Typing Practice 008

[ Black+White Photography ]

On The Streets

 

Street photography is arguably today's most popular genre, with huge followings online. But what does it really mean and why is it so appealing? To discover some of the answers Elizabeth Roberts talks to veteran of the streets, Paul Burgess.

 

ER: When and why did you start street photography?

 

PB : I've been keen on photography since childhood, when I used to take portraits of my family and friends, and lots of arty holiday snaps. Then in my late 20s I spent time working in Egypt. For the first time I was exposed to a society and way of life completely different to my own and I experienced a dramatic and thrilling culture shock. In Cairo much of everyday life is lived out on the streets. I was inspired by the vibrancy, the chaos and the strangeness of it all and wanted to capture it with my camera. Later on, I travelled to India and Vietnam and photography became a big part of my travels. I found that with the camera I was more present, seeing and absorbing the world around me. Gradually I started looking at my own city, London, in a different way, with a more photographic eye, and realised there was also wonderful material here in my own backyard.

 

ER : You say on your website that you take pictures that appeal more to the heart than the head. Can you say more about this?

 

PB : It's all very well taking a picture-postcard image, with beautiful lighting and perfect composition, but it can leave you cold. I try to take photographs that work on an emotional level. I want the images to evoke a mood, a feeling, or a reaction. Maybe it's a melancholic sadness or a whimsical smile. Perhaps the photo is reminiscent of a scene from a film noir movie of it captures a quirky off-beat moment. I think if an image triggers the part of the brain that makes you feel something, it will most likely stay with you. I also like shots that have a mystery and a story to them - so the more you look, the more you see. 

 

ER : In your professional life you edit and direct documentaries - how does street photography fit in with this?

 

PB : One obvious similarity is that in filmmaking you see the world through a lens, so I'm accustomed to looking through the camera and trying to find an interesting and arresting frame. Also, with documentaries, you tend to observe and investigate human behaviour, and  that fascination with people is also a major part of my own photography. But they are very different and quite separate disciplines. Filmes tell stories over hundreds of shots and thousands of frames. They have structure, a narrative arc, with added sound and music. In street photography it's just the one frame that matters. On a practical level, being a freelancer has also meant that I've been able to use the time between jobs to work on my photography. That's the beauty of it, you can just pick up your camera and head out the door at a moment's notice - so for me, it's a great fit.

 

ER : Do you go out with the intention of shooting on the street or do you always carry a camera with you on the off chance?

 

PB : Mostly I go out to a specific area, with the intention of shooting. I like to be prepared and have the right gear with me. But every now and then I'll grab my camera, just in case...