Street Shooter Dimitar Bakalov
Biography
My profession is a personal trainer and organizer of sports camps and a freelance photographer. I was born in the 80s in Bulgaria. I received my education at National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski" Sofia with a profile of Basketball Coach and a second major in Sports Management. From 2000 to 2011 I worked in our family's international transport company while also being a sports camp organizer and photographer, combining documentary and street photography while working on my own projects.
Where are you from and where are you based?
I am from Bulgaria and I live in Sofia.
What does “STREET PHOTOGRAPHY” mean to you?
For me, street photography, documentary photography and photography in general as art is a way to see real life that happens on the street, situations and things that happen in fractions of a second, to look at sometimes the pain or at the same time joy in people's eyes . If you have eyes to see all that, then you have heart and soul for the little things. Small details, gestures on the street speak much better than a thousand words. Photography has always been part of my way of expressing myself over the years and my passion and love. Photography should seduce, shape and, more importantly, evoke an emotional response. To touch and inspire you, to recreate human thoughts and feelings. I hope to touch you with my photos to recreate my inner world and the message they carry.
When were you first attracted to street photography and how did you discover it?
In fact, in 1989, when I was still a small child, I was captivated by photography in general, thanks first to my grandfather, after whom I am named, who gave me a Russian Smena 8M, then from him I understood the power of this art and worldview and way , through which we can see the world around us, photography. Subsequently, my father, who is a creative person, had a business from the early 90's and was then professionally involved in cinematography and photography and wood carving and somehow naturally photography became an even bigger part of my world without realizing the power it gave and there is this "tool" that I held in my hands. Then at that time I also discovered the genre of street photography and I was instantly captivated and impatient after my sports activities, I couldn't wait to contemplate and photograph moments of the reality around us, so I fell in love with street and documentary photography as a genre in particular.
Did you encounter any difficulties when you first started?
I haven't had any difficulties because I approach with respect and understanding when I shoot in the streets, I rather observe more what is happening around me and I love if I have to interact with people, that's the charm of street photography, at least for me.
Black and white or color? And why?
For me, the first thing that matters is what you want to say with your photography, next is it black and white or color? I started out, as I mentioned, in the era of black and white film photography for a period, then switched to color film. I won't hide that black and white photography attracts me a lot, but I shoot in color and I don't limit myself in photography, at least for me there shouldn't be frames.
What is more important in a street photo: content or form? Or do you believe both are important?
Interesting question, many things I would say. I will answer like this: without content the "shell" will be empty and vice versa, but above all I like to make the viewer think about what I have captured, because I aim to leave some message.
What do you want to communicate to the viewer with your street photographs?
I would like people to look at my pictures and think, contemplate. I love this word, it is important especially in street photography, documentary photography, because nowadays in the age of digitalization we sometimes take everything for granted and most people do not pay attention to most things around them, I would like to give and I try to give publicity of the poverty on the streets which saddens me and the indifference that modern man shows to the abandoned old buildings and the people who wander around them, combined with the luxury of modern life and the wandering shadows on the streets, I try to recreate through street photography that touches on several subjects, sometimes of a humorous nature, sometimes a reflection of the loneliness of some people, their looks, gestures combined with their surroundings, which excite me, so I am fascinated by this style of photography.
I would like people, even some fellow photographers, to understand and realize that the most important thing in photography is to honestly reflect things as they are, without exaggerating, as I call it computer modern photography. AUTHENTIC photography is what I try to reflect in my work, as I know it and feel that it will tell them something or show the reality that surrounds us, since it is art, it aims above all to touch people where with a smile , where with a sad look, where with a deep reflection, etc., the content itself is important, at least it was for many years, it is not based on pixels and computer techniques. This is my photography that I hear and understand.
What do you think about clichés in street photography?
I believe that there should be no clichés in art, for me personally photography has only one rule and that is that there are no rules. Therefore, those who follow this rule and have realized it in their soul carry a creative spirit that is valuable and should be guarded.
Who are your favorite photographers?
I think that out of respect for the photographers and discoverers of this art, I will not mention names, out of respect for all of them, because I like the work of many of them, each of them has given and left a mark. This is why I have so much respect for old school photographers.
How instinctive is your photography and how planned is it? Do you work a scene?
I work and try to observe the environment around me and everything happens spontaneously. Yes, sometimes scenes pop into my mind and I try to see them, but that's the charm of street photography, that everything happens in the moment and is unadulterated.
Have you ever experienced confrontation on the street? And how did you react when it happened?
No, never, I love interacting with people when it comes to street photography or documentary photography, I think every artist has their own approaches to capturing the right moment, me personally at 95, not to say 100% of the time, I shoot with manual lenses and manual settings, so it's no coincidence that I repeatedly mention that I use the camera as a creative tool, not primarily to set up, point and shoot, at least that's how I understand photography, I'm sure there are many other colleagues who think like me because you are deeply connected to the subject and the scene in front of you, but don't get me wrong, there are no rules in photography. Photography is more than a technique. You are required to have an internal lens, that's all.
Can you describe your typical day of street shooting?
Quite a difficult question, I just like to observe, as I mentioned, the situations that happen around me. To stay focused on the things that will touch my heart, I'm not one of those photographers who aim for the amount of footage collected for the day and then sift through. But it's always exciting, sometimes I get sad about the situations and sights I encounter, sometimes I combine a humorous look at the situation and ask myself questions, that's it.
Do you belong to a community of photographers in real life? What are your thoughts about photographing with other people?
I am not a member nor do I belong to a particular community, but I would shoot with a fellow photographer.
What about ethics when it comes to Street Photography?
Yes, I agree that there should be ethics and there are times when it doesn't matter that the street is undirected theater and a big stage, one can take a step back in the sense that not everything is at all costs.
Do you have any special tips to offer to other Street Photographers and our readers?
Above all listen to your heart, it will not let you down, not everything is at all costs, observe, think, be honest with the viewer, be grateful for the little "pebbles and thorns" that enter your shoes because they remind us that not everything starts from today and now and by the way it makes us stronger. Love and give love without looking for anything in return, that's how it is in photography, create, create and someday someone will appreciate you and look at you with different eyes. Be blessed, the rest is a dose of vanity.
Where we can see your work?
