Thoughts on my street photography at the beginning of the year

I share some notes (and of course photos) on what I have done in this first month.

In this first month of the year I worked in different parts of the city, I also went to the state of Mexico. By photographing in the barrios and in the historic center, I kept my focus on taking into account the social situation.

What I am interested in photographing at this stage is reflected in an approach devoted to exploring the metropolitan essence. I do it with photos not winking at what everyone expects and it is a work that is inevitably more intimate and related to the direct experience of my crossings of the places where I am.

My photography is inevitably influenced by taking it now with a DSLR. You asked me about my choice: many street photographers now do not agree with it, yet when I was among the first to give up the SLR it was called a bizarre choice. I had forgotten how enjoyable it was to photograph through a fairly large optical viewfinder. Photographing with the reflex makes me more exposed for sure, but hey, yesterday I was in Cuautepec with that camera…

I feel that the photos I am making now respond to a need to document the essence of what the city and the place are now. In some of the photos you can see how there is a reaction of some people. I consider it a training for the eyes. Some things can be avoided, but I don't. And I share them as a testimony of what a new process is in having made a choice that is certainly different and that goes in the opposite direction to what the market suggests.

In this first month of the year I feel that the next few months will be very interesting. As anticipated I will buy a new Canon. A reader suggested that I consider an Olympus rather. I did have in the past a Olympus Pen, but I am not interested to micro 4/3. It is not good for certain specificis required by the agencies and even for certain prints. This is why I want a 24mpx sensor. The choice is again an APS-C sensor camera because I need lightness and compactness both in the camera body and in the lenses. And Canon because in that way I will have 2 Rebel cameras where I can change the lenses between the two without problems. I am working to a project that if it has to go as I hope it will lead me to something important and Canon is the elected system.

Remember that if Street Photography is important to me any choice, also of the equipment, needs to consider my activity as commercial photographer. In this first month of the year I reduced my digital equipment. I feel a maturation on this too. Although I have always been one who carries out his ideas, even at times complicating my life for not choosing the easy way out, now more than ever I don't let myself be enchanted by the sirens of marketing and rather pursue what is right for my work and my photography.

And anyway don't forget a determining factor: I'm having a lot of fun. Maybe a few times like now. My technical background has grown. This allows me to experience photography as I have always wanted. The photographs I've taken in the last two months, between the end of last year and this new one, tell me I'm on the right track. Even the choice of focal length, a 38.4mm equivalent, reveals a fairly distinct approach compared to that which has spread among those who do street photography. All considerations made at the time and that I have already shared on this blog and I do not want to repeat myself.

Keep following me, guys, because exciting new things will come.