Why I shoot Street Photography

My last blog I wrote about what I’ve learn from shooting street photography, but today I want to talk about why I personally shoot street photography.

I was first introduced to street photography in 2010. At the time I was living in Chicago with my girlfriend who was in her last year of undergrad. I was fortunate enough to land an internship where a fellow internee introduced me to the works of Vivian Maier. Her photographs blew me away and touched my soul that no other photographer or photograph has ever done. I remember telling myself that I want to produce these same images. Till today I still admire her and her works are one of the reasons why I shoot street photography.

Street photography is my self therapy. It allows me to get away from troubles and stresses of life by allocating a time to myself whether it’s before work, lunch breaks, or on weekends to zone out and capture the every day life.

Street photography gives me a reason to talk to strangers and have a meaningful conversation. It allows me to share my soul with other people on the streets that I may not even approach if I didn’t have a camera with me.

Street photography reminds me to document my surroundings and to appreciate the mundane. To document family, friends, places, life events, so that 10-20 years from now I can look back and create my own personal slideshow in my mind.

Street photography makes me get off my ass and shoot the streets as is. To get some exercise in but also to detach from the rat race that we live in.

Street photography has no rules, no limits, and in the end it’s not a contest on who has more likes and followers. Instead street photography is capturing an image and sharing with others on how you view the world.

Street photography has reminded me that Hawaii is not all paradise. Through street photography I have learned to do more than take photos of interesting characters or interesting scenarios. Rather, to document current issues and lifestyles of people in my community (Traffic, Homelessness, Condos, Overweight Tourist, Dog Owners).

Street photography is the purest form of photography in my opinion. The platform to snap a photo of how you see the world and you think your surroundings should be perceived as. Every photo you take on the streets will always be different than the last, your creativity is limitless.

Street photography has brought joy to my life because of the people I’ve met along the way. The conversations I’ve had with people on the streets and online have been nothing but positive. For example, I received a personal message one day that my work inspires him to get off his ass and shoot the streets. That sentence brought a big smile to my face and my heart.

Street photography keeps my eyes fresh and curious. Taking photos of the reality we live in and in public places makes me happy. There are no hold backs in street photography except yourself. Personally, I need to get closer to my subjects, I want to get closer, and treat it more like a mission. Change my style and approach from time to time. Be more aggressive even if it’s out of my own nature to be so. The main thing is, I’m still learning in street photography and hope I don’t ever get jaded shooting.

I don’t shoot street photography for the money (There absolutely no money in street) or for the little glory I do get from time to time on my instagram. I shoot street photography to document society, maintain my sanity, I enjoy meeting strangers and the humbling experiences I’ve encountered, and most of all I shoot street photography because I enjoy sharing my images the way I see society.