To the core of Street Photography: what makes a photographer a street photographer?

The ontological reflection pervades my pace as a writer of photographic things. You can find it in this blog. And in my books.

Selfie - Mexico City, 2021

Joel Meyerowitz said us that there are two kind of photographers. The ones going to the studio and the ones going on the streets. I agree with him. Because they are two different mental forms and two different purposes.

I also photograph in studio situations but it is in the street that I find myself in my element. A street photographer is different. Because thestreet requires you to know and respect its rules. This completely changes the experience as a photographer. There must be total awareness and respect for the street, the street intended as a metropolitan place, as a public space that becomes the scene of many completely different events.

That street to which our actions always cause consequences. The street that is the scene of small and large demonstrations, riots, emotional, violent, sad, funny moments. The street is where injustice meets justice. And sometimes it can be a conflict, other times a marriage.

A street photographer, a good street photographer is an individual with experience and empathy able to perceive and capturing stories about people and the places they live and gather. To be a street photographer means also ephemeral moments where subject matter, mood, composition, and light come together to create a meaningful photograph. A street photographer is a photographer that recognizes in instants and in a moment raises up the camera pressing the shutter button to take a moment that makes the viewer think bringing up a specific feeling, a story, an idea. It is an emotional experience which starts from a jolt in observing and which can subsequently involve those who observe that image. This is why I also believe that the image should remain quite pure without exaggerating in post production.

A street photographer should be always conscious that a photograph taken on the street can be a historical record. Conceived and done in this way, street photography takes on a decidedly different motivation.