and street).

As usual your video is a masterpiece :)

[DebiSenGupta]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It touched me. I am sorry that things have changed in Hong Kong. I was there many years ago and loved the city

[AlexOnStreets]

How we were just talking about this today and the end result, how the photo will be used.. will someone want to hang up a picture of someone weird super close up or is it more zine/book material? The question always was made clear in the end, the photo itself can actually be appreciated more if faces aren't the main subject. The entire frame needs to be appreciated equally.
I can't tell you how timely this is for me. How did you know this video was what I needed to hear? What a time man. And I wanna say some people aren't appreciating your photos as much as the video. What made this video to me most is the photos and how well they convey what you said. Let's keep working brother.

[aleksey.kerkin]

Your videos always come out at the right time, at least when I need them or I'm confused. It's like the inner voice of the subconscious that guides me. Thanks. Perfect as always.

[jakelawrenceespinosa]

Amazing take on this. Thanks for sharing

[s.z.x.]

This approach of photography as movie (having different types of shot instead of always being close) is quite interesting. I don’t think it’s too hard to tell whether you should get close or not, as your immediate feeling after pressing the shutter will answer you.

[toohundred]

lmfao that ad in the middle of this absolutely DESTROYS the feeling of this video...I clicked off this video when your Skillshare ad popped up.

[MomentsFound]

One of the most beautiful and touching videos on youtube that I have ever seen! Thank you.

[kalengankonge]

Best video I have seen this year. Thanks for sharing your thoughts🙏🏾