Streetcap - October 2023

October, 2023

Coming off one of my best months of the whole year in September, I definitely felt confident going into October. On the very first day of the month, I flew to California for a week to celebrate my girlfriend’s brother’s wedding. After returning, I unfortunately had a very busy couple of weeks for work as it was Fall Fest season. I tried to shoot as often as possible during the last week of October to enjoy the Fall weather and document Halloween 2023.

Los Angeles - Santa Barbara - Joshua Tree

This trip was my first to Los Angeles and only my second-ever trip to California. We found a great Airbnb in Venice Beach, which I was excited to experience as I've only ever seen it in films. I had high expectations of the quirk and the evening light. Most of my photos from this part of the trip came from the Venice Beach boardwalk, skate park, or the surrounding neighborhood which I found had a really interesting, almost rugged vibe to it.

After a couple days in LA, we headed up north to Santa Barbara for the wedding. I didn't get that much time to shoot here, mostly it was quick trips to the downtown shopping district or walking along the waterfront with my GR.

Finally, we headed to Joshua Tree for 1 night and 1 day with my girlfriend’s family. We were pressed for time here, so I was mostly shooting around the Airbnb, in town while waiting on a brunch table, and during our drive through the park where we stopped at Skull Rock, Cholla Cactus Gardens, and finally the Key View for an amazing sunset. I kept my Series E 100mm lens on the entire time we were in Joshua Tree, and I found that the telephoto lens allowed me to notice lots of details and scenes I might not have been able to on my 40mm.

Continuing September’s Momentum

After a really successful September and kicking off October with such a great trip, I had high hopes for the rest of the month. DC is beautiful this time of year, and I wanted to spend as much time outside shooting as possible before the weather turned cold. Unfortunately, as a Community Event Planner, the Fall is a really busy time of year for me with Oktoberfest, Fall Fests, and Halloween events. As such, I didn't have all that much time to get out and shoot. Aside from a fruitful trip to Georgetown and a visit to the National History Museum, many of my best photos came 1 or 2 at a time as I carried my camera with me while out and about for work.

I tried to continue shooting in front of my subjects and having them fill my frame more. I also found myself really inspired by some of the contemporary New York Street Shooters who often time photograph the abnormal blips inside of normal life - for example, my photo of the bus stop ad which has been crinkled so the people look oddly disformed.

Event Photography

The one plus side to having a very busy October was that there were several busy events where I was able to shoot freely. One event was the Rosslyn Fall Fest which took place in The View DC, a 31st floor panoramic event space overlooking DC. For this event, I shot almost entirely at 28mm using my 28-70 AF-D lens which I really only use for events. I tried to keep in mind to get close and in front of my subjects, which is easier when at an event like this. I was so inspired by these photos I bought a cheap little Vivitar 28mm prime lens for my Nikon so I could shoot 28mm more often.

Another event where I captured some amazing photos was District Fray Magazine’s ‘We Are The Weirdos’ Halloween Party, which was one of the best events I have ever been to. This party left nothing to the imagination as it included a live band, dozens of vendors and artists putting on their own spooky installations and interactive performances. Since I was working the event, I decided to bring only my Ricoh GRDiii with the flash popped, and I was so happy with these photos!

Streetcap - September 2023

September, 2023

Howdy folks, welcome back for another Streetcap. This month has been my best month of street shooting I think since October of last year. I have been super inspired for a few different reasons:

  • A new camera - yes, I once again have been GASSY, though in my defense I have been balling on a budget. After my road trip last month, it once again occurred to me why I upgraded away from the D600 in the first place - the dust (maybe oil?) on the sensor. It drove me crazy back in 2019 and did again in 2023 when I had to edit out hundreds of spots from each photo I took. So yeah I have a new secret camera, and I’ve been LOVING it.

  • Wrong Side Of The Lens - This street photography docuseries is an incredible source of inspiration. The series follows over a dozen street photographers as they tell the stories behind their work and share their philosophy and motivations. I binged the whole thing twice and it had me itching to pick up my camera and get out to shoot.

  • FXBG Street Shoot-off - The Street Shoot-off is my favorite event of the year, and I always get excited to practice in the weeks leading up, and am usually flying high afterward and I like to ride the wave of motivation.

  • SPM Podcast Interview - Last month I had the honor of being interviewed by Bob Patterson of the Street Photography Magazine Podcast. Preparing for this interview and reflecting on my best work over the course of my career gave me a refreshing dose of inspiration to get out and continue growing and improving.

So yeah, I’ve been lowkey on fire this month, so much so that I had too many good photos to combine September and October into one Streetcap, which was my initial plan. So what’s actually new in my photography?

Back to the Classics

After my interview with Street Photography Magazine, I was also told that my story on the Lincoln Memorial would be featured in the Magazine in December. I was of course thrilled at this news, but realized that I had been neglecting that project for a few months. I figured I would spruce things up and head back down to the Mall more often. I was surprised to find that the Memorial was under construction and I had no idea. I felt like this was an opportunity to really document an era of time that won’t last forever.

The construction at the Memorial added an interesting element to a location I had shot many times before, but the downside was that I wasn’t able to get around back to enjoy the sunset light. Knowing I couldn’t let the last month of Summer sunsets go to waste, so I decided to head to another one of my old practice grounds, Georgetown. To my pleasant surprise, the crowds are back to pre-pandemic levels which was excellent for me. I am ashamed to admit I had forgotten how incredible the golden hour light is in Georgetown, but my golly it’s perfect. In preparation for the Street Shoot-off, I had been studying Alex Webb and Joel Meyerowitz’s work and found that the lighting was similar to what they used to shoot in. I think you’ll see a lot of their influence in these shots.

A few weeks later, I was presented a golden opportunity to revisit another of my favorite spots in the city, I had some time to kill before a walkthrough in Downtown. I loved shooting in Downtown during the late pandemic, especially right at the end of the workday when all the suits are heading out, but found it hard to time it right before I missed the rush. Well I shot for a couple of hours and found it to be a great experience. I decided to return a few days later, and was lucky enough to stumble upon an office-slash-infant-daycare-building which was let out for a fire alarm. I walked through the crowd over and over capturing moments and trying to practice my courage to bring the finder to my eye and get in front of my subjects.

FXBG SPC Street Shoot-off

For the third year running I set off for Fredericksburg to take part in the Street Shoot-off. This year I had my eye set on the big win, and had practiced my angles relentlessly to prepare. I really liked the images I was able to produce, but the competition was stellar this year and unfortunately I did not take home the gold, or any hardware for that matter.


Other Photos I Took This Month:

July - August 2023 Streetcap

Late Summer = Lazy Summer

Ok not laziness, but I have been super busy the past couple of months as Summertime is naturally very busy for me as an event planner. I think I worked every single weekend in July and August, as well as at least a couple of weeknights per week.

Photo Sets

As a result of not being able to get out consistently for more free-form street shooting, most of the photography I did in July & August was for projects I have been working on, or as a part of my road trip from Minneapolis to Las Vegas.

I figured the best way to break down these month’s shots was to present 5 Photo Sets that I think work together to tell a story. Check them out below:

HOW DC MOVES

Ok so cards on the table, these images are actually from June 30th, but I figure that since I didn’t export them until July 1st they count. This Set is an event recap I shot while working a Release Party for District Fray’s MOVE issue. This party took place at Metrobar, a local bar that is best known for its converted Metrocar Bar. We also brought out a number of local artists and performers to do live and interactive exhibitions including skaters and rollerskaters, a live painting session by Alexi Abi-Mikhael, Lydia Corbett, and Amber Proctor, a number of artists (E$, Nate Mann, Lauren Bassette, Tom Kim and TJ Buttner) painting District Fray Magazine Boxes, a photo op by Disco Loft, and a video presentation by Maps Glover.

July 4th

For the first time in my quarter century in the DMV, my friends and I joined thousands of others in visiting the Lincoln Memorial for the 4th of July. I knew this would be a great photo op, so I brought my Nikon D600 and Voigtlander 40mm f/2, as well as my Fuji X-H1 with Pentax 135mm f/2.8 with me. Check out the photos below.

Chadron, NE

In the last week of July, my friend and I decided to take a 5-day road trip from Minneapolis to Las Vegas. I had never driven across the country before (OK I flew to Minneapolis but what did I really miss on the way there?), and was excited to see what that stretch of the country looked like. The first stop we made on our trip was the small town of Chadron, Nebraska. When we pulled into town it was cold, rainy, and dreary, and there was not a soul to be seen. However, after grabbing a coffee and walking around a bit, the sun peeked out and we stumbled on a town festival with a concert and lots of local stores vending. I was intrigued by the close-knit small-town feel. The thing that caught my eye was the design painted on the band’s backdrop - a plains/desert landscape. I thought this was wholly symbolic of our trip.

 
 

Out The Window

OK, this might not technically be ‘street photography’, but it is documentary photography which I think actually better describes my style. These photos were taken out of the car window, mostly with my beloved 75-150mm Series E lens that was glued to my camera. The items that caught my eye the most were the human elements tied into the natural beauty of the countryside. I tried to emphasize this humanity by focusing on symmetrical elements and structures.

The Dupont Farmer’s Market

This project has been the definition of this Summer for me photographically. Even when I don’t have time to get out and shoot as much as I like, I am almost always free on Sunday mornings to return again and again. The consistency has allowed me to capture some truly beautiful moments. As always, I have focused on color, texture, and humorous/intriguing juxtapositions.

I Was Interviewed By Street Photography Magazine

Last month I had the honor of being interviewed by Bob Patterson of Street Photography Magazine for their proprietary podcast.

Bob and I first met at the 2021 FXBG SPC Shoot Off where he was judging and I was competing. I have been an avid fan of the podcast ever since that time, when I won a year subscription to the Magazine as a prize for receiving Honorable Mention.

Last month I finally decided to submit a handful of projects to the Magazine, and to my surprise I not only heard back about one of my articles, but Bob reached out to invite me onto the podcast!

During our conversation we cover travel, gear, the Lincoln Memorial, YouTube, Instagram, and more. Check it out below:

A big thanks to Bob and his team for having me on, make sure to check out Street Photography Magazine it is well worth the subscription.

4th of July in Washington DC

July 4th, 2023

For the first time in my quarter century in the DMV, my friends and I joined thousands of others in visiting the Lincoln Memorial for the 4th of July. I knew this would be a great photo op, so I brought my Nikon D600 and Voigtlander 40mm f/2, as well as my Fuji X-H1 with Pentax 135mm f/2.8 with me. Check out the photos below:

April - June 2023 Streetcap

It’s comeback season baby.

I have been doing street photography for long enough by now to know that when I hit a slump, it’s not going to last forever, and usually it’s followed by periods of improvement in my work. This latest slump has lasted practically a whole year since I moved back to the DMV from Baltimore. I wasn’t surprised and even welcomed it when it started, I was busy and focusing on other aspects of my life, and knew that photography would always be there when I was ready to jump back in. The latter point is something that I feel like lots of people forget when they try new things, but with enough commitment, you can move past that mental roadblock and it’s actually very healthy. Anyways…

Over the past few months, I feel like I have finally hit my stride again. I am now living right in the heart of DC, which has made it so easy to get consistent and quality practice in. Living in a city has been everything I hoped it would be. I can carry a camera with me for 5 minutes a day and find something worth photographing. The constant practice definitely feels like it’s been paying off.

In this post, I will recap the past couple of months of my Street Photography work, explore some recurring themes, and discuss some new projects.

Geometry

I think this has become one of the core foundations of my photographic style. Nothing catches my eye or inspires me and satisfies me the same way geometry does in the world around me. Lines, squares, perfect circles, right angles, and equilateral triangles all seem too perfect and mathematical to occur in nature and have become a symbol of the fundamentally man-made. I find that my favorite photos are ones that combine these graphic symbols of order with the natural chaos that is life.

Living in a city has been huge for me because even if I don’t have my camera with me, I am still constantly finding geometry around me on a daily basis. My eye is always on the hunt for shapes and lines in window reflections, architecture, or just looking down at the ground. As a result, I feel like I have gotten way better at finding intriguing compositions:

Gestures and Random Shit

As I mentioned before, the two elements I often combine in my work are Order (geometry) and Chaos. The latter usually takes the form of, as this section’s title suggests, gestures (facial or bodily expression, emotion, or action) and random shit (literally just weird things that you don’t see everyday). Once again I’ll hype up living in a city because weirdness is so much more present here. Every day I see someone wearing a flamboyant costume or haircut, or sitting in a trash can. These little moments are what make me happy to be who and where I am, our universe is so vast and so old, yet I’m living in a period of time where someone might dance chained to a disco ball as a performative art exhibition.

Travel - Royal Tunbridge Wells and Portugal

Another thing that always boosts my photography is travel. Seeing new things and experiencing the vast diversity of our species, cultures, and environments always invigorates me to document my own and photograph in new ways. In April I traveled to Royal Tunbridge Wells in England as well as Porto, Portugal and took some of my favorite photos of the year.

Ongoing Projects

Being able to build up consistency in my shooting habits also means I get to put more time into working on longer-term projects. A couple I am working on are The Lincoln Memorial and The Dupont Farmer’s Market.

The Lincoln Memorial

This project was born out of the slump I am currently working my way out of. Whenever I am feeling out of practice or like I’m falling behind with Street Photography, I like to go to a busy, touristy place to make it easier to snap photos of strangers without feeling pressured or stressed. The Lincoln Memorial quickly became a favorite due to its popularity and interesting geometric architecture.

The Dupont Farmer’s Market

This project is probably my most exciting prospect right now. As a local, I go regularly to this market to pick up produce for the week, so I can easily spend 15 minutes photographing it each week. I have definitely discovered some themes emerging - color matching, natural textures, and the little details vendors and customers wear on their sleeves (literally).

More work:

HOW DC MOVES

HOW DC MOVES // District Fray Release Party

Last night I had the privilege of helping execute District Fray’s Release Party for their April edition - the MOVE issue. DFM teamed up with metrobar and a slew of incredible local artists to celebrate the many ways the District MOVES.

A Morning of Cherry Blossoms

In March 2023, for the first time in my life, went to spend a Saturday morning at the Tidal Basin to enjoy the Cherry Blossom bloom and take some street/documentary photos.

I wasn’t there very long, as a DMV native I’ve spent most of my Springs learning to keep away from the Cherry Blossoms, as it is the busiest time of year (anecdotally, at least) for tourists. I read a story about a tourist climbing and breaking a Cherry Blossom tree, and for some reason, it really jarred me that someone would come to a place known for its beautiful trees and try to climb one. It made me really curious to document how tourists would interact with this environment.

The whole downtown area of the City was swarming as expected. It actually was the morning of the Cherry Blossom 5k, but I didn’t quite wake up early enough to catch most of the racers. There were, however, plenty of people already out visiting the Tidal Basin.

I started out by just doing a lap getting a feel for the area. I felt myself drawn to the. more popular areas where there were more subjects to work with. The first thing I noticed was the photos. Not my photos, but everyone else’s, as virtually every single person was taking pictures with their phones or DSLRs. Photos of kids, spouses, selfies, professional portraits, close-up flower shots, everyone I pointed my camera at was, in turn, pointing their camera at something else.

For some reason this really stood out to me. Despite never having cared enough about the Cherry Blossoms to have visited them before, I felt slightly offended that so many people would witness such a natural beauty through the screen of their phones. Sure I look through a viewfinder too, but mine is a mirror and a lens, not a bunch of megapixels on a mini-computer. When I’m not photographing I put my camera down and just watch, I like to see things with my own eyes as much as possible, but I seemed to be the only one who just took them in. I think in my head I took it as tourists only seeing the landscape’s beauty as a photo op to share on Facebook or Instagram, which seems like a much more pointless use of time than actually looking at the trees themselves, but I digress.

You’ll notice I tried to focus on the underlying theme of people focusing on their phones and taking photos throughout my photo set.

November - February 2023 Streetcap

November - February Streetcap

I’ve procrastinated this post for a long time, mostly because the winter months are always a slow period for me, in turn my work becomes less consistent. Unfortunately, procrastination also breeds laziness, and so I will not be offering a complete breakdown like I normally do, instead I will share 3 trends and simply leave the gallery below. Enjoy!

Ricoh GRD III

The Ricoh GRD III is a great camera for the winter months when I don’t leave the house very often, and when I do it is for essential errands. As a result, I don’t really want to bring my full camera setup. The GRD III fits right in my pocket, takes great photos, and even has a flash to help in darker lighting conditions.

Telephoto Lenses

I have been shooting often with telephoto lenses recently. I really enjoy creating small subframes, carefully selecting elements to create a theater stage. It also makes it a little easier to shoot in tight quarters without getting in people’s faces, I enjoy using reflections and layers of glass to create a glimpse into a more surreal world. Sometimes I can get caught up in the more basic compositions with ‘trendy’ elements like silhouettes and neon signs, but I’m working on it.

Documentary Photo-Sets

I went through a phase of shooting documentary-style photography. I was being very intentional about including lots of context and shooting in photo sets in order to really tell a story. In fact, most of my photos were from various photosets - Open Streets, my trip to the Bahamas, the Christmas Tree Farm, and one of my newest projects - The Lincoln Memorial.

My Best Photos of 2022

My Best Photos of 2022

2022 was an odd year for me. I feel like I dove even further into my passion for Street Photography than ever before, but I had a very busy year with 2 big moves, a new job, and something else I can’t remember right now. Looking back on 2022, I don’t feel that my best photos were better than in 2021, but given how much less often I shot this year than last I think that my average photos were much better than in the new year.

This year, I continued my study of anonymity and mystery in my street photography. I also use elements of geometry and abstraction to further emphasize the absurdity of the fleeting moments I capture. Some other things I noticed looking back at these photos are using flash and getting closer to my subjects.

At risk of over-explaining myself, just enjoy the gallery:


My Photography Kit 2023

My Photography Kit 2023

As is tradition on this blog, I wanted to share what gear I’ll be using this year for street, travel, and everyday photography, as well as for my YouTube channel and content creation for work. Check out the video below for a breakdown of this year’s gear:

The Main Camera

I loved my Fuji X-Pro2, but the lack of grip and weight of the body made it uncomfortable for me after a few months of daily use. I also had some issues with the X-Pro freezing up, and my fingers nudging the controls to the point where I began missing photos. I decided to trade the X-Pro2 for a camera that I have always admired, the Fujifilm X-H1. I instantly realized the improved ergonomics and other features such as IBIS made it possible for me to take photos I never could on my X-Pro2. For example, my beloved Olympus Zuiko lenses which were too big for my X-Pro2 are a joy to use on the X-H1. The IBIS is incredibly helpful for using older manual focus telephoto lenses like my Olympus 75-150mm f/4 or my Pentax 135mm f/2.8. It also makes filming video content for work much easier, the flip-up screen is ideal for filming Instagram Reels, with the battery grip only making it even easier.

When I want to be small, I can put a smaller lens like the TTartisans 28mm f/5.6 on and fit the camera under a jacket or even around my neck without getting too many looks. It’s nice having access to all the same film simulations as on my X-Pro2, as I have become quite fond of these looks and like the consistency.

The Fun Camera

I had always had the ambition of dropping my kit down to one camera that I could use for work, for street, on a daily basis, and one that would be capable but still feel like an analog and unique experience. The X-Pro2 came close, but I always thought in the long run it would a Leica. Once I developed my issues with my hand and needed a bigger grip, it became obvious to me that a Leica M would not be the solution. I found myself craving something with an optical viewfinder, mirrorless cameras with EVFs always felt too much like a computer, disconnecting me from the world around me. Ultimately, I found myself being drawn to the Nikon Df, a camera that both had the physical dials and nice look of a Fuji, the beautiful full-frame sensor, nice build quality, and wide selection of lenses of a Leica, and the low-light capabilities of a newer mirrorless camera. Unfortunately unlike most DSLRs, prices for the Nikon Df haven’t dropped quite so low. I would have had to sell my newly acquired X-H1, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do that, especially for a camera I couldn’t use for work.

Ultimately, I realized I was being a fool. I had a perfectly good Nikon Full-Frame DSLR sitting right next to me: the Nikon D600. I bought this in 2017, and it was my first full-frame camera. I stopped using it when I upgraded to mirrorless, as I was more focused on videography at the time. In an ironic twist of fate - years down the line I realized that many of the reasons I stopped using this camera are non-issues for me anymore. I have another camera for video or low-light photography, and while I was never happy with the autofocus of this camera, I ditched autofocus lenses last year and haven’t looked back. All in all, I was excited to try shooting this camera in a new way, and I have been so happy with the results.

The Everyday Camera

This year I traded the Lumix LX5 with the Ricoh GRD III. This thing is tiny but packs a huge punch. It is an upgrade over the Lumix in practically every single way - size, image quality, sharpness, snap focus, and burst rate. The photos look great and it’s easier to carry around with me, which is all I can really ask of an EDC camera. I’m perfectly comfortable on a 28mm, so I don’t really mind the missing zoom range. Ok maybe I miss it a little, but I’m making do.

The Film Camera

In 2021 this was the film camera on my wish list, and in 2022 I made it a reality. Well in 2023, I feel very much the same way about this camera: there simply is nothing better for my needs. That is, of course, the Olympus XA2. My film needs are limited - travel, intimate family moments, and the very, very occasional street shoot.

The Video Camera(s)

This has been a tricky one for me for years. The Nikon Z6 was too big, the Go-Pro was too wide, the DJI Osmo Pocket 2 was awkward and unnatural to carry around. I realized convenience really is the key for me, and I have finally settled on what is truly the most convenient camera for vlog style videos - my phone the Google Pixel 4. For Talking head videos, I still use the Osmo as it has a built-in screen for framing and pretty good autofocus so I don’t have to worry while recording.

The Extras

I’m really not interested in camera bags these days, I prefer to just throw my camera on a strap and hit the streets! I will still bring my Peak Design Everyday Sling for work shoots. I also have a crossbody bag that looks good, but fits extra lenses, batteries, etc. That’s really all I need.

 
 

Christmas Tree Picking: A Holiday Ritual

Every year for as long as I can remember, my family has been driving out to Snickers Gap Tree Farm to cut down a Christmas tree. Some of my earliest memories are racing my brother up the big hill, or waiting for a cup of Hot Cider to warm me up on a cold evening. This year I wanted to document my family during the process of picking the perfect Christmas tree.

Over the years, this tradition has become ritualistic for my family. My mother is always competitive about who will find this year’s tree. It has to be the right height, width, density, and charm. My father is usually in a rush to get in and out before he freezes, or in this year’s case before he missed the England game. As previously mentioned, I usually try to run up the big hill, although it’s gotten significantly harder in recent years.

Although we never look at every tree, we like to see as many options as possible before deciding. Lots of trees have bald spots or top branches unsuitable for our tree-top angel. We usually start at the top and work our way down.

Once we find one that enough of us agree on, we usually leave my dad to keep watch while the rest of us try and look for any last chance options that might be better. We usually don’t though - it should be noted we usually forget to actually go get a tree until it’s too late in the season and the best ones are gone.

When we’ve made our final decision, it’s time to get sawing. My dad always takes it upon himself to get the cut started, then the rest of us take turns trying to get as far as we can.

Once we get the tree down, it’s time to trek it back down the hill to the barn where it gets measured, shake, and wrapped up to come home. This is usually where hot cider enters the mix.

And just like that it’s time to take it home.

I hope you enjoyed this short-form documentary project. I’m going to try and post more of my work in this format. Also sorry for the glowy and soft mages, I am trying out a new lens and left the old filter on which seems to have a misting effect. Anyways, thanks for reading!

October 2022 Streetcap

The month of October came and went in the blink of an eye.

This past month, I’ve continued to ramp up my street shooting - getting out as much as I can. In this blog post I’ll break down some trends from my month of shooting and share my best photos.

Faces

I mentioned in last month’s Streetcap that I’ve been struggling to capture faces since taking an extended break earlier this summer, I think I just lost my confidence. While I notice I still have more backs-of-heads than I would like, I am making an active effort to get in front of my subjects.

Some examples where I struggled to put myself in front of my subjects

My attempts at getting head-on with people, you can tell I am doing it in a rushed manner, still avoiding allowing myself to get caught. I’m working on it…

Reflections

I’ve always been torn between candid, fast-paced street snaps and more carefully-crafted, abstract frames. I’ve found store windows/reflections to be my method of achieving balance, and I’m quite happy with this month’s results.

A New Camera

Actually, I shot with 3 new cameras this month, one I didn’t keep (the Nikon Z30), one has the exact same sensor and film simulations as my X-Pro2 (Fuji X-H1), but one camera was completely new to me, and was given to me by my good friend Eric, and has been an absolute JOY to test out so far - the Ricoh GR Digital III. This point and shoot has been keeping me occupied for sure, it has been great for both an EDC camera as well as a snapshot street cam. I’ve especially enjoyed using the flash, as it is too dim to be noticeable yet creates a very unique 3D effect. Here are some of my favorites:

Action

I mentioned this last month, but described it as ‘gestures’, but this month I’ve been trying to get more action into my photos, beyond just a hand gesture. Something with a little more story or oddness to it.

Black & White

I can’t say why exactly, but I’ve been finding myself shooting more and more black and white recently. I think because I’ve been really focused on improving my compositions and shooting black & white makes it easier, or maybe just to get a more homogenous look across four camera bodies, but I found I barely shot any color this month.

Nikon Z30 as a Street Cam | First Impressions

The Nikon Z30 is the newest (at time of writing) in Nikon’s mirrorless camera lineup. Touted by most as a ‘content creation’ camera, aimed at being one step up from an iPhone for vlogging or making TikToks.

Personally, my interest in the camera started back when Nikon Rumors leaked the patent, and my mind instantly went to a stealthy street-shooter, something previously missing from the Nikon mirrorless lineup. Now that the camera is finally out and available, and especially now that its reputation has been chosen for it by the YouTube Review echelon, I decided to test the camera out for myself and see if it really is just a vlogging camera, or if maybe my inclination was correct.

Watch below to see my First Impressions:

Summary of my First Impressions

  • Very small and light, yet excellent grip for those (like me) who need it

  • Articulating screen isn’t optimal for stills photography, but is useful for taking low shots from the hip

  • If you do any talking-head-type videos on the side of photography, then the screen and tally light are great, bonus points for a dedicated phot/video switch which remembers settings (looking at you Fuji)

  • Camera is so small, lack of a viewfinder isn’t that big of a deal, it can function much like a Ricoh GR or other point-and-shoot. A manual-focus lens and zone-focusing makes this easier too, though Nikon’s AF is definitely good enough for Street in the year 2022

  • The function buttons on the front of the camera make it easy to use this one-handed which is nice, mine are set to zoom in for fine-tuning focus

  • Highlight-weighted metering is a godsend for harsh-light shooters like myself

  • Build quality - this thing feels way more solid than, for example, the Fuji X-E4. I have seen some reputable sources say it is weather-sealed, though I can’t find any Nikon source confirming this

  • The price - this camera is so reasonably priced it almost makes it a no-brainer for me, for $850 new you can get this camera and the incredibly tiny, yet sharp 16-50 DX kit lens

  • The Cons:

    • Lack of a viewfinder will be the big one for most, but optical viewfinders can be purchased for much less than the $300+ you would spend on the Nikon Zfc

    • The articulating screen isn’t the best design for a stills camera, but also not the worst. At least you can take waist-level or overhead shots

    • The lack of Fuji’s film simulations and color science is what ultimately kept me from buying this camera, and as much as I liked this, that’s kind of an unfair comparison. For the record, you can get some custom profiles from https://nikonpc.com/

Photo Samples:

Open Streets | November 2022

I don’t have much to say about this event, it was a great day shooting. I used the Fujifilm X-H1 w/ the Voigtlander 21mm f/4 Color Skopar, as well as the Ricoh GR Digital III. Here are the photos:

2022 FXBG Street Shoot-Off

Sep. 17th, 2022 I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since the last (and first) FXBG Street Shoot-Off. At the time of that competition, I was in the middle of what was probably the best streak of my photography career. From August to November of last year, I was shooting more often, taking better photos, and most importantly connecting and meeting more street photographers than I ever had before. For me, the highlight of this stretch was the opportunity to travel down to Fredericksburg, VA to the home of the thriving FXBG Street Photography Collective. This collective is made up of tons of incredibly impressive street photographers, despite the small size of the town, and hosted a bunch of cool events including meet-ups, gear exchanges, and the inaugural Shoot-Off, an in-person street photography competition. Many great street photographers converged on Fredericksburg both to compete and judge the competition. I was lucky enough to take home an Honorable Mention from this competition for this photo:

Now as I mentioned, last year was the best year of Street Photography I had ever put together, and the Shoot-Off was one of the first times I ever got to compare myself to my fellow local photogs. That being said I was ecstatic to come home with any recognition at all.

This year I have admittedly been having a much slower year, apart from my France trip I really haven’t taken any photos that could hold a flame to my 2021 work.

But I also feel like I am a much better Street Photographer now than I was last year, and even though I’m not on a hot streak I still fully expect myself to produce much better and more intentional work in a short period than I did last year. I went into the weekend with ambitions of a medal, with an outside shot at a win.

Now, I have to be honest, for most of my life I have never been a competitive person, but when it comes to the very few things I’m good at, I like to win. Not in a mean or nasty way, but for me leaving with some sort of hardware was just as important as connecting with fellow photographers and having fun. It’s just who I am, don’t judge lol.

I arrived in Fredericksburg around 2 PM, about an hour before the event started. I met up with some friends, Mark Holl, Aaron Cabitto, and Damien Santos of the FXBG SPC, as well as some folks who had arrived early from the Hampton Roads Street Photography group.

Right: More of my photos from the 2021 FXBG Street Shoot-Off

My Honorable-Mention submission to the 2021 FXBG Street Shoot-Off

As is tradition, Damien and I immediately hit the antique shops to see what old cameras we could find before the event started. We struck out a few times, but at our last stop, we were lucky enough to stumble onto an incredible collection of photobooks at Southworth Antiques & Rare Books. Unfortunately the store is closing soon, but fortunately for me, that meant all photobooks were half off, and I walked away with a nice little collection of classics, including a Magnum Anthology, A Best of Photojournalism from ‘84, and a FREAKING FIRST EDITION ELLIOTT ERWITT STILL IN WRAPPING!!!

I haven’t figured out if it’s worth anything yet, but I’m just happy to own something rare and unique. I’m going to keep it in the wrapping for now, but I’ve already read through the other three books quite a few times. I especially like the David Graham book, which reminds me of something of a mix of Alex Webb meets The Americans by Robert Frank. Very classic 1980s American photography.

Ok..Ok.. I know you want to hear about the Shoot-Off, let me get back:

Damien and I made it back to the Curitiba Art Cafe (the home of FXBG SPC and a great place to get a coffee, lunch, or drink) with about 1 minute to spare before Aaron started reading out the rules. We had 3 hours to shoot, edit, and submit 2 photos. We were each assigned a number so that the judges wouldn’t know who was who, and could only base their decisions on the photos themselves. I guess I should also introduce the judges: legendary photojournalist and music photographer Jeromie Stephens, DC SPC member and award winning photographer Marci Lindsay, and Curitiba owner, musician, and FXBG SPC founding member Cori Blanch.

I didn’t rush out, instead taking some time to catch up with some more people like TJ Torres from the Hampton Roads group, before I eventually strolled out with Mark. Together we walked down the main street of Fredericksburg, took a detour down to the new kids park on the river where I snapped this photo:

Nothing particularly special, but I like the wonky lines and repitition. Next we made our way back to the busier streets where I continued warming up by playing with the harsher afternoon light:

Continuing on, I spent a lot of time taking advantage of the many shop windows and interesting light along Caroline Street. I was able to take advantage of reflections, textures, light, and interesting human subjects. Here are my results:

These photos are definitely some of my favorites, and I think if I was going to shoot in Fredericksburg in different circumstances that is where I would put most of my energy, but I had a sneaking suspicion the judges for this contest were going to favor wider, more traditional street photos. Things like emotion, pattern, and humanity would get me much farther than composition and mystery. So I decided to pull out my secret weapon - my 21mm Voigtlander mounted on the full-frame Nikon Z5 to give me a unique perspective and to push me closer to my subjects. Here are some of my results:

These are alright, there are a few snaps I think could have made the cut. Most notably: the black and white photo with the hands statue, and the low-down shot of the guy in the fedora. Both were great shots, the others were alright, but I didn’t think they would get me on the medal stand.

Finally, as my time was running out, I returned to Caroline Street and noticed a family passing out fliers about salvation, including several young kids whose heads were all shaved in uniform. I regret not asking about their denomination, but they had caught the attention of several other photographers and I didn’t want to disrupt any scenes or alert them to their model status. I wandered through the group several times, getting close with my wide lens and snapped the following:

The former of these two was instantly my favorite shot of the day. The colors of the two red shirts, the blue shirt, the green and red of the flowers, the green of the pharmacy, as well as the perfect lighting and the many characters made it feel like a painting or stage production. The kid was yelling out, using his bible as a microphone. The scene really came together and I got lucky.

Unfortunately, my time was up and I had to head back to Curitiba, where the whole group gathered and edited, nerves were high as our deadline approached and people asked for advice on photo selection. I was no exception, I narrowed my selects down to the following 4 photos and probably asked a dozen people to help me choose:

I decided to hedge my bets on my earlier guess about the judge’s preferences and selected the two wide, landscape images. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until after I submitted that Mark pointed out that my 2nd image would look much better in black and white (and he was right). In retrospect I wish I had submitted the black and white reflection shot, which has grown on me the most out of any of my photos, I love the textures and layers in the photo. Anyways, I submitted my photos and the wait began. In the meantime, I conducted some interviews of my fellow competitors and the judges for my YouTube video (stay tuned…).

Finally, the time came to gather and announce the winners. Slowly we watched as some spectacular photos were called up for Honorable Mention (much better than last year in my opinion). I was a little nervous when we made it through 5 honorable mentions without my photos coming up. This meant one of two things for me, either I was SOL or I was on the podium. Oh lord, it would be a little embarrassing if I walked away from here with nothing…

THIRD PLACE!!! You cannot believe the relief I felt. I had come with one goal: to improve on my 2021 finish and land on the podium. Mission accomplished! For me it was incredibly validating to be able to set a goal and match it with my photography. This hasn’t been the easiest year and my photography has fallen victim to the crazy that is the rest of my life. To know that I still have it in me to be able to mix it up with such a talented group of photographers was a much needed confidence boost. And I would add that the stakes were definitely raised this year, the quality of photos across the board was MUCH higher than last year’s. It may seem silly, but for me this was incredibly important.

The judges also shared some very helpful criticism of my photo, Jeromie pointed out that if I had taken a half-step to the right, I would have better framed the man behind and to the right of the subject. This one small move could have added a lot to the composition of the photo. Additionally, Cori pointed out that I had reached the exact maximum amount of saturation before it became too much. I have to agree with this, with the caveat that my laptop’s screen was stuck in power-saving mode and the colors weren’t calibrated properly. So basically, I was very lucky lol.

I want to also shout out the incredible photos that came ahead of me. I have to say I really think the judges nailed the order of photos in the top 3:

2nd place by Erik Brito

1st place by Aaron Cabitto

All in all, I had an absolute blast once again at this event, I was honored to have been chosen for a podium spot, and to top it off I also found a gold mine of cheap photobooks. But the one important element of this event that I haven’t touched on enough is what an incredible experience it is to come together with 30+ other street photographers from all over. The atmosphere of the Curitiba and the FXBG SPC group is one of camaraderie, friendship, and desire to learn and improve at the art. I have never heard of another event like this anywhere, so to be only an hour and a half away is a huge blessing, and every year this event reminds me how photography can connect us all. I already can’t wait until next year.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!

Cheers

Some other photos from other artists at the Shoot-Off that I loved:

August // September 2022 Streetcap

Sep. 9th, 2022 The past few months have been really weird for me. I moved back to the DC area, and yet I’m shooting in the city less and less. I also am no longer on Instagram (more on that here), which has taken away a lot of the urgency I used to feel to have a new IG-worthy photo ready every day. I also have been lazier than ever about sharing my work, thus this new series on the blog. Below I’ll break down some trends in my photography and share some of my favorite images.

Crowded Locations

The first trend I’ve noticed is that I have really only been shooting when I know I’m going to be in a busy, crowded area. Washington DC has always been a tricky city for street, while the city is very walkable, the sidewalks never seem to be crowded like in cities such as NYC or Paris. When you walk by somebody, it’s usually just the two of you locked in a dance to walk around each other without impeding the other. People in DC seem reserved, and not interested in making connections with strangers. This makes it hard to build the confidence to snap someone’s photo.

I have found myself avoiding these awkward situations altogether by only shooting when I’m in a crowded area like the Mall or outside Nats Park. Big crowds and touristy areas make the presence of a camera much less threatening, and I am able to easier snap photos.

Gestures

One thing I am constantly looking for these days are gestures, expressive hands or faces that add some energy to a photo. Despite being a little rusty, years of practice have helped me hone my eyes for these movements, and a little imagination helps me predict (or hope at least) when something interesting is about to happen. I think these help add some relatability to a chaotic scene, grounding the viewr back into reality.

Kids

When I was younger and just starting street photography, I always tried to avoid taking photos of kids. I think I always assumed parents would be more protective over their kids than a normal adult is to themselves, so out of fear I neglected this. As I’ve gotten older and stopped caring so much about reactions, I’ve found kids to be a welcome respite from the stoic and self-constrained DC residents. Most kids haven’t yet learned to hide or control their feelings, instead they wear them on their sleeves for the world to see. Maybe it is low-hanging fruit, but I enjoy the vivacity they bring to my photos.

Back to Basics

As I bust the rust on my shooting brain, I’ve gone back to some of my more basic ‘triggers’ from when I first started photography - some of which include color matching and footwear. These are things that I know I can make look good even if they aren’t the most dynamic or unique moments. For me, color matching was the first trick I learned when I started street, and it is the easiest for me to get right. Basically, I find a background or a subject with a distinct color, then I wait for another subject with that color to enter the frame. Footwear is pretty self-explanatory, but it just works. I think the extra element of mystery and the juxtaposition of nice footwear and grimy streets piques my interest.

Street Portraits

I never shoot street portraits, to be honest I don’t enjoy the rejection, but I’ve found myself getting so nervous snapping candids lately that I’d rather risk it by asking for a portrait than get caught. Very not me, but I’ve got some cool stuff so far:

Best of August // September 2022:

Why I Quit Instagram...

I’m hardly the first person, photographer even, to quit Instagram. The platform has seemed to be heading steadily downhill since 2018 or so, when algorithms and ads began replacing connectivity and exploration as the driving engines of the medium. These issues became even worse in 2020 with the rise of TikTok and subsequent surge-from-behind as Instagram attempted to remain the most viable social media platform around. Videos and viral trends became the name of the game, and users were forced to play the game or risk losing out.

Many photographers have left Instagram in favor of more photo-friendly platforms such as Twitter, VSCO, or other third-party apps that have come and gone such as 500PX, or recently Grainery. 

I’m sure clicking on this blog, you probably think that’s where I’m going too. How many times have we seen one of our favorite creators grandiosely announce they are ‘leaving Instagram forever’ and to follow them to these other apps, which almost always fail to replicate the incredible atmosphere that once was Instagram. 

And all of that is true, Instagram used to feel like the American Dream, now it feels more like lottery ticket. Maybe you’ll win someday if you keep trying, but there has to be a more satisfying and productive way of being an artist right?

In the end, what really broke me was watching Craig Whitehead, or @sixstreetunder, post on his story about how much he hated reels, but felt like he needed to start making them to maintain his brand. It suddenly occurred to me how absurd the whole situation really was. We all hate what Instagram has become, and yet we will force ourselves to create things WE DON’T EVEN LIKE, for what? So 150 people can look at my photos for half a second and then forget it exists? It doesn’t make any sense, I mean think about it - if we really want to change Instagram, why do we buy into this? Why do we acquiesce to their new formats and styles when we don’t even like doing it? 

I love sharing my artwork because it is the only thing in this world that is uniquely mine. It comes from somewhere inside of me, whether that is my heart, my soul, my brain, my being, my lifeforce, or wherever else on my body. Sharing that little bit of me with the world leaves a mark on this world that will probably never remember who I was. I share my artwork because it is all I have to leave myself behind. 

But neither Instagram nor Twitter nor any other social media is invested in this process. They don’t care about me or my art or my legacy. They don’t care about the magic that is the creative process. They don’t care about the stories I tell. They care about keeping people on their app, teasing them with the smallest chance of significance in exchange for screen time and contribution to the black hole that is their program. And that trade-off is simply not worth it to me. 

When I looked at my Photography heroes - Kertész, Cartier-Bresson, Maier - I realized that they didn’t dump photos out every day to the general public in hope someone would shower them in fame and fortune. They built up bodies of work over the course of decades so that when they were gone, the collection of stories left behind would be greater than them. They captured moments and made them immortal. I can’t think of anything that is more polar opposite to that sentiment, than posting a photo to Instagram where even my friends and family, or fellow photographers who actively enjoy my work will look at them on a 6-inch screen (and in my case another layer of grubby fingerprints on top) for less than 5 seconds. That is not immortality.

Building on that point, I realized Instagram was affecting the way I shoot, always chasing ‘bangers’ or single images that might get shared. I don’t want that to be my work flow, I want to do as my idols did and build bodies of work that you can hold and feel. I think photography books or zines, even photo albums, are more meaningful than single images with no context. I want to keep this in mind when I am out shooting, I want to remember than not every photo needs to be a 10/10, because they may become much stronger when paired with other photos. Instagram stops me from doing this, no matter how hard I try I always seem to get sucked back into the banger-trap.

That being said, even I still feel like the internet itself can and should be used to share art. But if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it on my own terms. That’s why this blog and my Projects page will be the new homes of my photography. Here I can post images full-size and enable zoom. I can post long-term projects in their entirety to tell a more complete story, as opposed to bite-size snippets that will get lost in the ether.

Now I will admit, I have the privilege of not depending on freelance creative work for a living, and not everyone has that luck, but I have to ask, is Instagram really getting you the jobs you need? In my experience, it is networking and connecting in-person that has brought me virtually every photography and videography job I’ve ever had. 

So if you’re still reading this, here is my challenge for you: take a look at your Instagram screen-time for the last week or even month. Now think about how many shoots you could have done, how many networking events or meetups you could have attended in that time. Now ask yourself “am I really taking the best road to success, or am I just chasing a dream of success without actually moving?” Even if you aren’t looking for work, what could you have done in that time to add longevity and significance to your work? Things like printing it, reaching out to galleries (or other venues that might let you hang your art). Are the likes and comments you get more meaningful than those things? 

At the end of the day, I know most of this blog is self-affirming my own decision, but I do hope that others will come to realize their work is more valuable than Instagram would tell you, and though it may seem like there are no other options - there are and always have been. 

Happy shooting, and thanks for reading!

Street Photography in America's Biggest Mall

This July, I had the opportunity to travel back to Minneapolis for a conference. After several days of working hard, I had a free afternoon and decided to visit one of the most impressive places I’ve ever been - The Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN.

The Mall of America is best known surely for the theme park sitting in its center, complete with rollercoasters, a water ride, and many other classic attractions, but as if that wasn’t enough the shopping center hosts over 500 stores and restaurants as well. Its design and size give the impression that the mall is never ending, and newcomers like myself can easily get lost in its labyrinth. I will also add, I have not seen a mall so full since the early 2000’s, and its understandable why this mall has withstood the test of time - it truly is a wonder of American civilization.

Street Photography in malls has always interested me, there is often interesting architecture, lots of characters, and surprisingly nice light throughout. I must admit, however, that I am always reluctant to do so as it seems so easy to get caught, something that does not normally bother me in public spaces. Malls are private property and tend to have overzealous and unforgiving security guards, and the last thing I want is to make a scene.

Mall of America offers multiple solutions to this conundrum: for starters, it is so unique that it actually serves more as a tourist destination than an actual shopping center. I don’t think anyone there batted an eye at the site of someone carrying a camera and snapping photos, especially in the theme park section. Secondly, modern malls tend to be rather sparse in terms of numbers of people. Walking through a mall in 2022, it is hard to be subtle while trying to snap photos of other people, as there are never many people in a given area. Mall of America is very different, however, as it was packed with hundreds, if not thousands, of both locals and site-seers, shoppers and adrenaline-enthusiasts, mall-rats and families of all ages. This made it much easier to blend in and avoid interrupting scenes before me.

In terms of gear, I decided to use a new lens I am trying out, the TTartisans 28mm f/5.6 for M-Mount, adapted to my Fuji X-Pro2. This lens’ small form factor and antique design allowed me to avoid standing out to potential subjects or unfriendly guards.

Alright, enough words… how did I do?

Obviously the first place I was drawn to was the theme park itself, the most lively area of the mall with nice harsh sunlight and bright colors made for a perfect scene. I tried to look for unique moments and gestures, as well as use the lighting to my advantage.

Afterwards I explored more of the mall itself, again hunting for patches of sunlight and taking advantage of the many floors and glass structures to find unique frames

Finally I made my way onto the upper levels and shot into the park, using fellow mall-goers to add scale and perspective to my images, and to show a little more context.

I won’t write too much in the way of a ‘conclusion’, testing out a new lens in a new area doesn’t always yield the best results, especially when I only have ~1 hour to work with. There are a couple photos I’m very happy with, and lots I could have done better on. What I will say is this: The Mall of America is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and if I was a local I would be shooting here until they kicked me out.

Here are some random photos from the airport (MSP + IAD) since I’m not going to give them their own blog post. Thanks for reading!

A New Beginning

One of the trickiest things about being a street photographer is navigating development and growth as an artist. As I'm sure is the case with many street photographers, I view my work as more of a career than a hobby. Although there isn't the gratification of financial rewards for my hard work, I get the satisfaction of creating meaningful pieces, capturing moments of emotion and humanity - and that's all fine for me. That being said, this satisfaction-based reward system is not as simple in terms of tracking progress and advancement. For example, I can see that I've gone to the next step in my career by looking at promotions, raises, bonuses, and new positions.

Anyways, the point of this long-winded spiel is that it can be hard to tell whether or not I'm getting anywhere in Street Photography as a field. One way that I measure success is via 'extra-curricular' street photography activities. Past examples would be winning Honorable Mention in FXBG's Street Shoot Off, being featured by DC and Denver's SPC Collectives, and having my photo book being featured on Josh Katz's YouTube Channel. These, admittedly small, wins represent items I can check off my Street Photography bucket list if you will.

Well, recently I checked off another big box on that list: teaching my first Street Photography Class on behalf of Baltimore Photo Group.

This class was a Beginner to Street Photography Class and to my surprise sold out! We had a group of six plus myself, and like me, this was all of their first photography class as well. Going in I was incredibly nervous, and the first ten minutes of the class were a bumbling mess of a blab on the definition and purpose of street photography.

Thankfully my students stuck with me and once it was time for the first challenge, everything clicked into place. Without sharing too many details, the class consisted of the introduction and five challenges over the course of three hours. Time flew by, and by the end, our feet were hurting and we were all ready for coffee, but most importantly we had all worked together to build upon different elements of street photography including identifying subjects, composing a scene, and telling a story. These challenges came together and by the end, my students had progressed from not knowing what street photography was to creating images that I was frankly jealous I didn't take.

My first Street Photography students

I swear I have never had an experience quite as gratifying as getting to witness the growth of my group, watching them build confidence, and ultimately having the opportunity to share something I am so passionate about.


To make sure I wasn't a one-hit-wonder, the next week I led another class, this time a 2-hour meetup focusing on Black & White photography. In this meetup, we had less time and a larger group, so we focused on a couple of larger themes with the goal of creating minimal yet captivating photos.

Once again, the experience was amazing, the group got really into the theme and, more importantly, connected with each other and bounced ideas off one another. This time around the group had slightly more experience, and as a result, they were very responsive to our challenges and created some fantastic photos.

I think one of the best things about the experience of leading these two sessions was the opportunity it gave me to practice and focus on more structured themes. In both classes, I had the opportunity to participate in the challenges and use my experience to illustrate the different themes, and in both classes, I came away with some images I am really proud of. I have always thought one of the best ways to learn something is to teach it, and these classes proved no exception. I'll share some of my photos below:

Overall, I am SO glad that I had this opportunity and will continue to plan and lead classes like this as long as Baltimore Photo Group will have me. I was so nervous and afraid going in that I would fail and make a fool of myself, but I ended up not only successfully connecting with these amazing groups of people, but also just having a great time and a lot of fun! I hope that teaching can remain a part of my Street Photography journey and that I can continue helping others learn about my greatest passion.

Thanks for reading, and if you want to keep up with me make sure to follow along on Instagram and YouTube!