Street Photography Roundup Wk. 37

by Shinja Aramoto

In today’s age of smartphones and Instagram, anyone can be a photographer and share images instantly. This might create the illusion that the role of the professional photographer—or professional photography as a whole—is dying, that it has been watered down. But when major events transpire, photojournalists are already there on the frontline, fitting into a few frames a whole story to be shared with those not present. Their images connect and allow the world to visually experience these events, no matter the distance.

Hugh Pinney has been working with photo distribution company Getty Images for nearly 15 years as vice president of news for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He spoke to Observer about the importance of photography in today’s digital society.

“In terms of imagery, it’s how we communicate; it transcends words, verbal communication,” Pinney said. “We’re so accustomed to delivering messages through images that I think we have all become increasingly visually literate over the last few years.”

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Almost all of us want to improve our photography. Regardless of whether you are a hobbyist, aspiring professional, or if you have been a pro for several decades, there’s always more to learn. Creating better images should always be at the forefront of our mind. It doesn’t matter where you are in your photographic journey or what genre interests you, here are five things that I think can help to improve your photography.

1. Be Self-Aware

This is one of the biggest contributors to improving in any field. Being self-aware enough to understand where you sit in the grand scheme of things is so important. Knowing where you are, where you are trying to get to, and then working backward to find the missing links is going to help you hugely. Unfortunately, if you are not self-aware, you probably won’t know. The moment I started to look inwardly at what wasn’t working photography-wise was the day I realized. I spent a lot of time wondering why other photographers were getting the work I wanted instead of me. After a long hard look in the mirror, I realized that I was the one who needed up my game and not that the rest of the world was wrong. If you’re guilty of always blaming clients not getting your style, your geographic location, being poor, or people just being jerks, maybe ask a really good friend if the issue might be you.

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Klaus Pichler tapped into two very different subcultures for his latest books – old, rapidly-vanishing dive bars in Vienna, and the ‘cultish’ world of esotericism. As his dive bar work goes on show in Ljubljana, we present an interview with him first published in BJP in November 2016

“They are places you go to when you’ve lost everything – but not before,” says Klaus Pichler of the Viennese bars that feature in his latest book, Golden Days Before They End, released in June and now in its third reprint. It’s one of two books Pichler shot in 2016. The other, This Will Change Your Life Forever, currently in the design stage and due to be published in October, is a sarcastic critique of the esotericism industry and the photography that feeds it.

Pichler collaborated on Golden Days with journalist Clemens Marschall, who was familiar with Vienna’s rapidly disappearing old dive bars and the often ‘colourful’ patrons that clung to them. “Clemens has always gone to these bars,” explains Pichler. “He doesn’t like to go to fancy places. Five years ago he noticed that these bars are beginning to close down because of increased regulation, an inability to adapt to a changing city, and a dying clientele.”

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Photographer Edo Zollo stalks the streets of London, pointing his lens at the mysterious happenings that could only occur after dark. As the bustling city empties out, he takes the opportunity to capture unique street images tinged with a touch of film noir.

Zollo has lived in London for 15 years, and it’s here that he picked up the habit of taking to the streets when he found himself consistently awake after midnight. The results are voyeuristic images of solitary figures as they go about their business, unaware that they are being photographed. Shrouded in mystery, are they brokering a nefarious business deal or stealing a moment away from a tawdry love affair? Not even Zollo knows, but his unique brand of street photography keeps viewers wondering.

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Here’s the problem with photography: everyone does it and there’s a ton of talent out there. It’s not enough to be the person who owns a wide-aperture telephoto and shoots bokeh-heavy portraits. Nor is it beneficial to be the jack of all trades but master of none, because in a world so inundated, distinction requires unique vision and top-tier talent, and no person can achieve those in ten separate genres. And as Sean Tucker points out in this thoughtful video essay, no one is going to come randomly knocking at your door with a blank check; you have to create work that forces the world to take notice. And to do that, you have to find your unique photographic identity and niche, then develop and refine that constantly. Spend time finding out who you are, then embrace it and run with it.

You probably know Canadian-born photographer and director Joey Lawrence for his beautifully lit commercial work and equally as impressive A-List celebrity portraits. In recent years Lawrence has shifted gears to document the Kurdish guerrilla organizations fighting against ISIS. Today a free documentary film and fine art book have been released to show conflict up close like you may have never seen it before.

Many of us have seen Joey Lawrence evolve over the years into the photographer we see today. His signature style is instantly recognizable to those who are familiar with what he does. Swapping the safety of commercial work to document conflict in the Middle East may not sound like the most obvious of career paths but the work Lawrence has produced as a result is inspiring to see.