On the Streets of Lisbon
I am still a bit shaken by the funicular accident in Lisbon. Last week while we were there, my wife took one of the trams up the hill, and she loved it. What a sad accident!
Street photography always makes me a bit on edge. Susan Sontag’s On Photography made me very conscious of pointing my camera at total strangers on the streets. But on the other hand, people always fascinate me, the things they do, their outfits, etc. As an introvert, I am caught between a rock and a hard place. And I am always anxious whenever I miss a shot. I don’t know, maybe I should give up. Anyway, here’s my attempt at shooting people in Lisbon.
I like that the pigeon photo bombed this one.
The man in the upper left corner of the yellow building gets a hug, maybe before he goes out for the day.
That’s not what he said
I was walking past this lady. The setting sun gives her a lovely glow. And then she raises a leg for a stretch. So I decided to take this photo. I hope it works.
That’s it for today! Let me know if you’d like to see me quit street photography. Not that I will, but I’d like to know. Till next time!
Chen, it's a good question and we should all think about. It's same to think about it. Too many street photographers just go out and take people's photo without thinking about what people might think about it. You're more interested in your subjects than them: you take a photo you wonder what the person will think ; they take a photo and they think box ticked.
When I saw the woman with her leg up I wondered what she was secretly pointing at. Is she a spy trying to send a message? Did she see something and she wants you to look at it?
Quit street photography? Why? Because you (sometimes) feel anxiety photographing people? I think that is very common, I know I feel it too. But your street shots are pretty good, so don't quit. Keep trying and doing it.