Some years back now, when I was in a manic love affair with street photography I wanted to write a book about it. I had the title worked out.
Be There.
Where is there? Wherever there are humans, light and shadow. A simple algorithm for putting yourself in a position to see things. It turns out no matter how much we want to intellectualize (or ruminate, i love me some deep ruminations) you have to actually see the thing that fires whatever dusty old engine you still have kicking. You have to see something that matters to you, in a way you didn’t expect and it sets off a chain of thoughts and feelings which hopefully result in a photograph.
You can think about light and dark all you want but it isn’t till you’re in the darkness quietly peering out at what’s lit before you can have a real response. You know, be there.
Even on a slow year like last year where I had trouble with motivation I still put myself there probably over 150 times. Out with the camera watching for something, but feel…
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