The Street Thief
In recent times I realised the edge was missing from my photography. I wasn’t sure what it was at first and frankly it was doing my nut in. It took me a while to pin point what it was. Street Photography. I was no longer shooting so much of it. When I first started my business, shooting portraits and weddings I was at the same time practicing street photography pretty much on a daily basis. I really think this gave my work an edge.
At least three times a week I would be out and about with my camera. Often I’d be up bright and early doors and hot tailing into town stealing frames whilst everyone else was pouring milk on their Frosties. Avoiding the rush hour nonsense I’d be back home ready to start work by 10am.
Also when travelling to other countries, I would always make sure to grab plenty of time for my street photography frames. In short I was shooting a shit load of Street Photography.
And for some reason, in recent years, I stopped shooting as much of it. Which is bonkers. Street Photography is my default setting. The sheer unpredictable nature of it is what appeals to me the most. The potential for storytelling and character depiction in your images. The diversity on offer. I love also that it’s me shooting totally for myself. I have nobody else to answer to. It’s me and my camera and whatever the streets throw my way.
Street Photography also forces you to be brave. Or rather if you want your images to have character and depth then you have to push yourself outsize of your comfort zone to get them. It stands to reason that if you can do this out on the Streets then that is going to really manifest an edge in your other work where things aren’t as intimidating.
So with that in mind I’ve done an about turn. I’m now shooting the streets again several times a week. The Street Thief is a kind of alias I use for my instagram portfolio. The name is pretty apt as that’s what I feel like often when I’m on the street … a creative thief stealing moments in time that would otherwise be lost forever.
I have recently begun to steer my YouTube channel toward mostly Street Thief, Street Photography videos. Do check out the channel and be sure to subscribe as I have some awesome little movies planned which will be both entertaining and informative.
