The Miami Street Photography Festival just concluded this past weekend handing out awards for best single image contest and series from Miami.

1st Place Singles Category Miami Street Photography Festival 2018 – Hsiu Ju Chang

The Miami Street Photography Festival just concluded this past weekend handing out awards for best single image contest and series from Miami.

Finally a photo without any animals places first. I have no idea what everyone’s infatuation with animals in street photos is. The winning image by photographer Hsiu Ju Chang is exceptional. I really love this photo and it is a great reminder to all photographers of any genre that you do not need to travel to a foreign country to take amazing photographs. You can find opportunities for great photographs anywhere. This winning image proves that good lighting, shadows, vibrant colors, and is still king! Purely at first glance, if someone said Alex Webb took this photo, I’d believe it.

This trend with animals and birds, and dogs, and cows I am sick of it! Stop! Just stop. The winning photo at Italian Street Photography Festival 2018 was an animal (or portrayed an animal). The third place image at Streetfoto 2018 looked like a “Got Milk”ad. Remember that from the 90’s? I like the cow image but it looks too perfect and how Jeff Mermelstein would say “Magaziney”. The first place image for Streetfoto….again we are at the presence of animals…Although the trio of dogs are not the predominate focus in the image ITS STILL THERE.

In the end, the winning picture in Miami is what we should be seeing more of. My hat goes off to the finalist judges at Miami (Nick Turpin, Constantine Manos, and Meryl Meisler) for getting this right for everyone!